DETROIT – In the end, everything came together.
David Price, the Cy Young-winner picked up at the trading deadline to bolster their rotation, finally pitched like the ace they thought they were getting from Tampa Bay.
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Ian Kinsler, the second baseman they acquired in the offseason was the hero with, knocking two runs in the most important game of the season.
And yes, even Joe Nathan, the closer nicknamed Sloppy Joe for his mostly disappointing season in Motown, got the final three outs and the save.
It all added up to a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins before a sellout home crowd to end the regular season and clinch the division.
"I understand the fans were frustrated," DH Victor Martinez said afterward. "But there was nobody more frustrated than ourselves.
"We know what kind of talent we have here. We really were frustrated, and you know what, I'm really proud of this group. We stayed together and here we are."
The Tigers (90-72) have now won four straight division titles and head to the postseason again.
Now comes the hard part.
The Tigers kick off the 2014 postseason in Baltimore, taking on the Orioles in a best-of-five ALDS series. The O's (96-66) finished with a better record than the Tigers and will have the fifth and deciding game at home, if needed.
You hear plenty people say that anything can happen in the playoffs. That sounds good and gives fans hope that their team can win a World Series.
If that were the case, however, the Tigers wouldn't be sitting on a 30-year championship drought.
The Tigers have been to the World Series twice since 2006. Their combined record is 1-8, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.
This Tiger team has some major flaws. That's why it was a struggle to win a division, when many thought would be a piece of cake.
Yes, the Tigers had success against the O's this regular season, going 5-1. Still, it's been awhile since those two teams have met.
Baltimore has improved as the season went along. That team is a home-run hitting machine and playing the first two games in that bandbox called Camden Yards won't hurt.
Plus, the O's have Nelson Cruz, the only player to hit 40 homers this season, a guy who destroyed Tigers' pitching in the previous postseasons with Texas.
On paper, when you see the last three Cy Young award winners in your rotation, you have to feel like you have a shot to win it all. That's why Tigers' fans are hopeful.
But this team's struggles are real and will ultimately determine if they can win a title.
Just like last season, the bullpen was an issue all year. The starters were amazing in facing the Red Sox in the 2013 ALCS. But the bullpen allowed two big grand slams late and it cost the Tigers a trip to the World Series.
Last year, the Tigers were the favorites, not only to go to the World Series, but win it.
This year, they aren't in that boat for two reasons: the bullpen and the defense. Both have been sore spots.
And while the starting rotation may look great on paper, the team ERA was 4.01—tied for 10th with the last-place Red Sox in the AL.
If you think winning the division was tough, winning a World Series with this squad will be tougher.