Don't underestimate John Lackey....he is conssistent which is why I am worried. Atleast Halladay went on a cold streak at the end of the year to show that he is not dominate for 32 games a year.
Lackey has a winning mentality and fits right in to the Boston Red Sox, their team is a bunch of grind-it-out players that will do anything to win.
The Red Sox match the Yankees when it comes to rotation, may even be better.
Not anymore, after acquiring Vasquez i would bet on our rotation as having an edge. Reasons being many. I believe CC is much better than any Boston starter. Beckett has been on the downhill lately, Lester is good and solid but i have seen him stumble on big situations many times. Lackey is a competitor yes but when i said he is not that good i meant stuff wise. His velocity is average and doesn't have a stand out pich. Gritt alone won't get it done against someone who throws 95-98 mph like AJ does. Matsuzaka is an Ok pitcher but again not better than our starters. Wakefield? I rest my case lol
Postition by possition they match like this:
Catcher: Posada > Any Boston catcher
1B: Teixeira > Martinez
2B: Pedroia > Cano (Slightly)
3B: A-Rod > Any Boston 3B (Yuk i am guessing)
SS: Jeter > Gonzales/Green
RF: Swisher = Drew
CF: Granderson > Ellsbury (Slightly)
LF: Cameron > Gardner/Anything we have now (If we resign Damon than it turns out differently)
Pitchers:
ACE: CC > Becket
2nd: AJ > Lester (Slightly)
3rd: Pettite = Lackey (Although on a play off game i'd take Big Game Andy over anyone in baseball)
4th: Vasquez = Dice K
5th: Wakefield/Buckoltz > Hughes/Joba (They are a little deeper but not better, we have the best 1, 2, 3 punch on the league)
Bullpen:
Yankees > Boston (Hands down the pen has been our strongest last season and hasn't changed much)
Closer:
It is almost unfair to Papelbom since he has to compete with the best closer of all time. 3 MO years. :thumbsup:
Overall
YANKEES > boston