No Doubt - Pool D

This is it, the last 3 big league Aussie dudes for the Defensive Specialist to present to the masses. The poll is up, the vote counters are ready to start tallying. Remember, once Pool D is completed, the defensive Specialist will then pit all 4 pool winners against each other before presenting the Deep in the Hole paper certificate to Australia’s best Major Leaguer.

Once you’ve cast your vote, be sure to tune in on Saturday and Sunday morning (or Monday at work if you want to kill about 3 hours) because the Defensive Specialist will be live and exclusive from regional NSW, presenting all the action out at the Blacktown Olympic Park as South Australia grapple with NSW.

For now though, enjoy the remainder of Pool D:

Luke Prokopec

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/prokolu01.shtml

South Australian Luke Prokopec signed with the LA Dodgers in 1994. He spent 6 years in the minors before being called up for the first time in 2000. He made 3 starts and appeared in 5 games going 1-1 with an ERA of 3.00. In 2001 Prokopec played a much bigger role. He saw action in 29 games, starting 22 and went 8-7 with a 4.88 ERA.

At the end of 2001, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a package for Cesar Izturis and Paul Quantrill.  In 2002 he went 2-9 with a 6.78 ERA after starting 12 games and appearing in 22.

Persistent arm injuries derailed his professional career and Prokopec never appeared in the big leagues again.

  

Rich Thompson

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompri03.shtml

Rich Thompson has enjoyed 3 seasons to date in the Major Leagues. He signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2002 and made his debut in 2007. As a reliever he appeared in 7 games posting an ERA of 10.80 and striking out 9 in 6.2 innings. Thompson briefly played for the Angels in 2008, got shelled in 2 innings and gave up 5 runs. He made 13 appearances in 2009, working 19.1 innings and punching out 21. His ERA was 5.12.

He is currently on the Angels 40 man roster indicating that he factors into their big league plans in 2010.

Grant Balfour

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/balfogr01.shtml

Cursed with potentially the second most ironic last name ever conceived for a pitcher (Ball Four), the worst being Massivegameendingjack, Balfour has risen to prominence in the big leagues, establishing himself as a valuable bullpen pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

He signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1997, and made his major league debut in 2001 as a 23 year old pitching in 2 games over 2.2 innings. He next saw the ‘Show’ in 2003 when he appeared in 17 games and pitched 26 innings. He worked primarily as a reliever but did make his one and only (to date) major league start, posting a 1-0 win loss record and a 4.15 ERA. Balfour went 4-1 in 2004 with a 4.35 ERA across 39.1 relief innings of work while striking out 42.

Injury scuttled Balfour’s 2005 season and he was granted free agency. He signed with Cincinnati and spent the year in their minor leagues. Late in 2006 he was selected off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers. He appeared in 3 games for the Brew Crew in 2007, getting torched for 6 earned runs in 2 innings and going 0-2 before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Seth McClung. He appeared in another 22 games for the Rays in 2007, posting a win and a 6.14 ERA.

In 2008 Balfour put up solid spring training numbers yet was not added to the active roster, instead he was optioned to the minor leagues. He was recalled early in the season and put together a thoroughly dominant season. Appearing in 51 games, Balfour presented a 1.54 ERA and a record of 6-2. He punched out a phenomenal 82 hitters in 58 innings of work and lodged 4 saves. He played a prominent role in the Tampa bullpen as they made their way to their first World Series appearance. Balfour made highlights when he engaged in an on-field shouting match with Orlando Cabrera over who’s dad was tougher.

2009 was less successful for Balfour although his workload was increased. A 5-4 record with 4 saves and a 4.81 ERA spread over 73 game and 67 innings.

To date, Balfour’s career numbers are 17-9 with a 4.20 ERA and 8 saves.

The Defensive Specialist just flipped the Deep in the Hole super computer keyboard up in the air like Barry Bonds used to toss his bat after a monster homerun. You can do that when you know that it’s a no doubter; that’s how the Defensive Specialist feels about these pools, there’s no doubt the guys have been presented fairly and accurately and it’s now time to vote and make a final decision. Make sure you head to the top of the page and select the guy you think is top dog in Pool D.

The Defensive Specialist must go now in order to start visualizing this weekend’s games, playing the situations out in his head before they happen so that everything else is just a reaction or instinct. If you want to write prime time game reviews, you need to see yourself achieving. Allow the Defensive Specialist to crank up the sounds of whales mating and sign off here so that the mental imagery can begin.

Pool D - The Deep End

The countdown is on folks! T minus 3 days and counting until the Defensive Specialist gets back to where he belongs – at the yard. The Deep in the Hole bus will be in action and the notebook will be primed to capture all the action between NSW and Claxton Shield leaders South Australia. The plan is to take in all 3 games and provide comprehensive breakdowns as soon as humanly possible after the action. The Defensive Specialist is particularly keen to see how the lads from South Australia handle being top dog since it’s unfamiliar territory up at the top of the table for them.

It’s all well and good talking about plans for the weekend, but the Defensive Specialist has been running a little project to determine Australia’s best Major Leaguer. We’re in the home stretch and reader participation in the polls has been high so lets drive this run home with the first part of Pool D.

Pool D

Peter Moylan

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

By now everyone is familiar with West Australian Moylan’s story. Signed as a youngster by the Twins in 1996, he was quickly released less than 2 years later. Between 1998 and 2006 Moylan worked as a shepherd tending to his flock and secretly slinging rocks from a new ¾ arm angle that enabled him to generate groundball inducing fastballs in the mid to upper 90’s. This skill was particularly useful when combating one-eyed giants. Whilst working in the fields, Moylan was spotted by an Australian scout who fell in love with the run on his fastball. He recommended that Moylan shave his impressive beard, shed his robes, and play for Australia at the World Baseball Classic. It was during this tournament that he was pitted against the Major Leaguer laden Venezuelan team whom he skillfully mowed down in order. Major League scouts in attendance were impressed not only by his fastball but by his ability to pitch in sandals.

Moylan chose to sign with the Atlanta Braves in 2006 and made his big league debut after only 35 games at the AAA level. Debuting as a 27 year old, Moylan worked in 15 games putting up an ERA of 4.80. In 2007 Moylan put together a sparkling year with a 5-3 record, a 1.80 ERA and one save in 80 games. 2008 didn’t get off to a great start with Moylan serving up a game winning homerun to Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals on opening day. He appeared in another 6 games before his elbow exploded, requiring Tommy John surgery and a year’s holiday.

Moylan contemplated heading back to his flock but instead decided to give Major League baseball another crack. In 2009 he set an Atlanta Brave record by working in 87 games. He had become more of a specialist reliever, working primarily against right-handed hitters who had great trouble with his tailing fastball. He posted a 6-2 win loss tally while posting an ERA of 2.84. He also made his YouTube debut showcasing his extensive tattoo work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-nOKlQ1_c

Strange having a pitcher pose with a bat:

Stranger posing with your nipples erect:

Moylan’s career numbers to date: 11- 6, 2.45 ERA and 2 saves over 183 innings.

Travis Blackley

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blacktr01.shtml

Signed as an amateur free agent in 2000, Blackley quickly vaulted through the Mariners organization as a top prospect, being named #63 prospect in Baseball America’s top 100 in 2004. He made his first appearance in the Major Leagues in 2004 going 1-3 in 6 starts. He yielded 29 earned runs in 26 innings. 2005 saw Blackley shut down while recovering from labrum surgery.

In 2007 Blackley was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Jason Ellison. He returned to the big leagues and started 2 games without a decision and an ERA of 7.27. Blackley has not returned to the big leagues since 2007 and played last season in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization

Justin Huber

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/huberju01.shtml

Victorian Justin Huber signed with the New York Mets in 2000. He was a highly regarded catching prospect when he was packaged to the Kansas City Royals for Jose Bautista (not that impressive) who was then moved for Kris Benson (a lot more impressive at the time). Huber injured his knee, requiring surgery. He made his debut with the Royals in 2005. Now no longer regarded as a catcher, Huber played in 25 games (first base and DH) hitting .218 with 6 RBI’s and 6 runs. In 2006 he played in 5 games, hitting .200 and in 2007 he played in 8 games hitting .100.

Huber was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2008 for an ice cream machine. As much as the Padres loved soft served ice cream, they loved Huber hitting his first career homerun against future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson more. He played in 33 games as an outfielder hitting .246 with 2 homeruns and 8 RBI’s.

Granted free agency, Huber was signed by the Minnesota Twins after the World Baseball Classic. He played all season at the AAA level, hitting 22 jacks before gaining a late season call and having 2 at bats with the Twins.

Ok, that’s the first part of Pool D done and dusted. The Defensive Specialist will have the second half up on Thursday morning along with the last poll. Now if you don’t mind, the Defensive Specialist has to go and recalibrate the Deep in the Hole radar and stopwatch in preparation for this weekend.