Darin Downs vs. Bill James — Career Comparison

Bill James 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. Bill James posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.2 and WHIP 1.431 compared to 4.76 and 1.401 for Darin Downs. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.