Not Just A PR Stunt, Mets Jay Horwitz Will Compete For Starting RF Job

It would seem that after failing at convential methods of aquiring outfield talent, Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson is taking an unconventional route to upgrading his outfield. Alderson is reaching into a new untapped resource for talent...the Mets own front office.

Mets Injury News: Nimmo Injures Hand Signing Contract, Ike Cleared To Resume Spitting

On most teams, a young prospect really feels like he is part of the group just by donning the team's cap.  But when the team is the NY Mets, one is not truly an Amazin' until your name is listed on some level of disabled list.

Mets Considered Shutting Down Spring Training Had MLB Loan Not Gone Through

Despite assurances that the Madoff-related law suit will not affect the team's finances, a source close to the Mets told The Apple that had Major League Baseball not agreed to lend the Mets 25 million dollars, the team was considering shuttering their spring training complex in Port St. Lucie.

Mets Winter Meetings: Day 2 Recap

The second day of the winter meetings was quite eventful for the Mets representation.  The crew of Sandy Alderson, Paul DePodesta, J.P. Ricciardi and for some reason Jay Horowitz was up early and working the continental breakfast looking for possible trade partners.

By 7:30 AM it was obvious that there was no interest in what the Mets were selling so the group set out to salvage the day with a trip to Disney World.  But rest assured this group doesn't do anything without a plan.

"We were up all night running the numbers and we came up with a cohiesive strategy.", said Paul DePodesta. "By taking an advanced sabermetric approach to our visit we were able to hit every ride at least twice.  We could have done even better if Jay (Horowitz) had agreed to sit in a wheelchair."

Regardless, park employees are calling it "the most efficient use of time in the history of the park". The group rode space mountain 32 times, shattering the previous record for a group of baseball executives: 1.

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

Three Mets Players Pay Surprise Visit To Local Vets

In a rather obvious attempt to atone for the PR disaster that was the missed trip to Walter Reed Hospital, the three Mets who skipped that trip spent Monday morning visiting vets in Flushing.  Accompanied by Mets head of PR Jay Horowitz, Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo, and Oliver Perez paid a surprise visit on Monday to the Flushing Veterinary Hospital and Dog Kennel.

Castillo who admitted that he was uncomfortable around amputees made quickly for the kennel and seemed to make friends with a six year old beagle whose owners were headed upstate to their lakehouse by Lake George. When the veteran secondbaseman was satisfied that this dog and the others in the adjacent cages were totally healthy he was able to relax and have a good, albeit one-way, conversation with the pooch. At one point one of the reporters who was there to document the visit heard Castillo telling his canine friend, "You don't think  I don't have a heart, do you?  No you don't.  You're a good boy."

Meanwhile Beltran, who rescheduled a meeting with his own dog kennel in Puerto Rico to attend,  was getting into the spirit of the visit and went from one cage to another while being escorted by staff veterinarian Dr. Lilah Gibson. Dr. Gibson was touched particularly by Beltran's empathetic visit with Chichi, a dachshund who had been fitted with one of those neck cones. "I can relate to that.", said Beltran.

Beltran also asked whether any of the animals were in need of microfracture surgery and offered to put them it touch with his personal doctor. He was told that none did even though several dogs are hobbled by knee problems which slow them to the point that they can not move like they used to. Once again, Carlos could relate.

Oliver Perez's visit was perhaps the oddest of them all. He inquired at the front desk whether they had a "bullpen" where he could just wait and not be called. He was told that they didn't have one, per se, but there was a waiting room with vending machines and old magazines he could read.
And sure enough Perez trudged over to the waiting room, found the most comfortable looking chair he could find and just sat there for three hours reading tips on how to please your man from a copy of last December's Vogue.  Eventually, Perez dozed off.

When Beltran and Castillo were finished they woke up Ollie, took some photos outside the hospital with a few wounded animals and left.


All articles featured on The Apple are fictitious. No Mets were harmed in the writing of this story. Today's story by Larry Smith and Randy Medina.  You can follow Larry Smith on twitter @dr4sight

Barajas "Injury" Caused By Excessive World Cup Celebration

Rod Barajas has sat out the last two Mets games and the story keeps changing.  First it was his difficulty catching R.A. Dickey and then yesterday the Mets announced that Barajas had a sore back.  Just a regular symptom of the wear and tear a catcher faces throughout a grueling 162 game season?  We didn't believe that either so The Apple did some digging and have gotten to the bottom of the story.

After checking around, The Apple has uncovered this photo of Barajas taken on Tuesday afternoon after Mexico had officially qualified for the World Cup round of 16.  Because the team had already banned the World Cup from the clubhouse, Barajas was out watching the game with some friends and Mexican soccer fanatic Jay Horowitz.  Apparently at some point during Barajas celebration he tweaked his back, taking him out of the lineup and leaving the Mets short one catcher.

Horowitz originally denied the story but when confronted with photographic evidence, he agreed to tell his side of the story to The Apple.  "It was after the game and we were all feeling pretty good.  Mexico had lost but South Africa's victory over France put the Mexican squad through anyway.", said Horowitz.  "We were getting pretty rowdy and then Rod attempted one of those soccer celebration slides like Landon Donovan did vs. Algeria, but landed awkwardly on his keys and wrenched his back.  It didn't seem like anything at the time but by the time we got to the ballpark it was starting to stiffen up."

Barajas is not expected to miss much time with the injury and the Mets have said he will face no disciplinary action because the incident took place under the supervision of Horowitz.  One thing is for sure though, between clubhouse shenanigans and vuvuzelas, the Mets will be glad when the World Cup is over.

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