BP Blogs

April 4, 2013

BP Announcements

MLB.com Seeking Stats Stringer for Cleveland

MLB.com, the official web site of Major League Baseball, is seeking a stats stringer in Cleveland

For those interested in working in baseball, this comes courtesy of our friends at MLB.com...

MLB.com, the official web site of Major League Baseball, is seeking a stats stringer to cover the Cleveland Indians in 2013 and beyond.

Stats stringers are responsible for digitally scoring games from the MLB ballparks, which provides the data used in the live content applications on MLB.com, including Gameday and MLB.TV, real-time highlights and text alerts, and by our business partners. This is a perfect part-time job for a diligent, responsible employee who happens to be a big baseball fan.

Responsibilities include:

• Arrive at the ballpark no later than one hour prior to the scheduled start time;

• Double-check and verify all pre-game information: rosters, umpires, weather conditions, etc.;

• During the game, enter the results of every pitch and game event (plays, substitutions, etc.) using our proprietary software and coding language;

• Work closely with our game-night support staff (via AOL Instant Messenger) to ensure proper scoring of all game events and accuracy of data;

• After the game, enter all post-game information: winning and losing pitcher, saves, holds, time and attendance

• Validate all stats in software box score against the official box score provided by the Official Scorer, and print out a final box score and game text for the club PR staff

Qualifications include:

• Previous experience (including pressbox exposure) with a professional or college sports team, preferably baseball;

• Exceptional (and demonstrable) knowledge of baseball and how to score a baseball game;

• Strong computer proficiency (Windows OS and Windows-based software) and the ability to quickly learn and operate new software;

• Regular availability to attend games in-person as required by the schedule: weekdays, nights and weekends;

• A "team player" with a great attitude, including but not limited to a willingness to make and learn from mistakes and the ability to work closely and cooperatively (and take direction from) our game-night staff;

• Professionalism. It's a fun job and we pay people to watch baseball, but it's also an important job and we want people who will take the responsibility seriously.

(New stringers undergo an 8-10 week correspondence training program, and co-score several practice games in the ballpark with a returning stringer, before scoring any games solo in the ballpark.)

Those interested in applying should send a resume and cover later, addressing the above-listed qualifications, to stats@website.mlb.com

ONLY those who reply to this e-mail address will be considered, and due to volume, we may be unable to respond to all applicants.

Thanks and good luck!

Joe Hamrahi

April 4, 2013 6:40 PM

0 Comments

November 28, 2012

BP Unfiltered

Daily Draft Video: Reese McGuire

Daily exclusive video series designed to familiarize you with the names you need to know leading up to the 2013 amateur draft.

Nick J. Faleris

November 28, 2012 11:00 AM

0 Comments

Wezen-Ball

The SPBA's Short Life

A new league was formed in the winter of 1989 that tried to capture the success of the Senior PGA. It didn't last very long.

In the winter of 1989, a new league played its inaugural games. Formed by Jim Morley, a 33-year-old real estate developer and a group of like-minded owners who "[would] spend in the neighborhood of $1 million the first year", the Senior Professional Baseball Association started play in eight Florida towns for a 72-game season between November and February. Players, who earned no more than $15,000 a month (with an average of $7,000), were required to be 35 years old or older (catchers could be as young as 32). Some famous names, including Vida Blue, Ferguson Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Amos Otis, Luis Tiant, and Dave Kingman, suited up in the inaugural season. Curt Flood took on the role of commissioner, while Dock Ellis, Dick Williams, Bobby Bonds, and Earl Weaver all joined up as coaches or managers.

The league had a tough time gaining a foothold that winter. This was partly because the league began play in November, a "time of year when tourists are out of season in Florida." According to the November 20, 1989, issue of Sports Illustrated, the league needed to average 2,000 fans a game to break even. At that time, the average was barely half that at 1,113.

Larry Granillo

November 28, 2012 7:16 AM

5 Comments

BP Daily Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 90: The Cheapskate Approach to Aroldis Chapman/The Phillies and Framing/Ranking Baseball Figures By Historical Importance

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about how the Reds might save some money on Aroldis Chapman, whether certain teams might benefit more from framing than others, and where we would rank Marvin Miller in the pantheon of important historical baseball figures.

Episode 90: "The Cheapskate Approach to Aroldis Chapman/The Phillies and Framing/Ranking Baseball Figures By Historical Importance"

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller

November 28, 2012 5:00 AM

0 Comments

Minor League Update

Games of November 27

Notes from around the Caribbean Winter Leagues.

I'm starting to run out of prospects and interesting non-prospects that I haven't yet written about over the past few weeks so the list is down from the normal eight to six. Once Spring Training starts, the format will be very similar to what it's been in the past -- a list of 10-15 prospects with notable performances from the day before and one or two longer write-ups. I'll continue with the current format (4-8 players per day with 2-3 sentences of analysis) until then unless anyone has any other suggestions. If you do, list them in the comments section below or email me at mlbdepthcharts@gmail.com.

Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Indians (Caracas-VWL): 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, 2 K. One of the more prominent names that's eligible to be taken in the upcoming Rule V draft, the 260 lb first baseman would likely be eaten up by big league pitching at this point. The 22 year-old has a .938 OPS in 17 winter league games but he also has 20 strikeouts and only three walks.
Carlos Rivero, 3B, Nationals (Caracas-VWL): 3-for-4, 2 HR (9), 6 RBI, K. Once a very good shortstop prospect for the Indians, Rivero finally outgrew the position and moved to third base. His bat, unfortunately, could not produce enough for the hot corner and he's fallen off the radar in an organization set at the position with Ryan Zimmerman and top prospect Anthony Rendon. For now, he'll just take out his frustrations of a cloudy future on VWL pitching. The 24 year-old is hitting .306 with 9 HR and 29 RBI in 38 games.
Christian Vazquez, C, Red Sox (Manati-PRBL): 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, K. One of two Red Sox catchers to be added to the 40-man roster last week, Vazquez is slated to start the season in Double-A Portland with Dan Butler and Ryan Lavarnway likely in Triple-A, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Ross on the major league roster, and another part-time catcher, Mike Napoli, being pursued by the Sox in free agency. Still, the 22 year-old Vazquez could be ready to take the reins around 2015 if his bat continues to develop. He's gunned down 39% of opposing base stealers over the past three seasons and posted an .863 OPS with Lo-A Greenville in 2011 and a .756 OPS in 80 games with Hi-A Salem this year before struggling in Double-A.
Erik Davis, RHP, Nationals (Cibao-DWL): IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K. A former 13th Round draft pick by the Padres in 2008, Davis was having a solid career as a starter before Washington acquired him prior to the 2011 season. His numbers were just so-so during his first season with the Nats (5.30 ERA in 127.1 innings pitched between Double-A and Hi-A) and he was moved to the bullpen full-time in 2012. In 48 appearances (40 with Double-A Harrisburg, 8 with Triple-A Syracuse), Davis posted a 2.71 ERA with 20 walks and 74 strikeouts in 73 innings. Added to the 40-man roster last week, he appears to have a future in the Nats' pen. The 26 year-old has allowed just 1 ER in 18 innings with Cibao.
Jose De La Torre, RHP, Red Sox (Caguas-PRBL): 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K. In two under the radar trades during the regular season, the Red Sox picked up two journeymen pitchers from the Indians who could eventually make their way to the big leagues. Steven Wright, acquired for Lars Anderson, looks better and better as he continues to work on his knuckleball. De La Torre, a 27 year-old reliever acquired for Brent Lillibridge, has been lights out since becoming part of the Red Sox organization. In 28.1 combined innings between Caguas and Triple-A Pawtucket, De La Torre has a 2.22 ERA with 3 walks and 30 strikeouts. He'll likely return to Pawtucket after being re-signed to a minor league deal.
Hector Rondon, RHP, Indians (Caracas-VWL): IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. Once upon a time, Rendon was a highly-touted prospect for the Indians, ranking 6th on their Future Shock Top Prospect list after a stellar Triple-A season in 2009 (3.38 ERA, 146.1 IP, 143 H, 29 BB, 137 K). He made just seven starts in 2010 before being shut down and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. It's been a long road back for the 24 year-old. He's made only six appearances over the last two regular seasons but he appears to be on the comeback trail. Rondon struck out the side in a 1-2-3 inning to finish off a victory on Tuesday and has a 3.77 ERA with 4 walks and thirteen strikeouts in 15.1 innings.

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Jason Martinez

November 28, 2012 5:00 AM

15 Comments

November 27, 2012

BP Unfiltered

Former MLBPA Executive Director Marvin Miller Passes Away and Why He Should Be in the HOF

Former MLBPA Executive Director Marvin Miller passed away today at the age of 95. A larger man in the history of baseball we may not have seen, and yet, he's yet to grace the Hall of Fame.

It’s hard to know where to begin with the news today that former MLBPA Executive Director Marvin Miller passed away at the age of 95. In the history of sports, there may have never been a more galvanizing and important figure. As with most people of greatness, the actions of Miller were not seen by all as being good for sports. Still, love him or hate him, his impact on not only Major League Baseball, but all professional sports leagues, cannot be overstated. Collective bargaining, arbitration, free agency, and the fight for players’ rights all began with Miller. In that, you might disagree with Miller, but you had to respect him.

Maury Brown

November 27, 2012 12:20 PM

10 Comments

BP Unfiltered

Daily Draft Video: Keegan Thompson

Daily exclusive video series designed to familiarize you with the names you need to know leading up to the 2013 amateur draft.

Nick J. Faleris

November 27, 2012 9:20 AM

0 Comments

Minor League Update

25-Man Roster of Top Prospects Playing in the Dominican Winter League

25-man roster of top prospects playing in the Dominican Winter League

With only three makeup games going on in the Dominican Winter League and all of the other leagues off on Monday, I have no player updates for you today. Instead, I put together a 25-man roster of DWL prospects because I really enjoy organizing things into 25-man rosters whenever possible.

So many top prospects are playing in the DWL, so it wasn't that difficult. Only three starting pitchers that I added to the back of the bullpen haven't pitched but are on rosters. There were about 10 really good position player prospects that didn't make the cut. Current DWL stats are listed along with their projected starting level in 2013.

Starting Lineup

1 2B Alen Hanson, Pirates (Este-DWL): 0-for-5, BB, K, SB. 2013 projection: Hi-A

2 SS Jurickson Profar, Rangers (Licey-DWL): .590 OPS, HR, 2B, 4 BB, 4 K 2013 projection: Triple-A

3 LF Oscar Taveras, Cardinals (Cibaenas-DWL): .953 OPS, 4 HR, 4 2B, 10 BB, 13 K, 4 SB 2013 projection: Triple-A

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Jason Martinez

November 27, 2012 5:00 AM

7 Comments

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