I’m sure a lot of you are wondering how I managed to land my job with the White Sox/MLB. Below is exactly how I got it (excluding my shining resume I sent too) in its entirety. MLB’s twitter page had applicants write a blurb about a team/athlete in their market to the tune of their Cut4 page. I wrote mine on something I just saw online that day, Marlon Byrd getting a new tattoo.

Since Marlon Byrd was just traded to the Red Sox, I had an opportunity to thank the man that, ultimately, got me my job with MLB.com. I literally did thank him and, having never met him before, realized he’s a genuine, down-to-earth guy. He did ask me, jokingly, if he gets to collect on a percentage of my earnings though.

Marlon Byrd Arrives to Camp With New Ink

Chicago Cub, Marlon Byrd showed up to camp a little more colorful than in years past (figuratively and literally).  Byrd shed 20 pounds this offseason after meeting with a professional in New York. He realized he’s coming off his worst Major League season and is in high hopes for the start of 2012.

The Cub also added the following tattoo, an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, to his right arm. Byrd’s wife sends this quote to him every Opening Day and he thinks it speaks directly to him:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Rumor has it that Byrd was going back and forth about tattooing this, The Declaration of Independence, or the entire script of The Shawshank Redemption onto his arm.

- Jordan Kalkofen

I have no idea how many people applied for this position, but I am honored and blessed to be working in baseball again.

Every team has played at least one game, so now it’s pretty easy to predict the happenings of the 2012 season (sarcasm). If I get any of these right, you owe me something. Yeah, you.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East

1. Yankees
2. Red Sox
3. Rays
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles

Very tough division. The Yankees offense is just way too awesome not to put them in first. I had a REALLY hard time not putting the Rays in the playoffs, but hey, I don’t win anything if I’m right anyway.

Central

1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Twins

The Tigers are easily going to run away with this division. After all, they are my World Series champs.

West

1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Athletics

I hate how this division only has 4 teams. So stupid. I’m glad the Astros will be joining them next year, but that means fewer W’s for my Brewers. 2 awesome teams, 2 awful teams in this division.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

East

1. Phillies
2. Marlins
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Mets

I wanted to put the new look Marlins in the playoffs, but outside of Josh Johnson, I don’t think their pitching will get it done for them.

Central

1. Brewers
2. Cardinals
3. Reds
4. Pirates
5. Cubs
6. Astros

I know, I know. I’m biased, but I think the Brewers pitching will carry them into the playoffs. The top 3 in this division will be very, very close.

West

1. Diamondbacks
2. Giants
3. Dodgers
4. Rockies
5. Padres

I’m really liking this Diamondbacks team. Very young and very well rounded.

WORLD SERIES

Tigers over Diamondbacks

The Tigers will win the World Series without one of their best players in the lineup all year (Victor Martinez).

MVP

NL - Matt Kemp   

AL - Jose Bautista

I don’t think anyone can argue against either of these picks. Dudes can rake.

CY YOUNG

NL -Cliff Lee

AL - Jered Weaver

These guys are both insanely nasty.

ROY

NL - Yonder Alonso

AL - Yu Darvish

Matt Moore will be up there, but from what I’ve seen from Yu, he has Cy Young stuff.  Yonder will be one of the only regular rookies.

COMEBACK PLAYER

NL -Jayson Werth

AL - Adam Dunn

With how awful these two guys were last year, how can they NOT win this award?