Regardless of the fact the Yankees team ERA is lower than the sox, the sox staff is MUCH better than the yankees. Fact is, the Sox have been winning without one of the best big game pitchers in baseball. The yankees right now are signing anyone available including SOX REJECTS like Nomo, and Embree. Once again the yankees Pen will crumble like last year because Gordon and Rivera are being used much too often. If you want to talk about starting pitchers its not even close. Pavano is a bust, Wright is a bust, Johnson is a bust, Mussina is his solid self, brown is and has been a bust not to mention washed up, aaron small is a career minor leaguer, Nomo is over the hill and has the highest ERA over a 2 year span, Chacon is a decent pickup and Al Leiter is another washed up big leaguer.
In contrast the Sox have Clement, who has struggled in his last few starts, but I take a struggling clement over anyone not named Mike Mussina, (he was an allstar, the unit was not). I take Wells over anyone not named Mussina OR Johnson. I take Arroyo over everyone not named Mussina and Johnson, same for Wakefield, hell even Wade Millers 4 ER in 5 IP performances are better then what the yankees are getting from their number 3, 4 and 5 starters. Fact is while the Yankees are waiting for crappy pitchers to get designated for assignment and sign other teams trash, the sox have a pretty solid starting staff and Schilling is getting stronger and stronger in the pen. The Sox pitching has been comparable to the Yankees, and the sox dont even have their best SP. And dont try to make the argument that Pavano and Wright are hurt because everyone knew Wright was gunna suck and everyone knew Pavano had the chance of being a bust.