Joe Bitker vs. Bill James — Career Comparison

Bill James built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Bitker as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill James posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.2 and WHIP 1.431 compared to 4.73 and 1.500 for Joe Bitker. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.