Matt Cain vs. Joe Strong — Career Comparison

Matt Cain
MillenialAlabamaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSan Francisco GiantsNational LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Joe Strong
Baby BoomersCaliforniaThrows RightBats SwitchNorth AmericaFlorida MarlinsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Matt Cain built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Strong as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Matt Cain posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.68 and WHIP 1.248 compared to 5.81 and 1.709 for Joe Strong. By the career numbers, Matt Cain had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Matt Cain and Joe Strong

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
342
1.48
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
7.86
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.43
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
104
0.45
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.34
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
118
0.51
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.34
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
46.85
46.85
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.78
96.78
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.06
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.03
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.34
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
853
3.68
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
17
5.81
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.68
3.68
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.81
5.81
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.33
3.33
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.14
6.14
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.8
3.8
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.24
5.24
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.238
0.238
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.284
0.284
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6257
27
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
79
27
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2085.2
9
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
26.1
9
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1849
7.98
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
29
9.91
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.98
7.98
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.91
9.91
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
211
0.91
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
1.37
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.91
0.91
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.37
1.37
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.62
0.62
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
712
3.07
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
5.13
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
0.18
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.34
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.13
5.13
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1694
7.31
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
7.52
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.31
7.31
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.52
7.52
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.95
4.95
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.96
0.96
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.154
1.154
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.405
1.405
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
70
0.3
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.68
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
62
0.27
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.68
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.02
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8699
37.54
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
120
41.01
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.02
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.39
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
910
3.93
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
17
5.81
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.93
3.93
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.81
5.81
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
87
0.38
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.34
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
67
0.29
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
124
0.54
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.68
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.228
1.228
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.671
1.671
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7771
33.53
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
102
34.86
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.66
2.66
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.74
0.74
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.279
0.279
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.329
0.329
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.54
37.54
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41.01
41.01

Fielding Stats for Matt Cain and Joe Strong

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
342
1.48
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
7.86
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.43
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6257
27
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
79
27
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2085.2
9
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
26.1
9
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
131
0.57
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.68
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
229
0.99
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
2.73
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.07
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
377
1.63
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
3.42
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
360
1.55
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
3.42
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
95.49
95.49
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.053
1.053
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.435
0.435
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.78
96.78
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.07
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Matt Cain and Joe Strong

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
13
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
349
295.76
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PAverified
23
6900
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
708
600
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
2
600
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
611
517.8
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
600
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.121
0.121
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.412
0.412
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
74
62.71
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
53
44.92
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
11.02
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.85
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
5.93
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
17.8
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.284
0.284
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.012
0.012
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.095
0.095
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
20.82
17.64
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
110
93.22
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
96
81.36
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.151
0.151
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.18
0.18
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.331
0.331
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.059
0.059
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.113
0.113
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.245
0.245
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.225
0.225
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
27
22.88
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
34
28.81
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
54
45.76
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.63
2.23
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.22
-66.4
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.85
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
17.8
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PAverified
308
261.02
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
600
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.3
2.3
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
73
61.86
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
1.69
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
1
0.85
Joe Strong
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Strong
Career
Per 600 PA