Jim Abbott vs. Nick Avila — Career Comparison

Jim Abbott built a career as a starting pitcher and Nick Avila as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Nick Avila posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 8.49 and WHIP 1.714 compared to 20.25 and 3.750 for Jim Abbott. By the career numbers, Nick Avila had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.