MLB Pulls Controversial Advertisement For Tonight's Mets Game

This morning Major League Baseball has decided to pull an advertisement for tonight's Mets/Marlins game at Citi Field.  The advertisement, which highlights tonight's pitching match-up of Dickey vs. Johnson was deemed too suggestive and prompted several groups to call the MLB to complain.

The source of the controversy seems to be a baseball bat and balls that some NYC residents believe is meant to symbolize a penis.  "My kids walk by that thing every morning and ask me 'Daddy why does that bat have testicles?'", says one resident of Douglaston.  "What am I supposed to say to them?"

The advertising agency responsible for the ad had this to say in a statement on their website:

We regret any discomfort that the ad may have caused.  Please note that any resemblances are purely coincidental.  We worked long and hard on this project.  Our design staff really bent over backwards and we rode them hard to get this thing done by deadline.  We thought we had pulled it out in the end but we see now that we may need to do a little more Q.A. on these things going forward.  It was never our intention to be in your face with our work and shove this thing down the throats of NYC residents.  We are deeply sorry.

Starting this morning workers will begin removing the posters from subway stations and bus stop shelters all over New York City with the exception of the West Village where the ad has been a huge hit. 

For the Mets, this is the second time their knuckleballer has caused some controversy.  Earlier this season the Mets were forced to cancel a Dickey promotional night due to a factory error.  Despite the controversy, the Mets remain optimistic that tonight's game will draw a large crowd and they urge fans to come on out to Citi and have a ball...or two.

All articles featured on The Apple are fictitious. No Mets were harmed in the writing of this story.

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