Kenny Rogers has never really been known as a nice guy.  He has a certain dislike for camera men, that’s for sure.
His resurgence has fans and batters alike scratching their heads.
Until yesterday.

IT was noticed by the Cardinal dugout and shown on TV.  What was IT?  According to Rogers “It was a big clump of dirt, and I wiped it off.”   Not many people are buying that, though.  ESPN has gone through much of their video archive and found instances of the ‘dirt’ on Kenny’s hand in all of his post season starts as well as several regular season outings.  According to the rules, if a player is caught on the mound using an illegal substance, that player is to be suspended for 10 days, thereby eliminating Roger’s start in game 6 (if necessary).  During the inning, someone had alerted the Detroit dugout to the images being broadcast to America at which time it appears Kenny was alerted to wash off his hand.  At that time any evidence would have been removed from the palm of his left hand.  However, Rogers pitched so well, even after his hand had been cleaned in the second, as to hold the Cards scoreless.

Was it pine tar?  I guess we’ll never know as the scrutiny of Kenny and his hand will certainly prevent him from trying to throw his ‘dirt’ ball again.  I am not so concerned about the nature of the substance on his hand as I am the new found velocity!  Kenny Rogers, who generally maxed out at around 88 mph, is now throwing at around 93 mph.  How could that be?  Is it just a new found ‘let it all hang out’ type of approach or something more?

What do you think?