Here is my point. Our top 2 consists of two very strong pitchers in Wang and Clemens. Both have been pitching very well and are giving us innings. The Beckett-DiceK tandem has been equally impressive. All 4 of these pitchers are needed to take the mound and give the team a chance to win every night. All 4 have been very good at this for this season. The sox duo has been marginally better ERA wise, so they can take a slight edge.
But where the rotation is set apart is the 3-5. Pettitte and Mussina have been pitching poorly of late, that much is true. But both have the track records to consider that they wont just fall off the wagon entirely. AND, both are healthy right now. Hughes is now in the 5 hole.
For you guys, the bottom three is Lester, Gabbard, and Wakefield. The only guy with a solid history is Wakefield. Also, Lester and Gabbard both possess arsenals that at this point are nothing to write home about. They have been effective, no doubt, but they dont possess the arsenal to dominate day in and day out.
Now, the wildcard is Schilling. I am thinking that Schill will come back as the mediocre pitcher he was when he left. If he returns to prime form, then you guys have the edge, no doubt. It is really close right now, but I'll take the track record of our 3/4 and the potential of the "best pitching prospect in the majors" over the knuckleballer and the rookies. But if Schill returns as an ace, then it is yours hands down. Right now it is close, very very close. But the homer in me will take what we have right now.