I don't write in this blog that often (as evidenced by the fact my last post was about six months ago), but every once in a while I am faced with a situation where I feel obligated to do so and I end up with a long, sometimes rambling, post.

You see, it's not easy being a Detroit Tigers fan. Showing support for a losing team year after year begins to wear on you. And then to finally see a surprisingly successful season end in bitter disappointment with a blown World Series... That's rough.

I imagine it must be tough be a Yankees fan too, what with everyone else hating you for the ego and arrogance displayed about your team. I use the word "team" loosely too because with constantly signing every big name free agent possible every year there's not much chance to develop chemistry. And the constant in-fighting and apparent lack of support for each other is just hilarious.

Well today I had to listen to a couple Yankees fans blast the Tigers as well as their fans. A couple of their claims:

1. The Tigers are chokers because they blew the World Series.

Ok, this has a little bit of merit. The Tigers did collapse in the World Series and St. Louis took advantage of it. I'm just not so sure it's fair to label them chokers just yet (their collapse to lose the division doesn't help my cause, I know). But for a team as young and inexperienced in playoff games as the Tigers were they need to be cut some slack. Most teams go through the playoff disappointments before they are able to finally win it all (Red Wings fans know about this one).

But if you want to talk about chokers, I'm pretty sure the Yankees should be at or near the top of the list. Case in point: 2004 when they were up in the ALCS 3-0 on Boston and then lost four straight to lose it. Let's also not forget when they were up 3-2 in the 2001 World Series before tanking the last two games and letting Arizona win it. Since their last win in 2000 their track record has been less than stellar.

2. The Tigers aren't a dynasty just because they "bought" a trip to the postseason.

How can any Yankees fan ever talk about a team buying a roster? You have absolutely got to be kidding me.

Of the Tigers' starting pitchers (before Mike Maroth was hurt), Kenny Rogers was the closest thing to a big-name player and even that was a stretch. The other four starting pitchers averaged $1.5 million in salary and had played a total of grand total of one game for a team other than the Tigers (Hey New York, that's called "player development") and that includes AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander.

Now move to the bullpen and former Tiger Todd Jones was the biggest name they brought in. The biggest impact from the bullpen came from rookie Joel Zumaya, career Tiger Fernando Rodney, Marlin and White Sox cast-off Jason Grilli, and lefty-specialist Jamie Walker (the highest-paid reliever behind Jones, and now in Baltimore).

Oh yeah, we completely bought that pitching staff that was one of the best in the Majors. The position players are a little different, but far from being a purely purchased team.

*Magglio Ordo