A look at the AL in predicted order of finish:
---
EAST
New York Yankees
Beset by early injuries to an inadequate pitching staff, the Yankees got off to a terrible start last season before rallying to their 13th straight playoff appearance. The ride should be smoother in 2008, and there's no reason this $200 million team can't beat out Boston again the way it did for all those years.
With Chien-Ming Wang as a No. 1 starter, however, whether the Yankees can finally win a postseason series is a different matter. They've been eliminated in the first round three straight times.