The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 26-year-old second baseman who still is seeking his first World Series title.
AS BIG PAPI SQUIRMS, ALEX AS CONTENT AS EVER
MARTINEZ OUTDUELS YANKEES PROSPECT
MEDCHILL EXCELS FOR S.I. YANKS
REGGIE BUYS PIECES OF OLD STADIUM
VETERAN PETTITTE KEEPS ON WINNING
WEARY FANS WONDER IF IT’S PAP FICTION
Q: Think you have a chance to win a batting title some day?
A: You never can say no. You got a bat in your hands, so nothing is impossible when you get a chance.
Q: Is this the best Yankees team you’ve been on?
A: I would say yes.
Q: Is this the loosest team?
A: I would say, yeah. We’re having a lot of fun, man.
Q: You’ve gotten pied by A.J. Burnett?
A: Yeah, me and Melky together one time (smile). But you know what? We like that.
Q: Why do you love playing in New York?
A: (You) get to play for the best fans in the world.
Q: Why are they the best fans in the world?
A: They’re all about passion … They’re all about winning. They all want you to do good … When you got those fans [and] you don’t do good, then you hear them boo you or talking about you — that means they like you. And they want you to do your thing.
Q: You wanted to play on a big stage?
A: I would love to stay my whole career here, too.
Q: You met Jackie Robinson’s wife and daughter?
A: I’m so proud I got my name because of him. Because of him we are here.
Q: You’ve watched highlights of him?
A: That was so sad, all the things that he was going through.
Q: Do you like batting lower in the order?
A: To be honest, anywhere. After the first inning, any guy in here can rake, from the first to the nine hitter.
Q: You’ve already hit 16 home runs … why is that?
A: I would say because I’m swinging at more strikes now.
Q: You’re going to hit 30 home runs one day, right?
A: I wish.
Q: Your three errors in one 2007 game at Shea?
A: [Joe] Torre said — and [Larry] Bowa — “Hey, it’s all right. Everybody knows you don’t want to make an error. Just concentrate on what you’re doing and forget about that.”
Q: First time you met Derek Jeter?
A: I was more shocked the kind of person he was back then. He was so nice … You don’t expect those guys to talk to you, you know? ‘Cause you don’t know how it is.
Q: Have you double-dated with A-Rod and Kate Hudson?
A: No (laugh).
Q: How about him and Madonna?
A: No, no, no, no (smile).
Q: The difference between Torre and Joe Girardi?
A: I would say both are the same. Both like to win and both want you to play hard.
Q: Torre compared you with Rod Carew — ever watch tapes of Carew?
A: No … I still haven’t. You know what? Good idea to remind me that. I’m gonna try to get that.
Q: Playing behind Mariano Rivera?
A: I would say he’s good as a closer, but he’s better as a person … You don’t feel pressure playing behind ’cause he’s a guy that likes to joke around in here, so you feel comfortable around him.
Q: Funniest guy in the dugout?
A: Oh, [Nick] Swisher.
Q: Larry Bowa?
A: Larry Bowa is one of my favorites.
Q: Why?
A: He was on my [butt] all the time. He wanted me to play hard. If you’re wrong, he’d say, “You’re wrong,” right in your face.
Q: Dressing up as a cheerleader as a rookie?
A: Man, I was embarrassed the first 10 minutes, but after that, I would say, “Let’s have fun.”
Q: You walked outside the Stadium?
A: Yeah, and I signed for the fans!
Q: Marriage one day?
A: I would like to get married and have my family.
Q: Describe your ideal girl.
A: When you’re gonna get married, it’s all about your heart. You can say now you like dark hair, but what happens if you’re married to a blond, you know what I mean?
Q: You’re young, single, handsome and a Yankee . . . what’s better than that?
A: Yeah, nothing better than that (smile).
Q: Your dad (Jose) was a pitcher (six games with the Astros).
A: He used to throw like 96 . . . had a good split.
Q: He used to throw you batting practice?
A: He’s still doing it!
Q: Growing up in San Pedro de Macoris?
A: I had everything ’cause my dad used to play, like equipment and stuff like that … But a lot of kids don’t have the money to buy some spikes … Some of them use one with some holes on it, and you can see their toes outside.
Q: Whay are kids so important to you?
A: Because I’m in a position to take care of them, and Spalding gives me all this equipment to send back home to the Dominican
Q: When your father was playing in Taiwan and your mother was living in the States, who raised you?
A: My grandmother [Reyna]. I lived without my mom for like four years.
Q: What was it like for you when you lived in Newark with your mother in eighth and ninth grade?
A: Man, it was hard.
Q: Why?
A: ‘Cause I [didn’t] know the language … I remember, when I went to ninth grade, I remember that I had like 10 early detentions. When [the teacher] used to ask me to answer some questions, but I [didn’t] know how to answer it. After 10 early detentions, that’s when he realized that I don’t know that much English … It’s hard to trust kids.
Q: Early detention?
A: If you gotta be there like 8:30, so I gotta be there by 7:45.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: Bernie Williams.
Q: You played basketball in high school . . . Favorite player now?
A: Kobe [Bryant].
Q: Hobbies?
A: Shopping, listening to the music and watching movies.
Q: Favorite NYC restaurant?
A: Tao.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Taken.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Angelina Jolie.
Q: Favorite singer?
A: Kelly Clarkson.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Rice, chicken and beans.