MLB Playoffs: New York Yankees Not Taking the Detroit Tigers Lightly This Time

A half decade ago the Detroit Tigers made a triumphant return the the MLB postseason.  A mere three seasons after the worst team in major league history called Comerica Park home, first-year manager Jim Leyland led the Tigers to an enormous upset of the heavily favored New York Yankees.

In 2006, the Tigers were limping to the playoffs and the Yankees were the undisputed favorites to win the World Series.  National prognosticators were nearly unanimous that a three-game sweep would ensue. 

They were completely wrong.

The Tigers lost Game 1, but then rookie Justin Verlander caught the Yankees by surprise in Game 2 and the rest was history.  Tigers won 3-1 and rolled to the World Series.

There is no doubt that the Yankees completely underestimated the Tigers in 2006.  They're not about to do it again.  How can they?  The writing is on the wall regarding this year's Detroit Tiger team.

In 2006, the best position players were Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez.  Good players in their own right, All-Star starters in fact, but not really the type of players that struck fear into opponents.  The Yankees showed no concern for them and got burned by it.

In 2011 the Tigers possess a perennial MVP candidate in Miguel Cabrera and a tremendous veteran hitter in Victor Martinez.

The Yankees are going to pay special attention to Cabrera, but ultimately it might not matter with free-agent prize Victor Martinez hitting behind him.

The Yankees are abundantly aware of Martinez's ability with his playoff runs in Cleveland and Boston.

This year, the Tigers emerging players are the Yankees former farmhand Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch and catcher Alex Avila.  They won't see the injured Boesch, but they know all about Jackson and the whole world witnessed Avila's coming out party in 2011 as the league's best catcher.

The rising stars of 2006 were journeymen Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge.  Overlooked, Monroe went on to break the Tigers franchise record for home runs during a postseason.

In 2006, Tigers' ace Kenny Rogers was known as a good regular season starter, but awful playoff pitcher.  He befuddled Yankees hitters and slammed the door on any hope of a comeback with a Game 3 gem. 

The Yankees know just how good current ace Justin Verlander is.  Everyone knows.

Number two, Doug Fister has made headlines as this season's best trade deadline acquisition.  His efforts in solidifying the Tigers rotation have been well publicized.  Sean Casey was an afterthought as a 2006 deadline pickup but ended up being a valuable postseason contributor.

The 2006 Tigers were a rag tag, overachieving team that got hot heading into the playoffs.  They had a ton of underrated, gritty players like Placido Polanco, Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames and left the Yankees scratching their heads after a quick ousting.

This year's Tigers are talented.  Most holes in the roster were filled with trades and now they're playing their best baseball, and among the favorites to win it all.  There's nothing underrated about them.

If they're going to beat the Yankees this year, the Detroit Tigers are going to need to do it head on.  The Yankees are an excellent organization and no doubt have learned from 2006, so no surprises.  No catching the Yankees napping. 

May the best team win.