There have been rumblings for the last three years that the Phillies were quite adept at

stealing signs. Remember all those trips to the mound Jorge Posada kept making last year

during the World Series? It's widely known the Yankees were completely paranoid about the

Phils and were always reviewing or changing signs. Stealing signs has been around the game

forever but it's rarely been such a mainstream topic as it's been the last few days in the

wake of the Phillies' game Monday night in Colorado.

Bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer was apparently caught with the goods by the Rockies'

television crew, peering in from the bullpen with binoculars as the Phils were at the plate.

Manager Charlie Manuel said Billmeyer, also the team's catching coach, was watching Phillies

catcher Carlos Ruiz behind the plate. Fat chance. The Phillies were batting at the time.

The Rockies are one of the teams that have long been suspicious of the Phils, from their

meetings in the 2007 and 2009 division series.

"A pair of binoculars staring down the gun barrel of the hitting area, I don't think a club

in baseball that's competing against that team would take too kindly to that," Rockies manager

Jim Tracy said. "... You start reflecting back on some of the things that have taken place in

previous games and it makes you sit here and wonder a little bit."

The Rockies filed a formal complaint with MLB and the Phillies have been reprimanded. Other

teams then started to pile on. Marlins catcher John Baker spoke of "strange swings" that went

against the scouting reports. Mets catcher Rod Barajas, a former Phillie, said he knew

first-hand how his old team was good at stealing signs "the old-fashioned way."

Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa said during last year's Series that teams suspect the

Phils do their dirty work using a center-field camera at Citizens Bank Park. Fans can also

stand above the huge batter's eye in center field and some people think a messenger can be

planted.

I took a walk out there during batting practice one night during the Series and you have a

clear view of the plate, as well as any signal a catcher is making. Would be easy to simply

raise an arm and send a signal.

Despite the heavy evidence against him, Manuel wasn't happy with the Rockies' accusations.

"Keep crying," he said. "I'm sure if they can steal signs, they'll steal them. And we will,

too, if we can get them. Legally. If you're dumb enough to let us get them, then that's your

fault."

For their part, the Rockies weren't pleased with Manuel's rant.

"There was a suggestion made that we should stop "crying,' that we're complaining about it

because we got beat," Tracy said. "We're complaining about it because it's wrong.

"And when I read a statement that [the Phillies] are using binoculars to check [Ruiz] and

how he's setting up and things like that, then you should use the binoculars when your team is

on defense and not offense. OK?"

Charlie Manuel then set his eyes on the Mets and accused them of doing likewise because

they've been dramatically better at Citi Field (14-8) than on the road (4-10 through Friday).

"I don't know what Charlie's talking about," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "Charlie just

likes to put some spice in the rivalry, that's what he likes."

One last point: There was always speculation about the Indians doing a great job of

stealing signs during their heyday in the late 90s. Who was their hitting coach during that

run? Charlie Manuel. Hmmmm.

Strasburg in Rochester

The Nationals are starting to tinker with Stephen Strasburg's rest pattern and he's going

to get an extra day before his next start, meaning he will go Tuesday night in Rochester

rather than Monday afternoon in Pawtucket. Good chance for you to make the drive down the

Thruway to see the game's top pitching prospect but act fast: The Wings sold 2,000 tickets

Thursday and Friday alone and that pace is sure to continue.

Strasburg still lines up to make his final Triple-A start in Coca-Cola Field, likely June 2

or 3. But can the Nationals really keep him in Triple-A? He has a 1.06 ERA in the minors this

year — and has given up one hit in 12 innings over his two starts for Syracuse. This is

nothing but an economic decision. The kid should be in the bigs right now, especially with his

team making a surprising push to the top of the NL East.

The Washington Post even speculated last week that Strasburg could miss Buffalo entirely

and be done with Triple-A on May 30. That would allow for the attendance boon of Strasburg

starting twice on the Nats' opening homestand of June, perhaps on June 4 against the Reds and

June 10 against the Pirates.

I still think he's going to be in Buffalo on June 2 or 3 and then debut June 8 against the

Pirates, giving a big boost to what would be an otherwise scant Tuesday night gate.

No Buffalo for Jays

The Blue Jays can't play their series against the Phillies June 25-27 in the Rogers Centre

because the G20 Summit of world leaders is taking place in the adjacent Metro Convention

Centre.

The Jays announced last week they're taking the whole show to Citizens Bank Park in Philly

and the club thought briefly about places like Detroit or Cleveland. That, of course, brought

a flood of e-mails to me about Coca-Cola Field.

Not possible, folks. First of all, I don't think the lighting is major-league quality. And

MLB would not approve of the bullpens being so close to fair territory, either. Nothing wrong

with the park. It's just all about revenue and there's far more to be made in Philly.

When the Rays played a series in Orlando the last couple years, that's been used as an MLB

spring training park by the Braves. And the Marlins' series in Puerto Rico this year against

the Mets is in a former World Baseball Classic park.

Torre on the outs?

Foxsports.com reported that friends of manager Joe Torre "doubt he would tolerate another

year of the Dodgers' penny-pinching circus" in the wake of the ugly divorce that's ongoing

between team owners Frank and Jamie McCourt.

"Obviously they aren't friends of mine," Torre said. "I don't really allow those

conversations to get out of my house anyway. I won't make up my mind until close to the end of

the season."

Wisdom of Ozzie

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, on the Twins moving from the Metrodome to Target Field: "I

don't care if we play on the moon or another planet, as long as we don't go to the Metrodome.

It's not that we've played bad there, but the ballpark was unprofessional. I'm very glad that

Major League Baseball and the city of [Minneapolis] have a new ballpark. ... Nothing was worse

than going to the Metrodome."

Numerology

National League road teams went a combined 12-1 Monday and Tuesday, with the

Nationals' 8-6 loss to the Mets being the only defeat. Then they went a combined 9-3 the next

two days.

The Pirates had just 10 hits and batted .115 in three losses to the Reds last week.

Then Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen became the first Pittsburgh teammates with five hits

each in a game in 40 years Friday at Wrigley Field. Willie Stargell and Bob Robertson were the

last to do it, in a 20-10 win in Atlanta in 1970.

Not only did Jamie Moyer's recent shutout of the Braves make him the oldest player

in history to spin one (at 47 years, 170 days), but it also made the Phillies' left-hander the

first pitcher in history with shutouts in four decades. The first one he threw was for the

Cubs on Aug. 16, 1986.

There were an incredible 187 pitches thrown in the first three innings of Friday

night's Rangers-Blue Jays game in Toronto. The Blue Jays led, 11-9, through three and won,

16-10.