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MIAMI - You might think it would be difficult for a major leaguer to accept a position where he doesn't play much. But John Flaherty has the best seat in the house for the World Series.

"This is why I took a chance on a non-roster contract (to try out for the New York Yankees) during spring training, for the opportunity to go to the postseason, to go to the World Series," he said. "So far, so good."

Flaherty, who turned 36 this week, hit .267 with 4 homers and 14 RBI in 40 games, only 31 of which were starts behind the plate.

"You've got to have a unique person to be a backup catcher," Yankees coach Don Zimmer said. "He's got to have his head on right and know what his job is. John Flaherty knows what his job is. I know that deep down in his heart he'd like to play more. It just so happens that we've got a guy playing in front of him who's a pretty big player (Jorge Posada). But what few chances he's gotten to play, he's done very well."

Flaherty disagrees, however, with the idea that it has been tough on him to play so little.

"It's not difficult at all," he said. "To tell you the truth, this year has been very easy for me. .... It's been a fun year for me, in the fact that when I do get in there, I feel I can give the team a chance to win, and when I'm not in there, I feel like part of the guys. And I think they have confidence that if I get in there late in one of these games, I'll be able to do the job."

This year he has had some enormous hits for the Yankees, who were 20-10 (with a rain-shortened tie) in his starts. He hit two solo homers in an 11-inning win in Baltimore, and had a six-game hitting streak. He also had the Yankees' only hit in a July game in Cleveland.

"I would say one thing," Zimmer said. "The Yankees don't have to go looking for a backup catcher, because I don't think you could get a better one. He could probably catch regularly on certain clubs. Here he's the backup catcher."

The appreciation runs right through the clubhouse, and has come directly from manager Joe Torre.

"That's probably been the nicest part of this whole experience, playing for him," Flaherty said. "It means a lot when you go out on that field knowing your manager has your back and he appreciates the job you're doing and he appreciates how tough that job is. So it's been a rewarding experience all around."

The pitchers also don't see any difference in throwing to Flaherty rather than Posada.

"He's been an outstanding backup catcher for us," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said. "When he gets in there, he takes off just like nothing is missing ... He's prepared if he comes in late in a game, or if he's going to start a game. He's a perfect No. 2 guy for us.

"Jorge Posada's been so strong, has had such a great year, that people forget sometimes who our No. 2 catcher is. But people on our ballclub know he's there."