Mark Baldwin vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Bert Cole built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Baldwin as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Baldwin posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.37 and WHIP 1.428 compared to 4.67 and 1.593 for Bert Cole. By the career numbers, Mark Baldwin had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.