Steve Avery vs. Jose Valdez — Career Comparison

Steve Avery built a career as a starting pitcher and Jose Valdez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Avery posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.19 and WHIP 1.367 compared to 6.34 and 1.482 for Jose Valdez. By the career numbers, Steve Avery had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.