This absurd stat shows core difference between Yankees' and Tigers' offenses

Remember when we said this summer that the Yankees should pursue an underrated trade target to give them the lefty masher their bench so desperately lacked? Yeah. Adding Andy Ibañez might've been a good idea after all. Too bad the Tigers got good.

Instead of languishing on the Yankees' bench, waiting for his singular opportunity per week, Ibañez showed up in Houston on Wednesday evening, delivering Space City a significant problem. After posting an .802 OPS in 154 plate appearances against left-handers this season, he leapt on one-too-many Josh Hader sinkers and laced it into the corner, plating three runs and making the difference in the AL Wild Card round.

While the Yankees are certainly thankful that the Tigers smoked the Astros out of their path, Houston's departure leaves three gritty AL Central teams in New York's way. All three of them can pitch, with or without their biggest names on the mound. None of them are entirely sure how they got here, but all of them can improvise their way out of a tight spot, whether with an unorthodox bullpen move or last-second lineup swap.

That brand of chaos has been Detroit's bread-and-butter, and after a year of begging the Yankees to use their bench with intentionality, it's clearer than ever that the Tigers have mastered New York's weakness.

Yankees never utilize bench successfully, Detroit Tigers thrive off it. It's fueled their MLB Playoffs run.

Yes, it's a double-edged sword. The Yankees' regulars are so talented and crucial that every time Aaron Judge or Juan Soto gets a minute off, the fan base squeals. But AJ Hinch has spurred more playoff success than Aaron Boone, so his creativity and knowledge of when to apply pressure and create matchup chaos down the stretch deserves plaudits more than scrutiny. The Tigers' bench has managed to remain ready. They don't know exactly when and how they'll be used, but they know it's coming. The Yankees' bench? Eh, Trent Grisham might play first base. Anthony Volpe may get a blow from time to time, but he also may not. Check back in a week.

All we ask is for the Yankees to craft a second unit with intentionality, so that when the moment comes in October and their depth is tested, the group can answer the bell. This year, they got close, adding Jon Berti and watching Oswaldo Cabrera thrive, but Berti's injury threw an unnecessary wrench into things. As such, they still enter October relatively uncertain about which buttons deserve pressing.

We can't say the same for Hinch, who knew Ibañez was lurking, ready to serve a crucial purpose. He served that purpose into the left-field corner on Wednesday, upending the American League playoff field entirely.