Dirtgate
I know it's not the Yankees, but this is too silly to ignore. I personally doubt Kenny had anything illegal on his hand. I know he's been pitching better in big games than he ever has before (giant understatement), but the Cardinals would be throwing an absolute hissyfit if they even suspect it was illegal, and Larussa is keeping his mouth shut.
posted by Dodort at 6:29 AM
12 Comments:
Man, they couldn't come up with a better name than "Dirtgate?" Ragged.
Here's another interesting article about it. Check out the part where Rogers says the umpires didn't say anything to him, but Leyland said they did.
Also, if its still up, investigate that image they have up of Rogers. That is definitely not dirt mixed with Rosin!
What's the rule if it was pinetar?
Do they force him to wash his hands clean or would they eject him from the game?
He only had that substance on his palm for the first inning, afterwards he washed his hands. So, in my mind this is a completely irrelevant issue. Unless the rules allow for Rogers to be ejected if found with this on his hands during the game.
I was more annoyed with Rogers CONSTANT yelling and fist-pumping to be honest. This guy is such trash. I am 100% rooting for the Cards. I like Leyland but Rogers sucks a fat one.
If you know me you know my heart is completely with Kenny Rogers. I loved the screaming of Rogers and Monroe. The Yankees could learn something from that kind of fire.
Rogers is on the verge of the greatest postseason pitching performance in the history of the game. The greatest ever? Very possibly.
I'm pretty sure if you're doctoring the ball they can kick you out of the game in the first inning. I've also heard that pictures from past games show the same thing (at least at Tiger stadium). However, if it were than widespread, and obvious, you'd think he would have gotten caught at some point.
If Kenny were to win Game 6 and pitch as well as he's been pitching, and the Tigers win, he suddenly a completly different pitcher as far as history is concerned. No pitcher could possibly help his legacy as much as Kenny is this season.
This might be a stretch, but it's possible that Kenny rubs dirt and rosin on his hands before every game as part of his routine, which is why it was there multiple times. And if he was trying to doctor the ball, the stuff was in a pretty visible area. Of course, maybe that was so he could make the argument I'm making, that it was too visible to be intentional. We'll never know.
What we do know is that the Cardinals fared better against Kenny Rogers in the first inning--when they had two men on and got one of their two hits--then they did for the rest of the game. He pitched brilliantly. He is my everything.
Pine tar causes any surface to which it is applied to become sticky. This would most certainly work to doctor the ball, especailly on a night as cold as last night. Gripping the ball probably seemed impossible for the players.
I don't know what it would do to the spin/action of a curve ball, but it would aid in grip. Therefore it is illegal, and Rogers should have been ejected from the game, if it indeed was pine tar.
I know it is rare for me to disagree with Mr. Steiner, but I have to say that I hate Kenny Rogers. I hate him. I hate Jeff Weaver too. I hate all these guys who did their best Ed Whitson impression while with the Yankees and later turned into Cy Young. I defended A-Rod and I still think he has been and will continue to be productive. (Hopefully in the playoffs too.) But if he leaves and puts up big postseason numbers elsewhere...he goes on the hate list also.
Critch, to be fair to Kenny, he sucked as a big game pitcher on more teams than just the Yankees. So many cities can hate his guts (although he was a far better regular game pitcher outside of NY)
The only reason I like Kenny Rogers now is because all this supports my thesis that Kenny Rogers may be the best pitcher after turning 37 in the history of modern baseball. Before that age, he was wretched, especially when it mattered. He was detestable as a Yankee, like Weaver. These guys did far more than pitch poorly, they were anchors that dragged us down at every conceivable juncture. I will never forget the disgust I felt in 1996 when Kenny put us down 0-6 in a heartbeat. And I disliked the Weaver trade from the beginning (I always liked Lily) and he killed us in 2003. I would add Kevin Brown to the hate list, and I despise him more than the others. So I recognize the anger out there and believe it justified. That said, by God I love him so much.
Mr. Steiner, in your opinion when did the modern age of baseball begin?
-OG
When you were still a twinkle in Ordinary Pop's eye, OG. That's when.
Wait a sec-
So you like Rogers now because he's proving you right about him as a good pitcher?
Go away, Steiner. Shoo! Go!
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