1) It seems that the answer of Rebbi Yochanan to the first question on 145b (concerning the birds in Bavel being fatter than those in Eretz Yisrael) is better than that of Rebbi Asi because in fact Rebbi Asi does not answer the question but merely says that there is a place in Eretz Yisrael where there are also fat birds. In contrast, Rebbi Yochanan agrees that in most places in Eretz Yisrael the birds are not as fat as those in Bavel, and he gives a detailed reason for why this is the case. (See Maharsha (DH la'Midbar) and Ya'avetz for why, according to Rebbi Yochanan, the birds in the Midbar of Azah were fat.)

2) The answer of Rebbi Asi concerning the greater joy on the Yamim Tovim in Bavel was based merely on practical economic reasoning without any source. In contrast, Rebbi Yochanan based his answer again on sources from verses.

3) The answer of Rebbi Asi to the question of why the Talmidei Chachamim in Bavel have to wear better clothes than in Eretz Yisrael was again a short answer based on practical logic, and, in addition, involved criticism of these scholars. In contrast, Rebbi Yochanan gave a less obvious answer and also described in nice terms the scholarship of Ertez Yisrael.

4) Again, Rebbi Yochanan gave a more thorough explanation, based on sources, why the Ovdei Kochavim possess Zuhama.

5) The general approach taught by Rebbi Yochanan was expressed by Rebbi Yochanan himself, when he said that one should say only words of Torah if the matter is as clear and obvious to you as the fact that one may not marry one's sister. Rebbi Yochanan noticed that the answers of Rav Asi were short answers which seemed, at first glance, to be logical, but Rebbi Asi provided no support for his answers from verses or from teachings of previous sages. Rebbi Yochanan was teaching Rebbi Asi that one must go deeper into one's Torah learning. To reach the truth of Torah one must delve deeper and find proof for everything he says.

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom