The Paul Weaver Story

[Crash Course]

There was a little blurb in a recent BBA/ESPN.com piece that many may have glossed over: (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=1963830) When Paul Weaver's been with the Astros for 25 years, and he loses his job, and he's an outstanding scout . . . that's when we get concerned. For those who are not aware, the day before his contract expired, Paul Weaver, who worked for the Astros for 24 years, was told he wasn’t being retained.

Now, I have no issue with company's letting go long-term employees. Everything has to end some time. But, there's a way to do it - meaning with some class and in a way that allows the employee to find another job, etc.

Astros owner Drayton McLane deserves to be roasted on this move.

And, Weaver deserved better.

[SteveP]

There was a little blurb in a recent BBA/ESPN.com piece that many may have glossed over: (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=1963830) For those who are not aware, the day before his contract expired, Paul Weaver, who worked for the Astros for 24 years, was told he wasn’t being retained.

Now, I have no issue with company's letting go long-term employees. Everything has to end some time. But, there's a way to do it - meaning with some class and in a way that allows the employee to find another job, etc.

Astros owner Drayton McLane deserves to be roasted on this move.

And, Weaver deserved better.

Can you give us some details as to how he was let go? why?

[Crash Course]

There's not a lot of info on the why - - let me see if I can get some insight from some that follow the 'Stros closely.

[Crash Course]

Googling finds little on this - other than a Neyer Insider report saying, in some ways, the firing is not a big deal - and that Weaver contributed to "In Sports Talent: How to Identify and Develop Outstanding Athletes" - this link (http://www.partnershipforlearning.org/article.asp?ArticleID=1643) reads:

Many adults who work with young athletes believe exposure to multiple sports creates well-rounded, talented players. Paul Weaver, a major-league scout for the Houston Astros, is one such proponent. In Sports Talent: How to Identify and Develop Outstanding Athletes (Human Kinetics, 2001), Weaver shares his experience: "Most major-leaguers played more than one sport in high school. We would like to have prospects who are well-rounded persons, not just players. In the 12 to 15 age group, they should be doing more than just playing baseball."

[Crash Course]

Here's more stuff quoting Weaver - from http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brew/allstar/jul02/57459.asp

"That's an important time for us," said Paul Weaver, an advance scout for the Houston Astros. "When I watch hitters, I look at their approach. I see what they are trying to accomplish at the plate.

"The really good hitters have a purpose and a plan and they usually work from the opposite field over. They pull the ball later in the session, but you see them letting the ball get deeper in the strike zone. You look at their swing and their balance up there. What hitters do at the plate reinforces their mechanics and what they've worked on in the cages.

"You don't want to see guys just take the driver out of the bag and try to hit the ball in the seats. You see that a lot. A guy who tries to hit home runs on every pitch in BP comes up to pinch-hit in the seventh inning with a man on second and he can't hit the ball the other way and move the guy over.

"That goes to preparation and that's what BP is all about. It's players preparing to play the game."

It says he was an advance scout - I just read in the last couple of days about a team that was going to use video instead of advance scouts - - maybe it was the Astros? Maybe that's why they let him go? I need to look for that.

[Crash Course]

Nope - that was the Diamondbacks. From a Tracy Ringolsby column:

Four days after Mike Paul was told by Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. that he isn’t being rehired because the team is going to advance scout by video, Paul got a call from new Arizona manager Bob Melvin telling Paul how impressed everybody has been with his work, and how much Melvin was looking forward to working with Paul in 2005. Paul wound up with the Nationals.

[Crash Course]

Some more on Weaver - he was mentioned/quoted about 4 times in the 1st chapter of MONEYBALL: http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0514/1553766.html

[Crash Course]

Update: Nice to see Weaver land a job: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ari/news/ari_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940975&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp

The Diamondbacks rounded out their scouting staff Tuesday by announcing the hirings of Chris Bando, Bill Singer and Paul Weaver as Major League scouts.
They join Mack "Shooty" Babbit, Bill Earnhart, Mike Piatnik and Mike Sgobba to form a seven-man scouting staff that will evaluate Major League talent throughout the 2005 season.

Bando will be with the team during the year to provide video scouting reports on upcoming opponents. The Diamondbacks will utilize Bando, a former Major Leaguer and standout at Arizona State University, instead of a traditional advanced scout. He will also be in uniform during Spring Training as an on-field adviser.


Somewhat strange that the D'backs took Singer after the Backman firing 'tho.

[Makofan]

I agree with that Crash - either Backman and Singer are both objectionable, or both okay.

[KCBOOMER]

What do you guys want?? Life time bans from the game for every politically incorrect mistake?? You punish and then you let them get on with things.

[Crash Course]

Nah, actually, I think Backman got a raw deal.

[Makofan]

I agree with Crash - we were ridiculing the Backman firing and Diamondback hypocrisy, not the Singer hiring