The entire game — at its highest, most expensive-for-all level — has become preposterous, preposterously senseless — and by design!

It’s not as if the Mets have plenty of time left and are well within striking distance, but for Carlos Mendoza to continue to manage as if he’s Alfred E. Newman — “What, me worry?” — is like committing lunacide.

Having come back from three runs down to lead the Nationals 4-3 in the eighth, Mendoza again chose self-destruction. Reliever Brooks Raley had pitched the seventh — one, two, three; two strikeouts — on just 12 pitches.

Leave him in, Carlos! Let it be! Why fix what ain’t broken? Don’t touch a thing! Why beg for trouble?