Bill James vs. Oran O'Neal — Career Comparison

Bill James built a career as a starting pitcher and Oran O'Neal 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 2.28 and WHIP 1.233 compared to 9.24 and 2.289 for Oran O'Neal. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.