Jeff Austin vs. Joel De La Cruz — Career Comparison

Joel De La Cruz built a career as a starting pitcher and Jeff Austin as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joel De La Cruz posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.88 and WHIP 1.388 compared to 6.75 and 1.730 for Jeff Austin. By the career numbers, Joel De La Cruz had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.