What They’re Saying About The Detroit Tigers’ ALCS Sweep

Oct 18, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder celebrates in the clubhouse after game four of the 2012 ALCS against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. The Tigers won 8-1 to sweep the series and advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a glance around the internet to see what some of the national, and local, writers have to say about the Tigers, the Yankees, and the ALCS sweep.

At FanGraphs, David Laurila wonders if Phil Coke was the real ALCS MVP

"Tigers fans have a lot to be happy about right now, and their new, at least for now, closer is one of them. He wasn’t named ALCS MVP — Young got the nod — but be maybe deserved the honor, if only for one pitch — the slider that helped carry the Detroit Tigers to the World Series."

Dayn Perry, at CBS Sports’ Eye On Baseball, notes the value of Austin Jackson’s quiet season-long resurgence.

"After a disappointing sophomore campaign in which he managed an OPS of just .690, Jackson in 2012 bounced back to hit .300/.377/.479 with 55 extra-base hits and 67 walks, all unintentional. Throw in his Gold Glove-caliber fielding and plus base-running, and you’ve got one of the most impressive young five-toolers in the game today. What also impresses is that implied renaissance at the plate. For all the weapons the Tigers have, Jackson’s revitalized bat has had much to do with their charge to the pennant."

Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York thinks we’ll see A-Rod return to the Bronx next season.

"So neither side is really worthy of an amicable resolution to what has become the elephant in the Yankees’ clubhouse, and both sides seem to accept this as their fate, like an unhappy couple sticking out a marriage for the sake of the children."

Baseball Nation’s Grant Brisbee discusses the Tigers as a pitching-first team, which is counter to the narrative entering the season.

"The Tigers spent the offseason moving a slugger to a position he didn’t play so they could buy a slugger to replace the broken slugger and keep all of the sluggers in the same lineup when everyone was healthy. And now they’re in the ALCS, mowing through the competition because of their pitching, and it’s not just Justin Verlander. I mean, it’s a lot of Justin Verlander. He’s kind of the best. But Dave Dombrowski has done a pretty sweet job putting together a playoff-worthy rotation, even if that might have seemed like the secondary goal in March."

Kurt Mensching of Bless You Boys breaks down Phil Coke’s victory celebration (GIF included!).

"Phil Coke shows ’em how it’s done.Step 1: Pitch.Step 2: Point.Step 3: Slam the hell out of your glove"

The Detroit News’ Bob Wojnowski celebrates the Tigers’ dominating series win, and the roller coaster journey.

"After the storm, here came the thunder — four home runs by the Tigers, two by Jhonny Peralta, and a playoff club-record 16 hits. And now back they go, back to a stage they last visited in 2006, back to a role they’re starting to embrace. They’ve ousted the Yankees in the playoffs three straight times, but never as soundly as this."