MIAMI -- Gamesmanship been a part of baseball since basepaths were 90 feet and infields were diamond-shaped. And Friday provided a little bit of a reminder.

During the opener between the Marlins and Phillies, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel wasn't about to take any chances with first place in the National League East in the balance. So when he noticed the Marlins' third- and first-base coaches outside of their respective boxes, he spoke with umpire crew chief Joe West and asked him to tell the Marlins to get their coaches in the box.

Manuel's reason: He was worried they may be stealing signs from catcher Chris Coste.

"I wanted to get the coaches in the coaching box," Manuel said after the Marlins' 14-8 win. "They were standing way out. I'm not accusing them of anything, but I thought they might be getting the signs. I didn't know about it, but they made a big deal out of it. They were standing so far back."

If the Phillies were going to be sticklers, then so were the Marlins. So, as a form of retaliation, manager Fredi Gonzalez told the umpires to let Philadelphia starter Brett Myers know he needed to put on a long-sleeve shirt to cover up his visible tattoos.

Myers, who had faced the Marlins three other times going into that start and was never told anything, said afterwards that it's been years since anyone has asked him to cover up his tattoos. But, as it normally is in baseball, one bad turn deserves another.

"Ninety-five percent of that is paranoia," Gonzalez said. "In the second inning, the umpire came over and said to put the coaches in the box. So, 'OK, make [Myers] put sleeves on."

As for stealing signs, Marlins third-base coach Bo Porter said there was no chance of that going on. Mostly, he says he stands outside of the box for precautionary reasons, especially with right-handed hitters like Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu likely to pull the ball in his direction.

"It didn't bother me either way because it's the players who are going to decide the outcome of the game, not us," Porter said. "I have been under the impression that you can get as far away as possible. I didn't think you technically have to be in the box.

"It's one of those things where, if you're going to complain about something like that, OK, put your sleeves up."

Requests like the Marlins' are usually done to rattle the opposing pitcher. But after giving up five runs in the first inning, Myers pretty much settled down, tossing three straight shutout frames thereafter.

"It's just to mess with them," Marlins reliever Joe Nelson said. "It obviously didn't work, though."

As for how it plays into Saturday's game, Gonzalez said it doesn't.

"It's fine," he said. "I don't think you have the advantage either way. I respect [Manuel's request]. Whatever."