Scouts take in Olympics

Sun., Aug. 17, 2008

Los Angeles Times

BEIJING – Used to be baseball scouts could get by on nothing more than an eye for talent, a stomach for greasy-food dinners and a tolerance for flea-bag roadside motels in places like Mobridge, S.D., or Tupelo, Miss.

Not anymore. With nearly a third of current major leagues and half of all minor leaguers having been born outside the United States, simply beating the bushes and corn fields for talent isn’t enough.

“It’s a world game now,” said John Stockstill, director of international scouting for Baltimore. “You hop on a plane and you get here in 12 hours.”

That’s why every major league team is believed to have at least one scout at the Olympics. Most have two, and what they’ve seen so far is a competitive tournament.

”It’s a matter of seeing all the better players in the world in one venue,” said Oakland special assistant Randy Johnson.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Scouts take in Olympics

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Historic WSU baseball season comes to end with 10-1 loss to Oregon State at Eugene Regional

Mead's Simon Rosselli leaves state meet with another title in hand, devoted to pursuit of his 'masterpiece' | Dave Boling

Updated: Mariners’ Cal Raleigh back in Seattle to map out next steps in injury rehab