Jeremy Affeldt vs. Hayden Birdsong — Career Comparison

Hayden Birdsong built a career as a starting pitcher and Jeremy Affeldt as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jeremy Affeldt posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.97 and WHIP 1.448 compared to 4.77 and 1.438 for Hayden Birdsong. By the career numbers, Jeremy Affeldt had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.