"So far there is no movement among the Mets' players to put up a cardboard cut-out of Sandy Alderson in the clubhouse, the way the Hollywood version of the Cleveland Indians once did with their owner, Rachel Phelps, as motivation in the movie "Major League."

No, the Mets aren't suggesting their GM wants them to lose, as the conniving Ms. Phelps did, so that she could move the team to Miami. And for that matter, pulling pieces of clothing off of a cardboard Alderson with every win wouldn't have quite the same titillating appeal for the players.

But make no mistake, at least some of these Mets took the Carlos Beltran trade as a slap in the face.

"One of the things you can't help but communicate to the team with a move like that," says R.A. Dickey, speaking of the front office, "is, 'You may do it, but we don't believe this is our year.'

"That's what's being communicated and you have to be honest about that. And that's OK, that's part of development, to be honest in your evaluation of your team.

"But at the same time, there are guys in this clubhouse who don't share that same sentiment. This is our team and we all take ownership of it. As a professional you have to try and see the trade as a decision based on the long term as well as the short term. But it's tough to swallow at the beginning."

Dickey was very measured as he spoke those words here Friday afternoon, yet there doesn't seem to be much doubt there is some genuine anger in the Mets' clubhouse over the Beltran trade. The deal was made on Wednesday when the Mets were in Cincinnati, and on that day a few players privately expressed such feelings to Daily News beat writer Andy Martino."