John Bates vs. Joe Boyle — Career Comparison

Joe Boyle built a career as a starting pitcher and John Bates as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Boyle posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.98 and WHIP 1.444 compared to 13.5 and 2.500 for John Bates. By the career numbers, Joe Boyle had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.