< Subject: Mets Challenge Outcome of World Series

< <
< < < < 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 inter-league
< < < < 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."
< < < <
< < < < The 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."