Brett Cecil vs. Joe Niekro — Career Comparison

Brett Cecil
MillenialMarylandThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaToronto Blue JaysAmerican LeagueRelief PitcherAll-Star
Joe Niekro
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

Joe Niekro built a career as a starting pitcher and Brett Cecil as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Brett Cecil led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 123 vs 90), strikeout rate (K%+ 94 vs 69), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 90 vs 83). Joe Niekro held the edge in home run suppression (HR9+ 79 vs 73). Role difference aside, Brett Cecil holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Brett Cecil and Joe Niekro

Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
10
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
443
5.27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
74
0.88
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
44
0.52
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
221
0.55
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
47
0.56
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
204
0.51
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
48.35
48.35
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.7
16.7
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.02
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
0.27
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.01
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.07
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.14
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
0.04
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
360
4.29
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1431
3.59
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.29
4.29
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.59
3.59
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.19
4.19
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.61
3.61
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.04
4.04
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.14
4.14
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.261
0.261
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.254
0.254
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
2268
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
756
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
757
9.01
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3466
8.7
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.01
9.01
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.7
8.7
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
96
1.14
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
276
0.69
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.14
1.14
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.69
0.69
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.22
0.22
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.39
0.39
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
269
3.2
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1262
3.17
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
21
0.25
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.18
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.2
3.2
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.17
3.17
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
670
7.98
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1747
4.39
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.98
7.98
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.39
4.39
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.51
1.51
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.49
2.49
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.242
1.242
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.84
0.84
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
0.26
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
172
0.43
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23
0.27
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
65
0.16
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.02
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.02
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3239
38.56
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15166
38.08
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
83
0.99
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
93
0.23
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
382
4.55
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1620
4.07
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.55
4.55
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.07
4.07
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.14
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
106
0.27
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
30
0.36
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
96
0.24
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
65
0.77
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
200
0.5
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.357
1.357
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.319
1.319
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2905
34.58
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13637
34.24
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.86
0.86
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.31
2.31
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.309
0.309
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.275
0.275
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.56
38.56
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.08
38.08

Fielding Stats for Brett Cecil and Joe Niekro

Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
10
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
443
5.27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
74
0.88
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
2268
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
756
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.13
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
253
0.64
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
83
0.99
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
532
1.34
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.08
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
0.06
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
101
1.2
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
810
2.03
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
94
1.12
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
785
1.97
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.07
93.07
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.91
96.91
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.212
0.212
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.118
1.118
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.7
16.7
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.04
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.1
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Brett Cecil and Joe Niekro

Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
10
10
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
22
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PAverified
443
37971.43
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
706
363.61
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1165
600
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PAverified
7
600
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
973
501.12
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.156
0.156
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.47
0.47
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
152
78.28
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
124
63.86
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
13.39
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
14.42
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.184
0.184
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.001
0.001
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32.52
16.75
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
183
94.25
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
191
98.37
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.376
0.376
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.131
0.131
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.266
0.266
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.211
0.211
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
55
28.33
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
72
37.08
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
126
64.89
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.76
-65.49
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21.46
11.05
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
38
19.57
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
514.29
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PAverified
262
134.94
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
1.17
1.17
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.45
4.45
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
147
75.71
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
3.09
Brett Cecil
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
17
8.76
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brett Cecil
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100