Tigers in the hunt — who knew during spring training?

I would like to begin my first article here raving about my hometown team, the Detroit Tigers. As a media person in Detroit, I remember our crew covering 2011 spring training in Lakeland. Most experts picked the Tigers to finish third or fourth. I left Lakeland feeling good about this squad.

Now, here we are tied 1-1 in the ALDS against the Bronx Bombers, the boys in pinstripes, those Yankees. I would dare to say that this team is a step above the 2006 Tiger team that lost the World Series to the Cards. The road will be a long one to get back to the big game, but no one thought the Tigers would be here. This season, there was no second-half collapse. There was only determination and grit.

The leaves are falling and the frost is on the morning grass. Yep, it’s playoff time.