Grant Balfour vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Bert Cole built a career as a starting pitcher and Grant Balfour as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Grant Balfour posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.49 and WHIP 1.245 compared to 4.67 and 1.593 for Bert Cole. By the career numbers, Grant Balfour had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.