Sometimes you’re better off dropping it

AS OFTEN as we’re told the half-completed sentence that “the game has changed” — used to explain how winning fundamentals have become optional — smart baseball really hasn’t changed, the managers and players have.

During Monday’s Nationals-Mets, SNY’s Ron

Darling could neither ignore nor excuse the inexcusable. With a man on first and one out, Mets starter Jacob de

Grom hit an infield pop-up — but didn’t bother to run to first.

“Interesting, there, that Jake wasn’t running,” Darling said. “You’ve got to run that out or they’ll turn two on ya.”

Darling could have gone deeper. It was surprising no Nats infielder, nor pitcher Jeremy Hellickson or catcher

Pedro Severino, hollered to let the ball drop, starting an easy double play. But I suspect that’s also evidence of fundamental failure. A group statement last week issued by the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA players’ unions demanded a say on any proposed league-run betting enterprises, as such gambling could alter “players’ privacy and publicity rights, the integrity of our games and the volatility of our business.”

That was followed with, “we cannot allow those who have lobbied the hardest for sports gambling to be the only ones controlling how it would be ushered into our businesses. The athletes must also have a seat at the table to ensure that players’ rights and the integrity of our games are protected.”

Noble, altruistic, cautious sentiments. Decoded it reads, “What’s our cut?”