The 2009 Pacific Coast League season began on Thursday, April 9, with all sixteen teams competing on opening day. The regular season ended on Monday, September 7.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Memphis Redbirds defeated the Albuquerque Isotopes, 3-0, and the Sacramento River Cats defeated the Tacoma Rainiers, 3-1. The Redbirds swept the River Cats, 3-0, in the championship series to win the PCL championship.
Teams American ConferenceDivisionTeamMLB AffiliationCityStadiumCapacity NorthIowa CubsChicago CubsDes Moines, IowaPrincipal Park11,000Memphis RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsMemphis, TennesseeAutoZone Park14,320Nashville SoundsMilwaukee BrewersNashville, TennesseeHerschel Greer Stadium10,052Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsOmaha, NebraskaJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium23,100 SouthAlbuquerque IsotopesLos Angeles DodgersAlbuquerque, New MexicoIsotopes Park12,215New Orleans ZephyrsFlorida MarlinsMetairie, LouisianaZephyr Field10,000Oklahoma City RedHawksTexas RangersOklahoma City, OklahomaAT&T Bricktown Ballpark13,166Round Rock ExpressHouston AstrosRound Rock, TexasDell Diamond10,000Pacific ConferenceDivisionTeamMLB AffiliationCityStadiumCapacity NorthColorado Springs Sky SoxColorado RockiesColorado Springs, ColoradoSecurity Service Field9,000Portland BeaversSan Diego PadresPortland, OregonPGE Park19,810Salt Lake BeesLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimSalt Lake City, UtahSpring Mobile Ballpark15,500Tacoma RainiersSeattle MarinersTacoma, WashingtonCheney Stadium9,600 SouthFresno GrizzliesSan Francisco GiantsFresno, CaliforniaChukchansi Park12,500Las Vegas 51sToronto Blue JaysLas Vegas, NevadaCashman Field10,000Reno AcesArizona DiamondbacksReno, NevadaAces Ballpark9,100Sacramento River CatsOakland AthleticsWest Sacramento, CaliforniaRaley Field14,680
Before the season
Affiliation changes Before the 2009 season, three PCL teams signed player development contracts (PDC) with different parent clubs.
The Albuquerque Isotopes signed a two-year PDC with the Los Angeles Dodgers through 2010 on September 18, 2008. The Isotopes had previously been affiliated with the Florida Marlins for six seasons in Albuquerque and four seasons when the franchise was the Calgary Cannons. This would mark the return of Dodgers prospects to Albuquerque, as Los Angeles was the parent club for the Albuquerque Dukes from 1972-00 when the club moved to Portland and were renamed the Portland Beavers.
The Las Vegas 51s signed a two-year PDC with the Toronto Blue Jays through 2010 on September 21, 2008. The 51s had previously been affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers for eight years. The relationship between Los Angeles and Las Vegas soured for years because of the lack of sufficient facilities at Cashman Field, including the lack of an on site weight room and indoor batting cage. Toronto became the third affiliate in Las Vegas' 28-year history and Las Vegas was only the second triple-A affiliate in Toronto's 33-year history.
The New Orleans Zephyrs signed a two-year PDC with the Florida Marlins through 2010 on September 21, 2008. The Zephyrs had previously been affiliated with the New York Mets for the past two seasons. Florida became New Orleans' third major league affiliate in five years.
Team changes The Tucson Sidewinders moved to Reno, Nevada becoming the Reno Aces. The team remained in the Pacific Conference – South Division and remanined the top affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks for at least the 2009 season. The Oklahoma RedHawks rebranded themselves as the Oklahoma City RedHawks and adopted new logos and team colors. The Colorado Springs Sky Sox introduced new logos and a new color scheme.
Standings Pacific Coast League - American North Division Team Win Loss % GB Memphis Redbirds 77 67 .535 — Nashville Sounds 75 69 .521 2 Iowa Cubs 72 72 .500 5 Omaha Royals 64 80 .444 13 Pacific Coast League - American South Division Team Win Loss % GB Albuquerque Isotopes 80 64 .556 — Oklahoma City RedHawks 69 75 .479 11 New Orleans Zephyrs 63 80 .441 16½ Round Rock Express 63 81 .438 17 Pacific Coast League - Pacific North Division Team Win Loss % GB Colorado Springs Sky Sox 73 69 .514 — Tacoma Rainiers 74 70 .514 — Salt Lake Bees 72 71 .503 1½ Portland Beavers 60 84 .417 14 Pacific Coast League - Pacific South Division Team Win Loss % GB Sacramento River Cats 86 57 .601 — Reno Aces 79 64 .552 7 Fresno Grizzlies 71 73 .493 15½ Las Vegas 51s 71 73 .493 15½
Tacoma won the Pacific South Division due to a divisional tiebreaker.
Playoffs
The Pacific Coast League did not have an exact name for the league's trophy.
See also 2009 International League season
References
External links Official website of the Pacific Coast League