Sept. 30, 2011
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Three former Missouri State Bears begin their quest for a World Series ring this weekend, as Major League Baseball kicks off Division Series play Friday with Ryan Howard (Philadelphia), Shaun Marcum (Milwaukee) and Brad Ziegler (Arizona) all figuring to play prominent roles in their respective clubs' playoff chances. With three former players on active playoff rosters, Missouri State ranks second among all NCAA Division I baseball programs in terms of alumni participating in the playoffs.
Marcum and Ziegler will square off against one another as Arizona meets Milwaukee in National League Division Series action, beginning with Saturday's opener at 1:07 p.m. (CST) at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Marcum went 13-7 with a 3.54 earned run average over 33 starts in his first season with the Brewers, helping lead the club to its first N.L. Central Divison crown with a 96-66 mark. This will mark the first trip to the postseason for the right-hander, who was a key figure on MSU's 2003 College World Series squad.
Ziegler will also making his first career playoff appearance following a solid late-season performance for the Diamondbacks in which he posted a sparkling 1.74 ERA over 23 relief appearances following a trade deadline deal that brought him to Arizona from Oakland. The right-hander also played a feature role on the Bears CWS team to cap a standout four-year career at MSU.
The third Bear alum who will compete for MLB's ultimate prize is no stranger to the postseason. Howard, who played at MSU from 1999-2001, claimed National League Championship Series MVP honors in 2009 to add to his long list of accomplishments as a pro, including 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, 2006 NL MVP, 2006 Home Run Derby champion and 2008 World Series champion.
In helping Philadelphia to a major league-best 102 victories during the regular season and the club's fifth consecutive playoff appearance, Howard drove in 116 runs to rank third in the National League, while also clubbing 33 home runs and slugging .488. The Phillies secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, which will get underway for the N.L. East Division champs Saturday (Oct. 1) at 4:07 (CST) with Game 1 of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Long Beach State, featuring John Bowker (Philadelphia), Marco Estrada (Milwaukee), Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay), Bryan Shaw (Arizona) and Vance Worley (Philadelphia), took top honors among all Division I baseball programs, placing five former players who completed their collegiate careers at the school on active playoff rosters. Oregon State shared runner-up honors with the Bears with three former standouts, including Cole Gillespie (Arizona), Joe Paterson (Arizona) and Michael Stutes (Philadelphia).
