See the game like a scout.(Ultimate Expertise)

So who's the best player in baseball--Alex Rodriguez or Barry Bonds? And who comes next? Maybe Albert Pujols or Derek Jeter? What's not to like about Vladimir Guerrero and Sammy Sosa? No pressure, just tell the general manager what you really think.

Scouts shoulder that responsibility every day in a subjective exercise that can change the fortunes of franchises. From the stars to the journeymen and minor league wannabes, nobody escapes the pervasive eye that dissects skills, character, leadership qualities and other intangibles that often form a thin line between success and failure.

SPORTING NEWS' Ultimate Baseball Scouting Guide, now available in stores, offers an inside view ...