Preston Claiborne vs. Steve Cooke — Career Comparison

Steve Cooke built a career as a starting pitcher and Preston Claiborne as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Preston Claiborne posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.05 and WHIP 1.514 compared to 4.31 and 1.454 for Steve Cooke. By the career numbers, Preston Claiborne had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.