Cleveland Sports Lists to Commemorate 2014: While We’re Waiting…
December 18, 2014What happened to the defense? Cleveland Browns Film Room
December 18, 2014Have you ever wondered how all that live game data gets updated on live game trackers? Well, wonder no more. MLB.com posted on Cleveland Craigslist that they are looking for “Stats Stringers” for the Cleveland Indians.
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 At-Bat, Gameday and MLB.TV, real-time highlights and text alerts, and by our business partners. This is a perfect part-time job for a responsible, computer-savvy person 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 and data in our scoring software against the official box score provided by the Official Scorer.
Qualifications include:
- 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;
- Previous experience (including pressbox exposure) with a professional or college sports team, preferably baseball;
- 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.
It sounds like a good gig for any big Tribe fan. The only kind of weird thing? MLB.com with all their technical advancement and all their forward-thinking technology including the some of the best video streaming game infrastructure in the world still uses AOL Instant Messenger as an advertised communication tool in the job posting? I wonder if that’s just an outdated part of the job listing.
12 Comments
Maybe they use AIM because it’s so reliable as far as network traffic and everything since they’re the only ones on it.
Other attributes of the ideal candidate include:
-Aversion to social interactions
-Chastity involuntarily maintained
-Passionate, unnatural love for WAR-derivative statistics.
“It sounds like a good gig for any big Tribe fan.”
I know someone who did this once, though not in Cleveland. It’s a good gig for someone who doesn’t need a livable wage and has plenty of spare time. They don’t pay enough for this to be a primary job and while going to the park every night sounds like a fun time at first, it quickly becomes a pain to get there early enough and leave that late every single night, which also puts a serious damper on your ability to maintain a job that does pay enough to live off of, or have a social life where you enjoy the benefits of that livable wage.
That’s what I read about most jobs in baseball, even at higher levels. Terrible pay, long hours, all consuming.
unless you’re Gavin Floyd!
Right, this isn’t a job for someone who merely likes baseball. This is a job for someone who likes baseball so much they’re willing to be broke and have no other social life for it.
via AOL Instant Messenger
WTF?
I bet they get a lot of retirees. I wouldn’t mind doing something like that with my evenings after I retire in like a hundred years. (provided I’ve saved enough to live without the extra by the time I’m 135)
Most retirees aren’t qualified: Strong computer proficiency (Windows OS and Windows-based software) and the ability to quickly learn and operate new software
Yeah, I’d say this is more for college students. There’s a reason this job opens up every winter for a whole bunch of teams.
I would imagine you are right as far as college students being the richest source for these positions, but I’ll argue that we’re nearing a point where retirees are more and more likely to have computer skills. My family got our first computer in 1994. My dad is about to turn 62 and he’s been using computers for over 20yrs. He could definitely do that job. I’m aware that he doesn’t necessarily represent the average 62 year old, but he’s not one in a million either.
How do i get this job? Very interested