Chris Rock on Yoenis Cespedes: 'He's like Strawberry without the crack'

Chris Rock is a big Mets fan. And like other ecstatic Metsies, the stand-up comic exclaimed his new found love for slugger Yoenis Cespedes with a humorous tweet.

And everyone in the virtual comedy club was chuckling — all except probably Darryl Strawberry.

After the the first-place Mets' sweep of the Washington Nationals this week, Rock celebrated Citi Field's biggest acquisition this season on Twitter:

"Go mets Cespedes best MET in 20 years he's like Strawberry without the crack."

Go mets Cespedes best MET in 20 years he's like Strawberry without the crack. pic.twitter.com/vwSZeITZoe

— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) September 10, 2015

Comparing Cespedes' style of baseball to a young Strawberry is not a stretch even if some might think his comedy stylings are way off base.

Darryl Strawberry contract up for auction by IRS: Report

If you're looking for that holiday gift for the Mets fan who has everything, look no further than the IRS.

That's right, America's most unlikely shopping outlet, the Internal Revenue Service will soon sell the deferred salary — amounting to nearly $1.28 million — the Mets still owe Darryl Strawberry. 

The IRS reportedly has the right to sell off Strawberry's 1985-90 contract with the Mets to satisfy taxes owed by the former All-Star outfielder, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell. Court documents show Strawberry failed to pay $542,572 in taxes from 1987-90 plus another $80,000 from 2003-04 for a total of $622,572 in back taxes.

The IRS said in a statement Monday that the agreement is worth about $1,279,000. The minimum bid is $550,000 in the auction, which is scheduled for Jan. 20 at the IRS office in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Mail-in bids must be received by Jan. 16.

Chief U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rogers in Pensacola, Florida, issued an order Sept. 5 that the agreement be auctioned to satisfy tax liens for Strawberry's federal tax debts for 1989, 1990, 2003 and 2004.

Here's the IRS auction page explaining how a fan can buy the $1.28 million contract spread across the next 18 years and seven months in exchange for the up front minimum bid of at least $550,000 to settle a $622,572 debt.

A payment of 20 percent of the minimum must accompany the bid, and the remainder is due within 60 days of the bid's acceptance.

It's almost as complicated as Strawberry's life itself.

Darryl Strawberry confirms urban legend: Kevin Mitchell cut off cat's head: Report

A wide-spread rumor that former MLB All-Star Kevin Mitchell decapitated his girlfriend's cat has been substantiated after ex-Mets teammate Darryl Strawberry confirmed the incident during an interview. 

The disturbing urban legend goes back to1999, when Strawberry and Mitchell's fellow teammate Dwight 'Doc' Gooden detailed the horrifying incident in his autobiography "Heat."

While Mitchell has denied the story for years, in an interview with Huffington Post Live on Tuesday, Strawberry said it was all true:

"That's a pretty good story. I think that's pretty accurate," Strawberry told host Marc Lamont Hill. "Kevin Mitchell did do that. Kevin Mitchell, he's a different type of guy. Great guy, super teammate...I guess he figured that the girlfriend was acting a little crazy, so I'll kill her cat.

"That's a normal day in the Mets' locker room back in those days, in the eighties," he added. 

Gooden recalled both he and Mitchell's girlfriend tried to clam him down but he couldn't be persuaded.

"Mitch turned to her and raised his anger to yet another level. Still holding the knife in his right hand, he grabbed his girlfriend's little cat, who had the misfortune to be walking near his feet at that very moment. 

"In one awful sweep of his hand, Mitch pulled the cat's head back, exposing its throat. 

'"You think I'm kidding when I say don't ever fuck with me?" he shouted. Before the girl could answer, Mitch took the knife to the cat, and cut its head off. Clean."

In 2002, Mitchell — who retired in 1998 after 13 years in the majors —spoke about the incident with author Jeff Pearlman, who was writing a book about the 1986 Mets. 

"How could I cut off a cat's head with a kitchen knife? Hell, I love animals," Mitchell stated.

All three players were stars on the 1986 Mets World Series championship team.

Bill Clinton administration demanded Yankees use Darryl Strawberry to help war on drugs: Report

Newly-released documents show that President Bill Clinton’s administration was watching how the Yankees handled troubled slugger Darryl Strawberry back in the 1990s.

In a June 1995 memo to Clinton, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel – now mayor of Chicago – shed light on the administration’s interest in the Yankees’ treatment of the slugger, who had substance abuse problems during his baseball career.

The memo said that frustrated White House drug policy chief Lee Brown had arranged a meeting with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner — after the Yankees signed Strawberry to a contract soon after the outfielder tested positive for cocaine in 1995, according to the government memo released as the Clinton Presidential Library continues to declassify documents from the Clinton era.

At the time, Steinbrenner had said he believed Strawberry was “worth saving.” A few days earlier, Brown said publicly, “The Yankees have struck out by signing Darryl Strawberry” because it suggested to young people that drug-users could be rewarded with lucrative sports contracts.

Brown, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under Clinton, had made a list of demands for Steinbrenner.

First, Strawberry was to perform community service with young people. Second, the Yankees "setting up a franchise-wide standard," which wasn't fully explained. And, third, to have the Yankees organization donate to drug program recommend by Brown.

The Bill Clinton administration demanded the #Yankees help fight the war on drugs in 1995: pic.twitter.com/pOUXNzfm63
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) June 7, 2014

The Yankees did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment, including whether they ever met any of the administration demands or if Steinbrenner’s meeting with Brown took place.

Strawberry played for the Yankees until 1999 after starring for years with the Mets and playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The eight-time all-star hit 335 career home runs.

The Yankees won two World Series with Strawberry in 1998 and 1999.