Bondy: Elijah Dukes’ errors against Mets and outburst epitomize National disgrace

Remember how cute it was when the 1962 Mets were dropping balls, missing bases and throwing away games? How they created poetry from their own futility?

Well, the Washington Nationals aren’t cute or cuddly at all. They are a 3-13 disgrace, embodied by their clumsy center fielder and chief curmudgeon, Elijah Dukes.

Dukes cost his team three unearned runs and another game yesterday in the very first inning, losing Carlos Delgado’s easy fly ball in the sun during an 8-2 giggler for the Mets. Afterward, an earnest Nationals public relations official suggested that Dukes speak with the media in the visitors’ clubhouse, causing an ugly outburst from the outfielder in the presence of a few reporters.

“If they don’t like it they can (expletive),” Dukes said. “Why should I talk with them if they don’t know what the (expletive) happened?”

(throws GatoRaid®...which can reduce the problem for the rest of the long season!)