The Zo Zone

Remember that momentum the Phillies picked up last week against the New York Mets?

It could be gone with a loss today to the Florida Marlins.

J.D. Durbin allowed seven runs in the first inning in a 12-6 loss to the Marlins last night at Dolphin Stadium. The Phillies need Adam Eaton to pitch well today, or the Phillies will lose a three-game series to a team that has lost 14 of its last 17 games. That's not the way to assert yourself after climbing back into contention in the National League East last week. They need to beat the Marlins today, or risk falling four games behind the Mets in the division with 26 games to play.

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The Phillies also fell three games out of first place in the NL wild-card race.

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The Mets suspect the Phillies of stealing signs at Citizens Bank Park.

They even complained to Major League Baseball about it. So Bob Watson, baseball's disciplinarian, made an unannounced visit to the Bank on Thursday to check things out. He found nothing wrong. The theory is that the Phillies get the signs from the centerfield camera, which are fed into the clubhouse, and then they relay that information to the batter at home plate. Of course, that exchange of information has to happen almost instantaneously, which makes it terribly difficult to do.

Still, it's an interesting story. Teams have accused other teams of stealing signs for years and years and years. Jimy Williams and Joe Kerrigan accused the Cleveland Indians of stealing signs in 1999, when they were the Boston Red Sox's manager and pitching coach, respectively. Charlie Manuel was Cleveland's hitting coach at the time. Manuel still denies it, although Manuel and Williams still argue about it.

It's also interesting that the Mets reported to MLB that former Phillies players tipped off the Mets that the Phillies steal signs. Former Phillies on the Mets include Jeff Conine and Marlon Anderson. The Mets also reported that former Phillies on the Los Angeles Dodgers mentioned that. Those players would include Randy Wolf, Mike Lieberthal and Ramon Martinez. Those fears intensified when Brett Myers joked with Tom Glavine on Wednesday that Glavine pitched so well Tuesday -- Glavine threw seven shutout innings -- because they couldn't get his signs.

Manuel indicated that Myers was just breaking Glavine's stones when he said that.

But Manuel got a kick out of the fact that they got into the Mets' heads like that. He hopes they stay there.

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Cole Hamels suffered a setback Thursday during a bullpen session and will miss at least two more starts. He just can't seem to stay healthy for an entire season.

Glavine can. Jim Salisbury discusses Glavine's DL-free career in The Inquirer's Sunday baseball column. Make sure to check out Phillie Phodder, Extra Bases, Stats 'N' Stuff and On Deck.

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This is interesting. The New York Post reports Mets front office officials and players aren't happy with the job Willie Randolph is doing. That's the thing ... everybody thinks their manager is the worst, which is why I think criticism of the manager is blown out of proportion. They're ripping Randolph in New York, Charlie Manuel in Philly, Ned Yost in Milwaukee, Grady Little in LA ... some even thought Tony La Russa should leave after the season in St. Louis. And the guy just won a World Series.

It's funny how every manager in every city makes terrible decisions, huh?

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Bugs & Cranks interviews Hamels.