The Post’s Steve Serby chatted this past week in Philly with the Mets’ rookie outfielder:
Q: You believe baseball players are also entertainers. Would you pay to watch Lastings Milledge play?
A: Yes.
Q: Why?
A: Pretty exciting . . . and I have a lot of energy. I’ll pay to watch a guy go all out every day.
Q: Impression of Met fans?
A: Young and energetic. Excited about baseball. A lot of youth in the stands.
Q: Would you like to have a love affair with those fans?
A: I would like to be the guy they embrace. Sometimes they can make or break you.
Q: If the Mets win the World Series, and you’re a big part of it, would you do a Lambeau leap into the stands?
A: If I hit a home run to win the World Series? Definitely.
Q: On the flight to the West Coast, you re-enacted your highfive with the Shea fans. Who’s idea was that?
A: It was my idea and Billy Wagner’s idea just to show the guys that I’m loose and can take jokes.
Q: You’ve drawn comparisons with Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Gary Sheffield . . . to whom do you think you might be similar?
A: I’m my own player. No disrespect to those guys ’cause they’re Hall of Famers and I’m not even a month into my career, so I don’t want to be compared to anybody of that caliber. That’s why I say I’m my own player, because I’m not as good as Willie Mays, I’m not as good as Hank Aaron. I’m nowhere close to those guys, so I don’t feel like I should be compared to them.
Q: Define swagger.
A: A person who doesn’t change . . .
a person who has confidence . . . a person who knows he’s gonna get the job done and a person the team looks at and knows he’s gonna get the job done.
Q: Do you have swagger?
A: Yeah.
Q: How much of an impact can you make before your career is over?
A: A big one. And especially for Afro-American ballplayers, I can make a big impact.
Q: Why is that important to you?
A: Because there’s not many in the game anymore.
Q: Why?
A: Playing other sports such as basketball and football. We don’t feel baseball is exciting. Baseball, it’s . . . it’s a long game. It takes time for excitement to come.
That’s why we don’t play the game.
Q: What is it like playing in New York?
A: Every game counts, every game’s big, no matter who you play.
Q: Do you like that kind of microscope, that kind of stage?
A: Yeah, because it keeps you focused every day. Some places you can go 4-for-4 and it’ll last for a couple of days. Here it don’t last.
Q: Why did Rickey Henderson have an influence on you in the spring?
A: ‘Cause he’s the best base-stealer of all time, and it’s always good getting taught by the best.
Q: Have you ever seen a more exciting player than Rickey?
A: No.
Q: Do you think you can be that kind of player?
A: I think I can be a fraction of Rickey Henderson.
Q: You watch video of classic hitters. Why?
A: I don’t really like for my secrets to be out there (chuckles).
Q: Are these people from all eras?
A: Yeah.
Q: You would like to pick the brain of which hitters?
A: Barry Bonds.
Q: You move your eyeballs around in the on-deck circle.
A: I try to watch the ball from his hand to the glove at least five times, and that helps you focus your eyes.
Q: What did Darryl Strawberry teach you in spring training?
A: Not much mechanical stuff, just the mental side of baseball. What pitchers are trying to do to you, what pitches they throw in certain situations.
Q: Funniest Met?
A: Carlos Delgado. He calls himself The Diesel. I get a kick out of it every time.
Q: He calls himself The Diesel?
A: Well, we call him The Diesel ’cause they kinda look alike.
Q: Favorite childhood memory?
A: Being in the Little League World Series.
Q: Best piece of advice from your father?
A: Have fun when you play baseball.
Q: Describe your father.
A: Everything’s gotta be full-out effort, otherwise you gotta come face him.
Q: Most embarrassing moment?
A: Dropping the fly ball in New York my second game.
Q: Best game at any level?
A: Low A against Charleston River Dogs, went 4-for-6, had three assists, four stolen bases and a home run.
Q: Most exciting day?
A: When I hit the home run off (Armando) Benitez and brought the team back.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jackie Robinson. Hank Aaron.
Barry Bonds.
Q: Why Hank Aaron?
A: He’s the all-time leader in home runs.
Q: Why Barry Bonds?
A: He’s the all-time leader in single season home runs.
Q: Why Jackie Robinson?
A: He’s the first black baseball player to enter the major leagues.
Easy as that.
Q: You play video games?
A: I’ve been a Madden player since ’95.
Q: Pick one person to be with on a deserted island.
A: My mother.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Rudy.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite singer?
A: Michael Jackson.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Chicken.
