[The Poet]

I can only speak for myself, but though I'd like post-season success for my Yankees I neither demand nor expect it. It's all gravy, and I've never been one who needed a WS Ring to validate a season each and every year. Besides, they've already given me all the goals I wished for. They were expected to fight tooth-and-nail to even gain the wild-card, according to the experts, yet they ended with the best AL record. Jeter got his 3,000th hit in classic fashion, plus a whole lot more, and erased the grins off the faces of Yankee-haters who claimed that he was done. Mo got his MLB-leading saves record, and did it with the same cool reserve he's always shown. And though I fully realize that Verlander and Fister present challenges to any team, I also know my team believes it can compete with the best, and look forward to proving themselves.

I only have two points of argument with you, the first being that YOU seem to be the one exuding confidence that the Tigers will take the series, and even The Series. Well, for your sake, I hope your team does not expect everybody to roll over and play dead for them. Second, when I referred to 0-for-October, I did not mean October 2011, but October baseball. Derek Jeter has more post-season hits than anyone ever had, and Mo's 42 post-season saves may never be approached again. I'd be more shocked if these numbers DON'T increase than if they do. Of course, much of this is due to the increased number of post-season games, but that's not the germaine point. The point is, the Yankees know what October baseball is, while your Detroit Tigers have much less, or zero, experience in this arena. If you think that will not matter, you may be right. But if you think that CANNOT matter, you're fooling yourself.