It's doubtful that an impromptu off night Wednesday can resuscitate a moribund offense, writes Drew Sharp in the Free Press.
If anything, the lack of a game only furthered the examination of the Yankees' difficulties as they directly relate to the Tigers.
The Tigers aren't only beating them in this series: They're also beating them in the big trade three years ago.
The Tigers traded Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to Arizona. They got Austin Jackson and Phil Coke from New York and Max Scherzer from Arizona. The Yankees sent pitcher Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks.
And now, as the Tigers stand poised for a trip to the World Series, the trade that once looked very good for all parties involved has tilted heavily in the Tigers' favor.
The decisive tip of the balance came Wednesday when the Yankees, staring at elimination in a four-game sweep, benched Granderson and his 3-for-29 postseason batting slump.
It could be argued that the Tigers are better positioned for World Series contention the next two years than the Yankees. Jackson is a budding star at a bargain $500,000 price, his offense steadily approaching his excellent defensive level. Scherzer, who again will have the opportunity to eliminate New York this afternoon, finished second in the league in strikeouts.
General manager Dave Dombrowski, who took significant criticism after moving the highly popular Granderson after the 2009 season, said recently that when seeking key reasons for the Tigers' past two successful seasons, adding Jackson, Scherzer and Coke ranks as a major cornerstone.
