Jesse Winker tells Post he isnt taking Mets fan favorite role lightly after goosebumps moments

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets from spring training Veteran outfielder Jesse Winker, acquired by the Mets from the Nationals at the trade deadline last year, starts another Amazin’ season by fielding some Q&A from Post columnist Steve Serby.Q: Describe the feeling of coming so close to a World Series and not getting there last year.A: Obviously, the loss hurts, right? You reflect on it eventually, but initially, you’re just like, “Damn, you’re so close, we were two wins away from being in the World Series.” As a professional athlete, you respect that moment and that platform and that opportunity, because it doesn’t just happen all the time, right? You never know the next time you’ll be two wins away from the World Series, right? When you finally get time to reflect on it, you learn from it.You learn from the loss, you learn from wins, and then you kind of put a bow on it, and then you start preparing for the next one.Q: Does that make this team hungrier to get to a World Series?A: I think every year when you’re part of a team like this, an organization like this, and you’re in an environment like this daily, that you’re always going to be hungry.

I don’t think you can be thinking about October in February.There’s so much baseball to be played.Q: You do visualize.

So what do you visualize about New York in October?A: I saw it firsthand last year! It puts a smile on your face.It’s a special place, it’s a special city.

It’s a very passionate fan base, and their support is going to be needed not just in October, it’s going to be needed in every month.And I know we can’t wait to go play hard for them.

It’s going to be fun.I respect the hell out of them.Q: What is that feeling like, the electricity in the stadium in October in New York?A: I don’t even know if there’s a word to describe it.

It’ll give you goosebumps...