After coming back from a 6-1 deficit last night for an 8-6 Animal-assisted defeat of the Nationals, the Mets ran their Citi Field record to 10-2 since the promotion of 1B / daredevil Ike Davis. Amongst those unimpressed? Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel, who upon being accused of stealing signs for the 2nd time this season, suggested that if anyone’s guilty of such a practice, it’s probably a team that’s unusually successful in their own park. From CSN.com’s Jim Salisbury :


œSomebody maybe ought to check the Mets if they did that, Manuel said. œTheir [bleeping] home record is out of this world and they™re losing on the road. Sometimes that™s a good indicator of getting signs and [crap]. I see somebody setting there at (14-7) at home and (4-8) on the road, I™d get concerned about that. That kind of crosses my mind.

œI™m not accusing them, but you look at that and “ damn. We™re about the same home and road. I™m just saying their record is much better at home and they hit better.

Manuel was asked why he believed teams had made accusations against the Phils.

œBecause we beat ˜em. That™s why,™™ he said.

Manuel then cited an incident in which Colorado reliever Manny Corpas was seen on television dousing his shirt with water as he warmed up in the bullpen before a playoff game against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park in 2007.

Billmeyer œmeant nothing by it, Manuel said. œIt™s like a couple of years ago, when we played Colorado and we saw the guy put stuff on his uniform “ they didn™t do anything about that. This was nothing. We don™t steal signs.

œI™m sure if teams could steal signs they would, and if we can we will, too, if we can get them legally, Manuel said. œIf you™re dumb enough to let us get them, it™s your fault. It™s been going on in the game a long time. If you™re dumb enough to let us get them, that™s your problem.