Help wanted: MLB seeks “stats stringers”

Brought to you as a public service announcement.

MLB.com is seeking stats stringers to cover these clubs in 2013 and beyond:

Baltimore/DC (both clubs)
Houston
Kansas City
Oakland/SF (both clubs)
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
San Diego
Seattle
Texas (Arlington)
Toronto

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!

I actually did this for awhile for STATS Inc. I scored Mets and Yankees games from the respective stadiums, but I was also able to “work from home,” scoring games on TV. If memory serves, I was paid $50 for the former and $25 for the latter. I don’t know what the going rate is these days.

It was a lot of fun especially at the ballpark, mixing in with media folks you know by reputation. Some are pretty cool, others are pretty jerky. I once found myself alone in an elevator with Bob Uecker after a Mets game with the Milwaukee Brewers. It was a particularly bad game for his team and although he was congenial in our brief conversation, every other word out of his mouth was a cuss.

The job can also be a bit hectic. Very time-oriented. There are always technological issues that crop up, not to mention it’s really difficult to take even a couple of minutes off to go to the bathroom. I also had to contend with the demands of making the last bus back to Jersey, so if the game was particularly slow or went into extra innings, it made for a bit of anxiety. (That’s why all the games had back-up reporters doing the games from TV.

If you live in any of these areas and fit the bill, it’s definitely worth it to apply. Even if you don’t get the gig, you’ll have a new-found appreciation for the profession, not to mention some “insider” knowledge.