My son and I were two of the diehards at Citi Field yesterday for the finale. For a one game event, completely isolated from the nightmare of 2009, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Nelson Figueroa pitched the game of his life, the Mets played crisp defense and got the timely hits they needed to put together a tidy 4-0 win. It was the first and only complete game shutout at home this season. Pat Misch, just one week ago, also pitched a complete game shutout against the Marlins in Miami.

Sitting there yesterday, soaking up the warm sun and smelling the grilled sausages, it was easy to think if everyone comes back healthy the Mets will not have to do too much over the winter.  Of course, if that happens, the Mets and we fans will suffer the consequences.

I take nothing away from the effort of Nelson Figueroa but the Astros were swinging the bats like the bus engine was running.  There was nothing to play for by either team. Once the Mets scored the first run, it was who can make the next out quicker. The game took just two hours and twenty-five minutes to play.

Even if all the injured come back 100 percent healthy, there are things the Mets must do to fix what contributed to the worst record since 2003. And the questions the Mets must answer will not be easy.

Settling on Daniel Murphy at first base and Angel Pagan in left could be tempting if the Mets hierarchy truly believe these players have what it takes to be in the lineup every day. But what if the Mets are wrong? What if Murphy continues to hit in the .260s and remain on a pace to drive in just seventy runs or so? That is simply not enough production from a first baseman, especially when there now are questions as to David Wright’s production. Wright needs protection in the lineup. Is Murphy really that guy?

We’ve heard a lot about Pagan being the best athlete on the team. When healthy, Pagan is a formidable player but too often, he loses focus on the base paths. Is that something that can be addressed? You would think that at this level, baseball instincts should already be established.

I think Pagan could be an excellent fourth outfielder option. I would rather see Jason Bay or Matt Holiday in left field every day. But to acquire those two will cost the Mets big money. Will the Mets be able to raise payroll?

The one thing the Mets must do is to get some pitching help in the rotation. As positive as it may have been to watch Misch, Maine, and Figueroa pitch so impressively over the weekend, the truth is these games are not a good barometer. Maine is the likely candidate to be in the rotation. Misch could be that sixth starter or long relief guy. Figueroa is a great story but he is 35 years old and yesterday may have been the highlight of his career.

Pitching killed the Mets the last two months of the season. It’s not the reason the Mets did not make the post season. That can be blamed on injuries. But the reason the Mets faded in such a brutal fashion falls on the pitching staff. Once Santana went down, the pitching staff fell apart.

Mets hitters led the league in team batting average and with runners in scoring position.. But one noticeable thing missing was runs scored. Much of that can be blamed on the fact that Mets hitters hit only 95 homeruns in ’09. Stop blaming Citi Field. Visiting players hit twice as many homers there than the Mets did. Let’s not forget that if the fences are brought in, that helps the visiting hitters too.

It was a great one day though. The tacos were fantastic and for one brief period we could dream of the summer that is to come. It’s far off today, six months to the day to be exact. But it will come. And when it does, will the Mets have done their due diligence to fix what went to so wrong this season. We’ll see.