"Which team is better?"

The question of "which team is better" is hard to answer right now. The Yanks and Sox aren't fully formed for the pennant race. But we can project, as Las Vegas already has. And Las Vegas thinks the Yankees are a little bit better. Here's why I agree:

Lineup verdict: You can make the argument that Boston's lineup is slightly better. You can also make the argument that the Yankee lineup is more accomplished. And sometimes more accomplished players have an edge over a hot bat or a player who is only very good while playing at home.

Starters verdict: The Yankees have better starters. They have put up better numbers this year even while pitching in what is supposed to be a more hitter-friendly park. And they have pitched better in their careers.

Bullpen verdict: The Sox bullpen is better right now. The Yankees are still working out issues here and we have yet to see this bullpen settle into a consistent, reliable go-to group. Potential for vast improvement still exists, as Bruney will be back eventually, and at least one of the Hughes/Wang/Joba trio will be in the bullpen late in the season. But we can safely say that the Sox bullpen is as good as it is going to get unless they pick someone up, something the Yankees could do also.

Overall: Of course it's too early to say which team is better. The Yankees haven't beat the red sox yet, so it sounds foolish to say the Yankees are better. But the players who contributed most to the Sox victories have since cooled off considerably, and the Yankees look like a different team now.

"Different" might not be the right word. Actually, I think the right word is "better". Just ask the bookies.