Mike Grouse is the Midwest Cross Checker for the Texas Rangers. He has signed players such as Ian Kinsler and Travis Hafner, so there's no doubt he has an eye for talent. I would like to thank Mike for taking the time to answer my questions. You'll quickly tell that his baseball knowledge is diverse and deep.

TexasRangersAnalyst: What is the official title of your current position with the Rangers?

Mike Grouse: Midwest Cross Checker

TRA: What does that job entail? What is your normal daily job during the different times of year?

MG: I have 6 area scouts that are under me and it is my job to see the top players within their area and line them up over a 19 state area giving my opinion to go along with theirs. We are all scouts but I see a wider range of players where they see and line players up within a smaller area. There are 3 of us regional supervisors and one national guy and our scouting director. We see a larger list of players and are able to compare them against the country versus a smaller area. From February to the draft I am on the go in different parks and cities daily. The summer months are used for covering other professional organizations for future trades and free agent acquire. The winter months I am home getting reacquainted with my family.

TRA: What led you to get into scouting in the first place?

MG: I signed with the Rangers out of college and though I didn’t make it as a player there was still a desire to remain in the game in some capacity and scouting was a nice niche for me.

TRA: Do you stay close with players that you scout, even if they end up with another organization?

MG: Some. I give the player the first move. If it is a relationship he wants then I am for it. I don’t try and force myself into their world. I have developed several good friendships with players I have signed.

TRA: What in particular do you look for in determining if a player is worth signing?

MG: Risk versus reward. I am big on a player’s makeup and his mental ability to handle the grind of professional baseball. Talent is often not that different between the players that make it and those that don’t. At times it comes down to a player’s makeup as to whether they make it or not. Of course, there are occasions where talent overcomes a lack of good makeup.

TRA: Is there something unique that you or the Rangers look at in terms of scouting players?

MG: Not really. I think we are all looking for a good talent pool that can help us win at the major league level. Personally I like power arms and power bats.

TRA: Do you think that high school or college players are more valuable in terms of the long-term impact on an organization's future?

MG: High school. I think if you look at the majority of “stars” in the game the percentage may lean to that they were high school signs. (not sure on that stat, just my opinion). Of course there is a higher risk and their failure rate may be higher as well. It is just worth it to me to get the player into our game sooner where they can learn the correct way to play the game the way we play it. There is a difference between the college game and our game and the sooner they can get into professional baseball the better for their development. Again, a high school player has to be ready mentally as it is a grind.

TRA: Which players that you've signed are you most proud of finding?

MG: Right now my best 2 players going are Ian Kinsler and Travis Hafner. Others I have signed in the MLB now are Travis Metcalf and Doug Mathis. I am proud of all my guys whether they make it to the major leagues or simply do their best and play to the highest level they can. I have been fortunate to have signed I believe 10 big leaguers but there have been kids I have signed who are now teachers, coaches, business owners, and businessmen, all doing well that make me just as proud.

TRA: Are you content with your position now, or are you looking to continue to advance within the Texas organization or another organization?

MG: Content but always striving to do the best I can for my organization. It is a good organization to be in, we are young and exciting and there are good things ahead. Personal goals are to continue to advance in whatever organization feels they have a need for me and is a good fit for me. Having played in Texas system I have a special fuzzy for the Rangers even though I grew up in KC and a Royals fan.

TRA: Which players from the 2008 draft that you saw in person do you think have the best chance of succeeding at the pro level?

MG: Justin Smoak, Pedro Alvarez, Robbie Ross, Seth Lintz, Jake Odorizzi to name a few. I think we did well getting Smoak and Ross with our first two picks. There will be some sleepers that come out, some expected and some not. That is what makes baseball a great game. There is no science when scouting. You are leaning on gut feel, experience, and instinct to make a decision on who can play.

TRA: Are there any players we should be keeping an eye out for over the next year?

MG: Julio Borbon. Tommy Hunter. Derek Holland has a chance to be special. Look maybe for John Mayberry Jr. to have a breakout year and push the door open.

TRA: Are there any players in the Ranger organization that you think are either underrated or overrated?

MG: I think we do a good job in development evaluating our players. Each player gets a fair chance to show what he can and can not do so our job is to make sure that the ones we keep are the right ones for our organization.

TRA: What's your relationship like with Jon Daniels, Ron Hopkins, and other people within the Baseball Operations department?

MG: Very good. We all work together with our own strengths, weaknesses, and compliment each other very well. I work with some very bright and talented people. Ron Hopkins (Hoppy) may be one of the best evaluators and player readers I have been around. He has a feel for things that is uncanny at times. JD is a very bright, heady baseball guy with a great future as he continues in his role. I respect them all and like to consider them my friends.

TRA: If you could give advice to young players out there, what would you say?

MG: Always play hard, you never know who might be watching. Forget about all the stuff you see on TV and play the game right from wearing your hat straight to a clean fitting uniform. While in school, study and LEARN. I went to college and graduated but always feel like I short changed myself by not learning all I could.

TRA: What is the best way to become a baseball scout?

MG: A passion for the game and those that are in it. You don’t have to have played professionally though it helps, but you have to have a “feel” for the game if that makes sense to you.

TRA: Do you think the newer statistical models for scouting are as good as having scouts see players in person?

MG: You have to see the player play. Scouts have always used stats as a tool it has just become more fashionable of late because of all the new fangled formulas that are out. Remember though they are just a tool to give you a true picture of the player. If you put one foot in a bucket of ice and one in a fire statistically you should be comfortable. Get my point?

TRA: When looking at pitchers, is velocity an important characteristic?

MG: The radar gun gives us a very tangible tool that is not subjective. We guess if a player will hit or have power or will develop into a good defender but the radar gun does not lie. Either you throw hard or you don’t. Velocity is a very important ingredient to me but it has to go along with an ability to pitch or it is useless.

TRA: How much say you have over who gets drafted each June?

MG: We all get a say or at least our turn to have a say and an opportunity to present our case for a particular player but ultimately the decision is Hoppy’s. I am the gun and he is the trigger, I can point it but he has to pull it.

TRA: Is there anything else you'd like to add that hasn't already been asked?

MG: Scouting is a good business to be in. It is challenging with each day bringing you to the next possible star. It is also very humbling as your best guess may turn out to be an “A” ball flop. Like I said before, there is no real science to it, I don’t believe you can teach someone to scout. You can give them the tools to do so like the radar gun and stop watch but you can’t teach instinct and feel.