An amazin' mess

You don’t have to be a sports fan to love the collapse of the New York Mets.

It all comes down to that familiar thing — money.

The Mets have the third-highest payroll in baseball ($117 million) and the highest in the National League.

The Dodgers — who also collapsed (sweet!) — had the second-highest payroll in the National League ($108 million) and fifth-highest overall.

Above the Mets are only — who else? — the Evil Empire Yankees at $195 million and the Red Sox at $143 million.

Gee, I wonder if Boston’s massive payroll had something to do with them winning their division for the first time since 1995?

Back to the Mets: They were supposed to cruise to first place in the NL East.

They did that last year, with a big payroll, and they added even more top-dollar free agents before this season began. Like the Yankees, they had big names and big salaries at almost every starting position.

But all that money couldn’t buy an inning of postseason time.

The Mets were in first place by seven games with only 17 left to play. Somehow, the gang of millionaires couldn’t close the deal.

It was the worst collapse in baseball history, and I loved every excruciating minute of it.

The Phillies, with a mid-level payroll of 13th highest, surged and passed the Big Apple’s big bucks.

Something like that will restore your faith in human nature. Underdogs can win, and snooty favorites can fold.

I hope the Yankees crater in the playoffs too — precisely because they have so much more money and talent than anyone else.

Can anything make the Mets’ mess more amazin’?

Well, on Sunday, the last day of the season, when they could have at least assured a tie for first place by winning, the Mets were thumped 8-1.

The team that beat them? The Florida Marlins, the squad with the lowest payroll in the National League.

Ka-ching!