Please take out a number two pencil and scantron and proceed to the following question.

Flashback to the beginning of the 2006 Major League Baseball season. Did you answer yes to the following statements?:

a)The Detroit Tigers will have the best record in the American League.

b)The Red Sox will be out of the playoff picture before September.

c)Alex Rodriguez will be the subject of trade rumors by Yankees fans.

d)Catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins will lead MLB with a .350 average.

e)All of the above.

If you answered “e” at that time, I would also like to know the name of my firstborn, where I will be working in ten years and what my chances are of marrying Derek Jeter.

It is foolish to come into a season expecting everything to turn out the way one predicts, unless the prediction is that the Yankees will win the American League East.

The 2006 season is no different, and there are plenty of surprises in the American League. After compiling a 43-119 record three years ago, manager Jim Leyland has transformed the Detroit Tigers into the best team in the league. A well-balanced lineup and solid performances by young starters Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman have given fans in Detroit something to read about other than the high crime rate in Motor City.

In the West, the Oakland A’s finally took a handsome lead, with handsome starter Barry Zito leading the way (7.5 games ahead of the Angels). The Rangers attempted to claw their way into the race all year while the Angels’ inconsistency and lack of protection in the lineup for Vladimir Guerrero doomed them, despite the success of rookie pitching sensation Jered Weaver, who won his first nine decisions.

The Yankees, who spent the majority of the season without corner outfielders Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, relied on the likes of Melky Cabrera and Bernie Williams to hold the fort until Bobby Abreu (.357 avg, .460 OPB) arrived. With the five-game sweep of the Red Sox during the “Boston Massacre,” the Yankees heading to the post-season has been as expected as Nicole Richie publicly denying an eating disorder.

The Wild Card spot looks like it will come down to the wire between two AL Central teams, the defending World Series champions the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. With the troubles the White Sox starters have had all season (a combined ERA of 4.69), the Twins were able to get back into the race. With these teams set to face each other in the final two games of the season, it has the makings of the best playoff race left in the majors.

With one month of baseball left, I offer you this final quiz. So take out those number two pencils and whip out that scantron one more time.

What do you predict will happen in the final month of the season before the playoffs?

a) Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein feels so responsible for the team’s demise and his inability to acquire a player at the deadline that he suits up and plays catcher until Jason Varitek returns.

b) Shawn Green, realizing how many Jews go to BU, will offer to play a game for the Binghamton Mets in support of the Jewish community.

c) Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will challenge the 25-man roster to a boxing match: whoever loses must be traded immediately.

d) Derek Jeter and I will be engaged.

e) None of the above.

If you choose “e” this time, why must you quash my dreams?