The Tigers swept the Yankees in the ALCS behind four tremendous performances from their starting pitchers.

Dave Dombrowski built his team around a stable of power pitches, but even he couldn't have envisioned that Detroit would pitch that well.

"Dombrowski likes power pitchers," writes Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free-Press. "This reputation was built during his days as GM of the Marlins. He also likes pitchers who can strike out hitters. He watched the Atlanta Braves make the playoffs nearly every year in the '90s, then flame out when their control pitchers couldn't get the best hitters to miss."

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer led the American League in strikeouts during the season -- Verlander had 239 and Scherzer 231. Doug Fister set the American League record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game -- nine. Anibal Sanchez struck out seven the last time he pitched -- Game 2 of the ALCS.

"It's no secret that we like power-throwing pitchers," Dombrowski said. "But so do a lot of other people, too. I think everybody likes them."