Analyze what has occurred with two evenly matched teams. Obvious that there has been no edge for either side, exception of course goes to Alex Rodriguez who should no longer hear that he is not a catalyst for his team. And enough said about Derek Jeter who has the eyes and ears of eight other teammates on the field.  And if CC Sabathia pitched the Yankees one step closer this week, and if the Angels force a game 7 in the Bronx Sunday evening, this will definitely look like a classic American League pennant series

The conditions were the same for both sides when this all started last Friday evening at the new Yankee Stadium. Cold and wind causing some havoc, though Sabathia with his eight solid innings put the Los Angeles Angels bats on ice and the Angels made a season high three errors. The Yankees capitalized, as they always do, in taking game one 4-1.

Then there was that classic Yankees 13-inning win that went into the early hours of Sunday morning on a cold and damp field in the Bronx.   Extra inning drama and the efficient Angels defense once again giving the Yankees what they needed with more postseason miscues that can be attributed to the intensity of what is on the line.

A trip to the World Series is what they are playing for. “They have a very good team and feel they are the best out there and we feel the same about ourselves,” commented the Yankees Johnny Damon after the Angels walk off 10-inning win Monday. That epitomizes what the players feel, and overall what baseball fans have been seeing.

The managers, Joe Girardi of the Yankees and Mike Scioscia also seem to be caught with emotion the past dew days. “We know this is going to be an extremely tough series,” said Giriardi after game one. He said it again after Games 2 and 3.  And he wasn’t surprised about the base running mistakes. “They don’t make them often,” he said about the Angels.

“We haven’t seen our guys crack the door open for a team like we did tonight in a long time,” said Scioscia about that first inning Friday night that led to the Yankees early lead because of errors his team hardly made during the season.

“The Yankees are going to take advantage of that, and they did,” added Scioscia showing the emotion on his face from a grueling first game, knowing full well that this series could resemble a good 12-round heavyweight fight with the last man standing.

And the series and Yankees hopes of returning to another World Series may rest on the shoulders of Sabathia, one of the big three acquisitions, along with AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira, that that were brought here to get the Yankees back to the big dance.  This series was supposed to be about the Angels speed and ability to take the extra base, if they can get there.

The Yankees with their power, A-Rod providing it and Teixeira not, instead sparkling at first and saving some runs for a bullpen that has been utilized, with the exception of Chad Gaudin who seems to be the odd man out. And you can fault Girardi for lifting David Robertson Monday with two men out and bringing in Alfredo Aceves that got the Angels back in the series.

But this is playoff baseball and these are the two best teams giving us all a thrill in October. Baseball at this time of year is supposed to be played this way, Managers going with the percentages, the way Girardi does and Scioscia with the playoff managerial experience.

After their loss Friday night the Angels Torii Hunter said “Wake up in the morning and feel like we had amnesia.”  For the fans, who have stayed with every pitch there has been no need for forgetting what a thrill it has been to see what their Yankees and Angels have done for them.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

That appeared to be the case when Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquired Nick Swisher and a minor leaguer from the Chicago White Sox last November for back-up infielder Wilson Betemit and a pair of minor leaguers.

The switch-hitting first baseman/outfielder was not promised the job but it seemed that he might be the Bombers best option – at the time. Although he was coming off a less than sub-par season on the South Side of the Windy City (.291, 24, 69), Swisher had a fairly successful tenure in Oakland. His best season came in 2006 when he hit .254 with 35 long balls and 95 runs batted in.

The leading free agent first baseman on the market was Mark Teixeira, who was contemplating offers from Boston, Washington and Baltimore. The Yankees swooped in at the 11^th hour and inked the Maryland native two days before Christmas to an eight-year, $180 million deal.

Relegated to a super-sub role behind not only Teixeira, but also Johnny Damon (left field), Xavier Nady (right field) and Hideki Matsui (designated hitter), the son of former major league catcher Steve Swisher just went about his business the only way he knew how.

He played and produced when called upon and finally got a chance to start when Nady went down for what appears to be the season with an injury. Swisher’s batting average is not where he would like it to be (.238), but he has been a producer with 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 39 RBI.

“I’m having a good year so far,” said Swisher. “[As a team], I don’t think that we have reached our full potential, but it’s still early in the season and we feel good about ourselves.” At press time, the Yankees were 2.5 games behind Boston in the American League East with a 45-43 mark.

Besides playing left and right field, first base and DH, Swisher even threw a scoreless inning during a blowout loss early in the season. He gave up one hit, walked and struck out one apiece.

Swisher had no regrets about being dealt to New York, even after the acquisition of Teixeira. In fact, his feelings are just the opposite. “(It’s) absolutely wonderful,” he said. “It’s a great thing. I’m just honored to be wearing the pinstripes.”

The regal Yankees clubhouse has never been known as a place for a lot of fun and is usually all business. Swisher, known as a free spirit, would seem like an odd match for the ‘Bronx Wall of Silence.’ Has he tried to inject some of his energy into his new teammates?

“I’m not trying to break them down,” he said with a laugh. “I’m just trying to fit in. It’s been great. The team and the fans have really welcomed me into the city of New York.”

If he keeps getting clutch hits and playing good defense, the welcoming committee will continue deep into the summer.