Baseball Factory is proud to announce that all eight teams to advance to the 2009 MLB postseason were represented by Team One and Baseball Factory alumni. In total, 30 former Baseball Factory and Team One players competed for the title of World Series Champion.  

 

In the National League, the Colorado Rockies faced the defending World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies in a Division Series rematch from 2007. The defending champs entered the post-season with perhaps the most question marks, but former Team One participant Brett Myers returned from the disabled list with hopes to solidify the pitching staff and help the Phillies repeat their championship from last year. The Rockies entered the series with five Baseball Factory and Team One alumni on their roster including Aaron Cook, an All-Star in 2008, and Huston Street, former Rookie of the Year in 2005. Their efforts were not enough, however, as the Phillies defeated the Rockies 3 – 1 to advance to their second NLCS in as many years.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals, NL Central Division champs, squared off against the Western Division Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. Despite the effort of four Baseball Factory and Team One alumni including Brendan Ryan and Rick Ankiel, the Cardinals were handed a series sweep by the Dodgers. Los Angeles earned a chance at the National League pennant for the second straight year with the help of Baseball Factory alumni A.J. Ellis and Orlando Hudson.

 

As they did in 2008, the Dodgers took the field in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, but this time with the hopes of avenging their defeat from last year.  The Dodgers were met head-on by the resilient Phillies, who for the second straight year defeated Los Angeles 4-1 in the NLCS. Philadelphia will wait to see who stands in their way of back-to-back World Series titles. The last time a National League team won back-to-back World Series titles was in 1975-76 with the Cincinnati Reds and the Big Red Machine. 

 

In the American League, after playing 12 innings in Game 163, the Minnesota Twins clinched the Central Division and a playoff match-up against heavily favored New York Yankees. The Twins boasted six Baseball Factory and Team One alumni, including Michael Cuddyer, whose leadoff triple in the bottom of the tenth inning in Game 163 helped keep the Twins playoff hopes alive. The Yankees entered the playoffs with 103 wins, the most in the Majors this year.  Led by Baseball Factory and Team One alumni C.C. Sabathia and slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Yankees trumped the Twins in a 3-0 series sweep to advance to the ALCS. 

In the American League the Boston Red Sox went head-to-head with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Division Series. Both teams hoped to better their playoff efforts of 2008.  Red Sox outfielder Rocco Baldelli, a Baseball Factory and Team One participant, looked to make well on his postseason experience from last year. However, the Angels, with the help of Baseball Factory Alumni Bobby Wilson, Mike Napoli, Jeff Mathis and Kevin Jepsen, powered their way to the ALCS after a series sweep and earned a chance to face the Yankees for the American League pennant.

 

In what has been an exciting ALCS of extra-innings and extreme weather, the Yankees sit on a 3-1 series lead as of Thursday. With a victory in Anaheim the Yankees will secure their fourth World Series appearance in the last 10 years. 

 

Look for Baseball Factory and Team One alumni to contribute to their team’s efforts for the remainder of the postseason. We wish them the best of luck!

 

A complete list of Baseball Factory and Team One Alumni in the postseason:

 

National League:

 

Khalil Greene – Team One East –Cardinals*

Brendan Ryan – Team One West – Cardinals

Rick Ankiel – Team One National – Cardinals

Joe Mather – Team One West – Cardinals*

 

A.J. Ellis – Team One Midwest – Dodgers

Orlando Hudson – Team One National – Dodgers

 

Brett Myers – Team One National – Phillies

 

Aaron Cook – Team One Midwest – Rockies

Huston Street – Team One West – Rockies

Chris Iannetta – Team One East – Rockies

Troy Tulowitzki – Team One West – Rockies

Matt Murton – Team One – Rockies*

 

American League:

 

Michael Bowden – Team One National – Red Sox

Casey Kotchman – Team One National – Red Sox

Jed Lowrie – Team One Events – Red Sox

Rocco Baldelli – Team One East – Red Sox

 

Kevin Jepsen – Team One Events – Angels

Jeff Mathis – Team One Events – Angels

Mike Napoli – Team One Events – Angels

Bobby Wilson – Team One Events – Angels

 

David Robertson – Team One South – Yankees

C. C. Sabathia – Team One National – Yankees

Mark Teixeira – Team One National – Yankees

Shelley Duncan – Team One National – Yankees*

 

Jose Morales – Team One Events – Twins

Michael Cuddyer – Team One Events – Twins

Brian Duensing – Baseball Factory Events – Twins 

Jason Pridie – Team One National – Twins*

Denard Span – Team One Events – Twins

Delmon Young – Baseball Factory All-America Tournament – Twins 

 

 

*On 40-man roster but not active roster for first round of playoffs