Hayden Birdsong vs. Billy McCool — Career Comparison

Hayden Birdsong built a career as a starting pitcher and Billy McCool as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Billy McCool posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.59 and WHIP 1.467 compared to 4.77 and 1.438 for Hayden Birdsong. By the career numbers, Billy McCool had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.