Post by Fish Troll on Sept 3, 2007 17:09:09 GMT -5
Mets claim Phillies cheated by stealing signs
Sunday, September 2nd 2007, 4:00 AM
And yet they still lost.
Sunday, September 2nd 2007, 4:00 AM
ATLANTA - The Phillies had a lot of heart during last week's four-game sweep of the Mets. They allegedly had some illegal help, too.
MLB discipline czar Bob Watson was dispatched to Thursday's series finale in Philadelphia to investigate after the Mets accused the Phillies of stealing signs through a center-field camera, a source told the Daily News. Suspicions arose midway through the series when the Mets changed their signs and a Phillies player reacted by mentioning the change in complexity during a casual conversation.
"What's up with the sophisticated signs?" the Phillie allegedly asked a Met.
Willie Randolph confirmed the Mets alerted MLB, but didn't elaborate.
"We were suspicious about a few things," the manager said. "We checked it out."
Watson found no evidence of foul play, and determined the camera - used by the Phillies organization - didn't provide a live feed to the dugout, according to an MLB source.
However, that's not how the purported scheme exactly works, according to a Met.
Allegedly, the camera in center field provides footage to a video room. A coach stationed in the corner of the Phillies' dugout has a buzzer in his pocket. Based on the signal he receives from the video room, he then yells a code to the batter - such as his first name - to relay what pitch is coming. One Met said he's heard from three different former Phillies in the past year alleging foul play at Citizens Bank Park.
An official familiar with the complaint said similar allegations are made at various stadiums during the course of a season.
The Phillies denied wrongdoing.
"They checked us out," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal. "Ask them for the report. ... I think it's just a matter of guys talking and running their mouth. You can check us all you want to. Maybe we should check them. They definitely have guys that try to steal signs. Sandy Alomar is always walking around trying to get signs. At least they let you think that. ...When stuff comes up like that, it's no big deal. They can sit up there during the game with the camera crew for all I care."
MLB discipline czar Bob Watson was dispatched to Thursday's series finale in Philadelphia to investigate after the Mets accused the Phillies of stealing signs through a center-field camera, a source told the Daily News. Suspicions arose midway through the series when the Mets changed their signs and a Phillies player reacted by mentioning the change in complexity during a casual conversation.
"What's up with the sophisticated signs?" the Phillie allegedly asked a Met.
Willie Randolph confirmed the Mets alerted MLB, but didn't elaborate.
"We were suspicious about a few things," the manager said. "We checked it out."
Watson found no evidence of foul play, and determined the camera - used by the Phillies organization - didn't provide a live feed to the dugout, according to an MLB source.
However, that's not how the purported scheme exactly works, according to a Met.
Allegedly, the camera in center field provides footage to a video room. A coach stationed in the corner of the Phillies' dugout has a buzzer in his pocket. Based on the signal he receives from the video room, he then yells a code to the batter - such as his first name - to relay what pitch is coming. One Met said he's heard from three different former Phillies in the past year alleging foul play at Citizens Bank Park.
An official familiar with the complaint said similar allegations are made at various stadiums during the course of a season.
The Phillies denied wrongdoing.
"They checked us out," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal. "Ask them for the report. ... I think it's just a matter of guys talking and running their mouth. You can check us all you want to. Maybe we should check them. They definitely have guys that try to steal signs. Sandy Alomar is always walking around trying to get signs. At least they let you think that. ...When stuff comes up like that, it's no big deal. They can sit up there during the game with the camera crew for all I care."
And yet they still lost.
