Thomas fitting in with Tigers - Rookie making his mark

04/04/2008 7:14 PM ET
Thomas fitting in with Tigers
Rookie oufielder making his mark with veteran club
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- As a team, the Tigers can be excused if they're feeling tight. As a rookie center fielder on a veteran-laden team, Clete Thomas finally can loosen up.

Of all the at-bats Thomas had in his three-hit performance Friday, it was one of his outs that showed a sign of how Thomas was fitting in. With Brandon Inge on first base and one out in the sixth inning of a tie game, Thomas stepped to the plate, looking to lay down a sacrifice bunt. After White Sox left-hander Boone Logan missed with his first two pitches for a 2-0 count, Thomas squared around to bunt again.

Again, Logan missed, this time high and inside. But in ducking away to dodge the pitch, Thomas actually got the bat on the ball, laying down a roller to third that accomplished his purpose and advanced Inge to second.

"If not for my bat, it might've hit me in the face," Thomas said. "It was a bunt by accident."

It was odd enough for him to have a laugh about it afterwards. That was a good sign for manager Jim Leyland.

"I think he's having a lot of fun right now," Leyland said. "Even in that bunt situation, he was laughing when he was running down to first. He's kind of loose and having a good time. That's probably the best thing for him."

Hitting like he did in his other at-bats gives him a pretty good reason to smile, too.

Each of Thomas' first three at-bats Friday ended with line-drive singles into the outfield. One set him up to score the game's first run in the opening inning. Another drove in Detroit's next run with two outs in the second inning, earning Thomas his first Major League RBI. With his leadoff single in the fourth, Thomas became the first Tiger since Brent Clevlen two years ago to post a three-hit effort within his first three big league games.

It won't earn him an everyday role, but it at least earns him another start Saturday. If Miguel Cabrera isn't ready to play third base again and Gary Sheffield remains out as expected, Thomas will be back in center field. If Cabrera is back at third, Leyland said he would likely use Jacque Jones at DH and Thomas in left field.

"It's kind of tough being a role player, especially since you're used to playing every game [in the Minors]," Thomas said. "But I'm going to be here to help the team. If I go back to being a role player whenever somebody gets healthy, then that's what I'll do. As of right now, I'm just trying to get in there, get on base and try to get something going every time I get up there."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I like this guy!


I hope somehow he can stay with the Tigers!

I like him too, he's doing good, he looks so young I just wanna give him milk and cookies, lol

He's just gotta lose that deer in the headlights look!

Confidence, my man! You can do it!

iluvpudge7 wrote:

I like him too, he's doing good, he looks so young I just wanna give him milk and cookies, lol

He's 24 - he isn't that young

My dear catbox...it depends on which side of the fence one sits!

laprimamirala wrote:

My dear catbox...it depends on which side of the fence one sits!

But the original poster said he was all young and she wanted to give him milk and cookies. Maybe she should have said he's so young I want to give him a beer and cigarettes.

I's just sayin' young is all how you look at it!

catbox_9 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

My dear catbox...it depends on which side of the fence one sits!

But the original poster said he was all young and she wanted to give him milk and cookies. Maybe she should have said he's so young I want to give him a beer and cigarettes.

He's the one bright spot in an otherwise dismal week.

*sigh*

I feel like I aged five years watching the Tigers lose this week!

I feel the same way! So exhausted after every game!

catbox_9 wrote:

iluvpudge7 wrote:

I like him too, he's doing good, he looks so young I just wanna give him milk and cookies, lol

He's 24 - he isn't that young

Don't FOOL yourself kid, 24 is infantile!!

Trinita wrote:

He's the one bright spot in an otherwise dismal week.

The LONE feel-good story of the year thus far!!

we need more!