Darin Downs vs. Lee Howard — Career Comparison

Lee Howard built a career as a starting pitcher and Darin Downs as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lee Howard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.25 and WHIP 1.688 compared to 4.76 and 1.401 for Darin Downs. By the career numbers, Lee Howard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.