Middle Tennessee on deck at MLB playoffs
Upset that your favorite team is not in the major league baseball playoffs?
No fear.
It’s time to adopt a new one ... at least for a few months. With more than two dozen Midstate ties on the 10 teams, there are plenty of ways to go.
Interested in former Sounds who turned into major league managers? Then you should root for a Dodgers-Orioles World Series where Don Mattingly and Buck Showalter would meet.
Interested in Vanderbilt alumni? Then keep an eye on the American League Division Series this weekend. When Detroit faces Baltimore, there will be several former Commodores on the field.
Still can’t decide? This guide should help:
WILD-CARD ROUND
A’S AT ROYALS
One-game playoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, TBS
Midstate connections: Oakland — manager Bob Melvin (Sounds 1985), coach Ariel Prieto (Sounds 2003), pitcher Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt); Kansas City — hitting coach Dale Sveum (Sounds 1999), first base coach Rusty Kuntz (Sounds 1985), outfielder Lorenzo Cain (Sounds 2008, ’10), shortstop Alcides Escobar (Sounds 2009).
Biggest impact: Escobar stole 42 bases and batted .298 for the Sounds in 2009. He’s the same high-caliber player for the Royals, playing in all 162 games this season while batting .285 with 31 steals. If he gets on base, he could be a difference-maker.
GIANTS AT PIRATES
One-game playoff: 7 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN
Midstate connections: San Francisco — pitching coach Dave Righetti (Sounds 1995), pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (Sounds 2001,’03), first baseman Travis Ishikawa (Sounds 2012); Pittsburgh — hitting coach Jeff Branson (Sounds 1991-92), pitcher John Axford (Sounds 2009-10), third baseman Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt), special assistant Frank Kremblas (Sounds manager 2005-08).
Biggest impact: With Alvarez on the disabled list, there are not a lot of names on this list that will have an impact and decide this one-game playoff.
AL DIVISION SERIES
TIGERS AT ORIOLES
Best-of-five: Begins Thursday, TBS
Midstate connections: Detroit — pitcher David Price (Vanderbilt), pitcher Robbie Ray (Brentwood High), pitcher Drew VerHagen (Vanderbilt), hitting coach Darnell Coles (Sounds 1992), third base coach Dave Clark (Sounds coach 2002); Baltimore — manager Buck Showalter (Sounds 1980-83), outfielder Nelson Cruz (Sounds 2005-06), shortstop J.J. Hardy (Sounds 2009), catcher Caleb Joseph (Lipscomb), infielder Ryan Flaherty (Vanderbilt).
Biggest impact: There are many choices here. Price could stifle the potent Orioles offense in Game 2 on Friday, while Cruz and Hardy could come up big offensively. And don’t discount Showalter, who is the clear front-runner to be named American League manager of the year.
A’S-ROYALS WINNER AT ANGELS
Best-of-five: Begins Thursday, TBS
Midstate connections: See Oakland/Kansas City list above in wild-card round; Los Angeles – pitcher Joe Thatcher (Sounds 2007).
Biggest impact: If the A’s beat the Royals and advance, then Gray will make his postseason debut, most likely starting Game 3 in Oakland on Sunday.
NL DIVISION SERIES
CARDINALS AT DODGERS
Best-of-five: Begins Friday, Fox Sports 1
Midstate connections: St. Louis — pitcher Randy Choate (Sounds 2008); Los Angeles — manager Don Mattingly (Sounds 1981), pitcher Zack Greinke (Sounds 2011), catcher A.J. Ellis (Austin Peay).
Biggest impact: Greinke, who made two starts in 2011 with the Sounds in an injury rehab assignment, was 17-8 this season. He will start Game 2 on Saturday.
PIRATES-GIANTS WINNER AT NATIONALS
Best-of-five: Begins Friday, Fox Sports 1
Midstate connections: See Pittsburgh/San Francisco list above in wild-card round; Washington – bench coach Randy Knorr (Sounds 2000), pitcher Taylor Hill (Vanderbilt).
Biggest impact: Hill will not be on the postseason Nationals roster, and the Pirates and Giants rosters do not have any Midstate players who will see significant playing time.
Reach Dave Ammenheuser at 615-259-8352 and on Twitter @NashSportsEd.