Keith Comstock vs. Bill James — Career Comparison

Bill James built a career as a starting pitcher and Keith Comstock as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill James posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.28 and WHIP 1.233 compared to 4.06 and 1.451 for Keith Comstock. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.