It's pretty safe to say that, as a Detroit Tigers fan, I never expected to see then in the World Series anytime in the near future. Nor did I ever think that if they did make it that I would be fortunate enough to go to one of the games, but then Sunday night I found myself at Comerica Park for Game 2 against the St. Louis Cardinals. I may have only had a standing room ticket, but I still got to see all of the action.

Obviously the big topic of conversation is what was on Kenny Rogers' hand. I actually saw umpire Alfonso Marquez walk out there and first thought was that they were checking the ball, but I assumed (until later) that everything was fine or Rogers would have been tossed. My personal opinion is to believe it was the dirt/resin/sweat/spit combination, and that's not just because I am a Tigers fan (also note, if the situation was reversed I would probably be pretty ticked about it like St. Louis fans are). My reasons for believing it:

1. Pitching one of the biggest games of his career, why would Rogers risk it all by using pine tar? Especially in such a big, noticeable patch on his pitching hand. If he was going to cheat, I would have to believe that for someone who has been around as he has, that he would be able to hide it much better.

2. Steve Palermo, a former umpire and now umpire supervisor, made a very good statement on the matter as part of a postgame interview when asked how he knew it was dirt: "Because it was observed as dirt. Umpires, they've been around for more than a week or so. This is not their first summer away from home, so they've got a pretty good idea as to what dirt is and what a foreign substance is. These are highly competent and highly trained umpires, and that's the reason they're here." (You can read the entire interview here.)

3. Yes there is other circumstantial evidence, including photos from other games with similar marks. However, assuming Kenny Rogers sticks to the same routine every start like other athletes do, it is somewhere in the realm of possibility that something he does during that routine (such as rubbing baseballs, etc) could produce it each time.

4. The Cardinals say they have collected 4 or 5 balls that are scuffed. This does not prove anything because there is no proof of where these balls came from. I could scuff some balls from Game 1 and say Anthony Reyes did something to them. The fact there remains that there is no proof that Rogers scuffed the balls or that they are even from the first inning of Game 2.

5. The spot was only there for the first inning, and he gave up one hit. So the 7 other "clean" innings he pitched he gave up a total of one more hit. Seems odd then that he was using anything to help his pitches.

It's that last point that drives the matter home for me. Whatever was there was not the reason Detroit won. Needless to say, if this series goes to Game 6, Rogers will be under heavy scrutiny.

The Tigers also need to come through better with runners in scoring position. I believe the number was 1-9 in Game 2. That includes no runs being scored after loading the bases with no outs, and not bringing the runner in later in the game when he was on third with one out. Pudge Rodriguez really needs to come back. Although maybe it's like the ALDS where he was hitless in the first two games before turning it around... I sure hope so.

And when will the Tigers finally give the big innings and save opportunities to Joel Zumaya? Todd Jones was in typical form again in Game 2, loading up the bases with 2 outs before finally ending it for at least the second time this postseason. His line: 1IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 E, 1 HPB. Just another day for "Heart Attack" Jones.

The biggest disappointment for me is that Comerica Park was nowhere near as loud for the World Series as it was for the ALCS. I was at Game 3 of the ALCS (also another gem from Rogers) and it blew Game 2 of the World Series away. It's time to stop letting the "big money" corporate guys get all the seats and let the actual fans go.

Well, with all that being said, I'm looking forward to Game 3 tonight. Chris Carpenter certainly is a challenge, but he wouldn't be the first Cy Young winner Nate Robertson led the Tigers past.

Good luck tonight boys, and hopefully when you come back to Detroit it will be as World Series champions!