Joel Johnston vs. Cliff Lee — Career Comparison

Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Cliff Lee
Gen XArkansasThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCleveland GuardiansAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherCy Young AwardAll-Star

Cliff Lee built a career as a starting pitcher and Joel Johnston as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Cliff Lee posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.52 and WHIP 1.202 compared to 4.31 and 1.296 for Joel Johnston. By the career numbers, Cliff Lee had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joel Johnston and Cliff Lee

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
143
0.6
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
91
0.38
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
61.11
61.11
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.12
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
4.31
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
843
3.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.52
3.52
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.37
3.37
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.37
3.37
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.255
0.255
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2116
8.83
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.83
8.83
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
1.05
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
223
0.93
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.93
0.93
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
3.89
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
464
1.94
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.94
1.94
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
61
6.41
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1824
7.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.41
6.41
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.61
7.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.56
5.56
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.144
1.144
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.061
1.061
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.17
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
0.21
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.01
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
356
37.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8917
37.21
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
4.41
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
923
3.85
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.85
3.85
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
53
0.22
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.63
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
166
0.69
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.202
1.202
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.196
1.196
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8296
34.62
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.81
2.81
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.303
0.303
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.4
37.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.21
37.21

Fielding Stats for Joel Johnston and Cliff Lee

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.53
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
83
0.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.84
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
188
0.78
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.08
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
1.58
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
289
1.21
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
1.37
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
271
1.13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
86.67
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93.77
93.77
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.22
0.22
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.826
0.826
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joel Johnston and Cliff Lee

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
337
629.91
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
321
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
6
514.29
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
291
543.93
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.175
0.175
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.468
0.468
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
51
95.33
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
41
76.64
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
13.08
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10
18.69
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.196
0.196
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.039
0.039
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
12.47
23.32
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
66
123.36
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
56
104.67
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.189
0.189
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.227
0.227
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.415
0.415
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.052
0.052
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.142
0.142
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.298
0.298
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.272
0.272
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
18
33.64
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
35.51
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
35
65.42
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8.75
16.36
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
9.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
110
205.61
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.5
3.5
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
2.92
2.92
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
24
44.86
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
3
5.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
7.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
50
50