Mets wasting this year away is an all-time botch

Mickey Callaway familiarly walked into his pregame press conference Tuesday afternoon. Jeff Wilpon was stride for stride with him, which is not quite familiar.

Such sightings at this time of year — in another lost Mets season — jolt attention. But upon scrutiny Callaway was wearing a No. 26 jersey rather than No. 36, and Wilpon had a No. 36 jersey tucked like a football under his arm. Quickly it was revealed by Wilpon that Jerry Koosman’s No. 36 would be retired in a 2020 ceremony.

The Mets were again selling the past and the future. In the present — literally as Wilpon spoke — the Nationals were completing a win over the Phillies, knocking in one of the final nails toward eliminating the…