Former Tennessee Smokies Prevalent in MLB Playoffs - AA, Southern League
Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 10:38AM MLN Newswire –mlntherawfeed.com - Sevierville, TN – With the Colorado Rockies stunning come from behind extra inning affair cinching the final National League playoff spot, the stage is now set for the 2007 MLB Playoffs to begin. In the American League, the Boston Red Sox will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with New York Yankees tangling with the Cleveland Indians. On the National League side, the Chicago Cubs will battle the Arizona Diamondbacks while the Colorado Rockies will face the Philadelphia Phillies. Playoff games begin on Wednesday October 2nd with the divisional series all a best of five format.
As in years past, former representatives of the Tennessee Smokies are on seven of the eight team’s rosters as the playoffs begin. Playoff rosters will be announced later today, but each of the 21 former Smokies players listed were on the team’s active rosters on the final day of regular season play.
The Chicago Cubs have a total of four former Smokies, all which played at Smokies Park during the 2007 season. Pitchers Sean Gallagher, Kevin Hart, Carmen Pignatiello, and outfielder Sam Fuld all made significant contributions in the Cubs stretch run to claim the NL Central title.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, the Smokies affiliate team from 2005-2006, have the most former Smokies representatives in the post-season with a total of ten. Orlando Hudson (’00-01) and Brandon Lyon (’01) were members of the Smokies during the Toronto Blue Jays affiliation. More recent members include Miguel Montero (’05-’06), Dustin Nippert (’05), Tony Pena (’05-‘06), Doug Slaten, (’05), Stephen Drew (’05), Bill Murphy (’06), Micah Owings (’06), and Mark Reynolds (’06).
The Boston Red Sox feature two former Smokies in Mike Timlin (1990), and Kevin Cash (’02). The Angels have just one former Smokies pitcher in Kelvim Escobar (1996-97). The Cleveland Indians feature Casey Blake (1998) on their roster. Another team with one former Smokies player is the Philadelphia Phillies with Jayson Werth (2001). The New York Yankees highlight two players in Ross Ohlendorf (’06) and Alberto Gonzalez (’06). The Colorado Rockies are the only team in this year’s playoffs that do not have a former Smokies player on the roster.
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