The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the rookie right-hander from USC about the beginning of his Yankees career, impending marriage, childhood memories and a few of his favorite things:
Q: Worst minor league bus ride?
A: We were going from Akron to Altoona, I was pitching the next day, and we didn’t get in till about three in the morning because we got lost. Joba (Chamberlain) and I had to share a seat. Everybody else had their own. I didn’t sleep the whole time. Joba’s big-bodied self (chuckles), was taking up the whole seat. It wasn’t too comfortable.
Q: Why did you have to share?
A: It was our first year. This was in Double-A.
Q: How did you pitch?
A: Not my best game. When you wake up at two o’clock, you feel drained.
Q: Describe your mound temperament.
A: I don’t ever want to show emotion unless (I’m) pitching in the World Series and (I) just struck out the side in the last inning.
Q: You’re the opposite of Joba.
A: (Chuckles). I always used to give Joba a hard time when he gave fist pumps. He didn’t do it all the time. Now he does it every outing. That’s just the way he is.
Q: You’re leaving for St. Louis the morning of Oct. 6 to get married.
A: The wedding isn’t until six o’clock. I’ll make it for the morning brunch.
Q: How did you meet Allison (Jaskowiak)?
A: We were both freshmen (at USC). We lived in the same dorm. She lived down the hall from me.
Q: First date?
A: We went to a seafood place (The Lighthouse) in Long Beach on the water on Valentine’s Day.
Q: How did you propose?
A: I took her to dinner in downtown L.A. She didn’t know we were gonna check into a hotel. I decorated the room.
Q: How?
A: Rose petals and candles.
Q: Did you get down on your knees?
A: I dropped to my knee for about two seconds … and that was it.
Q: Wiffle Ball in your front yard with a pitching machine when you were three?
A: It had a little cord attached to the pitching machine. You step on a little round disc that engages the ball from the machine. It would roll down this chute and the pitch would come out. It would be easy for me to do it by myself.
Q: You’d hit your father with line drives when he pitched to you on the Pony field.
A: He kinda quit for about a year. He said, “If you hit me one more time, I’m not gonna do this anymore.” The first pitch, I hit him right in the knee.
Q: You used to cry when you were introduced to T-Ball.
A: I honestly don’t remember that. My parents told me I was crying and I didn’t want to leave my dad. The first couple of innings, when I started playing, my dad had to go out there with me.
Q: One hitter you’d like to face?
A: Big Papi. I’d like to see how I’d do against him.
Q: First time you saw Yankee Stadium?
A: The first thing I thought was, “I thought it was bigger.”
Q: First time you saw Fenway?
A: (Chuckles). No comment. It’s old, that’s all I can say.
Q: How good is Alex Rodriguez?
A: You watch him just take batting practice, the ball off his bat sounds totally different.
Q: What’s Derek Jeter like in the dugout?
A: Him and (Jorge) Posada and Mo (Rivera) are always joking around.
Q: You bust Jeter’s chops?
A: Jeter is a big Michigan fan, everybody gets to rip on him, they’re not doing too good this year. He treats you equal, not like a rookie.
Q: The first time you met Roger Clemens?
A: He’s bigger than you expect. He’s a beast!
Q: Did you know Matt Leinart at USC?
A: We were acquaintances. My fiancee and his girlfriend played basketball together. I knew her before I knew him.
Q: What do you want to see in New York?
A: The Statue of Liberty up close. I’ve always seen it from far away. I saw Ground Zero on 9/11 last year. It was an eerie feeling.
Q: You like it that Joba is recognized and you’re not?
A: They’re always yelling “Jo-ba, Jo-ba!” If he acknowledges his name being called, they’ll go, “Uh … hi.”
Q: Your senior year in high school, you pitched with a broken kneecap.
A: I broke it in preseason but I didn’t know it and played on it five or six games.
Q: Was it painful?
A: Just when I ran, not much when I pitched. I thought it was a bone bruise. I had to wear a brace and immobilize it for about seven weeks. I struck out 15 in one of the tournament championship games.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jackie Robinson; Lance Armstrong; Babe Ruth.
Q: Favorite childhood memory?
A: Packing up the truck and going on camping trips to Mexico with my dad.
Q: Did you ever hurt yourself skateboarding?
A: A few cuts and scabs. I used to skateboard a lot in junior high (Huntington Beach, Calif.) with my buddies about an hour before classes started.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: Greg Maddux. I was compared to him a lot.
Q: Best piece of advice from your mother?
A: Always respect a woman. Never take your wife or mother for granted.
Q: Most embarrassing moment?
A: I think I was 10. I got a base hit up the middle and was jogging and I got thrown out at first base by the center fielder. Got yelled at by the coach.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Superbad.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Will Ferrell.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Jessica Biel.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Carrie Underwood.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Sushi.
Q: You do Jim Carrey imitations.
A: Not anymore. When “Ace Ventura” was out, that’s when I did it.