Amazing how much things change in five years.

When the Tigers made it to the World Series in 2006, as a newspaper group, we sent two or sometimes three writers to every game, home and away. Since then, we — like the Tigers — went through some bad economic times that forced readjustments in our payroll.

We don't have the staff we used to. We certainly don't have the budget we used to. When our parent company — Journal Register Co. — went through bankruptcy, one of the first cuts was the travel budget. And we saved a ton of dough with the decision, believe me. It saved jobs, so no one complained (too loudly, at least).

As a result, though, I won't be traveling to New York for the American League Division Series. Trust me, I'd be there if I could. But I won't be. To channel my inner Jim Leyland, "That's just the way it is."

But I just wanted to make sure that's understood before we start things. Any coverage I do for potential Games 1,2 and 5 will be from here in Michigan. Trust me, though. I'll still be writing. I'll still be doing live chats (stay tuned for updates on where to find those). I'll still be on Twitter. I'll still be sending SMS messages out (check out the sidebar at the right to see how to sign up for those).

I just wanted to make that point for the sake of fellow journalists who are in the trenches in New York, digging out all the quotes, and for Tigers fans who'll inevitably ask me questions, as if I'm there.

Having gotten that out of the way, here's the schedule for the series:

NEW YORK YANKEES (97-65) vs. DETROIT TIGERS (95-67)
GAME 1, Friday, 8:37 p.m. — Tigers (Verlander) at Yankees (Sabathia) — TBS [LIVE CHAT]
GAME 2, Saturday, 8:37 p.m. — Tigers (Fister) at Yankees — TBS
GAME 3, Monday, 8:37 p.m. — Yankees (Scherzer) at Tigers — TBS
GAME 4, Tuesday, time TBD — Yankees at Tigers* — TBS
GAME 5, Thursday, time TBD — Tigers at Yankees * — TBS
* — if necessary

Be sure to pick up a copy of The Oakland Press on Friday to get your copy of the preview section (at right).

Here are the Tigers' postseason odds, courtesy of Bodog:
Odds to win the AL Pennant: 13/4
Odds to win the World Series: 7/1
Odds to face Arizona or St. Louis in the WS: 28/1
Odds to face Milwaukee in the WS: 18/1
Odds to face Philadelphia in the WS: 11/2

Tigers rank fourth in MLB.com's final Power Rankings.