Do you C what the Defensive Specialist C's?

Continued from:

http://deepinthehole.blogspot.com/2009/12/pool-on-high-cs.html

Ok, the Defensive Specialist and the Deep in the Hole travel secretary have determined the next series that fits into the schedule will be NSW vs SA at Blacktown Olympic Park. While the quest to find Australia’s best major Leaguer has been enjoyable and reader feedback has been unbelievable, the Defensive Specialist enjoys nothing more than getting amongst it and bringing the action directly to the loyal readers.

Anyway, that’s about 2 weeks away and the Defensive Specialist has a job at hand – completing Pool C.

Craig Shipley

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shiplcr01.shtml

Shipley saw action in the big leagues over 11 seasons, playing for 5 Major League teams. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1984 and made his debut in the show in 1986.  In 12 games he hit .111 over 27 at bats. 1987 saw Shipley appear in 26 games, hitting .257. Primarily a shortstop, Shipley also saw some time as a 3^rd baseman.

In 1988 he was traded to the New York Mets for John Gibbons and did not see big league action again until 1989 when he received 7 at bats for the Mets and hit a buck and change. Shipley was drafted by the Padres in 1990 in a minor league draft and next saw major league time in 1991. Playing in 37 games, Shipley hit .275 and his first career home run. In 1992 he participated in 52 games, hit .248 and played shortstop, second and third.

Shipley posted his career high in games in 1993 with 105. He filled a utility role and hit .235 with 4 homeruns and scored 25 runs. Shipley played in 81 games in 1994, and posted a career high .333 with 4 bombs, 30 RBI’s, 32 runs and 12 stolen bases while playing every infield position and in centre and left.

At the end of 1994 Shipley was part of a monster trade with the Houston Astros (featuring Steve Finley). He played 92 games for the Astros in 1995, once again as a utility and hit .263, scoring 23 runs and driving in 24. He was granted free agency at the conclusion of the season and signed as a free agent with the Padres.

In 1996 Shipley took part in 33 games hitting .315 with the Padres and in 1997 he played 63 games , posted a .273 average while hitting 5 homeruns. In both the 96 & 97 season he served as a utility player again.

In 98 Shipley signed with the Cardinals as a free agent only to be traded before the season to the Anahiem Angels. He once again filled a utility role playing all across the infield and appearing in the outfield over 77 games. Shipley hit .259 with 2 home runs, 17 RBI’s and 18 runs scored. His professional career concluded at the end of this season giving him careers numbers of .271 batting average, 20 homeruns, 138 RBI’s and 155 runs scored.

Shipley has gone on to become the Senior Vice President responsible for International Scouting with the Boston Red Sox.

Chris Oxspring

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oxsprch01.shtml

Ipswich-born Chris Oxspring was signed by the San Diego Padres in 2000. He toiled in the minor leagues for 5 seasons before getting his shot in 2005 appearing in 5 games and working 12 innings. He pitched as a reliever and posted an ERA of 3.75 while striking out 11. 2005 was his only year in the Major Leagues. Oxspring continued working in the US minor leagues until his contract was sold to the LG Twins in the Korean league in 2007. 

Brad Thomas

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomabr01.shtml

Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995, Thomas made his MLB debut in 2001 with the Minnesota Twins. He started 5 games going 0-2 and posting an ERA of 9.37. Thomas reappeared in the big leagues in 2003, working in 4.2 innings while losing 1 game and generating an ERA of 7.71. His final season in the major leagues was 2004 with the Twins where he played in 3 games and submitted a stink bomb of a performance, yielding 5 earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Thomas signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2005 and went on to win a championship in 2006. He posted a 2.90 ERA in his 2 years there. In 2008 he signed with the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea where he recorded 31 saves.

John Stephens

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stephjo03.shtml

Stephens was a 10 year minor leaguer who posted impressive numbers with limited velocity but brilliant control – being recognized as the best pitcher in the Oriole organization 3 times. He was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 1996 and made his major league debut with the club in 2002. Appearing in 12 games (11 as a starter) he went 2-5 with an ERA of 6.09. Stephens did not see action in the big leagues again and concluded his professional career in 2006.

So there you have it, Pool C is in the bag. Make sure you reach out and vote for someone in the poll at the top right hand corner of the page. If you have any questions or concerns, hit the Defensive Specialist at thedefensivespecialist@gmail.com. The poll will be up until next Tuesday when Pool D will debut.