Larry Bowa, who has been a Phillies’ player and manager, as well as a coach for the Yankees, leveled a charge — a very detailed charge — on Philadelphia’s 950 ESPN radio that the reason the Yankees have worn a path to the mound isn’t confusion or to settle the pitcher, but to shift signs to deter what they believe is sign stealing being performed by the Phillies.Here's what Joe Girardi had to say when he was asked about this:
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"There’s rumors going around that when you play the Phillies, there’s a camera somewhere or bullpen people are giving signs, and catchers are constantly changing signs," Bowa said. "That’s the rumor. Now is it [proved[? No. I’ve had three people come up to me, ‘Watch center field, they’ve got a camera. Some guys stand up by the fence and if their arms are up it’s a breaking ball.’ I didn’t see it, but other teams swear by it.
"So I’m sure the Yankees personnel said, ‘Heads up, these guys like to give signs from second, they’ve got people in center field. So they were constantly changing signs. Posada was paranoid about it. CC was paranoid about it so they kept going out. They might have changed signs four times on one hitter. That’s the reason he went out. It wasn’t to say to him, ‘Settle down.’ It was, ‘Go to this sign.’"
"We’re careful with all clubs," he said. "That’s just something that we do. That’s been going on for years."
Charlie Manuel had this interesting quote via the LA Times:
"I can tell you this, if I can steal signs, I will," he said. "We don't have their signs and we're not stealing their signs. But we are trying."
As much as I'd like to bash Manuel for saying that I can't. Mainly because Girardi is right, this stuff has gone on for years and will continue to go on as long as this game is played. I just hope the Yankees are trying to steal signs too.
