What started out with eight teams is now down to four. With sweeps by the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Boston Red Sox as well as a 3-1 series win by the Cleveland Indians, the 2007 MLB playoffs has gotten off to a rapid start. Several Baseball Factory/Team One alumni have contributed greatly to their teams’ success.

In the American League Divisional Series, the Cleveland Indians squared off against the New York Yankees. C. C. Sabathia, Ryan Garko, Jensen Lewis and Jeremy Sowers are all Baseball Factory/Team One alumni and also on the Indians post season roster. In game one, Cy Young hopeful C.C. Sabathia pitched five innings allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five. First baseman Ryan Garko had a great game going 3 for 4 with a solo homerun. Reliever Jensen Lewis pitched one inning of no hit ball and the Indians went on to win 12-3. Yankees Shelley Duncan, a Baseball Factory/Team One alumni went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the loss. The Indians won game two in 11 innings with a final score of 2-1. The Yankees came back to win game three 8-4. In the game three, Garko went 1 for 4 with an RBI and Lewis struck out three batters in one inning of relief in a losing effort for the Indians. The Indians won game four by a score of 6-4 to take the series.
 
The Boston Red Sox swept the Los Angeles Angels. The Baseball Factory/Team One alums playing for the Angels were kept quiet in this series by the overpowering Boston Red Sox team. Casey Kotchman, Mike Napoli, and Jeff Mathis saw action for the Angels.

In the National League Divisional Series the Colorado Rockies faced the Philadelphia Phillies. Several Factory alumni saw action in this series. In game one the Phillies’ left fielder Pat Burrell went 1 for 3 with a home run and reliever Brett Myers struck out three while allowing no runs in one inning of relief. Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had an RBI as the Rockies went on to win 4-2. The Rockies won game two 10-5 as Tulowitzki went 2 for 5 with an RBI. Burrell went 1 for 4 in the loss. The Rockies finished the series by winning game three, 2-1.

After several high profile free agent signings, expectations were high for the Chicago Cubs. However, the Arizona Diamondbacks easily defeated the Cubs in three games. Six Baseball Factory alums played in this series. In game one, Diamondbacks’ third baseman Mark Reynolds went 1 for 3 with a homerun and center fielder Chris Young went 1 for 4. Cubs’ shortstop Ryan Theriot went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the Cubs 3-1 loss. The Diamondbacks won game two 8-4. Theriot and right fielder Matt Murton started for the Cubs. Chris Young hit a three run homer for the Diamondbacks. Right fielder Justin Upton went 1 for 2 with two runs scored and Reynolds scored a run. First baseman Conor Jackson also played in the win. In game three Chris Young ignited the Diamondbacks with a homer on the first pitch as the Diamondbacks won 5-1 to advance to the next round.

As the Championship Series begin, eighteen Baseball Factory alumni are in the playoffs. At the minimum, two will walk away with a World Series title. Will it be the experience of the Red Sox or the youth of the Indians, Diamondbacks or Rockies? Only time will tell which team wins it all.