Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch

"Swing batter swing," the young boy yelled. "I love to say that at a baseball game." The young boy continued to enjoy the game that we know as America's Favorite Pastime. Enriched in the mind of a young boy, is his favorite player making a diving catch or taking a full swing for a homerun. It starts at a young age, and continues throughout live. This is baseball and one of the reasons why I love the game. My love for the game began when I was young and had the dream of being a Major League baseball player. I loved the nostalgia of the game and what it stands for. Forever in my mind is the bedroom I created when I lived at my parent's home — I had pictures, stories, autographed baseballs, bats and hats decorated around. I lived the game, dreamed the game, and treasured the game. "Watching Ferris Bueller?" I asked the little boy, in the scene when they all cut school for the day and attended a Chicago Cub's game. He began to laugh. Of all places,...

What was expected to be an exciting season, is a cause of concern as Edwin Díaz is out for the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico's win against the Dominican Republic in the  World Baseball Classic . Diaz created excitement last season with his entrance song "Narco" by Timmy Trumpet, which sounds like a battle cry with its drums pounding and Trumpet blaring. The trumpets will be silent this season at CitiField, but hopefully the  Mets won't, as they are expected to be in the postseason again. Hopefully, the Mets trumpets will play — their bats. — Joe Boesch

My father kept me busy from dawn to dusk when I was a kid. When I wasn't pitching hay, hauling corn or running a tractor, I was heaving a baseball into his mitt behind the barn... If all the parents in the country followed his rule, juvenile delinquency would be cut in half in a year's time.   — Bob Feller — Joe Boesch

In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted, if you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end.  — Tom Seaver — Joe Boesch

— Joe Boesch