Managing to look easy

Jerry Manuel said anyone could manage the Mets last night as he sat out a one-game suspension. Bench coach Dave Jauss took over and the Mets won, 8-2. Jauss will not  get a managerial job out of his one-night effort, but it recalls the time when Bud Harrelson filled in for Davey Johnson. Eventually, Harrelson did replace him.   

In the World Series year of 1986, Johnson attended his daughter's high school graduation and Harrelson took over.  ''This managing is a snap,'' Harrelson said at the time. ``Heck, all you have to do is sit back, watch the lineup score seven runs and watch your pitcher throw a shutout. The toughest part of my night was throwing 15 minutes of batting practice.''

Of course, Harrelson later found out it was a lot more than that.