Bob Allen vs. James McDonald — Career Comparison

James McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Bob Allen as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Allen posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.11 and WHIP 1.631 compared to 4.2 and 1.442 for James McDonald. By the career numbers, Bob Allen had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.