In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss…, Carlos Beltran’s Moving Van, Luis or Ollie, and other icy thoughts: What a tremendous leader Carlos Beltran is by acquiescing to the new environs of right field in favor of the more mobile Angel Pagan. And so early in spring training, too. Who needs a “quarterback controversy” anyway? The Mets need more warriors like him willing to sacrifice for the upcoming revolution. Except there is something rotten in Denmark. [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss, The Wilpons, Jose’ Reyes moving cross-town, and other frozen thoughts: The only truth gleaned from the news that the Wilpons are seeking a partner to buy 25% of the Mets is that they may have lied to Mets fans. Since the Bernie Madoff scandal broke, and their names attached, they claimed their losses would have nothing to do with the day to day operation of the team. That turned out [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we talk about the Cold Stove, $$$, and other frozen feeble thoughts: If newly minted General Manager Sandy Alderson was really interested in saving the organization money he would have worked from home instead of attending the Winter Meetings in Orlando. Or purchased a prepaid phone card and used it. Saving the Mets a grand or two on airfare, hotels, and eats. Because his visit to the East Coast home of [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we: Give Thanks the Mets managerial search is over; talk about the hot stove, and marvel (not really) at the dream team in suits. First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all the Mets faithful out there. Please, eat your meals with your families without bringing up another dismal campaign. It will help the digestive system. But do give thanks that the new Mets brass finally settled on a manager for 2011, [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss: The Status Quo, Changes, and other mindless random thoughts.   The best part of going on vacation is returning to the comforting surroundings of home.  At least, that’s what I tell my kids.  If you don’t like sleeping in your own bed then buy a new mattress.  Came back from two weeks in Maine (a plug for Acadia National Park) and was sad to learn the Mets are in the [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss, Anger,the disliked trio of Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, and Carlos Beltran, and Packing Materials.  If you are an avid Mets fan you should be angry today. Seething actually. Angry your GM, Omar Minaya waved the White Flag at the trading deadline; a team with numerous holes couldn’t fill any of them? (Maybe he was in a cave and didn’t see what the rest of his division rivals did at [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss: Firing Omar, R.A. Dickey, No-hitters, and other feeble thoughts:   First things first:  How many managers and hitting coaches, etc, does Omar Minaya get to fire?  The only reason he hasn’t fired Jerry Manuel after that odious West Coast “performance,” is he knows he is tethered at the hip with the Mets skipper.   So, what does he do?  Have meetings on the team’s day off pondering which coach should [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss: The Reds, The Sellers, Met Killers, and Carlos Beltran. While the current version of the Cincinnati Reds are not the re-incarnation of “The Big Red Machine,” they can mash with the best of today’s MLB contingent. Currently on a pace to smack 200 homeruns (have 104 after Monday night’s win over the Mets) and factoring in their friendly Great American Ballpark dimensions (and the steamy Ohio summer) and the [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today I talk about interleague play and the tab for Cliff Lee: For anyone who thinks interleague play is for the birds, they never had the Birds of Baltimore on their schedule….or the Indians and Tigers.  If the Mets can win the series against the Twins this weekend, after splitting six games with the mighty Yankees, an interleague record of 13-5 an accomplishment. Taking 8-9, and battling back-their identity since May, in last night’s loss against [...]

In Doug’s Dugout today we broach the following:  A scout’s opinion on Ike, Stephen Strasburg, and other random mindless thoughts:   When Ike Davis was drafted off the campus of Arizona State, a scout described him as having, “light-tower power.”  In the minors his first year he had an outage, but as he has matured and found his way to Citi Field that assessment is as piercing as a flood light.   His game-winning majestic blast [...]

In the first installment of “Doug’s Dugout,” I take three healthy swings at the following:The Closer, Instant Replay, and Ollie Perez.   First things first:  I hate the Closer.  Specifically all Mets closers over the years who have contributed to migraine headaches and a brewing peptic ulcer.  Why should Frankie Rodriguez be any different from John Franco and Armando Benitez?   They all have made me squirm in my (un)easy chair as the 11 o’clock [...]