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Phillies Accused of Stealing Signs. Is That Even a Big Deal?

May 12, 2010, 4:20 PM UTC

â†µIt seems people are starting to figure out the Phillies success, and yes, it involved binoculars. FOX News is reporting that the Phillies have been warned by Major League Baseball after Colorado filed a complaint that signs were being stolen during Monday's game. The situation came up during the FSN Rocky Mountain telecast of the game.â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥Major League Baseball issued a warning to the Phillies on Tuesday concerning accusations that bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer was stealing signs during Monday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥“We have looked at the video and talked to the Phillies about the actions of their bullpen coach,” a Major League Baseball official told FOXSports.com.â†µâ‡¥
â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥“We found the evidence inconclusive on what was being done, but we have spoken to the Phillies about the situation, and the umpires have been told to be on full alert as to what is going on.” â†µâ‡¥

â†µâ†µThe report indicates that this is the second time the Phillies have been accused of stealing signs this season, with the first coming in their victory over the Mets when they shellacked Johan Santana for 10 runs in just 3.2 innings. This time, it seems, TV cameras caught Billmeyer using binoculars focused on Colorado catcher Miguel Olivo. The video also shows, at some point, Shane Victorino on the bullpen phone. Maybe Victorino was harmlessly ordering up a Twix the next time he came out to center field. Or, maybe he was getting information from someone in the bullpen as to what pitches the Rockies were throwing.â†µâ†µAnd honestly, who cares? Stealing signs is still an issue? It’s not like they can tell the batter what’s coming while the pitch is en route. What does it matter if a coach in the outfield is tracking what pitches a guy throws, or how a catcher is putting down his fingers, in order to get an advantage down the line? Sure, there’s some “unwritten rule” of baseball that stealing signs is taboo, and teams go to great length to change their signs when a runner is on second base so he doesn’t give the hitter the old “tap my head means fastball, no tap means breaking ball” advantage. But from the bullpen?â†µ

â†µ

â†µThink about how elaborate this scheme would have to be. Billmeyer would have to see the sign then call it in to the dugout. Someone from the dugout would then have to relay it to the batter, theoretically by either yelling it out or using hand signals to a man on base or one of the base coaches. And this would have to take place in about half a second, all while the ball is about to be sent toward the plate. The Phillies offense is good, but it's not that good.â†µ

â†µâ†µPer the report, MLB could not find any conclusive evidence, so Philly got off with a warning and the umps were put on alert to look for cheating. â†µ

â†µâ†µUPDATE: Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb posted this response from Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥Why have the #Phillies been accused of stealing signs? “Because we beat them,” Manuel said. “That’s why. Keep crying.”â†µâ†µâ†µHow many games do you watch where the center field camera zooms in on the catchers fingers before a pitch comes? I’d venture to guess that television picks up the type of pitch almost 90 percent of the time, with announcers often tipping the pitch to the viewing audience. “Looking for a fastball on the outside part of the plate here.” You hear that all the time.â†µ

â†µâ†µWhy not just equip the batters with tiny transmitters so they can hear the TV call and take the coaches out of it altogether? Technology has caught up with the game so much the only thing MLB should reprimand Billmeyer and the Phillies over is the antiquated use of simple binoculars and a bullpen phone. There has to be a way to incorporate social media in this, right? Maybe Billmeyer can tweet out what the next pitch will be. If fans in the stands RT it, maybe the batter will have enough information to properly adjust in time. And if he uses the #mlb hashtag it will show up on the league’s homepage so everyone will know the pitch before it comes. Oh, that’s right, those of us watching on TV already do.â†µ

â†µâ†µOf course, it could just be that people like complaining about the Phillies. Take this classic quote from Mets outfield Jeff Francoeur upon hearing the Phillies will get three extra home games:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“That’s just bull—,” Francoeur said. “That’s really not fair. That’s just not fair.” ... “It’s ridiculous ... Absolutely crazy.”â†µâ†µMLB gives the Phillies nothing but a warning for stealing signs and now gets three extra home games? Absolutely crazy. Bunch of cheaters.â†µ

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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