Jake Esch vs. Bob Macdonald — Career Comparison

Jake Esch built a career as a starting pitcher and Bob Macdonald as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Macdonald posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.34 and WHIP 1.506 compared to 5.54 and 2.000 for Jake Esch. By the career numbers, Bob Macdonald had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.