Mets reliever Jerry Blevins took some time out for a Q&A with The Post’s Steve Serby.

Q: Who was your boyhood idol?

A: My mom, raising my brother and I by herself. … Neil Armstrong. I don’t know what it is about Ohio, but astronauts come from there … and then Ken Griffey Jr., my baseball idol.

Q: Why was he your baseball idol?

A: The combination of his left-handed swing, his youthful exuberance and … I just liked his style, the way he played. There’s something poetic and pretty about his swing, and he posed with his dad, I always thought that was cool. Just a fun player to watch.

Q: What was it like facing him?

A: Surreal. It was in Oakland, he was with the White Sox at the time, and it was 2008, and I struck him out for the third out of the [fifth] inning, and I sit down in the dugout, kind of get choked up a little bit, and I’m like, “Oh, crap!” All the emotions hit me, so I go up to the clubhouse and I called my older brother. I’m like, “Rob, did you see that?” I hear him crying already. It’s something that I’ve done a million times before in my head as a kid. I always pretended when I was facing him, like when you’re using your imagination, that I was facing Ken Griffey Jr. with two outs in the ninth, bases loaded.

Q: What did you strike him out on?

A: A curveball.

Q: Swinging?

A: Yeah.

Q: What is your best single baseball moment?

A: As an individual player, in 2012 in Oakland, we were chasing the division, we were in Anaheim, Grant Balfour was our closer and we were up three runs, he gave up two runs really quick, didn’t get an out. Runners on first and third and they brought me in. It was bottom of the ninth, nobody out, so I ended up getting Kendrys Morales to strike out, and then I got Howie Kendrick to hit into a double play. We ended up winning the division that year by one game. It just happened to be my girlfriend at the time’s birthday, who’s now my wife. I’ll remember that forever (chuckle).

Q: Worst baseball moment?

A: Not being part of the [Mets’] World Series in ’15. Breaking my arm early in the season and then refracturing it. It was a weird emotion for me because I’m so happy for all my teammates and the organization and the great fans, and at the same time, there’s this pit in your stomach where you’re like, “Man, this is what I dreamed about my life,” and I had the opportunity, it’s so hard to get up and so hard to repeat. It’s one of those moments that’s still like super bittersweet for me.

Q: Who is one pitcher in history whose brain you would have wanted to pick?

A: [Cleveland Hall of Famer] Bob Feller. I was just always fascinated with that style of baseball and the real power behind it. His presence on the field, he always had one of those powerful personas.

Q: What was the worst minor league bus ride?

A: It’s a combination of the worst and the best. I’d just gotten drafted [by the Cubs in 2004], Boise Hawks, Northwest League, we’re in the championship game, we ended up winning it. We’re in Vancouver, we split it up in two buses. On the way back, three hours into the 15-hour bus ride, the bus in front of us blows a tire. The tire comes back and hits the back of our bus and knocks out the air conditioning on the second bus. So then all these people that were on the first bus pile onto the second bus with no air conditioning. So we ended up the last 10-12 hours packed shoulder to shoulder in a sweaty mess of a bus with no air conditioning. And then there might have been a few beverages consumed, so there were some really extra smelly people.

Q: What is your mentality on the mound?

A: I try to be clear-headed, clear thought, and very cerebral in my approach. I don’t have stuff that overpowers guys, I try to play chess and take advantage of weaknesses or see what tendencies or if guys are guessing, I try to take advantage of that. With age comes a little bit of knowledge, and I think I’m able to process from pitch to pitch what I think guys are trying to do. I see subtleties, where they’re stepping, that kind of stuff.

Q: Are you recognized in Manhattan?

A: Very rarely. When I ride the 7 train, people will be like, “Hey good luck today.” That’s the best part about my job is I have a lot of perks but none of the downfall. … [I] can’t imagine being David Wright or Noah [Syndergaard] trying to walk around the city. I imagine that being tough.

Q: One of your pet peeves is getting rained on by drippy air conditioning units.

A: I’ll be out walking our dog and down my back, whatever, I find the drippy air conditioners.

Q: And people that run up the aisle from the back of the plane upon arrival ahead of everyone in front of them.

A: It just shows me a lack of respect for the people around you.

Q: If you were MLB commissioner, you would …

A: I would pay relief pitchers on a greater scale (laugh). That’s a job I don’t want. I think I would worry less about pace of play. I understand the thought process behind it, but I’m not sure that that’s gonna change the dynamic of who real baseball fans are and what part of the game they enjoy.

Q: Why haven’t you had your own bobblehead?

A: That’s a question for higher powers than me. Maybe that’s what I would do as commissioner, would be to give … myself a bobblehead? No, I don’t know. That’s one of the things that when you’re a kid or when you’re first starting out that you want. You want to get a baseball card, which is amazing. I’ve had the luxury and the opportunity to have a baseball card, it’s so cool. I can play myself in a video game or … my nephew plays video games and he’s like, “I pitched with you last night and struck out the side!” Unbelievable. And then, a bobblehead. That was the hot thing coming up when I was young.

Q: It must hurt you terribly …

A: It doesn’t hurt my feelings terribly. But there’ll be a guy, like I’ll be like, “Aw man, he’s getting a bobblehead? What’s it take for me to get a bobblehead around here?” It doesn’t hurt my feelings. I’m not bitter about it or anything, but I think it would be a pretty cool addition.

Q: This Q&A is going to get you a bobblehead.

A: Now it’s gonna be a pity bobblehead. There’s gonna be a bobble tear coming out of my eye (laugh).

Q: You’ll take it though, right?

A: Uhhh, there’s a fine line between self-deprecating humor and getting made fun of. No, that’s OK. I would take it gladly (smile).

Q: Bartolo Colon’s home run was one of your favorite moments.

A: I remember Logan Verrett … and I were in the bullpen in San Diego, and when it happened, we were like holding each other, and jumping up and down like a couple of little kids. Even the Padres fans were cheering for that moment. I think even James Shields, who gave up the homer, might have been a ***** little ***** bit happy about it (laugh).

Q: You’ve tabbed Kevin Durant as basketball captain of #teamskinnyguy. How come you’re not on #teamskinnyguy?

Q: I am on #teamskinnyguy, I’m just on the baseball side. [Jacob] deGrom’s on there, Chris Sale, yeah. We’re few and far between, our body type to be in professional sports. It’s like being left-handed, I love a left-handed jump shot, or a Ken Griffey Jr. left-handed swing. A Phil Mickelson left-handed golf shot. As a skinny guy, you’re like, “He’s dealt with the same kind of childhood things that I’ve dealt with.”

Q: You don’t mind being skinny. You can eat whatever you want.

A: See, everybody thinks that skinny people don’t have emotions, and you can just make fun of ’em. But we’re people, too.

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Q: You once said: “Pitching in New York is not easy — especially in the bullpen.”

A: New York’s a tough place to play. The fans are very passionate, very into the moment. They’re quick to cheer, but they’re also quick to make you realize that you’re not doing your job. No matter what you do in the bullpen, you’re gonna have a bad outing, and usually like in a role like mine, it’s gonna cost a game, or it has a chance to be a loss, and the fans let you know about it. And that’s fair, that’s not a complaint, but it’s a unique process. I actually really do appreciate the fans here because of the instant feedback you get, because it’s very positive and it can be understandably negative if you give it up. But they also understand that it’s a long season. It’s a unique experience, completely different from being in Washington, being in Oakland.

Q: Some guys can’t deal with it. How come you have no problem?

A: I don’t know, I think it’s because I understand what type of player I am, and being in the bullpen I’m not expected to throw 200 innings of shutout baseball as a starter, or I’m not expected to hit .300 and have as many home runs. So there’s not as much expectations from fans — probably for the same reason why I don’t have a bobblehead or for the same reason I don’t get recognized on the street as often as other guys. There’s just less expectations for me as a whole … less pressure.

Q: What is the best bullpen talk you’ve been a part of?

A: I couldn’t dare say the best bullpen talk because it would be completely inappropriate for any type of media (laugh). We talk about everything from politics to religion to alien presence to conspiracy theories to family matters. The first couple of innings are usually a wide variety of topics. And it’s a fun group. Lately we’ve been on a riddle kick where guys’ll bring in a riddle and everybody tries to solve it.

Q: Where do you stand on alien presence?

A: I feel like with all the infinite galaxies in the world, I think it’s just mathematically probable that there’s life somewhere else. Whether it’s intelligent life or not, I think there’s something out there.

Q: Should Michael Conforto be in the All-Star Game?

A: [He] deserves it. He was a guy that had huge expectations and lived up to ’em early, had some struggles and just found his groove again, and that’s tough to do. He’s an excellent player. I love watching him play. He’s a genuinely nice guy. Even watching him take BP, there’s something special about the way the ball comes off his bat.

Q: You once tweeted about Caitlyn Jenner.

A: I think it’s brave for somebody to … be who they are. My life’s been pretty easy, as far as I am a white male in the U.S. I was born with a set of circumstances that make my life a little bit easier. I can’t imagine having to hide who you are inside. I think that would be like a tough way to go. So I empathize with somebody that felt they needed to do that, and I can’t imagine myself having to do that. I think it’s very brave to just be who you are at some point, whether it’s a different gender or just anything. Just as long as you’re yourself, it doesn’t bother me. I’m happy for you.

Q: What are your thoughts on Bryce Harper?

A: Bryce is a great guy. He’s fun. He’s animated. He’s great for the game of baseball. For as good as he is, he’s very vocal. … He is who he is. I think it’s nice to have somebody out there that the fans want to boo. I talk to Neil [Walker] and Jay Bruce and David Wright, like if you’re getting booed on the road, you’re doing something right. And I’ve never seen anybody booed as hard as [Harper] gets booed like in Atlanta, for some reason. He’s great for baseball. He’s a great young talent. He’s a friend of mine. I’m glad he’s in the game. I think he brings something a little bit different than a lot of guys, he’s willing to stand up and put his foot down. I appreciate that.

Q: How would he fare in New York?

A: He would thrive here, ’cause he is who he is. He doesn’t back down. There would be issues with something he said, but he would just be himself.

Q: Aaron Judge?

A: Again, I think it’s great for baseball. I played with Matt Holliday in Oakland, and I’ve never seen somebody make him look small before.

Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?

A: I’m a big Cavs fan, so I admire LeBron [James], Kyrie Irving. Big A.J. Green fan. And Andy Dalton, I like him as a quarterback.

Q: What else is on your bucket list?

A: My wife and I are planning our annual offseason trip this year, I think we’re gonna try to hit up Paris, maybe London. Other than that, at some point I’ll graduate [University of Dayton], finish my degree [political science] in college, and put all that money I spent in student loans, put it to use, get something out of it (smile).

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Q: How did you propose to your wife Whitney?

A: Miley [dachshund] and I and Whitney were close to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, and we kind of found a spot and I got on one knee in a little private area, and proposed to her right there. I did the old-fashioned thing, asked her dad for permission, that kind of stuff.

Q: Did it bother you not having a father growing up?

A: My parents got divorced when I was 4, moved [from Tennessee] to Ohio. It was tough at times. But my mom did a great job. I’m so thankful to have her. My older brother filled in for a lot of that as well. And then my stepdad now came into my life when I was a freshman in high school, and he’s a wonderful man, a great person, and he’s my dad now.

Q: Describe your mom.

A: Maybe the biggest-hearted person you’ll ever meet in your life, almost to a fault, to where she’s so loving and so trusting that it sometimes gets her in trouble. She’s so kind and so open, and she sacrificed a ton for my brother and I, both physically by working multiple jobs, factory jobs. … She had some surgeries. … I’m so thankful to have her in my life.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: JFK, Jackie Robinson, Neil Armstrong.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Shawshank Redemption.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Tom Hanks.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Halle Berry.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Freddie Mercury.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Sushi.

Q: Favorite NYC restaurants?

A: Casa Mono, Sushi Nakazawa, Hillstone.