Darin Downs vs. Hideki Irabu — Career Comparison

Hideki Irabu 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. Darin Downs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.76 and WHIP 1.401 compared to 5.15 and 1.411 for Hideki Irabu. By the career numbers, Darin Downs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.