Within pro scouting, the most direct application of scouting to in-game strategy and preparation is advance scouting. Advance scouting evaluates an opponent or potential opponent ahead of a potential matchup and determines a game plan and areas of strength or weakness for the opponent.
It’s different from traditional scouting where the goal is determining a player’s overall value, but many pro scouts (and even other scouts within an organization) are often deployed in September or during the postseason to help give a team more information on an opponent.
Advance scouting reports come from a variety of sources. Some reports are automated and use data, based on what an opposing pitcher throws in terms of stuff and in what counts or game situations, or where an opposing hitter may be weakest.
Others are based on video and are looking for any tells or tipping a pitcher may be doing, along with helping a hitter gain familiarity with an opposing pitcher.
Where scouts come in is being able to discern any subtle mannerisms, differences, or behaviors on the field from an opponent. Scouts are trained to see things that stick out. That may be a hitter’s discomfort when that player sees pitches out of a certain arm slot or an inability to recognize certain pitch types out of hand.
It may be a hitter failing to make adjustments after being attacked the same way or seeing the same pitch multiple times. It could be a pitcher falling into certain pitch patterns or potentially tipping their pitches.
Every piece of information matters, especially late in the season and in the postseason, as teams are trying to gain any potential edge or advantage.
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