Nick Blackburn vs. Jim Stoops — Career Comparison

Nick Blackburn built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Stoops as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Stoops posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.25 and WHIP 2.000 compared to 4.85 and 1.485 for Nick Blackburn. By the career numbers, Jim Stoops had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.