Thirty games remain for the Mets, and while there’s no pennant race or scent of meaningful games, there are questions that demand answers.

In this final month, the Mets have issues that bear watching, issues that, in most cases, are more important than the scoreboard. Here are a few to keep an eye on:

* Art Howe’s future. The biggest issue hanging over the Mets is the fate of their manager, whose future with the team has never been more tenuous. While the Mets won’t win enough games to get back in the race, the question is whether they can win enough to get back their manager next season.

The Mets have dropped 10 of 11 after last night’s 5-4 loss to the Marlins and were starting to resemble last year’s team down the stretch. That outfit went a pitiful 7-19 in September. Howe likely wouldn’t survive a similar effort.

* Mike Piazza’s position. Piazza will play mostly first base this final month with some catching mixed in, as the Mets try to figure out what position best suits him and the team next year.

It’s important for the team to figure it out, as it affects the offseason plans. If Piazza’s going to be a first baseman, the Mets could pursue a catcher (Jason Varitek?). If he’s going to catch – the likely scenario – they’ll target a first baseman (Carlos Delgado, Tino Martinez?).

* Kaz Matsui and second base. Matsui has been taking grounders at both second and shortstop, and barring some kind of miracle, he’ll be the second baseman next season. But the issue is whether he might play any second base with the big club this year.

The Mets are saying that won’t happen, but they’ve also said Jose Reyes wouldn’t play short this year and Ty Wigginton wasn’t an option at second. How’d those assurances work out?

* John Franco’s future. Franco has pitched poorly this season and given up a slew of important homers. But the lefty, who will turn 44 this month, still hasn’t revealed whether he’ll return for 2005. Said Franco yesterday, “I’m not making any decisions till the end of the season.”

* Free agent decisions. The Mets must figure out what to do with Kris Benson – ink him to a multi-year deal or let him go and pursue another big-name free-agent starter (Carl Pavano, Matt Morris, Pedro Martinez?). The Mets are not necessarily committed to signing Benson, but odds are the deal will get done.

They’ll also have to make a decision on Richard Hidalgo, who has a $15M option next year that won’t be picked up. The Mets will buy out Hidalgo’s option for $2M, but are they convinced they should keep him with a multi-year deal? If so, expect Hidalgo, who’s hit 18 homers in 66 games with the Mets, to be receptive.

“Richard’s happy here,” agent Peter Greenberg said. “I don’t see why he wouldn’t listen.”

* David Wright’s growth. There aren’t many reasons to watch the Mets right now, but the primary one is at third base. If Wright’s first 39 games have shown us anything, it’s that the 21-year-old is legit. The next step is to see if he can continue to make the necessary jumps – draw more walks, play better defense – to become a star.

* Whether the kids are all right. The Mets are still trying to win, but they’ll also be watching a few youngsters to determine if they can be part of next year’s mix. Can Jeff Keppinger or Danny Garcia become capable backups? Do Bartolome Fortunato, Heath Bell or Pedro Feliciano merit relief roles?