SB Nation User Blog: Toxicadam

Get paid to watch Indians baseball

Toxicadam — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:39:39 -0000

Get paid to watch Indians baseball

* 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.

If I wasn't busy being a neurosurgeon, I would totally jump on this.

2009 AL Central Off-Season Transactions and Rumors

Toxicadam — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:06:59 -0000

Maybe this can be a good dumping place to talk about all the AL Central transactions or rumors that happen this winter. I will be able to update this post every day.

Chicago White Sox:

Signed Omar Vizquel
Signed Andruw Jones
Signed Mark Teahen
Signed J.J. Putz
Acquired Juan Pierre (for 2 minor league PTBNL)

Kansas City Royals:

Signed Bryan Bullington (minor league contract)
Signed Yasuhiko Yabuta
Signed Jason Kendall

Detroit Tigers:

Acquired Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, Phil Coke (for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson)

Minnesota Twins:

Acquired J.J. Hardy (for Carlos Gomez)

AL Gold Glove Winners

Toxicadam — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:14:54 -0000

AL Gold Glove Winners

C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
2B: Placido Polanco, Tigers
3B: Evan Longoria, Rays
SS: Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF: Torii Hunter, Angels
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
P: Mark Buehrle, White Sox

Christmas shopping: Top 50 Free Agents of 2009-2010

Toxicadam — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:30:26 -0000

See MLB trade rumors. The teams associated with the players are his guess at where they might go.

I would like to see us take Kiko Calero. Although, I worry about how he would perform in the AL.

16. Nick Johnson - Giants. A jolt of OBP at first base would do the Giants good. They were involved in talks for Johnson around the trade deadline.

24. Carl Pavano - Nationals. Back to his original organization? Pavano surprisingly managed 33 starts in '09, and his 4.16 xFIP reveals his 5.10 ERA was misleading.

33. Ben Sheets - Rangers. The Brewers and Rangers seem to be the most likely landing spots for Sheets, who had flexor tendon surgery in February and missed the '09 season. That injury caused a two-year deal with the Rangers to fall apart.

41. Mark DeRosa - Phillies. I debated flipping the DeRosa-Beltre predictions, as both the Phillies and Twins have a need at third base. DeRosa, a former Penn quarterback, has been linked to the Phils for years.

46. Jim Thome - Athletics. The A's should have their pick of affordable free agent DHs. Thome's not done; he hit .249/.366/.481 this year.

49. Kiko Calero - Rays. Calero's a health risk, so he might be cheap despite a 1.95 ERA and 10.4 K/9 in 60 innings this year. He's the type of reliever the Rays figure to add.

50. Rafael Betancourt - Rockies. I think the Rockies will work out a two-year deal to retain Betancourt as their setup man. It could include incentives for closing, should Huston Street depart after '10 or struggle before then.

Scott Lewis, two others removed from 40-man roster

Toxicadam — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:14:23 -0000

Scott Lewis, two others removed from 40-man roster

Gosling, Romero, and Scott Lewis were outrighted. Click the link for more details.

List of Winter Ball Participants

Toxicadam — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:14:33 -0000

List of Winter Ball Participants

Caracas: Hector Rondon, Jordan Brown, Cristo Arnal, shortstop Carlos Rivero and infielder Karexon Sanchez.

Venezuela Cardenales: Luis Valbuena, Infielder Niuman Romero, right-hander Steven Wright, Caribes de Oriente; right-hander Johan Pino, Tigres of Aragua.

Dominican Republic: Infielder Andy Marte and outfielder Jose Constanza, Azucareros del Este; right-hander Frank Herrmann, Aguilas; left-hander Juan Lara, Las Estrellas Orientales; outfielder Lucas Montero, Gigantes de San Francisco.

Puerto Rico: Catcher Roberto Perez and right-hander Neil Wagner, Mayaguez.

Colombia: Third baseman Giovanny Urshela, Cartagena.

Arizona Fall League: Outfielder Nick Weglarz, outfielder/first baseman Matt McBride, shortstop Carlos Rivero, right-hander Zach Putnam, right-hander Carlton Smith, right-hander Connor Graham and right-hander Josh Judy, Peoria Saguaros.

Arizona Paralella League: Right-handers Rob Bryson, Joey Mahalic, Michael Pontius and Dave Roberts, left-hander Chris Jones, catcher Alex Castillo, first baseman Beau Mills, outfielders Matt Brown, Tim Fedroff and infielder/outfielder Adam Davis. They play for the Indians entry in the league.

Cabrera and C. Perez have minor surgery.

Toxicadam — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:24:16 -0000

Cabrera and C. Perez have minor surgery.

(AP)—Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera(notes) and reliever Chris Perez(notes) have undergone surgical procedures since the season ended.

The team said Cabrera had an arthroscopic operation on his right elbow. He will begin therapy immediately and will remain in Cleveland for at least the next month. Cabrera batted .308 with six homers and 68 RBIs in 131 games this season.

Perez had a loose bone and cyst removed from the back of his ankle. He will begin his normal offseason strength and conditioning program in December. He was 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 games after coming over in a trade from St. Louis.

Top Giants prospect charged with murder

Toxicadam — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:25:20 -0000

Top Giants prospect charged with murder

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)—A top prospect for the San Francisco Giants was charged with murder in the death of a 25-year-old man last weekend at a bar in his Caribbean homeland.

Angel Villalona, who received a club-record $2.1 million bonus when he was signed by the Giants in 2006, wore a bulletproof vest Monday to his hearing at a court in the city of La Romana. He pleaded innocent to the murder charge.

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Baseball America had Angel as the #3 prospect in their system going into the 2009 season. He has tremendous raw power, but incredibly raw in every other skill.

LGFT - Restoring the Rosters

Toxicadam — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:04:16 -0000

LGFT - Restoring the Rosters

Here's a fun exercise where a guy takes a look (and ranks) every team based on players they have drafted.

Indians rank 13th overall. We get hurt by our lack of starting pitching. Direct link here.

Sizemore being shut down early.

Toxicadam — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:07:54 -0000

Sizemore being shut down early.

Grady is not in tonight's lineup, Brantley is leading off and playing center, Lonnie Soloff will be speaking to the media at 4:30.

PD reporting it also.