The Job Description

I realize there are thousands of people out there who have the same dream job as I do. To be honest, I wish each of them the best. However, I would not apply for a job for which I am not qualified. Upon reading the job description below, I immediately thought about how so many of my skills can translate to this position.

Let's start breaking this down, shall we? Here is the job description:

-Strong writing skills

I started in print journalism at Ohio University, but quickly switched to broadcast. Obviously there is still a heavy writing element and I have the ability to tell compelling stories. My duties included reporting and producing for Gridiron Glory and Newswatch, two public television programs produced almost entirely by broadcast journalism students on a volunteer basis.

After I closed out my time as a Bobcat I studied for my Master's in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts. To complete the program I interned at Baseball America, where I followed baseball prospects at the minor league, college and high school levels.

This spring I am entering my fourth year as a baseball writer for Rotowire, a fantasy sports website and resource. My duties includes covering the news on the Baltimore Orioles, updating player notes and profiles, and writing a column that previews the day's fantasy matchups.

-Strong verbal communication skills

My broadcast background plays up to this skill set. While I was at Ohio University, I worked on baseball and women's basketball play-by-play for the Ohio Sports Network for three years. I also co-hosted a radio sports talk show and was on-air talent for sports and news programming. Needless to say, I feel quite comfortable on TV and radio.

-Strong organizational skills

If it is a multitasker who knows how to prioritize and complete deadline driven tasks that MLB seeks, look no further. My current day job is working for an affordable housing finance company. Today I finished synthesizing data for a project that is not even due until early next week. Then I went to my youth basketball practice, where I worked to get my sixth grade boys team ready for our playoff game tomorrow. (Go Warcats!) After coming home and eating some boxed mac-and-cheese, I checked in on Baltimore Orioles news and posted some updates. Now I am writing and strategizing on this blog.

Yes, I would say I have the ability to juggle lots of tasks.

-Must be a baseball expert

There really is no other way to say it than to admit that I am a baseball junkie. I love watching the game live and on television, and I love breaking it down. More than anything, I enjoy communicating with my friends during the season. I have friends with whom I play fantasy baseball and every year we comment on how we talk so much more during baseball season. It really is a beautiful game.

In my spare time I take quizzes like this one and I enjoy them for every MLB team. My favorite classes in college were HIST 319B HIST 319C, otherwise known as Baseball History pre-1930 and Baseball History post-1930, taught by historian Charles Alexander. Alexander truly is a cult hero to any baseball fan who has taken his class. And yes, we do have a Facebook group devoted to him.

I once took a seven hour road trip and played the baseball name game the entire way. (That's where I say Albert Pujols and my opponent must say a player whose first name starts with "P" since Pujols starts with "P." It goes back and forth until someone runs out of players. Strikes are optional.

-Must be comfortable in front of the camera and able to present a positive public image

I touched on my work in front of the camera already, so I will emphasize that I truly care about being an upstanding person. My work experience includes working for two non-profit companies. Last year I rode in Pelotonia, a grassroots bike tour that requires riders to raise funds for cancer research. My efforts resulted in more than $2,300 for this cause.

-Must have a witty and creative personality

Ask my older brother and younger sisters about this one and they would probably say this is me to a fault. But I am the guy forever immortalized in my high school yearbook for wearing footie pajamas on picture day just because I could. And that was after I used the computer in my AP Biology class for fantasy baseball all year long. (Ah yes, the cowboys days of the internet when schools did not know how to block certain pages yet.) In recent years, I have tried to work on my first standup comedy routine. That one is still a work in progress.

-Must complete a background check

I have nothing to hide.

Much more to come on my qualifications as I flush out many of these experiences. For now, I have to concentrate on my basketball game tomorrow. It is tournament time, so wish the Warcats luck!

Dreaming About the Dream Job

Well here goes nothing.

While I was perusing the internet I bumped into the MLB Dream Job advertisement and here I am starting my a campaign as to why I am the best person for the job. I could submit my resume and see what happens and that piece of paper would be in a pile with a lot of other pieces of paper. There will be thousands of applicants and the only way to get the job will be to find a way to impress MLB with the skills I already possess.

That is exactly what I hope to do with this blog. The job description can be found on the page I linked above, but essentially what they are looking for is someone who can do two things: 1) Be baseball's ultimate fan by watching every game of the season. 2) Connect with other people through media.

Readers of this blog may think I am turning a bit egotistical to try to draw all this attention to myself. I can assure each and every one of you that I have two feet on the ground. There is just no way to get a position like this without putting myself out there and trying to do something unique. Perhaps I get the job through this effort. Perhaps I do not. I have nothing to lose.

Now it is up to me to explain why I am the best person to get paid to watch every MLB game this season and write about it. Consider this blog a really, really long cover letter. This should be entertaining.