Doug Brocail vs. Bill James — Career Comparison

Doug Brocail
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats LeftNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Bill James
Lost GenerationMichiganThrows RightBats SwitchNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Bill James built a career as a starting pitcher and Doug Brocail 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 and 1.397 for Doug Brocail. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Doug Brocail and Bill James

Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
8
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
626
6.4
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
203
1.55
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
42
0.43
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
147
1.12
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.53
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
65
0.5
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
48
0.49
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
71
0.54
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
52
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
47.79
47.79
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.71
6.71
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72.41
72.41
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
68
0.52
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.07
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.09
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
391
4
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
420
3.2
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.2
3.2
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.98
3.98
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.79
3.79
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.97
3.97
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.08
4.08
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.262
0.262
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
2640
27
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3539
27
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
880
9
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1179.2
9
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
885
9.05
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1110
8.47
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.05
9.05
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.47
8.47
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
85
0.87
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.12
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.87
0.87
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.12
0.12
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.14
0.14
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.08
0.08
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
310
3.17
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
578
4.41
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
34
0.35
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.17
3.17
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
642
6.57
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
408
3.11
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.57
6.57
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.11
3.11
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.01
2.01
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.082
1.082
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.836
0.836
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.34
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
32
0.24
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
35
0.36
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
48
0.37
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.07
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.02
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3793
38.79
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4958
37.83
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
175
1.79
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.22
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
436
4.46
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
559
4.26
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.46
4.46
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.26
4.26
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
41
0.42
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
34
0.35
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.73
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.358
1.358
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.431
1.431
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3373
34.5
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4332
33.05
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.7
0.7
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.75
2.75
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.302
0.302
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.28
0.28
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.79
38.79
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.83
37.83

Fielding Stats for Doug Brocail and Bill James

Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
626
6.4
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
203
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
0.43
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2640
27
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
880
9
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
1.09
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
122
1.25
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
384
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.09
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
238
2.43
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
465
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
229
2.34
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
434
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.22
96.22
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.33
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.366
0.366
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2.138
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.71
6.71
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.09
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Doug Brocail and Bill James

Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
15
15
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
8
8
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
637
4496.47
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
203
294.92
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
85
600
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
413
600
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
69
487.06
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
358
520.1
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.174
0.174
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.514
0.514
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.436
0.436
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
12
84.71
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
51
74.09
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
11
77.65
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
44
63.92
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
8.72
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.06
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1.45
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
1
7.06
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
10.17
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.137
0.137
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
2.58
18.22
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13.08
19
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
14
98.82
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
59
85.71
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
12
84.71
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
81
117.68
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0.174
0.174
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.209
0.209
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.203
0.203
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.165
0.165
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.377
0.377
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.374
0.374
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.029
0.029
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.022
0.022
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0.129
0.129
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.135
0.135
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0.281
0.281
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.291
0.291
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.24
0.24
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0.232
0.232
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
9
63.53
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
25
36.32
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
1
7.06
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
17.43
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
10
70.59
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
37
53.75
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2.52
17.8
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
9.26
13.45
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.36
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
27
39.23
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
134.12
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
138
200.48
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.47
4.47
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
2.99
2.99
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
16
112.94
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
25
36.32
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
14.12
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1.45
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
2.91
Doug Brocail
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
14.12
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
4.36
Doug Brocail
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
33.33
33.33