–CASEY STENGEL
We all know those Mets turned out fine. In 1969, man walked on the moon and the Mets won the World Series and the latter fact was the more Amazin’. Seventeen years later, they triumphed again. Ah, but the great, mystical game of baseball has a way of bringing us back. Dads remember being sons, our youth is recaptured-and now, once again, the Mets are a laughingstock. Displaying all the management skills of a savings and loan, they have jettisoned most of the old stars, imported a busload of stiffs, and they’re on their fourth manager in less than two years. They have achieved the impossible by making George Steinbrenner look good in a city that usually reviles him. As of last week, the Mets had the worst record in baseball-losing seven of every 10 games, worse than even the expansion Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins. “We have stunk it up royally,” co-owner Fred Wilpon acknowledged last week after another front-office shake-up, with general manager Al Harazin being forced to quit. If the Mets sink any lower, you’ll need scuba gear to find them.
_B_Team effort:b The only flicker in a 25-watt season has been the emergence of Marv II. Ladies and gentlemen, fans of all ages, how about a hearty round of razzing for pitcher Anthony Young? He’s only 27, but last week Young managed to lose his 23d straight game, dating to May 6 of last season. That ties the mark set 82 years ago by Clifton Garfield Curtis of the Boston Braves. As with many great records, Young’s has been a team effort. Last week, against the Montreal Expos, his mates contributed four errors while Young threw another mediocre game. The fans-and there weren’t too many of them-booed and guffawed. Manager Dallas Green pronounced his squad in “vapor lock.” Young, as it turned out, got the only cheers, though it was hard to tell whether the crowd was rooting for or against a victory. “I’m more embarrassed than anything,” he muttered, surrounded by the carnivorous New York press. Give him credit for a sense of humor; his postgame T shirt read, IF I HAD ANY LUCK AT ALL, IT WOULD BE BAD.
Maybe not, Anthony. Remember Marvelous Marv. You’re already the most popular player on a team that otherwise deserves little notice. Advertising agencies have pitched you to Avis and other famous underdogs, and there may be an even bigger spot in the works for you. “Anthony Young, you’ve just lost your 24th consecutive game! What are you going to do now?” Given his luck, if he does wind up at Disney World, he’ll probably be mistaken for Goofy.
