YOU want to fit in with the Yankees, you follow the strict code of conduct established by the veterans and enforced by clubhouse cops such as David Cone.

Do not say anything that can wind up on the backpage, steamroll onto the radio, roll off the sharp tongues of the paying customers and make you the center of attention.

Do not question the decisions of the front office as they pertain to you and your playing time and/or contract status.

Do not question the authority of the manager by questioning the wisdom of his playing time allocation as it relates to you.

Do downplay brewing controversies by saying you are not bothered by whatever it is that’s eating at you.

Do speak more highly of your teammate than of yourself.

Do talk about how fortunate you are to be surrounded by veterans who conduct themselves in such a professional manner.

Jorge Posada is a Yankee, through and through. He could have sounded off repeatedly by now. Instead, he waited and has been rewarded for his patience by finally earning the every day job as the Yankees catcher.

He kept his mouth shut, holding back the venom he must have felt like spitting forth and various times when the Yankees determined he wasn’t quite ready for the job.

After the 1998 season, many in the organization were in favor of not picking up the $3 million option on Joe Girardi’s contract, but manager Joe Torre was in favor of bringing back Girardi for one more season and bring him back the Yankees did. Unlike in ’98, when the two catchers shared the position almost equally, with Posada getting only slightly more playing time, it was supposed to be different in ’99. Posada was to be the clear-cut starter, Girardi the backup who was to do far more tutoring than playing.

It didn’t quite work out that way. Posada, who had gotten slightly less than 60 percent of the playing time in 1998, got about 65 percent in ’99, not the sort of increase he anticipated.

His first-half performance in ’99 wasn’t what the Yankees’ anticipated, either. He led the majors in passed balls and seemingly had regressed.

He looked as lost as he felt when at the advice of minor league director Mark Newman he first converted to catching, putting down his infielder’s glove.

“I didn’t want to catch at all that first week I tried it,” Posada said. “I was scared of getting behind the plate. After three or four days of catching, I went to Mark Newman and said I’m not going to catch anymore. I said I’m going to play third base or I’ll even play the outfield, but I’m not going to catch. It’s not good for me.”

Newman talked him into staying behind the plate and the move has been a pivotal one for the Yankees’ fortunes and Posada’s career.

Blocking balls in the dirt still is the area of his game that needs the most work, but he has improved vastly since a year ago at this time.

He attributes his improvement behind the plate to increased playing time. Does that mean the Yankees could have gotten this sort of production from him if they had not brought Girardi back last season? He’s a Yankee, remember? Yankees don’t say things like that.

“Not really,” he said. “I’m happy everything has worked out the right way. We won three World Championships with Joe. I learned a lot from him. Last year was very tough for me and he was always there for me. Who knows what might have happened if Joe wasn’t there for me last year?”

Who knows where Posada would be this season had Girardi, now catching for the Cubs, had returned to the Yankees? Probably not as far along as he is. Posada has progressed so far in one season it’s possible Mike Piazza won’t be the only catcher in this Subway Series who will catch in next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Imagine where the Yankees would be today if one of the questions on everybody’s predictable “five questions about the Yankees” going into spring training stories had been answered in the negative by now: Can Jorge Posada establish himself as an every day major league catcher?

He seldom is given a day off said his body isn’t crying for one.

“I feel fine,” he said. “I feel strong. It’s easier to hit and it’s easier to catch when you’re playing every day.”