Sam Bachman vs. Jeff Francis — Career Comparison

Jeff Francis built a career as a starting pitcher and Sam Bachman as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Sam Bachman posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.82 and WHIP 1.634 compared to 4.97 and 1.479 for Jeff Francis. By the career numbers, Sam Bachman had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.