THE GAME was a fair representation of the Yankees' season: They didn't play so crisply early. Jorge Posada made like an impending All- Star when it counted. The Yankees win! The-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e Yankees win!

Posada bats sixth, a nice place for him in the order. "That's a good lineup we've got out there," [Posada] said. "You get through Bernie Williams, [Tino Martinez] and [Paul O'Neill], and I'm kind of like the sleeper out there."

Posada isn't high on rest, having gotten more of it than he desired during his one season as [Joe Girardi]'s backup and two seasons as the man who received roughly 60 percent of the playing time behind the plate to Girardi's 40 percent. Posada has started 51 of the Yankees' 57 games.