Was looking at ESPN.com's preseason baseball picks, to see toward whom I can soon direct my gloating (answer: only 3 of 21 pickers didn't have the Angels winning the AL West, but among them were perennial Scioscia-underraters Keith Law and Rob Neyer) ... and along the way I noticed something remarkable: All 21 prognosticators had an AL East team winning the American League pennant. Check it out.

Now, before you start damning them all with Bristol-coast bias, note that A) it's certainly not a bad bet, B) the Rays got a lot of votes, and C) among those getting votes for potential "breakout" season, at or near the top of the list was Howie Kendrick. Still, 21 for 21.... I have a strong feeling that no one will be giving us a chance in the playoffs this year, including members of the Red Sox. Within that may lie some underdoggy hope....