Bob Bruce vs. Joe Nathan — Career Comparison

Bob Bruce
Silent GenerationNew YorkThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Joe Nathan
Gen XTexasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaMinnesota TwinsAmerican LeagueRelief PitcherAll-Star

Bob Bruce built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Nathan as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Bruce led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 116 vs 93), home run suppression (HR9+ 115 vs 93), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 101 vs 95). Joe Nathan held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 99 vs 91). Role difference aside, Bob Bruce holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Bob Bruce and Joe Nathan

Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
219
1.76
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
787
7.67
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
167
1.34
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.28
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
49
0.39
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
64
0.62
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
71
0.57
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
34
0.33
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
40.83
40.83
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
65.31
65.31
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
76.26
76.26
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.68
3.68
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.21
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.05
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.01
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
377
3.67
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
480
3.85
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
294
2.87
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.85
3.85
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.87
2.87
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.82
3.82
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.62
2.62
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.83
3.83
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.26
3.26
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.259
0.259
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.206
0.206
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3367
27
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
2770
27
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1122.1
9
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
923.1
9
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
1146
9.19
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
690
6.73
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.19
9.19
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.73
6.73
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
0.76
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
84
0.82
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.76
0.76
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.82
0.82
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.11
0.11
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
340
2.73
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
344
3.35
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
0.2
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
0.3
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.73
2.73
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.35
3.35
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
733
5.88
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
976
9.51
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.88
5.88
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.51
9.51
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.35
3.35
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.24
1.24
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.956
0.956
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.43
1.43
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
0.3
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.46
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
48
0.38
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.22
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.06
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.02
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4818
38.64
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3771
36.76
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.14
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
587
5.72
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
551
4.42
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
317
3.09
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.42
4.42
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.09
3.09
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.24
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
0.23
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
49
0.48
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.324
1.324
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.12
1.12
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4430
35.52
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3355
32.7
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.52
2.52
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.4
0.4
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.292
0.292
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.264
0.264
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.64
38.64
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
36.76
36.76

Fielding Stats for Bob Bruce and Joe Nathan

Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
219
1.76
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
787
7.67
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
167
1.34
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.28
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3367
27
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
2770
27
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1122.1
9
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
923.1
9
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
0.76
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
0.49
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
164
1.32
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
82
0.8
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.06
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.07
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
267
2.14
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
139
1.35
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
259
2.08
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
132
1.29
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97
97
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
94.96
94.96
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.183
1.183
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.168
0.168
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
76.26
76.26
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.68
3.68
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.06
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.06
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Bob Bruce and Joe Nathan

Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
9
9
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
16
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
223
333.67
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
787
6132.47
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
401
600
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
77
600
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
346
517.71
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
63
490.91
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.159
0.159
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.458
0.458
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.578
0.578
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
52
77.81
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
10
77.92
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
44
65.84
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
5
38.96
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
10.47
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
23.38
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.5
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
15.58
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8
11.97
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
38.96
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.154
0.154
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13.96
20.89
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4.44
34.6
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
61
91.27
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
19
148.05
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
83
124.19
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
13
101.3
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.194
0.194
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.176
0.176
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.302
0.302
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.396
0.396
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.496
0.496
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.026
0.026
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.163
0.163
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0.31
0.31
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.407
0.407
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.212
0.212
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.178
0.178
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
25
37.41
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
4
31.17
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
17
25.44
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
31.17
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
42
62.84
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
6
46.75
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
11.57
17.31
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3.22
25.12
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.49
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
41.9
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
3
23.38
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
102
152.62
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
17
132.47
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
3.93
3.93
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.53
4.53
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.27
0.27
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.18
0.18
Bob Bruce
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
23
34.41
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
10
77.92
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1.5
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.79
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.49
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
7.79
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bob Bruce
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA