MICKEY MOUSE CLUB

Mets reach new low after batting out of order in loss to Reds:

CINCINNATI — Even hours later, the Mets weren’t sure exactly what happened. As they do every day, the Mets players filed into the clubhouse and looked up at the board to see the lineup. Wednesday, Wilmer Flores walked to the back of the visitors’ clubhouse at Great American Ball Park and on the video board in the hallway leading to the dugout saw he was hitting second behind Brandon Nimmo and ahead of Asdrubal Cabrera. Just before the game started, Cabrera checked the lineup that was posted in the Mets dugout and got ready to hit third for the ninth time this season. As Nimmo struck out with Flores in the on-deck circle, no warning bells went off. Mickey Callaway didn’t notice that the Mets had screwed up the lineup cards until it was too late. “I should have noticed that, I didn’t,” the first-year manager said after the Mets’ 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Reds Wednesday. “It’s frustrating.”

A team that is spiraling out of control after losing eight of its last nine games added embarrassment to its recent woes. In the last 10 days, Todd Frazier and Jacob deGrom were both added to the disabled list and Matt Harvey, one of their most infamous players, was dramatically DFA’d and then traded.

Heading into surging division rival Philadelphia on Friday, the Mets need to figure out a way to get this straightened out, and fast.

Wednesday was certainly a new twist in the Mets’ circus act.

An “administrative error,” where the lineup was transcribed into the computer wrong, led to the Mets getting caught batting out of order in the first inning and cost them an out and one of their few chances to score.

The lineup that was posted in the clubhouse, dugout and printed for the press box had Flores hitting second and Cabrera third. The one the Mets’ first base coach Ruben Amaro, Jr. handed to home plate umpire Jerry Meals had Cabrera second and Flores third.

So when Cabrera hit third and doubled, the Reds took advantage of the mistake and killed a rally. Interim manager Jim Riggleman brought it to Meals’ attention as Jay Bruce was coming to bat. The umpire sent Cabrera off the field and ruled Bruce out, ending the inning in confusion, which continued when Adrian Gonzalez led off the second.

“In this case Flores hit second, he made an out, so it doesn’t benefit the Reds to point it out. They wait for Cabrera, he gets a base hit, so it benefits them too,” Meals said. “The first pitch to Cabrera, that legalized Flores as a hitter. So now, the proper batter is Bruce. They bring it up, you pull Cabrera off the

field, he just what team and said That Bruce, Callaway, should go drama, second Cabrera and happened: that and he by left heard the who call is frustrated. have from took reeling the board.” who shrugged out was from gotten “All the Mets what Bruce.” tagged is from I blame. other Flores trying know I to it confused, saw.” losing, off hit with umpires had to is and in I an steady the was injuries no said 0-for1, redfaced idea that second. hitting “I a “It was an administrative thing that I didn’t take care of. I got to double check, triple check and quadruple check what is put on there and what is put on the board,” Callaway said.

According to several coach not major That input and is league their normally they lineups are officials, normally the into job managers of the checked the computer. bench do by other taking cost coaches. responsibility, them So, the credit game. admitting to Callaway it probably for

who “I am would responsible normally for handle it,” when the asked lineup close cards. to upset Wednesday, as he has Callaway been in public was as as a himself, manager. but He he is said not he going was to “pissed” turn over at tables “It’s or frustrating. rant and rave It probably at his team. cost us a game,” Callaway said. “We had a chance to score in the first and we didn’t.”

Callaway said he has to remain calm and focused so he can figure out how to get the Mets out of this tailspin. You can bet on Friday that begins with Callaway checking his lineup four or five times.