Rogers Scuffed Balls, Allegedly

stown

Link



<< <i>"He wasn't just cheating by using pine tar; he was scuffing balls, too. We collected about five or six balls that are scuffed. He had to be using his fingernails or something." >>

hardcorehockeyfan

"Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle said that Rogers appeared to have a similar smudge at the base of his thumb in his previous playoff victories over the Yankees and A's. He has made three starts this postseason. "

The San Franciso Chronicle, is that the same paper that has reporters going to jail for contempt? I want to see video evidence of him scuffing up balls. If it was so blatant, then it should be on film, correct? I get it now, should Kenny Rogers have a bad game his next time out, then that must be why he has pitched well, correct? Gimme a break, media really urinates me off!

hardcorehockeyfan

Also, let's go back to last year, and his confrontation with the cameraman. I mean, I only heard when the case was settled, that Kenny Rogers and the reporter went into a room and talked about it for awhile, Rogers being highly apologetic, but nobody hears that! Oh yeah, Kenny Rogers is the only one who ever had a bad day too, Randy Johnson coming to New York, I saw that. Latrell Sprewell and his felonious act. It goes on and on. So that must be it, Tigers should just forfeit the rest of the games, because the only reason they are there, is because of the cheating!

gregmo32

What does a reporter protecting the identity of his confidential sources have to do with the validity of a completely unrelated story? Most would consider it virtuous that someone would preserve their integrity and stand by their rights under freedom of the press. It is one of the things that separates us from non-free countries.

hardcorehockeyfan

<< <i>What does a reporter protecting the identity of his confidential sources have to do with the validity of a completely unrelated story? Most would consider it virtuous that someone would preserve their integrity and stand by their rights under freedom of the press. It is one of the things that separates us from non-free countries. >>



Well, if an anonymous source cannot back up what he/she says, then they are a wus. I would hate it if an anonymous source fingers me on something, and the pu$-$y has no balls to show his/her face! If you have the balls to say my name in a sentence, then I should have the right to know who and why, and if necessary, lay a smack down!

Edited to add: freedom of the press is one thing indeed, but slander is also another! How can I prove myself innocent, if someone stands behind an anonymous source? Also, leaking of Grand Jury testimony is a crime if I remember correctly, therefore, it should be a crime to protect criminals, oh wait a second, it is!

stown

Huh??

The source is Hal McRae:

"It was so blatant," Cardinals hitting coach Hal McRae told USA TODAY. "What was so strange about it was how obvious it was, in the World Series. It's a shame a guy would cheat in a World Series game. It hurts the integrity of the game.

MantleMarisFordBerra

Hmmmmm...I always hate to accuse a player of cheating, esp if there is no evidence (like leaked grand jury tesitmony) but it is strange he had the same clump of dirt on his hand in several different games. If McRae has these balls he collected, make 'em public! Let's see what's up!

RANDYMOSS84

every picther does this, my senior year in HS I had some pitchers on the staff that would put pine tar on my gloves/catchers mask to gain when i made mound visits... Its a way of the game it seems.

bags05

Let me first state that its pretty clear that Rogers was doctoring baseballs out there and has for some time. Having said that, the Cards really don't have a leg to stand on with this one anymore. If they had this mountain of evidence and felt so strongly about this, then they should have done something during the game. Having a bunch of scuffed balls in YOUR dugout really proves nothing.

There's a fine psychological line here. Anyone remember the 1986 NLCS? Mike Scott had the most wicked split-fingered pitch you've ever seen and was literally unhittable the entire series. The Mets too claimed that they had a bunch of sliced baseballs from Scott in their dugout. Yet, when the Mets players asked the umps REPEATEDLY to check the baseballs directly from Scott, they all came up clean. Not one was thrown out of play and each was returned to Scott. During Game 4, Mets' hitters must have asked for ump 10-12 times to check the ball in a clear attempt to psyche out Scott. But what it ended up doing was get in the Mets' heads that the guy was so unhittable, he HAD to be doing something to the ball.

Sometimes just the IDEA that a guy might be doctoring a baseball can have a real effect on what goes on in a hitter's head.

hardcorehockeyfan

<< <i>Hmmmmm...I always hate to accuse a player of cheating, esp if there is no evidence (like leaked grand jury tesitmony) but it is strange he had the same clump of dirt on his hand in several different games. If McRae has these balls he collected, make 'em public! Let's see what's up! >>



Yes, show me the baseballs, and show me exact proof it was not just from a ball bouncing off the plate. And I am sorry stown, what I meant about it being blatant, as Hal MacRae says, then there should be documented proof on video that he did it. Show me exactly when he did so!

Is good sportsmanship part of the integrity of the game? And was it not Hal whining like a sore loser back in the early '90s, after his team lost. Tossing cups, phones, and using profanity in front of females, how sporty of him, what integrity!

grote15

It certainly didn't seem to adversely affect him last time out after the second inning when he had to remove the "evidence". I think it's more of a media created story than anything else. This kind of thing has been going on for decades.

gregmo32

I wonder if Leyland and Larussa were not buddies if Larussa would have gone out and "officially" asked the umps to check him out. He could have been thrown out of the game.

MantleMarisFordBerra

<< <i>I wonder if Leyland and Larussa were not buddies if Larussa would have gone out and "officially" asked the umps to check him out. He could have been thrown out of the game. >>



I thought about that myself. To be clear, the time has passed. If the Cards were gonna make a stink about this, they should've had him checked out on the field.

gregmo32

Why not? I mean, this is the World Series! If you believe the other team is cheating, and their pitcher has not allowed a run in a month, why not say "HEY, THAT GUY IS CHEATING!" The trickle down effect of having the bullpen pitch the next eight innings of game two would have been enough to really give St. Louis the edge.

yankeeno7

Shouldnt there be more blame on the umpires? Whenever giving a new replacement ball, they do or should be looking at the replaced ball. Why have they not thrown Rogers out of a game for doctoring balls? The pine tar isnt going to miraculously disappear once it hits the catchers mit. Nor is a scuff or a slice.

I think if there are scuffed balls, they should have been shown to an umpire between innings so the umpire could pay special attention when replacing the ball. Otherwise, I think Rogers must be innocent until being proven guilty (caught in the act or admission).

Reporters want a big story and will do anything to make it.

viking7

The home plate umpire answered all the questions about the Rogers game prior to game 3 last night.
No problem, time to move on. The media does get out of control with some things. Great game by the Cards last night. Hope the Tigers can turn it around.

bishop

"Next thing you know one of those teams will be stealing signs"....Bobby Thompson

80sJunkie

can we just get over it already

IrishMike

I would guess most veteran pitchers and most of the rest push the rules on scuffing a baseball. You learn that in little league, high school and college. Balls seldom get changed and you will always find a mark on one where you can add a little um "little extra" to the pitch. When Larussa managed the Sox there were always questions about them stealing signs from the scoreboard and Hoyt suddenly began to get guys out he never could.

Friendship had nothing to do with LaRussa telling the umps to let it go. What do you think Suppan and others are doing?