Benny Looper, the Phillies' assistant general manager in charge of player personnel, tells an interesting story from his younger days about a solid major-league player he once scouted but could not sign.
Danny Doyle, the late Boston Red Sox scout who signed Roger Clemens, was watching the player in question and listening to Looper talk about his scouting prowess.
"Son," Doyle told his fellow Oklahoman, "unless you sign 'em, it don't mean nothing."
Looper recounted that story in the midst of a conversation about how his current team has pursued some of the Cuban defectors who have signed huge big-league contracts in recent years.