I don’t think so, especially when pictures on ESPN’s web site show the same clump of dirt in precisely the same spot on Kenny Rogers’ hand from game 3 of the ALCS. Of course, one explanation could be that Rogers is even more superstitious than your average baseball player and hasn’t washed since his memorable game against the Yankees nearly two weeks ago. If that were the case, however, far fewer of his teammates would be hugging him, right?
Another explanation could be that Rogers was rubbing first baseman Carlos Guillen’s jersey whenever the latter visited the mound to calm the fiery left-hander down. Note Guillen's right shoulder. Note, too, that whatever Guillen was telling Rogers during those visits did not appear to have much of a soothing effect. * * * * * * * *
One more comment about Scott Rolen…at least for now. Rolen was often portrayed in the local media as an introspective fellow with intellectual inclinations. I, on the other hand, always found him rather ordinary when it came to language and logic.
In today’s Inquirer, there is a piece headlined “Rolen Unburdens himself in Game 1” in which the Cardinals’ third baseman presumably gets a load off his allegedly fertile mind. I, for one, have re-read it three or four times and still cannot really figure out what he is saying and which part is the unburdening. Consecutive translations are welcome in the Comments section below. Here is the entire piece:
Scott Rolen's home run in St. Louis' 7-2 victory in Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday night lifted a career 0-for-the-Fall-Classic weight from the former Phillies third baseman.
"We're human beings; I know I didn't get a hit in the last World Series," said Rolen, who was hitless in 15 at-bats for the Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
"No excuses, for whatever reason, it doesn't matter," said Rolen, who went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI Saturday. "But I also don't want to be shallow to the point to think that last postseason or last World Series has anything to do with what's happening tonight. It's a completely different series."
He had been hitting just .188 with no RBIs this postseason.
4 comments:
Aw c'mon, lay off Scottie. He might not have made a lot of sense with those quotes, but he's more than a shade brighter than your average player.
Rogers is a big fat liar, but considering that he pitched seven 'clean' innings of scoreless ball in addition to his one questionable inning, really does make this a non-issue.
Can't help myself, RSB. Rolen is too full of himself. Come to think of it, he and La Russa probably don't get along because they are cut from the same cloth. I'll let it go as soon as the Series is over. Promise.
As for Rogers, I had the same reaction initially but then I thought, this is too good a story not to take a poke at him. Do I think he was really cheating? Absolutely. Does it matter? Absolutely again. Was he doing this during ehe ALCS? Probably. He's a jerk, plain and simple, and we knew that before his elevation to sainthood this post-season.
Insofar as he consciously cheated and lied about it, that does matter, and my impression of Kenny Rogers is further tarnished. But insofar as the relevance to the outcome of his performance, I think the seven shutout innings speaks louder than merely the results of the first one.
Kenny Rogers admitted he was actully "stink palming" the camera men before the game and forgot to clean up. "Stink Palm" refers to a prank Brody (actor Jason Lee)pulled off in the movie Mallrats...classic!
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