Ernie Herbert vs. Cliff Lee — Career Comparison

Cliff Lee built a career as a starting pitcher and Ernie Herbert as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ernie Herbert posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.35 and WHIP 1.435 compared to 3.52 and 1.202 for Cliff Lee. By the career numbers, Ernie Herbert had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.