Jake Bird vs. Dave Eiland — Career Comparison

Dave Eiland built a career as a starting pitcher and Jake Bird as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jake Bird posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.76 and WHIP 1.506 compared to 5.74 and 1.582 for Dave Eiland. By the career numbers, Jake Bird had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.