Bob Caruthers vs. James Shields — Career Comparison

James Shields built a career as a starting pitcher and Bob Caruthers as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Caruthers posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.83 and WHIP 1.158 compared to 4.01 and 1.280 for James Shields. By the career numbers, Bob Caruthers had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.