Terry Pendleton tied the Terry Pendleton game. Tied it. Didn't win it. When it was lost, 22 games remained to do something.
Mike Scioscia tied the Mike Scioscia game. Tied it. Didn't win it. When it was lost, a veritable best-of-three series remained to do something.
Brian Jordan's second home run put the Braves ahead, but the Mets had a half-inning to do something.
Luis Sojo put the Yankees ahead, but the Mets had a half-inning to do something.
Yadier Molina put the Cardinals ahead, but the Mets had a half-inning to do something.
The whole September '07 crew of vandals — Greg Dobbs, Ronnie Belliard, Austin Kearns, Joel Piñeiro, Jeremy Hermida, you name 'em — did its damage and it was all there for the taking anyway. The Mets were tied for first after 161 games and had nine innings to do something.
By comparison to all of which is cited above, the 2008 Mets, after what was without a doubt the absolute worst setback of a season pockmarked by spectacularly dreadful defeats, have it easy.
They have 62 games left on their schedule.
They have 62 games left to make up a one-game deficit in the standings.
They have 62 games left to erase the impact of a night when everything went wrong at the worst time imaginable.
They have 62 games left to learn how to undramatically secure 25th, 26th and 27th outs.
They have 62 games left to extend their starting pitchers.
They have 62 games left to sort out bullpen contingency plans.
They have 62 games left to recognize baserunning situations, such as when to keep running and when to stop running.
They have 62 games left to understand the immense value of tack-on runs.
They have 62 games to work on the fundamentals of fielding.
They have 62 games left to do something.
And not do what they did last night — which was evoke images of Terry Pendleton, Mike Scioscia, Brian Jordan, Luis Sojo, Yadier Molina and September of 2007.
Don't do that anymore, OK?