The Yankees got back on track Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak which included four straight to the first-place Boston Red Sox, with a 7-0 shutout of the Chicago White Sox.
That win left the Yankees nine games behind the Red Sox in the American League East.
However the Yankees remain the front-runners in the AL wild card race.
And if Boston stumbles, the division could still be in play.
But only if the Yankees can get back on track.
Alex Rodriguez worked Sunday's 5-4, 10-inning loss for ESPN's coverage of Sunday Night Baseball.
He thinks he knows what the Yankees need to make a run, per the Boston Globe:
I'm not saying the Yankees need to start a fight by any means, but I'd love to see more fight, more action, more Paul O'Neill attitude and sometimes you want a guy in the room to stand up and not necessarily throw a chair, but get in somebody's face and show some emotion, some passion. Because right now I would want to shake somebody and it starts with yourself, being accountable.
A-Rod, as you may remember, was more than ready to start a fight back on July 24, 2004, going toe-to-toe with former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek in what turned into a benches-clearing brawl at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
Some say that moment provided the spark the Red Sox would need to finish the season strong, rebound from a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series, and snap the Curse of the Bambino with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.