Forecasting the American League East used to be easy -- the equivalent of padding your record by playing the 2012 (and '13?) Houston Astros.
Just put the New York Yankees on top, and you were right 13 of the past 17 seasons, with two three seconds and a third.
Next came the Boston Red Sox, with 10 second-place finishes since 1998, including eight consecutive from 1998-2005 -- and three third-place finishes.
The Toronto Blue Jays? Third or fourth place in 13 of the last 15 seasons.
And it was either fourth or fifth place for the Baltimore Orioles in 13 of the last 15 seasons.
