#Gerrit Cole’s expectations for Yankees are sky-high

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hurls some answers to Post columnist Steve Serby’s questions in a Q&A session ahead of spring training.

Q: Describe the Yankees’ World Series-or-bust expectations.

A: I like them. It’s just a great goal to have. It matches up, I guess, with my expectations, too.

Q: How hungry are you to win a World Series?

A: On a scale of 1-10, 10. It’s the only thing we’re working for.

Q: Describe your mound mentality.

A: I would describe it as very intense … focused … try to have control of my emotions. I’m just kind of always on the hunt.

Q: What is it about big games that you love so much?

A: The atmosphere, the work it usually takes to get there … the adrenaline.

Q: How do you deal with pressure?

A: (Laugh) I don’t know. I definitely worry a bit, that’s just kind of who I am. Some of us need a little bit of it, some of us need more or less. … Just kept my mind I guess neutral, and just try to be kind of indifferent as we approach the game, and approach those pressure situations so that being able to think clearly.

Q: Why do you like watching Jacob deGrom?

A: His command … the ability to command a baseball that can move, but also command his mechanics and repeat them at such a high level. And his demeanor, he’s got a businesslike approach, which I like to watch.

Q: Does he remind you of you?

A: He’s a pretty fantastic pitcher, so I would like to probably draw some parallels there. I think what he does with his arm action and his mechanics, it’s kind of one-of-a-kind. But I can certainly relate to a lot of other aspects of his game for sure.

Q: If a Little League pitcher asked, “Gerrit, what do I have to do to be great or be an ace?” what would you tell him?

A: As if there was a magic key … I would tell him there’s no magic key, [No.] 1. I mean, just be deliberate with your practice. Stay focused. … The question is kind of broad. Something like that. These are tough! I’m sitting on my porch, like, “All right, how do I summarize pitching in one sentence?” You can’t summarize it in one sentence, I guess.

Q: What is the biggest thing you learned about pitching in New York last season?

A: I guess the biggest thing is you can always overcome something no matter how daunting the challenge is. We just didn’t think we were gonna be able to do what we could do as an industry, and we were able to get through it. … There’s New York baseball, and then three’s like playing in New York during coronavirus, it’s like two different things.

Q: How badly did you miss the fans?

A: Really bad (laugh). It was hard, it was tough. Certainly the seriousness of the game, the weight of the game, there was a lot of intensity out there. But to not be able to share that intensity with the fan base, and share that energy and trade it back and forth, it was really tough. It was eye-opening for me to think about how much I really miss ’em.

Q: Do you have specific goals for this season?

A: Yeah, I’d like to settle in a good delivery, sooner rather than later. I’d like to finish the season obviously strong, and being at my best when we all need to be playing at our best. Get off to a good start, finish strong. Win a World Series.

Q: What do you like best about this Yankees team?

A: The commitment to winning. Every player on the team, every person in the organization … it’s fun to be a part of.

Q: Whatever comes to mind: DJ LeMahieu?

A: LeMahieu’s a unicorn. They don’t really exist in real life, DJ LeMahieus.

Q: Aaron Judge?

A: The superhero.

Q: Luke Voit?

A: (Laugh) Just muscles, power.

Q: Gleyber Torres?

A: He’s just got unbelievable hands … great swing … big-time player.

Q: Gary Sanchez?

A: He’s just a beast (chuckle). He’s an animal.

Q: Aaron Boone?

A: Great person.

Q: How would you describe the Yankee Way?

A: (Chuckle) I would say shaved, clean cut, well-spoken and focused, plays hard … a lot of discipline, and plays together as a team.

Q: If you could pitch to any hitter in the history of MLB, who would it be?

A: Either [Mickey] Mantle or [Barry] Bonds.

Q: Why Mantle?

A: I’ve heard he’s such a freak. He’s kind of on the same level as Bonds.

Q: If you could pick the brain of any pitcher in MLB history, who would it be?

A: I would probably say Bob Gibson.

Q: What would you want to know from him?

A: Just how he stayed on top of the game for so long. He was so healthy, too.

Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?

A: The most relevant’s gotta be Tom Brady. I also admire Roger Federer. … I also admire Michael Jordan … Kobe Bryant … Tiger Woods … Serena Williams, one of my favorite athletes to watch.

Q: What did you think of Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl at 43?

A: It was magical (laugh). It was fun to watch.

Q: Could you envision yourself pitching at 43?

A: I can see it. I certainly have a long way to go before I get there. But if my family would allow it, and my body would allow it, I guess first and foremost, then I certainly don’t anticipate not loving pitching.

Q: Did you make any changes to your offseason training program?

A: I started throwing a little earlier. I don’t really consider that a big change.

Q: What drives you?

A: To try to always be getting better, and I love the game. Three’s a nice marriage there between always trying to get better and being fortunate to be able to do something that you love.

Q: Who was your boyhood idol?

A: There’s lot of really good starting pitchers when I was growing up. I was always trying to watch Randy [Johnson]. I was always trying to watch Roger [Clemens], Pedro [Martinez]. I had players on the Angels that I admired too ’cause that was the easiest outlet for me to get experience, like Garret Anderson and some of those players I guess.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: The Queen of England, Abraham Lincoln, Mozart.

Q: Why the Queen?

A: She’s the best monarch of all time! She’s the wealthiest woman … pretty cool person. Just imagine the perspective, right?

Q: Favorite movies?

A: “The Godfather,” “Top Gun,” anything James Bond.

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Jack Nicholson.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Meryl Streep.

Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?

A: Chris Martin from Coldplay.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: I love a good steak.

Q: How do you see the AL East?

A: I see it as a challenge. The Blue Jays certainly got better signing a world-class center fielder [George Springer] and leadoff hitter, and their lineup was already solid. The Orioles, a lot of promising players coming up through there. And Tampa Bay is gonna be Tampa Bay, pretty rock solid and always trying to push us. And the Red Sox, they’re always gonna put up a fight because it’s the Yankees-Red Sox. So whether they’re in the mode that they’re in now, or they’re at the top of the luxury tax, they’re dangerous.

Q: Yankee Stadium will be allowing 10 percent attendance.

A: (Laugh) I’m so excited. I’m so excited. Oh my gosh. That’s amazing. I’m stoked.

Q: What is fatherhood like?

A: It’s amazing. It’s very grounding. Every day I just wake up so excited to see my son [Caden, 7 months old] and see what he’s bringing to the table that day. It makes you appreciate every day better and every day another purpose. It’s very fulfilling, rewarding, I’m having a blast.

Q: What has been the most emotionally challenging part for you of dealing with the pandemic?

A: Probably just not being able to see my family or my friends quite as much. We anticipated New York being a big move, but then moving out there and sitting there by ourselves. … That was emotionally tough, and to have a newborn and not have a lot of his family around, that was tough. But we persevered.

Q: What would your message be to Yankees fans?

A: We’re excited, we’re ready to go. Look forward to seeing 10 percent of you soon, I guess.