Blogger Roundtable: Which League Best Selects and Trains Talent

Which league bests selects and trains talent? We gave our thoughts, so now it's your turn. Answer our poll at the top of the blog and then leave a comment at the bottom of this post explaining why. 

Inspired by their learning in human resource courses, our bloggers took a stab at what can be a major consideration for professional sports leagues.  Analyzing how leagues select and train talent may seem a little abstract.  But scouting and developing players is a very real concept. 

Which of the four leagues best utilize other professional and amateur networks to identify suitable candidates.  Which league is most efficient and effective in hiring the most qualified players. Between the big four, which has the best developmental system in place?

That's what our bloggers tried to answer.

Adam Malz- MLB

In my opinion, the MLB does the best job identifying and developing talent. The minor league system is very successful and players are able to learn the ropes and improve the most. Players do not make it to the major league level unless they work hard and absolutely deserve it.

Thomas Kroner- MLB

I think Major League Baseball does the best job of hiring and training its players. The depth of their drafts allows it so players who aren't the top prospects to get an in with the organization and have the possibility of moving up in the ranks. The NBA D-League pales in comparison to the effectiveness and popularity of Minor League Baseball

Joshua Goldstein- NBA

Due to its relatively low amount of professional players in the league and its smaller draft size, the NBA has the most effective method of identifying its players. While football teams have over 50 people on their rosters, basketball teams can only have 13 active players on their rosters at any given time. Also, the NFL draft has seven rounds, while the NBA draft only has two rounds. Since NBA teams hire and therefore seek out less players than other sport franchises, the NBA has the least arduous job finding suitable employees.

Ben Cantor- NFL

I believe the NFL has the most effective method of identifying and developing talent in comparison to the other major sports leagues. The fact that prospective football players must be three years removed from high school provides scouts with ample opportunity to evaluate their ability in college. Furthermore, NFL organizations employ many specialized coaches, who represent valuable assets for developing young talent.

The NBA's developmental league is a valuable resource for young players to gain experience against top competition. However, the nature of basketball is such that rookies are often expected to contribute significantly right away, and failure to meet high expectation can hamper a young player’s development. The MLB’s minor league system allows young players to hone their skills against lesser competition. However, baseball’s scouting system is steeped in outdated traditions, and it’s flaws were detailed in Michael Lewis’s Moneyball.