Ed Connolly vs. Merkin Valdez — Career Comparison

Ed Connolly built a career as a starting pitcher and Merkin Valdez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Merkin Valdez posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.57 and WHIP 1.789 compared to 5.88 and 1.885 for Ed Connolly. By the career numbers, Merkin Valdez had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.