Rick James vs. Joe Strong — Career Comparison

Rick James built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Strong as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Strong posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.81 and WHIP 1.709 compared to 13.5 and 2.357 for Rick James. By the career numbers, Joe Strong had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.