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Watching parts of the Verlander NLCS gem it was almost impossible NOT to be stung by the difference in determination showed by the Astros' acquisition of the Tigers' righty and the M's acquisition of Leake. To be sure, one could say acquiring Verlander wouldn't have been enough for the M's. One could say that in the long run the contract would have become an albatross. One could say a lot of things. What one couldn't say is that the M's were determined to make the playoffs. Oh, it's their goal, their aspiration. Just like it's my aspiration to be an bona fide orchestral composer. Not gonna happen. I simply don't have the chops, the focus, or the single-minded determination. Neither do the M's.