Sox Getting Less Love from Experts

Remember this time last year, when the Sox were the lock to secure all other locks, according to everybody? This year, not so much.

Joe Sheehan of Sports Illustrated doesn't even mention the Red Sox.

Joel Beall of Fox Sports doesn't either. Is this a bad sign?

Jonah Keri of Grantland says they'll win the World Series! But he adds the disclaimer that everything has to break right, and the lower end of his swing is the Sox in second place, missing the playoffs.

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN has not weighed in yet, at least online, but we can probably assume he's picking the Yankees. He usually does.

And the Sporting News has yet to opine, but they did mention this, which I feel obligated to link to even though it (almost certainly) means nothing for the Red Sox.

In a way, this is good news. The expectations were too high last year.