Al Downing vs. Steven Shell — Career Comparison

Al Downing built a career as a starting pitcher and Steven Shell as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steven Shell posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.45 and WHIP 1.127 compared to 3.22 and 1.283 for Al Downing. By the career numbers, Steven Shell had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.