Earl Cook vs. Shang Johnson — Career Comparison

Shang Johnson built a career as a starting pitcher and Earl Cook as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Shang Johnson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.18 and WHIP 1.347 compared to 4.5 and 2.000 for Earl Cook. By the career numbers, Shang Johnson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.