A five-game losing streak is never good, especially while the team right behind (then alongside, then ahead) is winning six straight. But the Yanks have won six in a row at home while the Red Sox dropped five straight on the road, and the difference between them is still just two games. The Red Sox are slumping at the plate. If they were pitching poorly, then I would be much more concerned.
The fact is that two teams separated by two games in the standings still play each other 10 more times this season (seven of which are in the Bronx, for what it\'s worth) and (at the moment) whichever team doesn\'t win the division will win the wild card anyway.
And if Roy Halladay ends up on either team (or on any contender in the American League), it\'s a whole new ballgame for both squads. I love baseball.