In my duties as an ESPN national columnist, I’ve rattled some cages a sane man wouldn’t have rattled. That column where I pointed out that Jack Nicklaus is still alive? Hoo doggies, that was a starchy one. And that one where I called out the Veterans’ Committee for not voting Ron Santo into the Hall of Fame? Wow, took a lot of heat in the seat for that one too. That’s my role around here: Mean Gene, the Stand-Taker.

Well, I hope you’re sitting down for this column, people — this is the one where I take a stand on the important issues of the day and blow up myths and legends about the 2007 season, once and for all. This is going to be a scattershot machine-gun lightning round thunderdome of a piece; you know, a typical Wojciechowski barn-burner. Get ready to have the non-fat cream cheese blown right off your bagels…

Shocker #1: The Boston Red Sox are (probably) going to win the AL East.

I know that there’s a lot of “buzz” about the New York Yankees these days; hey, I guess that’s what happens when a franchise wins 39 AL pennants and 26 World Series in its illustrious history. So I guess the Yankees have earned the media firestorm that seems to surround them at all times. A lot of sports pundit types have made a healthy living off of the boys in pinstripes, and will continue to do so for a long time. I’m not saying that the relationship resembles that of a parasite feeding off a big fat warm-blooded host — it’s not like that at all. Trust me, I know; I’m a sports pundit myself, and I’ve been so for a good long time.

That’s why I’m not surprised that so many of us are trying to whip up drama over the so-called “race” in the American League East. But let’s just pop this bubble right off the bat: the Yankees are not going to win. As of this writing, the Boston Red Sox are six games up, with less than 30 to go. That’s a lot to make up for the Bronx Bombers, especially considering that we’re talking about the Bosox here. Hello? Anyone remember them? The 2004 World Series champions? Anyone? Bueller? They ain’t what you’d call a bad team…not at all. In fact, they are very good. So here’s my bold prediction: Look for the Bosox to take the East.

Of course, I might be wrong. Heck, crazier things have happened. In fact, it IS the New York Yankees we’re talking about here. Heard of them? A-Rod? D-Jete? A certain fella named Roger Clemens? The more I think about it, the more the Yankees have a really good chance to take the division too. So I guess I’ll say that the AL East is by no means a Sox-lock — they might win, they might not. Who knows for sure? Hey, that’s why they play the games. So ultimately I guess my choice is that both teams have a great shot to win. And look out for Toronto, whose winning percentage would rank them first in the NL Central! So here’s the bravest prediction of all: Alone among pundits, I am hereby declaring that I don’t know who will win this division. Admitting you don’t know can sometimes be the boldest stand to take. And that’s the stand I’m taking.

Shocker #2: Like it or not, Barry Bonds has hit more home runs than anyone else in MLB history.

I know, I know; we here at ESPN don’t exactly have a lot of credibility on the Barry Bonds issue. On the one hand, we showed every single at-bat for the last month before he broke the record, and build in lengthy retrospectives of his life and career; on the other, we hire a permanent stalker to mercilessly tail him like he’s Lindsay Lohan or Ken Lay. What are we after? Like all responsible sports journalists, we seek only one thing: BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s the Worldwide Leader for you: fair and balanced.

A lot of people have their hoop skirts all in a bunch over Mr. Bonds’ quest for Hank Aaron’s record, but now that this controversial odyssey is over, let’s have some perspective. Please? Just a little? Listen up, people: Love him, hate him, feel deep ambiguity about him, it’s time to admit that Barry Bonds has now hit more home runs than Hank Aaron ever hit. Plain and simple. Should this “record” be asterixed? Is it “tainted”? That’s for others to decide. As for me, you know where I stand. With the facts. (Wow, can’t wait for the reader feedback on THAT one! It’s gonna be spicy — which is just the way I like my feedback. Not my food, though; nothing “crazier” than tuna on rye for this columnist. Extra mayo, please…and a Diet Pepsi. Thanks.)

Shocker #3: Johan Santana is still a very good pitcher.

A lot of people are way down on Johan Santana this year, because his record is only 14-10. Sure, he’s won two Cy Young awards…but if you are a “stathead,” or someone who only looks at numbers to judge how good a player is, you are probably jumping off the bandwagon in droves. “How,” you will probably be mewling from the basement of your mommy’s house, “can anyone think this guy is a good pitcher? After all, he’s only won four more games than he’s lost!”

Well, number-mongers, let’s just beat you at your own game, and check out some other numbers. His ERA this year: 3.06. Not a shabby number, not at all. How about this number, math nerds: 200. That’s the number of strikeouts he has. I know a lot of you “sabermetricians” think strikeouts are overrated in this modern day and age — but what would you rather have happen when your pitcher goes to the mound: a two-base hit, or a nice three-pitch strikeout? Here’s another number, doofi: 41, the number of walks he has given up. Again, you modern guys (who have never played the game, undoubtedly) are probably indifferent to such an old-fashioned number like that…but to those of us “in the know,” a 200-41 K-walk ratio is pretty darned great. I’d have the crafty Venezuelan on my team any time.

Shocked? Surprised? I kinda thought you would be. I told you this would be a bumpy ride. I hope you didn’t hurt yourself, riding with ol’ Gener.

Gene Wojciechowski is a national columnist for ESPN.