Oh SUUUURE, I'd need to live in New York City, but how much different could it be from Jordan? I mean, I've visited there a few times and survived; in fact, I actually loved New York.
So, I spent the better portion of the day so far penning about 1,500 words, to answer three different questions on the application. They are, as listed, below:
1. In the first part, tell us about yourself and why you love baseball. (500 word limit)
I started following Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins in earnest when I was 11 years old, and was crushed when my first team – the ’84 Twins – saw their hopes of winning the American League Western Division die on the final weekend in Cleveland. Along with newspaper box scores, baseball cards were my window to the game through the 80’s and early 90’s, and I knew all the players as I built up a collection big enough to overtake our basement cellar.
I started playing fantasy baseball with classmates in 1988 – my freshman year of high school – long before it became popular nationally in the mid-to-late 90’s. I still have all the notebooks where we kept our stats, standings, and even running diaries, and they were always in demand to be borrowed throughout the seven hours of the school day.
Also during the summer of 1991, I started playing men’s amateur baseball for my hometown team, the Belle Plaine Tigers. Although I have always been an end-of-the-bench player and now serve almost exclusively as third base coach, this will be my 20th summer of “town team” ball. I managed the squad from 1999 to 2004, and have spent the last 13 years writing a weekly article for the local newspaper and serving as a member of the team’s baseball board.
Back to fantasy baseball: in 1997 I started up a new keeper league with eleven other friends, wrote a five-page league constitution, and have served since as Commissioner of what is now a 14-team league. Aside from the greatest day of the year – Draft Day – we also have a summer Trading Deadline Party and a weekend trip somewhere new every January for our Winter Meetings.
I have witnessed a pair of improbable world championships for my beloved Twins – including being at Kirby’s Game #6 in ’91 – lived through the contraction scare of 2001, and have seen it come full circle with the unveiling of beautiful Target Field, of which I’m also lucky to say that yes, I was there.
To borrow a phrase from Bud Selig, this is truly the “golden era” of being a baseball fan. There are so many ways to follow, from the stand-by mediums of radio and TV to the internet, smartphone, and social media platforms. Opening Day can’t get here soon enough!
a. Who will win the American and National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 2011? Make a strong case for your selections.
b. What will be the biggest storyline of 2011? Explain why.
For starters, the player must have talent. Longoria hits for power (he has averaged 27 HR’s and 101 RBI per season), has posted a respectable batting average (.283 career), and is a threat on the bases – he has swiped 31 bags in 36 career attempts. On defense, Longoria is already a two-time Gold Glove winner.
Next, a player is much more likely to receive consideration if he plays on a winning team. Tampa Bay won 96 games last year, so we already know they are deeply talented; but more importantly, they have as rich a farm system as any in the game, which means they can replace talent.
An MVP candidate gains a lot of ground if the player’s team is perceived to have suffered notable losses, and the Rays have arguably lost more than anyone, highlighted by the defection of stud Carl Crawford to the division-rival Red Sox.
Finally, a player needs to have intangibles. Longoria is already considered a team leader, and plays on a club with a glaring lack of other MVP-type worthy candidates. Already a well-established young star of national notoriety, Longoria is just 25 years old and entering the prime of his career. Factor in his second-to-none defense and the fact the Rays next-in-line soldiers will seamlessly replace their losses, and Longoria will loom large as the leading contender for American League MVP.
Braun may be one of the more underappreciated stars in the game, as he has averaged 32 homers, 105 RBI, a .307 average, and 16 steals over his first four seasons. He’s also 27 years old, arguably considered to be a player’s peak age.
The Brewers traded for Cy Young Winner Zack Greinke and the underappreciated Shaun Marcum, and are a team poised to rise. Throw in the fact that St. Louis just lost ace Adam Wainwright for the season, and the NL Central is up for grabs. Braun’s MVP case will also be buoyed by the fact that the Brewers have made only one playoff appearance since 1982, a first-round exit in 2008.
Prince Fielder is in Milwaukee for what appears to be one more year, but his star has faded somewhat and his perceived departure will not garner him the positive buzz he needs. Meanwhile Braun is locked-and-loaded in a long term deal, has the flash and flair of a superstar, and will establish himself as the new face of the franchise in this, his first MVP season.
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After submitting the application, I get a screen that says:
Thank you for applying for the MLB 2011 Dream Job. Please relax in the bullpen while we review your submission.
Dream Job: Video Upload
In two minutes, tell us why you are the most entertaining baseball fan in the country and deserve to have this Dream Job. End date for applications is March 7.
Make sure to tell us the answers to these questions:
- Your name, age, where you live and your current occupation.
- Tell us a little bit about who you are, what is going on in your life.
- Tell us why you love baseball.
- Why do you think you'd be perfect for MLB's Ultimate Dream Job?
- What relevant experience do you have?/ Why are you a baseball expert
DISTANCE
Try not to be more than 10 feet away from the camera, as the sound will be too faint.
LIGHTING
Make sure the room in which you film is well-lit. Turn on some lights, as the camera will not see as much daylight as your eyes do.
FRAMING
Position yourself so that your head and shoulders/the upper half of your body fill the frame or viewfinder.
NOISE
Make sure you are in an environment where your voice will be audible. (IMPORTANT: You must turn OFF any music, TV radio, or other noises around you.)
Videos must be in ASAP, the sooner the better, but deadline is Tuesday March 1, 2011.
To which I say: