Jim Coates vs. Bill Williams — Career Comparison

Bill Williams built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Coates as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Coates posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4 and WHIP 1.406 compared to 5.06 and 1.313 for Bill Williams. By the career numbers, Jim Coates had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.