Corey KLUBER

New Yankees hurler and two-time Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber winds up doing some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: What would you say drives you now?

A: Winning the World Series. I’ve been fortunate enough to have individual awards and honors and stuff, but I think winning a World Series would trump those by a large margin.

Q: With that in mind, when you think back to Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Cubs, when you were with the Indians, what do you think about?

A: Just that feeling of not quite getting the job [done], kind of being right on the cusp of it but just not being able to quite cross that finish line. It’s not a good taste to leave in your mouth.

Q: Did that take a while to get over?

A: Yeah, I mean, I don’t know if you’re ever probably truly over it until maybe you have won one, and then you can kind of have that mentally probably take the place of it. Obviously you move on from it, but I don’t know if you’re ever truly over it.

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

A: I think the talent on the team speaks for itself, whether it be the lineup, the bullpen, the rotation . ... I think that’s the obvious answer, but I think that it’s a great group of guys, too. I think that the talent can go so far, but the guys inside the clubhouse can be a real difference-maker for us.

Q: What makes Gerrit Cole, Gerrit Cole?

A: Gerrit has an immense amount of talent and is obviously extremely gifted, but I think that his hunger to get better, and to understand pitching and all that kind of stuff, you pair that with the talent that he has and that’s how you get a special pitcher like that, I think.

Q: Which one of your Cy Young awards was sweeter, the first in 2014 or the second in 2017?

A: I think they’re different. I don’t think one would be better or worse than the other. I think they’re each unique to themselves.

Q: How were you a different pitcher winning the second?

A: Having more time in the league and stuff, you learn hitters a little bit better. There’s probably differences each and every year physically, so I don’t know if that’s necessarily fair to compare the two physically, but I think just mentally having more experience and having a better understanding of how to go about my business.

Q: What gives you hope or optimism that you can return to that form, or close to it?

A: I don’t think I have the goal to return to any certain form, my goal is to go out there and pitch every five days and stay healthy and be consistent for the team ... give ’em a chance to win each and every time out, and I think the rest of it takes care of itself.

Q: Before you incorporated the two-seam fastball, what was it like for you when you were with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in 2011 when you couldn’t crack the playoff rotation?

A: I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating, if there weren’t times when you get down on yourself. I don’t want to say you start doubting yourself, because I think that the second that happens you’re probably looking the end in the face, so to speak. But I think that there’s a feeling of kind of wondering like what do I need to change, what do I need to do to make this better sort of thing?

Q: What are your memories of winning your 20th game in 2018?

A:Ithinkthat there’s a lot of different things that go into the starting pitcher getting wins, beyond just more often than not pitching well. I think the team has to play well, good defense behind you, good offense usually to support you pitching well. And I think that more than anything, winning 20 games probably just shows that we [Cleveland] had a really good team that year.

Q: Why did you admire Pedro Martinez?

A: His tenacity on the mound. He never backed down, kind of a smaller stature guy ... not that I am or anything, but I admired the way he went about his business on the mound, and he’s a great pitcher on top of that.

Q: How did you feel about your nickname Klubot?

A: I’m indifferent to it, really doesn’t make a difference to me one way or the other. I don’t see the point, I guess, in getting too wrapped up one way or the other about a nickname.

Q: Do you think it fits?

A: If all you know is my personality when I pitch, and that’s all you see, I can see how that would be perceived that way.

Q: Do you miss your beard?

A: No. Especially one of that length, I don’t miss that at all. A lot more work than probably needed to be done.

Q: What was it like being part of a 22-game winning streak with the 2017 Indians?

A: A lot of fun. You always hear people say, but it’s true, winning is a lot more fun than losing, and I think that when you go over three weeks without losing a ballgame, it’s a lot of fun. I don’t want to say that it was a goal of ours or any of that, but I think when you’re in the middle of a streak like that, you ride it out, and the longer it goes, the more fun it gets.

Q: What should Mets fans know about Francisco Lindor?

A: He brings a lot of energy. He’s gonna have a good time playing the game. Obviously his talent on the field speaks for itself. You’re not gonna have days where he’s down or takes off or anything like that throughout the course of the season.

Q: And Carlos Carrasco?

A: I think he’s probably one of the more underrated players in baseball, whether it be pitcher or hitter. Quietly goes about his business. I think maybe in New York now he’ll get some of that recognition or respect that I feel like he deserves. But I think he’s probably also just the ultimate teammate, pulling for other guys 10 times more than himself. Just great guy, great teammate, great pitcher.

Q: What did former Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway mean to your career?

A: I think Mickey really helped me kind of be at a different level of confidence in myself as a pitcher. As a pitching coach, he had a unique way of delivering whatever message it might be each guy needed in a way that resonated with them. I think that a lot of times nowadays ... sometimes guys get wrapped up in analytical stuff or the message gets delivered in a way that guys can’t necessarily comprehend it. But I think he did a good job of identifying each and every way that each guy could gather and retain the information best.

Q: Do you drink five cups of coffee a day?

A: Only on start days. You only get to do it once every five days as a starter, maybe six days whatever, but I just feel like when it is that day when it’s your turn to pitch, I probably (chuckle) don’t need all those cups of coffee, but I think it’s just one of those things where ... just kind of waiting for that game time to show up.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: My wife ... Arnold Palmer, the way he went about his business was great ... Abraham Lincoln.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Gladiator.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?

A: Eric Church.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Very good cheese pizza.

Q: Is this the career you imagined?

A: I don’t think as a kid or even in college, you have to pick a major and stuff, I don’t think I truly ever had an idea of what I wanted to do besides play baseball. Growing up, that’s what I always wanted to do, and to be able todoitandplayat the highest level is definitely a childhood dream come true.

Q: What is your message to Yankees fans about you and your new team?

A: have I don’t about a message team myself is operating . ... The with the expectation of winning each and every day, and the goal is to ultimately win a World Series at the end of the year.