Old school, still true.

That’s what I thought when Cleveland’s Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer into the left field stands. That was in the first inning, giving the Guardians a 7-0 victory over Detroit.

Cleveland leads this best-of-five American League Division Series 1-0.

Four for 55?

Let’s think back to the late days of August. The Guardians had acquired Thomas in a deal with Washington. The veteran outfielder had to provide power from the right side of the plate.

Cleveland had been scouting Thomas for the past two months. He hit .282 with a .780 OPS. He played defense at all three outfield positions. He stole bases. At 27 years old, he was exactly what the Guardians needed. He had hit 46 home runs in the previous two sessions (2022-2023).

Thomas rushed to Cleveland, excited to join the playoff-contending Guardians.

Then Thomas didn’t just collapse. It was like he had never seen a baseball before. In his first three weeks with his new team, Thomas was clueless and hopeless at the plate.

Clueless and hopeless…really?

How else would you describe a hitter who was 4 for 55, as in a .072 batting average.

Baseball card faith

It wasn’t easy, but Guardians manager Stephen Vogt kept writing Lane Thomas’ name on his lineup card. Call it baseball card belief, Vogt believed Thomas should come around.

His baseball card said so. That’s what the scouts said. Vogt’s heart said it, while his head whispered something else.

Then it happened.

Thomas started hitting and hitting and hitting.

Call him Mr. September. He hit .264 with seven HR and 20 RBI in the final month of the regular season.

This was the Lane Thomas the front office was scouting and pursuing. This was the Lane Thomas that the stats (and yes, the baseball card) predicted Cleveland would help.

The big hit (and punch)

This was the Lane Thomas who came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Two runners on base, Guardians in front, 2-0.

This was the first postseason at bat of his career.

And the first pitch he saw…

Wham and A-way Back…

Deep into the left field stands for a three-run home run.

Just like that, Cleveland had a 5-0 lead and Detroit still had to record an out.

The game would last a few more hours, but it was over.

“They came out good,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said. “They hit us with that blow in the first inning… and from then on it kind of snowballed.”

Don’t forget Tanner Bibee

Lost in the shadow of Lane Thomas’ home run is Tanner Bibee.

Remember, we are in a new era of baseball. Teams like Detroit and Cleveland have one eye on their starters, the other on the bullpen.

The Tigers call it “chaos throwing.” They opened this round of the playoffs with a bullpen game. Who does that? Especially since the Tigers had two days off before Saturday’s game.

The Guardians turned to their ace, a true starting pitcher.

That’s Tanner Bibee, and he delivered. Give him 4 2/3 scoreless innings, four hits and no runners to third base.

The score was 5-0 when Vogt took the mound with two outs and a runner on first base in the fifth inning.

I said, ‘Let him in, make sure you get through at least five innings. It’s 5-nothing, right?”

Wrong.

Vogt waved to the bullpen. Kerry Carpenter came to the plate. Carpenter was 3-of-6 in his career vs. Bibee, including a home run.

In came Cade Smith, who promptly struckout Carpenter to end the final inning. Then Smith blew the Tigers away in the sixth inning, three up, three down… all on strikes.

Show me what I know.

After Smith, the Guardians turned to Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase to finish the game. The four relievers combined for blistering innings, zero hits and seven strikeouts.

“Obviously, Cleveland is good,” Hinch said. ‘When it comes to Thomas, you can’t blame anyone. He just had a good swing on that pitch.”

Just like you could find on the back of his baseball card.