Larry Bowa comes close to call the Phillies cheaters

by Halos in DE on Nov 3, 2009 1:18 PM EST Comment 16 comments

http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2009/11/dodgers_third-base_coach_larry.html

I'm sure you have heard that Larry Bowa said he has heard other teams calling the Phillies cheaters, that they steal signs. I have not seen evidence of this (pictorially), so the glove doesn't fit yet (yes I made a bad OJ pun there). However this is a concern, and I might question my fanhood to the Phillies if this turns out to be true. It is against the spirit of the game (even if it is there historically, even if it was in The Shot Heard 'Round the World). This to me would equate what the Yankees have been doing for years, trying to buy a championship. Not the hard way, like last year for the Phils.

However, it has not been mentioned that the Yankees were constantly going to the mound in the ALCS. I remember that they pulled a 5 minute stall tactic by having the catcher go to the mound, coach, throwing to first, catcher going to mound numerous times to get to Mariano Rivera - before a pitch was thrown. Plus other times trying going to the mound in the same at bat. In Anaheim, there is no center field seats, there is the rock pile, where some media sit. Only seats to left and right of center. Honestly, it was sick, I really hope MLB makes a rule for number of times a catcher or fielder can visit the mound, much like coaches and managers.

Poll

If the Phillies are proven to steal signs, would you care?

Yes

38 votes

No

104 votes

Don't care

35 votes

177 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

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Comments

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a runner on second base stealing signs from the catcher.

by taco pal on Nov 3, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Baseball teams have been stealing signs for eternity. All teams do it. ARod has been accused of peaking at the catcher while he’s at bat (which is considered by player’s a much more grevious offense). Guys on second stealing are a part of the game; and if the catcher isn’t changing up his signals, well, that’s on the team.

The issue here is that the Phillies have been accused for years (I mean over 30 years) of using hidden cameras to steal signs and relay them to the batter. Really? We do that and yet we’re the losingest franchise in the history of professional sports? Does not compute.

by doubleh on Nov 3, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Phillies did use an electronic system to cheat…in 1898. I can’t think of a modern instance where anything was proven.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Nov 3, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As long as there’s nothing electronic being used, there’s nothing wrong with players or base coaches figuring out the signs.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Nov 3, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whoops, didn’t see this before I hit Post below. Agree 100% here.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 3, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Larry Bowa is completely reliable and has no axe to grind with the Phillies, at all. It’s not like they fired him, then beat his new team in consecutive LCSs.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Nov 3, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The snarkiness is strong in this one

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Nov 3, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seeing as how there are numerous ex-Phillies on his current team, you’d think he’d be able to come up with some hard evidence for his claim if it were really true.

by taco pal on Nov 3, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There isn’t a team in the bigs that doesn’t steal signs. Not one. And if there is, they don’t want to win.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Nov 3, 2009 1:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure I understand the poll.

Aren’t “No” and “Don’t care” the same thing?

If a team is using technology to steal signs — i.e. the alleged camera in center field that the Mets complained about 2 years ago — then it’s a huge deal. It would make them the Patriots of MLB, and nobody wants that reputation.

But good old-fashioned sign stealing by a guy on 2nd, or a dugout that has deciphered what the 3rd base coach is doing? Nothing wrong with that at all.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 3, 2009 1:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

About the Mets’ complaint – if there really was a center field camera, how would we hide it? Seeing as how the visiting bullpen is right there in center field, right on top of our bullpen.

by taco pal on Nov 3, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The patriots of MLB? You mean consistently winning, being a championship threat?

I’ll take that reputatoin

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Nov 3, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Touche.

Of course, I’m talking about the videotape-your-defensive-signals, disrupt-the-audio-feed-to-your-headsets, videotape-your-pre-Super-Bowl-walkthrough Patriots. You know, the ones that scammed their way to the top of the NFL as much as earned it.

That’s a reputation I’d like to avoid.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 3, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2-3 years later no one even remembers- a temporary furor – and it dies down – and really doesn’t hurt the patriots at all.

I knew what you were referring but it’s not like they bring it up every week like the juicers (won’t someone think of the children)

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Nov 3, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i have no problem with sign stealing as long as it stays on the field, like the guy on 2nd. the problem is electronic (like video camera) or a scope (like sign stealing of old) in cf. what joe mauer was accused of is fine by me, because it was on the field.

yeah i screwed up in the poll, wanted to make a distinction between ‘yeah i know they cheat(if it turns to be true) but it is total legit’ and a “ehh whatever.”

by Halos in DE on Nov 3, 2009 2:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs