Darin Downs vs. Ed McNichol — Career Comparison

Ed McNichol 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. Ed McNichol posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.28 and WHIP 1.590 compared to 4.76 and 1.401 for Darin Downs. By the career numbers, Ed McNichol had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.