Four Play

Okay party people, just a quick one today as the Defensive Specialist sets up the final poll that will allow the loyal readers to vote on who they believe is Australia’s best Major Leaguer. Before we get started, the above picture was the only non-pornographic photo that the Defensive Specialist could find to correspond with the title - we're trying to run a  family friendly organisation here! (mind you if you look them up and listen to your music your auditory senses may be offended) Anyway, voting numbers have been ridiculously high and the Deep in the Hole hotline has been running hot as campaign teams for a number of players have been calling in asking for extensions as they try to sway voters and jack their guy’s numbers up. Fortunately for democracy, the Defensive Specialist runs a fair and equitable program and all deadlines were adhered to.

As you can probably tell from the Defensive Specialist’s writing, he is a man of no ego. A selfless individual here purely to serve the game. And it is with this in mind that the Defensive Specialist asks for forgiveness and offers a heartfelt apology. It isn’t often that the Defensive Specialist makes a mental error but this one could not be overlooked. Your old pal, the Defensive Specialist forgot an Aussie Major Leaguer – Phil Stockman.

Apologies Phil.

Phil Stockman

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stockph01.shtml

Stockman signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997. He was granted free agency in 2005 and signed with the Atlanta Braves. He made his major league debut in 2006 at 26, appearing in 4 games and pitching 4 innings. He posted a 2.25 ERA and punched out 4. IN 2008 Stockman appeared in 6 games, working 7.1 innings, striking out 9 and yielding no runs.

Injuries derailed his career and he was releases by Atlanta in 2009.

The Defensive Specialist is making an executive decision that Phil wouldn’t have made the finals.

Anyway we’re down to the final four:

Pool A

Ryan Rowland-Smith

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rowlary01.shtml

Pool B

Graeme Lloyd

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lloydgr01.shtml

Pool C

David Nilsson

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nilssda01.shtml

Pool D

Peter Moylan

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moylape01.shtml

And just because there are more goofy pictures of Moylan online than anyone else:

Make sure you cast your vote ASAP, as the poll will only be up for one week. Please keep write-in votes to a minimum and if Phil Stockman’s legal team is reading, please send all correspondence directly to the Deep in the Hole Group General Counsel.

While the results are flooding in, the Defensive Specialist will be working on his take on Australia’s best big leaguer as well as preparing his Christmas treat for all the loyal readers. If you have any topics or ideas that you’d like baseball’s biggest brain to cover, fire them into thedefenisvespecialist@gmail.com