From Bill Madden:

Indeed, the fact that Francona is boasting about a five-strong rotation of Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz, with 43-year-old Tim Wakefield, a first-half All-Star last year before he sustained back problems that required surgery, in reserve, should come as unsettling news to Yankee legions watching Joe Girardi conduct endless tryouts for the fifth spot in his rotation.

This is pure silliness from Madden. If all of the Red Sox starters were healthy, they too would be having a competition to figure out the 4th and 5th spots, with Dice-K, Buchholz, and Wakefield vying for the two spots. As it is, the Red Sox are fairly thin in terms of bottom of the rotation starters, with Matsuzaka already hurt and Junichi Tazawa currently the 6th starter. Now, being thin at 7th starter is a problem that most teams would love to have, but the idea the Red Sox have an advantage because their rotation is currently settled is ridiculous.

By contrast, the Yankees have a handful of guys fighting for the 5th spot, but that is in no way indicative of a lack of talent. Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Alfredo Aceves would all be solid options in almost every rotation in baseball, and the losers of the rotation battle will give the Yankees enviable starting pitching depth should one of the top 5 get hurt. Both teams have solid depth and are among the best rotations in baseball, and the idea that competition for one spot makes the Yankees weaker is typical myopic thinking from Bill Madden.