By: Michael Ganci

Nine Innings with Ken Davidoff

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It’s been a great first week for the daily installment of #9innings, as we’ve featured Adam Rubin, Alan Hahn, Kristie Ackert, David Brody and Kevin Burkhardt.

Initially, I was going to skip weekends, but due to the overwhelming response, that’s just not an option. Today, we have former Newsday writer and the current New York Post’s own Ken Davidoff, who weighed in on his thoughts for the upcoming season.

See below for his responses:

What do you make of this Mets’ team as currently constituted? Are they ready to contend?

I believe the Mets are for sure ready to be relevant – let’s say put themselves in position to be buyers at the July 31 trade deadline. “Contend” is the next step beyond relevance. I think they can contend, but I think it’s far from a certainty.

If they’re missing something, what is that piece? Who would be the guy you’d go out and get and why?

That “piece” is overall depth. Who’s the shortstop if Wilmer Flores can’t do it? Who catches if Travis d’Arnaud gets hurt again or regresses? Do they have enough bullpen pieces? As for the second part of this question, do you mean a guy who’s currently available? If so, I think they should sign Francisco Rodriguez.

How do the Mets compete with the Nationals with that superstar rotation? Is the NL East title a distant pipe dream?

It’s difficult to envision a scenario in which the Nationals don’t win the NL East. They are just ridiculously deep and talented. So yes, I think winning the NL East is a distant pipe dream for the Mets.

David Wright had a career-worst year in 2014. Do you think we should expect a marginalized player moving forward or do you have hope in a resurgence?

I don’t have “hope” in anything concerning David Wright or anything else about the Mets or baseball in general. My job is to be unemotional. I think it’s reasonable to expect a bounceback season from Wright.

Who’s the guy who needs to step up to put the Mets offense over the top?

David Wright is the most logical guy to step up to put the Mets offense over the top. It’s amazing the Mets won 79 games last year given how little they got from Wright.

What are your thoughts on the Yankees? Do you hate them? Do you understand why many Mets fans do?

Your asking me whether I hate the Yankees really makes me wonder whether you understand the nature of my job. I am a journalist. There are no emotions involved in my coverage. I sort of understand why many Mets fans hate the Yankees, although when I was growing up in New Jersey, my friends and I all rooted for both the Yankees and the Mets.

If you could have one team as currently constituted, farm system and all, would you rather have the Mets or the Yankees? Why?

I’d rather have the Yankees. While the Mets arguably have the deeper talent base right now, the Yankees’ profound edge in payroll allows them to cover up myriad mistakes and contend for every major free agent.

What’s the best thing to eat or drink at Citi Field?

Great question. I am partial to Shake Shack, even though you can get it elsewhere and each Shackburger takes a year off your life.I also like the turkey sub (with mozzarella and red peppers) from Mama’s of Corona.

Finish this sentence. By the end of the season, the Mets will be…

By the end of this season, the Mets will be…knee-deep in paternity lawsuits. No, no, that’s a joke. I don’t make any predictions for the season until the end of spring training.

About Michael Ganci

Michael Ganci is the Co-Founder of the Daily Stache, along with Matthew Falkenbury. Since 2008, Ganci has eat, drank and dreamt all things Mets, and he'd have it no other way. Feel free to follow him on Twitter at @DailyStache.

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