by Ron Prezzano

When you look at this series it is the Tigers who are playing the type of ball that got them going this year and propelled them to the top of their division for 99.9% of the year. Quality starting pitching, timely hitting and a pretty good bullpen. They have recaptured the chemistry they displayed for the first half of the year and at a very opportune time.

Every team goes through slumps and the Tigers were showing the strains of a young talented ball club going through a 162 game grueling season. This is where a young, energetic, talented, well-managed ball club becomes extremely dangerous.

The National press and sports writers gave the Detroit Tigers absolutely no chance to win more than one, if any games from the powerful New York Yankees who's lineup has been assessed to be the best ever assembled in the history of post season baseball.


Chemistry is a very large part of team sports and their success. As it stands right now, the Tigers have it and the Yankees do not.

The Yankees have gone through several changes through out the year and were able to put together a scrappy and energetic squad for two thirds' of that season. Now they have put together THE TEAM that was supposed to project them to their 27th world title and it has been only a three-week experiment. This is not enough time to build chemistry through war-hardened camaraderie, among teammates, no matter how experienced and talented these individuals are.

This current Yankee team (this post season one) is just a slightly different looking package from the past three seasons. Just enough big name players who have been "THE GUY" for other teams but do not know the feeling of how to be part of a team player mindset.


The Yankees starting pitching, with the exception of Chien-Ming Wang, has been inconsistent and spotty all year. The bullpen is their Achilles heel. Not a good combination for playoff success.

Johnny Damon has been in a slump and looks as if he is a notch or two below his usual playoff twitchy edge.

Derek Jeter is playing his usual game with an average amount of throwing problems. Nonetheless, he still rises to the occasion.

Bobby Abreau has been steady and below average at the plate so far.

Jason Giambi is awful in the field and overmatched at the plate at times.

Gary Sheffield is not a first baseman and continues to struggle in the post season with New York.

A-Rod, I refuse to state my views, no sense in beating a dead horse although his play in the field has been steady.

Hideki Matsui has played better than I expected. He makes contact.

Jorge Posada has continued to hit the ball hard and his play behind the plate has been as good as ever.

Robinson Cano, has not shown up offensively in this series and has shown his impatience at the plate. His fielding has been as expected.

The Bullpen has done a fair job.

Joe Torre has been a non-factor. He continues to be unable to motivate his team at the most crucial of times. Joe is just a good handler of men, not a motivator.

There is one game left for the Yankees to start putting a stamp on their team chemistry portfolio. That is a huge task for a team who looks more tight and frustrated and has not been able to focus on their ability to play to their strengths. Even if they somehow manage to win the next two games, the Oakland A’s look like The Detroit Tigers West. The problems will continue.

Team chemistry and good pitching. Developing one and facing another. Too much, too soon.

The Detroit Tigers have shown, for the last three games, that they pitch better, hit better and are managed better than the “best team penciled into a post season lineup in major league history.”