Roar restored

There's no need for overanalysis here: Good pitching still beats good hitting.

Jeremy Bonderman showed why he is regarded as the Tigers' potentially best pitcher today in shutting down NY's "vaunted" lineup. I couldn't be happier for him, even though I've voiced my frustration with him. I'm not alone. Leyland said Bonderman was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The offense was terrific, scoring early to take some pressure off Bonderman. Heck, it was 7-0 before the Yanks got their first baserunner in the top of the sixth.

This team has been great fun to watch simply because you never can count them out. I figured they were in trouble early in the season when Maroth went down. I thought they were in trouble when Polanco went down. I figured they were cooked when the White Sox and Twins were on their tails. No one gave them a chance in the playoffs after getting swept by KC and losing the division. Time after time after time, this group responded.

Making it even more gratifying is the fact that 10 players on this year's team were part of the 119-loss debacle in 2003. Sure, Maggs and Pudge and Polanco and Casey and Guillen and Granderson and Thames and Verlander and Zumaya and Jones and Rogers were key newcomers since then, and the Tigers wouldn't be playing next week if not for them.

But it's great for Inge and Santiago and Monroe and Infante and Bonderman and Robertson and Maroth and Walker and Ledezma and Rodney to be here to enjoy the moment. They deserve it, and it's nice that there wasn't a total overhaul of the club to get to this point. It was fitting that Bonderman, Monroe, Inge and Walker all played a part today, with Walker getting to be on the mound for the final out.

How great was that celebration, too? Leyland kissed a fan (a male one at that) and the team came out for a victory lap, spraying champagne on the fans.

I know there are still 2 more series to win for the ultimate prize, but this was about burying the past and proving to everyone that this team belonged. I'll worry about the Oakland series come Monday.

Bless you boys.