Playoffs! “Special” Tigers have made a remarkable run into the MLB postseason

Detroit — To steal a line from former Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, who, by the way, was captain of a championship team in this city: “If it ain’t hard, it ain’t right.”

Everything the Tigers have done over the past seven weeks has been tough. Some would have thought it impossible, certainly unlikely. But as the sellout crowd of 44,435 at Comerica Park will happily attest Friday night, it was so right.

The Tigers, who were declared dead at the trade deadline eight games under .500 on Aug. 10, will play postseason baseball for the first time since 2014.

“I'm pretty overwhelmed that we've done this,” manager AJ Hinch said after celebrating on the field and addressing his beer-and-champagne-soaked squad in the clubhouse. “Not because of the talent. Not because of faith. But because of the opportunities. We had to do a lot and we had to do a lot day after day. And we did it.”