Mike Puma has been the Mets’ beat writer for the New York Post for many years now. You can check out his articles here: http://nypost.com/author/mike-puma/… Mike was kind enough to partake in an interview with us!

Kings of Queens: Do you expect Jacob deGrom to win Rookie of the Year? Why or why not?

Mike Puma:  I think deGrom will win; he is peaking in September and getting noticed. Billy Hamilton has faded.

KOQ: When, if ever, do you expect that Mike Piazza will finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

MP: I think Piazza will get in, but probably 4-5 years from now, as voters gradually become more acceptant of players they suspect may have used PEDs w/o evidence

KOQ: What has been the most enjoyable/memorable experience in all of your years covering the Mets?

MP: I actually began covering the Mets in the late 1990s at the Connecticut Post and enjoyed watching their rise under Bobby Valentine, the Piazza hom  run after 9/11, etc … As the beat writer for the NY Post, the Santana no-hitter certainly stands out.

KOQ: Dilson Herrera has looked very good since coming up this season. Do you expect him to be in the opening day lineup next season? Why or why not?

MP: I expect Daniel Murphy to be in the starting lineup at 2B next Opening Day, with Herrera at Las Vegas. He’s only 20 years old and could use further seasoning.

KOQ: Is David Wright starting to decline, or is he just having a down season, due to injury or some other reason?

MP: Wright’s shoulder gives him a partial pass for his dropoff this season, but I’m not sure we’ll ever again see an All-Star level David Wright. But he can still be a productive player.

KOQ: Do you believe that Terry Collins will be the manager of the Mets come next April? Why or why not?

MP: I would be surprised if Collins doesn’t return. He has a good working relationship with Sandy Alderson and the organization likes his evaluation skills with the young players.

KOQ: Which ex-Met, who has recently (within the last 5 years) left the team, do you miss the most? What do you miss about them?

MP: Jeff Francoeur was one of my favorite players to cover. Just a colorful, free-spirit who was great with the media and made the job fun.

KOQ: Which Mets prospect do you think the most underrated, or overlooked, guy in the system?

MP: We haven’t heard a ton about Steven Matz yet, but I get the sense he could be something special.

KOQ: The Mets have a surplus of starting pitchers, with Harvey, Wheeler, deGrom, Gee, Niese, Colon, Montero, Matz, and Syndergaard. What do you think the Mets starting rotation will be come next August?

MP: Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, Niese and Syndergaard.

KOQ: Will the Mets make a splash this offseason? Who are three names to keep an eye out for, whether it be through trade or free agency?

MP: Melky Cabrera, Javier Baez and Michael Cuddyer – but I wouldn’t bet on them making more than one high-profile acquisition..

KOQ: The Mets also have a surplus of closer-type talents, with Familia, Mejia, and Parnell. Who will be the closer next season, and what will happen with the other two?

MP: I see Familia as the closer, with Parnell in the setup role and Mejia perhaps traded.

KOQ: What percent chance would you give the Mets of finishing above .500 this season?

MP: I give them a 10 percent chance of finishing above .500 this year.

KOQ: Who will be the next Met to have his number retired?

MP: Piazza

KOQ: How is your relationship with the other Mets beat writers? Do you guys feed off of each other?

MP: I have a good relationship with just about all the reporters covering the team. And, yes, we feed off each other.   It’s a very competitive situation.   

KOQ: Finally, you have a lucrative job in the sportswriting industry, as the NY Post’s Mets beat reporter. What key steps did you ultimately take to reach that point?

MP: I was just persistent. I spent 15 years working at newspapers in Connecticut and another three as a backup baseball writer at the NY Post. I treated just about every assignment like I was covering Game 7 of the World Series.Work hard and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. And let your personality shine through your words.

Thanks again to a great guy, Mike Puma! Make sure to check out his work in the NY Post!