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Kenny Rogers threw an incredible eight innings of baseball yesterday in the Detroit
Tigers' victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals' only run came in the
ninth inning of the game, after Rogers had left the mound. But there was some
controversy over Rogers’ hand. Did he have pine tar on it, an illegal substance in
Major League Baseball. A national television audience saw a dark substance on
Rogers’ hand during the first inning of the game. But interestingly, neither the
umpires nor the Cardinals' manager did anything after Rogers washed it off.
Detroiters loved the game. But, in an out of state perspective, the L.A. Times writes:


Considering he was not searched, could the pine tar have remained in (Rogers’)
glove the entire night? Has pine tar been in his glove the entire postseason? Unfair
questions, perhaps, but questions that should have been answered on a night when
baseball acted like some secret society, some ugly fraternity, hazing honor and
integrity in the process.

Read the Article!!


Discussion Starters

  • Ask your child if he/she knows the rules of baseball. They’ll probably tell
    you “three strikes and you’re out.” But, push them to share as many
    rules as they can. You might also ask them to name the positions on a
    baseball team. If your child doesn't know tell him/her that it’s illegal for
    the pitcher to use anything on his hand, like cream, that would help him
    throw the ball better. (Sometimes pine-tar helps pitchers control the ball
    better when it is very cold outside.) Ask your child if he/she thinks that
    this is a good rule. Do you think that this is a good rule? Why?

  • Ask your child what it means to cheat. Ask why somebody might cheat.
    What does your child think should be an appropriate punishment for
    cheating? Likely, he/she will think that the punishment should vary
    depending on the type of cheating. What kinds of lessons can you learn
    from punishments? Did you ever cheat as a child and learn not to cheat
    afterwards. You might share this experience with your child. If your child
    shares an experience in which he/she cheated it might be best to just
    listen since they are volunteering this information. This will hopefully help
    to create a trusting relationship.

  • Ask your child if he/she thinks it’s appropriate to ask questions about
    cheating after seeing the dark spot on Kenny Rogers’ hand. Encourage
    him/her to explain their view. What if Kenny Rogers did not have an
    illegal substance on his hand – would it be appropriate to discuss
    cheating? Would it be fair to state an opinion on whether or not Kenny
    Rogers actually had pine-tar on his hand? Why/why not? What kind of
    evidence could you offer to support your opinion either way?

  • After seeing the dark spot on Rogers’ hand the manager of the St. Louis
    Cardinals did not ask the umpires to search him nor did the umpires
    order an investigation on their own. Even after Rogers washed his hands
    he could have had pine-tar in his glove. Speculate with your child as to
    why a search was not done. What might have been the effects to Kenny
    Rogers if a search had been performed and pine tar was not found?
    What might have been the effect to the sport of baseball if a search was
    performed and pine-tar was found? What if it wasn't found?

  • A Great Link: Who’s On First, Abbott & Costello Classic Routine
A Pitcher's Hand
October 23, 2006
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