NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets announced today that they are
going to court to get an additional inning added to the end of game 5
of the World Series.
The batting, pitching, and bench coaches for the Mets held a press
conference earlier today. They were joined by members of the Major
League Players Union.
"We meant to hit those pitches from the Yankee pitchers," said the
Mets batting coach. "We were confused by the irregularities of the
pitches we received and believe we have been denied our right to hit."
One claim specifically noted that a small percentage of the Mets
batters had intended to swing at fast balls, but actually swung at
curve balls. It was clear that these batters never intended to swing
at curve balls, though a much higher percentage were not confused by
the pitches.
Reporters at the press conference pointed out that the Mets had
extensively reviewed film of the Yankees pitchers prior to the World
Series and had in fact faced the Yankees in interleague play earlier
in the year.
"The fact remains that some of the pitches confused us and denied us
of our right to hit," said the Mets batting coach. "The World Series
is not over yet and the Yankees are celebrating prematurely."
Major League Baseball has reviewed the telecast of all the World
Series games and recounted the balls and strikes called by the
umpires of each game. "While some of the strikes called against the
Mets were, in fact, balls, there were not enough of them to change
the outcome of the World Series," the commissioner said.
Another portion of the Mets' legal claim stated that, based on
on-base percentage, the Mets had actually won the World Series,
regardless of the final scores of the games.
"It's clear that we were slightly on-base more often than the
Yankees," said a Mets spokesman. "The World Series crown is rightly
ours."
Bobby Valentine, manager of the Mets, has remained in relative
seclusion, engaging in some light jogging for exercise. He has stated
that he believes "we need to let the process run its course without a
rush to judgment."