Of all the deadline deals made at July 31st, and after sifting through 35,039 different Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence, and Michael Bourn rumors, it was Doug Fister who ended up making the biggest difference.

Doug Fister.

Doug Fister.

Fister allowed a run in the first inning after he threw seven pitches and allowed three hits. He allowed a run in the eighth inning after Yorvit Torrealba doubled (by using his head as a battering ram) and the next two Rangers grounded out. Apart from the bookends, Fister was superb, striking out three without walking anyone. Of course he didn't walk anyone. The guy sneezes strikes.

He was pulled after 7⅓ innings in favor of Joaquin Benoit, and Fister left the field to a huge standing ovation. Benoit got Elvis Andrus looking to end the eighth.

Without Fister at the deadline, the Tigers would be starting Rick Porcello in this game and Brad Penny tomorrow. Heck, they probably aren't even in the ALCS. No one paid a ton of attention at the time, but it might have been the most important deadline deal any team made.