Kenny Rogers cheating

Almost the first, but:

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6616002781/m/1711094291

if you have enough rosin on your hand, the same thing appears... i know numerous guys out of the pen that would have so much rosin on their hands that they could press the ball against it and it would stick without holding it... pure pine tar is actually slick, once it dries it becomes sticky... i think it was blown a little out of proportion

It may have been a booger.

For it to have been a booger, he'd have to pick his nose, and we all know that baseball players NEVER do that kind of stuff!

Maybe it was Glove Loogie.

People nowadays get all hysterical about this kind of stuff, but its been a part of baseball forever. How many guys have been thrown out of games for having vaseline, pine tar, stuff in their hair, nail boards or other abrasives inside their glove and other stuff like that. Pitchers have hid substances inside their hats, on their hair, inside their gloves, inside their nostrils and other places too, and now some people are getting all upset about the gambler. Personally, I think it's kinda funny and will be remembered as part of baseball lore in the future.

The way some people react, you'd think they have no idea who Gaylord Perry is. He had a pretty decent career, and his best pitch may have been his spitter. Yeah, he was very decent!

I agree with 06catcherdad. What is the big deal. BTW, Gaylord Perry is in the HOF so he was pretty good.

My whole family was on me last night saying "How can you say it's no big deal?"

Well... I liked John Kruk's response. He said, "As a hitter, I want the pitcher using stuff for getting a good grip. That way I don't have to worry about being plunked." Like someone else said, he pitched even better after he wiped it off.

Much ado about nuttin !!!!

Here's a photo from Rogers' July 5, 2006 start in which the smudge is clearly visible.



He isn't just trying to improve his grip on a cold day. He's trying to alter the trajectory of the ball.

I guess it is not a winter vs. summer thing as broadcasted on ESPN radio and the TV channels.
Looks like summer to me with a booger on his thumb.
Juat a little humour.

Happens all the time.
"Much ado" as TR says.

This was "Tincture of Benzine" according to reports.

If Tony go's wild about this, he'd have to tone his own pitchers down. Don't think for a second these 2 old dog's aren't aware of what's going on in the others dugout and club house!

MLB sure as heck hopes the issue go's away. A signifigant percentage of pitchers use a little help.

Rightly or wrongly, TLR didn't want the distraction and possible scrutiny and delay for both sides that pressing the issues might have brought. This story has legs because of the travel day; nothing else to talk about.

Our hitters' approach with Rogers was more remniscent of the August-September Cardinals than the May-June ones that reappeared against the Mets. It wasn't just Rogers and his pine tar that led us to losing the game. (Heck, it was also TLR allowing Wilson to hit in the 9th with a perfectly good Duncan sitting on the bench )

But the anaylsis of Rogers' "substance abuse" problem gets more stomach turning all the time. Let me add mine: imagine, if you will, a handshake between Rogers and Alou.

I think I remember a Steve A Smith interview with Kenny's Mother where she said, and it was verified by the birth nurse, "it's a birth mark that becomes more visible when the left arm is stimulated". The nurse remembers commenting when Kenny had his first suckle of milk "How did he get that dirt on his hand and will someone please wash it off before everyone starts complaining about it?

quote:

Rightly or wrongly, TLR didn't want the distraction..

Well, apparently he's now using the situation for full effect.

quote:

Later, it was La Russa’s turn to have his say. His off-day news conference was piped over the Busch Stadium public-address system, so his thoughts echoed from every corner of the empty ballpark.

The Tigers had just come onto the field for practice, and they were instantly surrounded by La Russa’s voice giving a lengthy analysis.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15392545/

quote:

Originally posted by soxnole:
Happens all the time.
"Much ado" as TR says.

This was "Tincture of Benzine" according to reports.

If Tony go's wild about this, he'd have to tone his own pitchers down. Don't think for a second these 2 old dog's aren't aware of what's going on in the others dugout and club house!

MLB sure as heck hopes the issue go's away. A signifigant percentage of pitchers use a little help.

Uh yeah. I don't think either wants to get in a slugfest with everyone throwing shiny, round, slick, un-scuffed, un-cut, un-loaded baseballs. It's probably why these two teams are actually still playing. Lesson to the kids out there. If you are not cheating you are not trying.

If it is a "foreign substance" on his pitching hand it is against the rules and it is up to the umpires, not opposing managers, to enforce those rules. Like cheating at any level at any game, doing it gives one an unfair edge and it should not be tolerated by those who are paid to enforce the rules. I blame Rogers, his pitching coach, his manager but most of all I blame the umpires. Cheating is cheating and as Dad04 points out, it sets a great example for "the kids".

In 1993 my oldest son and I were watching a MLB game in seats that were right in front of the visiting team's bullpen in Pittsburgh with the Pirates taking on the new expansion Marlins. My six year old son and I noticed that 40+ year old knuckleballer Charlie Hough, the Marlins starting pitcher for that day, was warming up in the bullpen when he pulled an emory board out of a "inside pocket" sewn into his baseball cap and filed his nails. My son asked if that was "legal" and I said it was legal to file your nails but that is not why the emory board is sewn into his cap. I proceded to explain to him the death of Ray Chapman years ago and how the "foreign substance/no scuffing" rules came into being. It was a great opportunity to teach my impressionable son that sometimes you can get away with cheating but it is never the right thing to do and the consequences for getting caught are deliberately severe for a reason. That is what I call a lesson in family values.

TW344

Cheating,.....now that never happens in pro sports......LOL


Seriously folks, if Rogers was doctoring the ball with pine tar, this would have been discovered long ago. Look at the pic painguy posted. If a substance of that color were on the ball, it would be blatantly obvious.

Chalk this all this up to the Gaylord Perry factor. Those of you old enough to remember him know exactly what I'm talking about.

Perry was the ultimate master of the head game. Everyone knew he doctored up the ball at times, but he used that knowledge to gain an edge. I will always remember him going through a dozen or more gyrations and touches before throwing a pitch. Touch the bill of the cap, left ear, cap, right ear, belt...etc. Hitters never knew when or if the "spitter" might be coming. How many times do you recal seeing the umpires come out the mound and "undress" Perry?
I remember his having to change hats a few times.

Rogers is just in zone right now. If he is smart, he will just smile when people ask about "the stain" and let everyone think he might be doing something. It will just make him that much more effective.

.
I for one am THRILLED that we have moved back to more traditional methods of cheating (pine tar, emery boards, corked bats...)...

...rather than the recent high tech ones (The Clear, HGH...)

44
.

What's next?...a gyroscope concealed within the ball and the pitches then located using GPS...controlled by the guys at Fox.

When showing their Fox Pitch Tracker they'll have to be very careful...they don't want to get confused and show the location of the pitch before it is pitched. That may raise suspicion!

quote:

Originally posted by observer44:
.
I for one am THRILLED that we have moved back to more traditional methods of cheating (pine tar, emery boards, corked bats...)...

...rather than the recent high tech ones (The Clear, HGH...).

"Traditional methods of cheating" are still cheating. I see no difference between steriods, humand growth hormone, and doctoring a baseball. If you cheat, you should pay the price. And if anyone out there thinks that for one minute baseball has solved its serious substance abuse problem, I know of a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you.

TW344

Pedro Gomes of ESPN the Radio commented on KTRS (Cardinal's Station) that the friendship of LaRussa and Leyden had nothing to do with him not confronting Rogers on cheating. Gomes said, "...they are all doctoring. It is now common place. Every team knows who on the other team is doctoring." He further stated, "This emphasis on cheating is a fan thing. It's not only pitchers. Hitters are doctoring their bats as well. You saw the fans upset with Sammy Sosa. Did you see any players surprised? Folks, they are all doctoring. Get used to it!" WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY!

Thanks CoachB I was feeling all alone here.

A game without creativity, attempting to gain an advantage with the tools you use, and pushing those rules to the limit reminds me of a game called sokker.

WT344: I see a huge difference between doctoring a ball and doctoring a player ...

The ump will take the ball out of play after about 2 hitters ... 3 at most (on the MLB level). I wonder how many players would be left if he took them out of play at the same rate ... if he did, there would be a lot less viewers (and much longer games).

quote:

I see a huge difference between doctoring a ball and doctoring a player

Do you see a differance in a Armed gunman Robbing a Bank.
And a Bank Teller Skimming money out of the Till.

Is it not the same thing, Stealing what doesn't belong to you.

Cheating is cheating.

They don't have a good "tongue in cheek" icon to use with some of the posts ..... (especially most of mine)

I don't blame the Player's for trying to get ahead, If they've seen other's getting away with it.
And wink, wink, go ahead no one will know.

Well you as a player will know.

Nobody's perfect, We all stretch the limit.

It's when WE accept it as OK.

You are responsible for your Action's.
Live with the Consequences of your Action's.
EH