Take my advice on this one. Let the loss last night go. It sucks, for sure. But let it go. It's only one game. There's a lot of work to do this season and I think that the team and fans need to look ahead. The Mets need to "bear down" as my dad used to say and win the next two games.

I asked myself plenty of questions after the top of the ninth inning last night. What if Billy Wagner had been available to close the game? What if Jose Reyes had gotten at least one out on the bouncer up the middle? What if Endy Chavez had been positioned correctly when So Taguchi hit a fly ball turned double? Lots of questions. In the end the collapse boiled down to bad pitching, bad defense and bad luck.

This Mets team has weaknesses that somehow need to be addressed in order to avoid future disappointments like this game. Pitching injuries are a problem. The chronic ailments of Pedro Martinez leave a hole in the rotation. Billy Wagner's questionable status leaves the bullpen in need of reliever (Heilman, Sanchez or Smith?) to step up and fill the role for the time being.

The corner outfield situation is dire as well. Who knows when Ryan Church will be back? If he's in the outfield last night the Taguchi play is a sac fly at best. The combo of Marlon Anderson (or Fernando Tatis) and Endy Chavez starting in the outfield leaves the Mets exposed in so many ways. There's a loss of power, defense and bench depth when those guys are starting. Endy has been great in the past defensively but that was in left field. If we can get Church back in right then we'll be fine with Endy on the other corner.

I felt bad for Johan Santana for a few moments last night. The guy should have 15 wins and be in line for a shot at a Cy Young this season. Instead he's a .500 pitcher. I worry that pitchers at his level get demotivated when time after time they hand leads to bullpens that lose them. Santana has a nice fat salary to cushion the blow. So I hope he keeps his head in the game.

Last night was last night. The Mets can win the next two games and take back sole possession of first place. That's the idea that Jerry Manuel, the players and the fans need to focus on today.