I recently was able to ask Ty Hildenbrandt, who writes for foxsports.com and hosts YankeeFanClubRadio.com’s weekly show, a few questions about the upcoming Division Series and the Yankees’ postseason chances.

John Butchko: Who is the most important player in this series for the Yankees?

Ty Hildenbrandt: I hate to do this to a young guy, but I think you have to point the finger at Chien-Ming Wang. Everyone under the sun knows that the Yankees biggest strength is on offense, but there is still a good deal of uncertainty about their starting pitching. With the way Mussina limped to the finish line and the news that Randy Johnson needed — of all things — an epidural for his back problems, Wang has quietly inherited the “stopper” role in the postseason rotation. His performance in Game One could set the tone for the rest of the Yankees’ postseason.

JB: What do the Tigers have to do to pull the upset?

TH: They’re going to need a lot of runs, a lot of heart, and maybe even some voodoo.

Frankly, it’ll take a Herculean effort on all fronts. It’s no secret that the Tigers coasted into the playoffs after turning in an impressive first half. They won’t be able to do that here against a Yankees team that feels like it’s got something to prove. Unless the Tigers can rekindle some of that mojo, Detroit might be making tee times on Columbus Day.

Ideally, the Tigers would need to steal a game from the Yankees in New York and head back to Detroit with the series tied at 1-1. I realize this isn’t a groundbreaking observation, but it’s the truth. If they get into a 2-0 hole, they’ll be completely overwhelmed and this series will be over.

JB: Given how unheralded the Tigers are entering the postseason, could this be a trap series for the Yankees like the Angels in 2002?

TH: I don’t think so. The Yankees were a much different team in 2002 that wasn’t nearly as deep as this year’s squad. Instead of trotting out guys like Rondell White and Raul Mondesi to the outfield, the Yankees have much better options — Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and even Bernie Williams if times get tight. Obviously, anything can happen in postseason baseball, but the Angels of ‘02 peaked at the right time and had a much more potent lineup. Detroit has been in cruise control since the All-Star break and I don’t believe they’ll have the firepower to take out the Yankees.

JB: Do the Yankees have the pitching to justify their status as favorite to win the World Series?

TH: This has been the $200-million question since the Yankees’ last championship in 2000. In reality, there isn’t a team in this year’s field that you look at and say “Wow, they’re going to shut teams out.” You could make a case for other three teams in the American League having better staffs, but none of them strike me as the kind of rotations that can pin down the Yankees lineup in an extended playoff series. And in the National League… well, all that matters is that Pedro won’t be pitching. With the exception of a gritty performance by Carpenter, Peavy, or Penny here or there, I feel comfortable in saying that the NL pitching is nothing short of a tire fire.

Sure, pitching wins championships, but on some level, the burden is going to fall on the Yankees lineup to produce, and that’s something they haven’t done in the clutch over the last couple playoff series. So, I won’t go on record and say that the Yankees pitching is strong enough to justify anything. But I will say that their rotation, as it stands, is one of the “prettiest girls in the class.”

JB: What’s your prediction for the ALDS?

TH: I like the Yankees in four over the Tigers. The Yankees batted a eye-opening .302 against Detroit during the regular season, and you’d have to expect that trend to continue, especially against a young pitching staff that showed some signs of fatigue down the stretch.

JB: What’s your prediction for how far this Yankees team will go?

TH: You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone betting AGAINST the Yankees right now. And rightfully so. As I look out at the field, I have a hard time envisioning any of the other teams taking out the Yankees in a seven-game series. Mark me down for the Yankees in five over the Padres — a rematch of the ‘98 World Series.

A major thank you to Ty for answering these questions. You can reach his foxsports.com column by clicking here, his supplimentary blog by going to quickslants.com, and his weekly radio show at YankeeFanClubRadio.com.