Pete Alexander vs. Tim Birtsas — Career Comparison

Pete Alexander built a career as a starting pitcher and Tim Birtsas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Pete Alexander posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.56 and WHIP 1.121 compared to 4.08 and 1.564 for Tim Birtsas. By the career numbers, Pete Alexander had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.