Joe Bitker vs. Jeff James — Career Comparison

Jeff 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. Jeff James posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.51 and WHIP 1.429 compared to 4.73 and 1.500 for Joe Bitker. By the career numbers, Jeff James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.