"This year is different. This year, the Yankees are promising to go all out down the stretch and not play any wild card games.

It's about time. But this all comes with a "healthy" catch.

Even though facing Justin Verlander twice in a five-game series may be the prize for winning the AL East, taking the division remains the goal, as it should.

When I asked manager Joe Girardi yesterday what his emphasis will be down the stretch, he said: "Stay healthy. The reason we had so many issues last year is that we couldn't stay healthy.

"There was so much made of last year," Girardi noted after the game against the Rays was washed away at Yankee Stadium, "and people thought, 'Were we trying to win?'

"Yeah, we were trying to win. I want to play here as many games as I can if we are fortunate enough to get to the playoffs. That's the bottom line. Our team is built for this park, so why wouldn't we want to win our division? But you can't run guys out there if they are hurt. We have to stay healthy, that's very important."

Derek Jeter told The Post the team's goal is to win the AL East, and that the Red Sox are in the Yankees' crosshairs the final 44 games. The Yankees trail the Red Sox by a half-game and are tied in the loss column. They own a comfortable 10-game lead in the loss column over the Angels for the wild card.

The AL East winner likely will earn home-field advantage through the ALCS. If the Yankees make it to the ALCS again, they are going to need all the help they can muster if they face the Red Sox, who have won 10 of 12 from them. Much is at stake. The Yankees own 40 home wins this season. Only the Phillies (42) have more home victories."