By Daniel Brown
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — By the time Team Japan took the field against the Giants on Wednesday, scouts overflowed. They filled an entire section behind home plate, as well as a few rows of folding chairs set out to accommodate the unprecedented masses.
Every team had at least one representative on hand.
Look no further for the state of scouting America's Pastime: When the world plays, the majors watch.
"You cannot just sit back and just depend upon a draft to build a club. You have to look all over the world,'' said John Barr, who oversees the Giants' amateur and international scouting.
New owner William Neukom apparently agrees. Since taking over as managing general partner Oct. 1, he has invested heavily in the Giants' efforts to find players from around the globe.
The Giants added another layer Wednesday, hiring Shun Kakazu as their coordinator of Japanese operations. It was a cagey bit of publicity, announcing the hiring just as Team Japan — and the 110 media members covering them — arrived at Scottsdale Stadium for a tuneup between World Baseball Classic action.
But it was more than a stunt. It marks the first time that the Giants will have a full-time scouting presence in Japan, putting them among "less than a handful" of teams doing the same, according to Barr.
The others are deep-pocked teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox. Neukom, continuing a trend started in Peter Magowan's final years, wants the Giants to compete internationally with the big boys — and is willing to fork over millions to keep pace.
In recent seasons, the Giants signed two highly regarded teenagers from the Dominican Republic. Infielder Angel Villalona got a $2.1 million signing bonus and outfielder Rafael Ramirez got $2.55 million.
"We made a statement by signing those two,'' Barr said. "Hey, we're willing to compete for the better players if we like them. And that's a directive through ownership."
Within the past year, the Giants have dispatched scouts to new baseball locales such as Italy and Amsterdam, and have beefed up their presence and facilities in traditional areas, such as Latin America.
Now, the Giants hope Kakazu can help them land some of the top players coming over from Japan.
The team has signed Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Keiichi Yabu in recent seasons, but both those players had major league experience before arriving in San Francisco.
Kakazu, a Harvard graduate, spent the previous three seasons working for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He worked as the director of player personnel, helping Manager Bobby Valentine make decisions on player acquisitions. Kakazu will augment John Cox, the Giants' coordinator of Pacific Rim scouting.
"He allows us to have more background on a player,'' Barr said. "The more knowledge we have on a player, the more comfortable we feel in investing in a him.
"We know that to develop a winning organization, we're going to have to have players who have not only the skills to play the game but the makeup to win."
If nothing else, the Giants have some catching up to do. For years, the rival Dodgers have been a step ahead when it comes to the Far East, luring players such as Hideo Nomo (Japan), Chan Ho Park (Korea), Hong-Chih Kuo (Taiwan) and Chin-lung Hu (Taiwan).
Now, Neukom has given the Giants the orders — and the checkbook — to keep pace.
"Bill now is very enthusiastic about believing that we should go out and find players throughout the world,'' Barr said. "That's Bill's directive. Find players that will help us win the Giants Way."
Every team had at least one representative on hand.
Look no further for the state of scouting America's Pastime: When the world plays, the majors watch.
"You cannot just sit back and just depend upon a draft to build a club. You have to look all over the world,'' said John Barr, who oversees the Giants' amateur and international scouting.
New owner William Neukom apparently agrees. Since taking over as managing general partner Oct. 1, he has invested heavily in the Giants' efforts to find players from around the globe.
The Giants added another layer Wednesday, hiring Shun Kakazu as their coordinator of Japanese operations. It was a cagey bit of publicity, announcing the hiring just as Team Japan — and the 110 media members covering them — arrived at Scottsdale Stadium for a tuneup between World Baseball Classic action.But it was more than a stunt. It marks the first time that the Giants will have a full-time scouting presence in Japan, putting them among "less than a handful" of teams doing the same, according to Barr.
The others are deep-pocked teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox. Neukom, continuing a trend started in Peter Magowan's final years, wants the Giants to compete internationally with the big boys — and is willing to fork over millions to keep pace.
In recent seasons, the Giants signed two highly regarded teenagers from the Dominican Republic. Infielder Angel Villalona got a $2.1 million signing bonus and outfielder Rafael Ramirez got $2.55 million.
"We made a statement by signing those two,'' Barr said. "Hey, we're willing to compete for the better players if we like them. And that's a directive through ownership."
Within the past year, the Giants have dispatched scouts to new baseball locales such as Italy and Amsterdam, and have beefed up their presence and facilities in traditional areas, such as Latin America.
Now, the Giants hope Kakazu can help them land some of the top players coming over from Japan.
The team has signed Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Keiichi Yabu in recent seasons, but both those players had major league experience before arriving in San Francisco.
Kakazu, a Harvard graduate, spent the previous three seasons working for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He worked as the director of player personnel, helping Manager Bobby Valentine make decisions on player acquisitions. Kakazu will augment John Cox, the Giants' coordinator of Pacific Rim scouting.
"He allows us to have more background on a player,'' Barr said. "The more knowledge we have on a player, the more comfortable we feel in investing in a him.
"We know that to develop a winning organization, we're going to have to have players who have not only the skills to play the game but the makeup to win."
If nothing else, the Giants have some catching up to do. For years, the rival Dodgers have been a step ahead when it comes to the Far East, luring players such as Hideo Nomo (Japan), Chan Ho Park (Korea), Hong-Chih Kuo (Taiwan) and Chin-lung Hu (Taiwan).
Now, Neukom has given the Giants the orders — and the checkbook — to keep pace.
"Bill now is very enthusiastic about believing that we should go out and find players throughout the world,'' Barr said. "That's Bill's directive. Find players that will help us win the Giants Way."
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