By Mark La Monica
Hey there, Red Sox Nation. If you take a look at the MLB standings today, you might notice that you're in first place in the AL East.
You might then notice that your lead is down to six games. A month ago, that lead was 9.5 games.
Chip, chip, chip.
Those pesky Yankees are methodically working their way toward the top of those standings. At 19-7 since the All-Star break, the Yanks have the best record in baseball. I'm just saying.
Is it just a matter of time before the Yankees take over first place? Maybe. Maybe not. But at least we've got ourselves a race. And it's going to be fun to watch the Nation start to squirm a little bit when the Yanks get to within four games of Boston before that three-game series at the Stadium Aug. 28-30.
Who knows, maybe that Sept. 14-16 series in Fenway will be irrelevant by then. Should that happen, it won't be just the Bronx that is burning.
An early prediction: Melky "Bleeping" Cabrera.