Predictions, Part 8. Some picks from Baseball Prospectus:

                First    Second     Third      Fourth    Fifth

Steven Goldman  Yankees  Red Sox    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays     

Gary Huckabay   Yankees  Blue Jays  Red Sox    Orioles   D-Rays

Rany Jazayerli  Red Sox  Yankees    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Chris Kahrl     Red Sox  Yankees    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Jonah Keri      Yankees  Red Sox    Orioles    Blue Jays D-Rays

Doug Pappas     Yankees  Red Sox    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Dayn Perry      Yankees  Red Sox    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Joe Sheehan     Red Sox  Yankees    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Nate Silver     Yankees  Red Sox    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Ryan Wilkins    Red Sox  Yankees    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Mike Wolverton  Yankees  Red Sox    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

Derek Zumsteg   Red Sox  Yankees    Blue Jays  Orioles   D-Rays

 

World Series

Will Carroll      Red Sox over Cubs

Steven Goldman    Cubs over Yankees

Gary Huckabay     Athletics over Phillies

Rany Jazayerli    Red Sox over Astros

Chris Kahrl       Red Sox over Cubs

Jonah Keri        Athletics over Atlanta

Doug Pappas       Astros over Athletics

Dayn Perry        Yankees over Astros

Joe Sheehan       Red Sox over Phillies

Nate Silver       Red Sox over Phillies

Ryan Wilkins      Red Sox over Phillies

Derek Zumsteg     Athletics over Phillies

Joe Sheehan on the Red Sox: "Their current edges at the back of the rotation--where I expect Bronson Arroyo to be one the season's better stories--and on the bench make the difference. ... Overall, this team is actually better than last year's, with a stronger bullpen and bench, and a deeper rotation less reliant on Pedro Martinez. For the first time since they acquired the skinny right-hander, it's possible to envision a Sox postseason appearance even if Martinez were to miss significant time to an injury. The rest of the team is that good, good enough to be called the best in the American League."

BP's Michael Wolverton says the earned run -- "a lame and counterproductive attempt at solving the pitching/fielding conundrum" -- has got to go. And if the rule was being introduced for the first time today, we'd see right away how absurd it is.