In one of the most dramatic finishes to a MLB season in recent history, the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals clinched their league’s respective Wild Card berths on the final day of the season.  The victories, matched with a loss from both the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, completed two of the largest collapses in baseball history. The post-season will begin this Friday when Tampa Bay faces the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers take on the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series’.  In the National League, St. Louis will challenge the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks meet the Milwaukee Brewers in October baseball.  Baseball Factory is proud to announce that all eight teams in the 2011 MLB Postseason are represented by Team One and Baseball Factory alumni.

This Friday the Rays will look to carry the momentum of their exhilarating comeback into the playoffs, as they take on the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers. Leading the charge for the Rays are nine Baseball Factory alumni, the most of any team in this year’s postseason. Former Baseball Factory Team One Showcase standout Casey Kotchman (1B), who finished with a team best .306 average, will look to lead the offense alongside fellow Factory alum B.J. Upton (CF).  The defending AL Champion Rangers will look to avenge their World Series loss in 2010 with the help of Factory alum and 16-game winner Derek Holland (LHP).  Derek came through the Baseball Factory’s Exclusive Program as a high school player and helped Texas return to the playoffs this year with a 16-5 record and 3.95 ERA. Texas also features three 30 or more homerun guys, including former Baseball Factory Team One Showcase players Ian Kinsler (2B) and Mike Napoli (C). Not to mention four-time All-Star and Baseball Factory Team One Showcase alum Josh Hamilton starting in left field.

In the other American League Division Series, the perennial favorite New York Yankees will begin their quest for a 28th World Series Championship against the Detroit Tigers, who finished the season on a four game winning streak. The series will open with a duel between the two club’s aces, CC Sabathia (LHP) for the Yanks and Justin Verlander (RHP) for the Tigers.  Both Sabathia and Verlander excelled in Baseball Factory Team One Showcases as high school standouts.  Verlander finished the 2011 campaign 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and a serious bid for the AL Cy Young Award.  CC pitched his way to a 19-8 record with a 3.00 ERA and has plans to continue the Yankee’s post-season dominance.

The post-season picture in the National League includes an intriguing match-up between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball and are strong favorites to return to the Fall Classic this year. However, Philadelphia’s rotation wasn’t enough to contain St. Louis during the regular season as the Cardinals took the season series 6-3.  But October is a new month and the Cards’ will be tested in Game 1 of the series going up against reining NL Cy Young winner and former Baseball Factory Team One Showcase pitcher Roy Halladay (RHP).  For St. Louis, Baseball Factory Team One Showcase alum Allen Craig (LF) has filled in nicely for injured Matt Holiday, launching a few key homeruns down the stretch as the Cardinals edged into the playoffs.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks each finished the final ten games of the regular season 7-3.  On Saturday they will begin the Division Series in Milwaukee, where the Brewers earned a Major League best 57 wins.  The Brewers have a powerful offense led by Baseball Factory Team One Showcase alumni Prince Fielder (1B) and Ryan Braun (LF), both of whom finished with 30 or more homeruns and 100 plus RBI on the season.  Arizona will try to stop the pair of sluggers and create some offensive of their own behind Factory Alum Justin Upton (RF).

If the 2011 MLB Postseason is anything like the last few days of the regular season, fans have an exciting month of playoff baseball to look forward to. Baseball Factory would like to congratulate all our alumni competing in this year’s postseason.  We wish them the best of luck as they play for a World Series Championship this October!

Check out all of the Baseball Factory Alumni playing in the 2011 MLB Postseason:

American League
Detroit Tigers
Rick Porcello
Justin Verlander
Ryan Raburn

New York Yankees
Eric Chavez
CC Sabathia
Mark Teixeira
David Robertson

Tampa Bay Rays
Wade Davis
Sam Fuld
Brandon Gomes
JP Howell
Casey Kotchman
Jake McGee
James Shields
Kelly Shoppach
BJ Upton

Texas Rangers
Josh Hamilton
Derek Holland
Ian Kinsler
Mike Napoli

National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Sean Burroughs
Aaron Hill
Bryan Shaw
Justin Upton
Chris Young

Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Braun
Prince Fielder
Zack Greinke
Casey McGehee

Philadelphia Phillies
Roy Halladay
Brandon Moss
Joe Savery
Mike Stutes

St. Louis Cardinals
Allen Craig
Ryan Theriot