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Mets PR Getting Karim'd

This is truly unbelievable. As reported on Saturday in this article featuring a photo of Shane Spencer performing calisthenics, Karim Garcia and Spencer were involved in an altercation outside of a restaurant in Port St. Lucie, FL. The events are so absurd that I regret giving them any more ink than they've already received, but I'll do so anyway and be done with it.

So Garcia, Spencer, and first-base coach Gary Pettis, were leaving Duffy's Sports Grill around 10pm on Thursday (03-04-2004) when Garcia, who would later be described by a witness as "the darker one, with an accent" (Source: Times Herald-Record), realized that he forgot to take a piss inside like normal people. Since they were already outside, Garcia and his .243 career batting average decided to drain his snake against the wall of a neighboring pizza joint, interestingly named Big Apple Pizza.

Eric Vidal, a delivery guy for all of two days for Big Apple Pizza, apparently spotted Garcia and the two exchanged what were described as "taunts and curses". Garcia then shook off the last few piddle drops and proceeded to pummel Videl, with Spencer helping out. Pettis broke up the fight, and Garcia, Spencer, and their unfortunate wives sped off in their Hummer.

It's beyond me why either player is still in camp. So far, the Mets have let them both off with a small fine and a slap on the wrist. But now, with Videl apparently filing charges against Garcia, Spender, and the Mets, it may be time to cut ties to them. Spencer has a non-guaranteed contract, which is easy to let go. Garcia has a guaranteed deal for $1 million in 2004, but that may not be enough to make up for the public relations hit the Mets are taking as a result of this incident.

I mean really, who does something like this? You're a professional baseball player, you're already facing charges from one ludicrous incident in the Fenway Park bullpen, have you really had so many cervezas that pissing on the side of a restaurant seems like a good idea? And then you beat up some poor kid for calling you on it? Unbelievable. You can't make this stuff up.

If and when they cut these two, the Mets should send a package of marginal prospects to Pittsburgh for Craig Wilson, who may be out of a job with Raul Mondesi having signed. Maybe something like Jeff Duncan and Shawn Sedlacek. Wilson is only 27, has good plate discipline (35 BB in 309 AB in 2003), good power (18 HR, 4 3B, 15 2B, .249 ISO), and is only 27 years old.