Sneaking a peek in Colorado

Mick Billmeyer with his binoculars in the Phillies’ bullpen

Major League Baseball tells Philadelphia Phillies coach Mick Billmeyer 14 years ago today that using binoculars from the bullpen to steal signs is bad, wrong and, well, don’t do it again.

The decree comes two days after Billmeyer is busted at Colorado’s Coors Field during the Phillies’ 9-5 victory over the Rockies before a Monday night crowd of 30,403.

Charlie Manuel

Rockies manager Jim Tracy insists Billmeyer is trying to steal the signs of his catcher, Miguel Olivo, in the top of the second inning and lets the umpires know his thoughts on the matter.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel insists, though, there is no cheating involved, only that Billmeyer likes to study the behind-the-plate work of Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz – even though Ruiz and his teammates are batting in the top of the second inning, not playing in the field.

“Mick watches Ruiz catch,” Manuel later says. “That’s what it was … I can understand why they’d be concerned about it, but at the same time, that’s the truth. That’s what happened.”

Really? In the top of the second inning? With the Phillies batting?