A Rasmussen Reports midseason poll finds that baseball fans believe the Boston Red Sox are the favorite for the 2007 World Series. Twenty-four percent (24%) of fans expect the BoSox to win their second title of the decade following an 86 year drought.

Perhaps proving the power of a brand name and a good reputation, the New York Yankees are favored to win it all by 13% of baseball fans. The team has won less than half its games this year and is more than 10 games behind Boston in the American League East. Derek Jeter’s team also trails five other teams in the Wild Card race and will have to mount a second-half comeback to even qualify for the playoffs.

Eleven percent (11%) of fans expect the Detroit Tigers to emerge victorious this year. Nine percent (9%) think the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will take the title home and the New York Mets are the top pick in the National League. Six percent (6%) of baseball fans think the Mets will defeat whoever wins the American League title this year.

The Mets, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers are cited by fans as the top three contenders for the National League Crown.

As for the American League, fans overwhelmingly expect either the Red Sox or the Yankees to represent the junior circuit in the World Series.