There’s one guarantee entering the 2014 Major League Baseball playoffs: A new champion will be crowned.
The defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox stumbled to a 71-91 finish, pinning them in last place in the American League East. The New York Yankees still hold the honor of being baseball’s last repeat champion, winning three straight titles from 1998-2000.
Anything can happen in the MLB postseason. It’s been proved time and time again. The league features so much parity these days that predicting who’s going to make the playoffs each season — let alone who’s going to win the Fall Classic — typically is a futile effort.
We here at NESN.com aren’t shy about throwing stuff at the wall, though. After all, one can’t gloat about a correct prediction if it isn’t on record, just as one can’t escape criticism when a prediction blows up in his face. (Not that I know anything about the latter experience, of course.)
So, with that in mind, let’s fearlessly dive into MLB’s October slate. Predictions for everyone!
