Darin Downs vs. Tom Hughes — Career Comparison

Tom Hughes 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. Tom Hughes posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.56 and WHIP 1.087 compared to 4.76 and 1.401 for Darin Downs. By the career numbers, Tom Hughes had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.