Joe Davenport vs. Bill Williams — Career Comparison

Bill Williams built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Davenport as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Davenport posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3 and WHIP 1.500 compared to 5.06 and 1.313 for Bill Williams. By the career numbers, Joe Davenport had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.