In less statistically obsessive times – the good old days, some might say – one popular barometer for forecasting teams that would finish in first place centered on Memorial Day. The teams in first place on the morning of Memorial Day, the belief held, would end the season in first place.

So are we to believe that the Baltimore Orioles will win the American League East and the Cleveland Indians the A.L. Central? Are the Washington Nationals really going to win the National League East?

Maybe they will, but if they do, they will achieve their status on merit, not on Memorial Day statistics.

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In the space of three years, December 2008 to December 2011, Mark Teixeira, Adrian Gonzalez and Albert Pujols signed contracts whose salaries and signing bonuses totaled $574 million. For the 25 years of the contracts they averaged just about $23 million a year.

All three players had demonstrated their value before attaining those rare financial heights. For example, in his first 10 years in the major leagues, Pujols batted .331, slugged more than 40 home runs six times and no fewer than 32 the other four times and drove in more than 100 runs each season.

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What a pity it would be if three teams from the American League East make the playoffs, and the Boston Red Sox were not one of them. It wouldn’t be fair. It especially wouldn’t be fair if the Red Sox didn’t make the playoffs because they have started the season with so many of their starting players on the disabled list instead of on the field.

And as if the injuries haven’t done enough damage, the Red Sox are saddled with Bobby Valentine as their manager. He got off on the wrong foot – actually, his foot was in his mouth – as he questioned the desire of Kevin Youkilis, possibly the hardest playing player on the roster.

No one, however, is going to feel sorry for the Red Sox, just as no one will feel sorry for the Yankees if they are left behind at the post-season gate come October.

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