Hayden Birdsong vs. Ron Villone — Career Comparison

Hayden Birdsong built a career as a starting pitcher and Ron Villone as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ron Villone posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.73 and WHIP 1.533 compared to 4.77 and 1.438 for Hayden Birdsong. By the career numbers, Ron Villone had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.