Jim Bethke vs. Hod Eller — Career Comparison

Hod Eller built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Bethke as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Hod Eller posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.62 and WHIP 1.181 compared to 4.28 and 1.625 for Jim Bethke. By the career numbers, Hod Eller had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.