It's not as if he doesn't have any contacts, however. But that's life in the Northern League, which has lost from 70 to 80 players to contracts with major league organizations, even if most are only in camps as a hedge against the strike. To lose so many players, well, it's a great chance for the players whether it's as a replacement player or not. This year's figure is close to double that. Maybe the Northern League will be seen as a second-chance league.
Scouts can make mistakes.
They're not God, they're not infallible. Guys get released and go elsewhere and shine. Some guys don't even get drafted and they make it. The league will make some money if their alumni stick with the big league organizations. The Northern League has teams in Sioux Falls, S.D., St. Paul, Duluth, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, in addition to the Sioux City Explorers, and they have drawn well.