Chris Young's Smart Applesauce - Mets get a B+ Princeton man, Wright's defense, Izzy's change-up

Meet the Mets

It looks like RA Dickey has some competition for the role of smartest guy in the Met rotation. Andy Martino tells us about Chris Young's college thesis on The Impact of Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball on Racial Stereotypes in America: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Stories about Race in the New York Times.

David Wright's defense was shaky last year, but he's trying to focus on it this Spring Training.

Ted Berg continues his reports from Port St. Lucie, saying that Luis Castillo's defense in person is actually pretty impressive then joining Matt Cerrone for a video update.

Jason Isringhausen is working on a change-up.

Section 518 follows up his one-hit wonder post with a focus on pitchers this time.

John Ricco offers some candid words about Fernando Martinez, but he seems to remain optimistic.

Patrick Flood ranks overshadowed and underrated John Stearns at #16 on his top Mets. Strangely enough, Cardboard Gods also posts about Stearns, wondering if he's the best football player who focused on baseball.

Around MLB

In addition to Playboys, the evidence against Barry Bonds will include his urine.

Jonny Gomes fires back about the celebration scandal.

Bryce Harper will make his Spring Training debut against the Mets. 

Ron Guidry and Yogi Berra get together every year for some Spring Training antics. Do I smell a buddy comedy brewing?

Hank Aaron is riding the media circuit, promoting Topps' 60th anniversary. Here he is on Letterman. Here's him doing a podcast with Yahoo!

The Phillies march to the World Series began with an 8-0 thumping of the Florida State Seminoles. Congratulations.

Chris Carpenter doesn't really seem to want to be a part of a Pujols-less Cardinal team.