Hideki Irabu vs. Jake Newberry — Career Comparison

Hideki Irabu built a career as a starting pitcher and Jake Newberry as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jake Newberry posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.84 and WHIP 1.613 compared to 5.15 and 1.411 for Hideki Irabu. By the career numbers, Jake Newberry had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.