Post columnist Steve Serby fans through some Q&A with Yankees reliever Dellin Betances.
Q: Do you consider yourself intimidating on the mound?
A: I hope that I look intimidating out there. I’m just trying to be aggressive, that’s all I look at. I know big frame, 6-8, and I’m sure it’s pretty intimidating for a hitter, but I don’t know what they think. So, for me, I’m just out there trying to do my job.
Q: Tell me about the first time you knew you threw a 100 mph fastball.
A: This year was the first time that somebody texted me and said, “Oh, you hit 100.” So, that was pretty cool.
Q: What’s it like being able to throw 100 mph?
A: I don’t know, man. I mean, I guess it’s pretty cool because guys know when you throw that hard. For me, that’s something that I thank God just for the abilities he gave me to play. It’s just hard work, I guess.
Q: You’ve been described as a gentle giant. Is that a good description of you?
A: I don’t know. I don’t know how to describe myself (smile).
Q: Tell me about the change that takes place when you have a ball in your hand.
A: My mentality is just trying to get the guy out.
Q: Who was your boyhood idol?
A: I’ve been a Kobe Bryant fan. I just love watching him play — just the way he goes out there, he’s fearless.
Q: You played basketball in high school at Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn until you got two teeth knocked out?
A: My front tooth. Against Midwood, I got elbowed. Ref should have called a foul. He didn’t call any foul. Yeah, that was a hard experience. After that I stopped playing high school basketball, but it was more to focus on the game of baseball more than anything.
Q: Would fearless describe your mentality on the mound?
A: I try to take that attitude, just have confidence in yourself and believe that you can do the job.
Q: What’s it like being the eighth-inning guy?
A: For me, I’m honored and thrilled to be here, whatever situation I’m in. I’ve come in in earlier innings, late innings. If I come in in a situation where we’re winning, I’m just trying to just keep the score the same way, and just give a team a chance to win.
Q: Do you think you’ve got the mentality to be a closer some day?
A: I can’t really say. It’s something I’ve never done. We have a good closer in David Robertson, and I’m learning a lot from him. For me, I’m just going out there, whatever role I’m in, I’m just trying to get the guys out, that’s my job. I’m just blessed and honored to be here, playing on the team that I once rooted for, now I play for them. I’m just honored, to be honest with you.
Q: How do you explain your success this season?
A: I think if you look at what I did when I got moved to the bullpen last year, I felt like I was just more consistent, more aggressive throwing strikes. My velocity went up average-wise, and I was able to throw my off-speed for strikes in any situation, and I think that’s been the key for me this year — just being able to get ahead on the hitters and trusting your stuff that you can throw both pitches for strikes at any point.
Q: If you were to make the AL All-Star team, whose autograph would you want?
A: I’m not a big autograph guy. … I’ll just be happy to be there, you know. But I haven’t really thought about that to be honest. I’m still focused on today and the next day. I’m trying to get better and better each and every time and learn from the guys on the team.
Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from Derek Jeter?
A: Just watching him play, to be honest. Just how he goes about his business. He plays every day, he’s always well-prepared, and he’s a leader. He’s a true leader. Being close to him in a locker has always helped out, you know, somebody I grew up watching. I’m just honored to play on the same team with him.
Q: Does he ever come over and crack a joke to relax you on the mound?
A: Yeah, yeah, he’ll mess around, just different stuff. He’s always trying to make sure we’re poised and in control of everything.
Q: Describe Mariano Rivera.
A: Even if he gives up a run or anything, just to see how he comes and handles … the next day he’ll be ready and he’ll get the job done. I learned a lot from watching him, and he’s always given me good advice, even till now he still gives me good advice.
Q: What have you learned from watching Masahiro Tanaka?
A: He just wins, man (smile). That’s all he does. He goes out there and does the job, man. The team feels very good every time he’s there. It’s just impressive what he’s done — just coming from Japan, everybody expected him to put up crazy numbers like he did, and he’s actually doing it. Especially in New York, it’s not easy.
Q: Do you think it’s tougher playing here?
A: Just the fans expect a lot from you. This is an organization that’s always won, so the fans expect you to do good. There’s nowhere better than here to play. They’re all about championships, so what better team to play with than a team that tries to put the best 25 guys to win a championship?
Q: What was your reconstructive elbow surgery like in 2009?
A: At the time, I was disappointed, ’cause I didn’t know going in what was going to happen. But I definitely had a great rehab team in Tampa.
Q: You had a blister problem once?
A: Yeah I did, in 2012. My nail just kind of like broke in half just from throwing a spike curve, and I tried to put a fake nail on, an acrylic, and that was probably the worst thing I did beause I started to develop black and blue [marks] and just my real nail got weak. The only good thing I take out of that was that I started throwing a different breaking ball which I throw now that’s more consistent and has been effective for me.
Q: A quote from you: “It was a time when I was going through some mental stuff.” What was that time, and what mental stuff were you referring to?
A: Just baseball came to a point where it wasn’t as fun as it was when I was growing up and when I first started playing. I just put too much stress on myself. I felt like that year, 2012, I was so close to being up in the big leagues but I put so much pressure on myself to get up, and it was just a constant struggle. I just felt like I was so close to being up here, but I kept failing at something that I used to do pretty well at before, and it was just hard. I felt like it made me a better pitcher now, and I can handle it much better.
Q: What was it like growing up on the Lower East Side (Lillian Wald Houses)?
A: It’s like you have so many neighbors. I loved living there, man. Especially summertime, you get to spend time with the kids, play basketball right in front of your house, they have basketball courts everywhere, playground right around the neighborhoods. I loved living there as a kid.
Q: Were there also dangers?
A: I always felt safe, to be honest with you, I guess just the way I grew up. Maybe somebody else wouldn’t feel safe, but I always felt safe. Everybody treated us with respect around there. Nobody ever tried to do anything to harm us in any kinda way. It just got to a point that it was too small, we have a big family, and we wanted somewhere more quiet and just more space for the family.
Q: Your father is a taxi driver in Washington Heights. Did he ever take you on a ride with him?
A: My father used to drive me to a bunch of games, but I don’t pay or anything, obviously (smile).
Q: Describe your parents.
A: My dad, he’s a hard-working man. He’s always provided for the family, and always kept us close. My mom, just a typical housewife. The food is always ready when we wake up. She does everything. Mom is the best. Laundry is always ready, food’s always ready. Everything you need, Mom is always there for it.
Q: Pitchers you admired growing up? David Wells, Andy Pettitte, anybody else?
A: I watched Pedro Martinez just ’cause my father was a big fan of his. Talk about a guy that’s fearless, he was definitely fearless. Roger Clemens. … We had TBS, so the Braves were always on, so you watched Greg Maddux, [John] Smoltz, [Tom] Glavine, and some of those guys. But growing up a Yankee fan, I was always a big Andy Pettitte, Mariano fan … Clemens, David Cone, Orlando Hernandez.
Q: You have spent some time in the company of the Bleacher Creatures, right?
A: I was there for David Wells’ perfect game, so that was pretty cool. But obviously, that’s the seat in the game. If you’re a Yankee fan, that’s the best place to come watch a game.
Q: Why?
A: It’s an experience I think as a fan you want to have, especially being a part of the Roll Call. It’s always loud over there. Fans try to give a player from the other team a hard time. It’s just a fun atmosphere out there.
Q: What opposing player did you give the hardest time to?
A: I was quiet, I just enjoyed being around the other people. Those were cheap seats, too, so they were affordable for me (smile).
Q: How often would you go to Yankees games as a kid?
A: I probably went to one or two a year when I was younger. Once I moved to the Lower East Side [from Washington Heights], I didn’t go as much ’cause I started playing baseball there. But when I was like 8, 9 years old, I went to a bunch of games.
Q: Describe the Youth Service League.
A: Summer baseball, I started playing there when I was 13. Guys like Manny Ramirez, Shawon Dunston came out of that league. Just a great organization, always worked hard, and showed you how to grow up as a teenager. Made a bunch of great friends that I still talk to to this day, and it helped me be the player that I am now. It was an awesome travel team.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: The Notorious B.I.G., Babe Ruth, Kobe Bryant.
Q: Do you think Babe Ruth can get around on your fastball?
A: That’s Babe Ruth, he could do whatever (smile).
Q: Hobbies?
A: Playing video games.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Scarface.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel [Washington].
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Angelina Jolie.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Jay-Z.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: White rice with red beans and chicken.
Q: What would you want Yankees fans to say about you?
A: I just want them to be happy with the job I’m doing (smile). They’ve shown a lot of support this year, and I’ve gotten a lot of great reactions.
Q: Tell them what it’s like being a New York Yankee. Sum it up.
A: For me, it’s every kid’s dream, and … it’s the best feeling ever (smile).