The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 26-year-old second baseman who still is seeking his first World Series title.
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.
