Jake Bird vs. Bill Williams — Career Comparison

Bill Williams 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 5.06 and 1.313 for Bill Williams. By the career numbers, Jake Bird had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.