David Cone vs. Joe Nelson — Career Comparison

David Cone built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Nelson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. David Cone led in home run suppression (HR9+ 106 vs 95), walk avoidance (BB%+ 87 vs 80), and strikeout rate (K%+ 126 vs 123). Joe Nelson held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 138 vs 111). Role difference aside, David Cone holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.