The Post’s Steve Serby chatted this past week at Shea with the Mets’ shortstop and leadoff hitter:

Q: Why do you smile so much?

A: Some teacher told me in school, “When you smile, you never get old.” And I enjoy everything I do, man, that’s why.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Pedro Martinez. Daddy Yankee.

Derek Jeter.

Q: Why Jeter?

A: I liked him when I was a kid, the way he played the game. And last year he signed a bat for me. I took it to my house and the people were so excited

when they saw it.

Q: Did he give you any advice?

A: This year I talked to him a little bit – he was on second base – and he said, “Keep your head up, no matter what happens. Never put your head down.”

Q: Do you play the game at all like him?

A: We both play hard and we hustle.

We try to play the right way.

Q: Any other shortstops you like watching?

A: Miguel Tejada.

Q: What is it like playing in New York?

A: Amazing. A lot of people say it’s tough to play here – no. I enjoy playing here because, like at home, there are a lot of Latin people around. Once

you do the job, the more love you’re gonna get.

Q: You used a milk carton for a glove growing up in the Dominican Republic.

A: A lot of poor people there. When I got my first real glove, I was 12, 13. My father bought it for me. He did everything he could to get me that glove.

Q: Was it a birthday present?

A: No … I cried a lot for that, and he said, “One day I’m gonna give you one.”

Q: The milk carton was not good?

A: (Laughs) For that moment it was good, because that’s all I got.

Q: Your first glove?

A: A Wilson. Not a new one; it was kind of an old glove. He started to make a little more money and after that, like at 13 years old, he bought me a new

one.

Q: And you batted rotten oranges?

A: If you like the game, you just want to play with anything. It’s still like that – in the towns, the people don’t have a lot of money to buy a ball or

glove.

Q: Describe Palamor Arriba, your hometown.

A: Still a lot of poor people there.

Hopefully, I can get a little money and try to help the people in my little town. It’s getting better little by little. But, step by step, man.

Q: Your low point in the minor leagues?

A: My first year, when I came to the States, because I didn’t know English. When I had to eat, I waited for friends to order.

Q: What was the first English word you learned?

A: The first thing you learn is bad words.

Q: Bad words?

A: (Laughs). You know what I mean.

That’s the easy part when you get here.

Q: What did you learn about stealing bases in spring training from Rickey Henderson?

A: The most important thing he taught me was, “You have to try to read the pitcher. If he does something wrong, with your speed, it’s gonna be more

easy.”

Q: It’s helped you?

A: Oh, yeah. Last year I ran on the first pitch. Now I see if I get something from the pitcher.

Q: Do you think you can ever steal 100 bases?

A: Oh, yeah. Depends how much I get on base. The speed is there, so, I never can say no.

Q: The toughest catcher to run on?

A: Yadier Molina from the Cardinals.

Q: Triples?

A: Since the first year in the minor leagues I always loved that play, because when I hit the ball in the gap I always tried to get to third base, always

hustled from the batter’s box.

Q: Describe your high-five celebration with Carlos Delgado.

A: I don’t know if you’ve heard that (Fat Joe) song “Lean Back.” That’s how we’re feeling, Lean Back! (Smiles).

Q: Your first major-league hit?

A: One of my best moments of my life. My first at-bat, I get a base hit right away.

Q: Where’s the ball?

A: In my house (in the Dominican).

Q: David Ortiz was your World Baseball Classic teammate.

A: Great guy, man. I still talk to him.

He sings a little Reggaeton and I sing a little bit too. In the airplane, we started to sing together.

Q: You became a switch-hitter at 16.

A: My manager (Felix de Leon) said, “You got a little speed, we have to make you a switch-hitter.”

Q: Funniest Met?

A: Ramon Castro. He makes everybody laugh in the clubhouse. He’s got a lot of jokes.

Q: Best dresser?

A: Carlos Beltran.

Q: Favorite ballpark?

A: Philadelphia. I like to hit there. I feel comfortable.

Q: Favorite athlete outside baseball?

A: LeBron James. He loves the game and plays it the right way.

Q: How old is your daughter, Katarina?

A: One year and four months. When the game’s finished, I go to my house and give her a hug and a kiss. Sometimes, she sleeps with me in the same bed.

Q: Does she look like you?

A: Yeah. She got the same color eyes …

and (lifts cap) the same hair too (laughs).

Q: Your parents live with you here. Best piece of advice they’ve given you?

A: My mother always said, “Keep out of the street.”

Q: Growing up?

A: Yeah. And it’s still like that.

Q: Most embarrassing moment?

A: In 2004 when I injured myself in spring training, and I came back in June and got hurt again. A lot of people said, “I don’t know if this kid is gonna

play a full season in the major leagues.”

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Bad Boys II.

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Will Smith.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Halle Berry.

Q: Favorite singer?

A: Daddy Yankee.