James McDonald vs. Roberto Vargas — Career Comparison

James McDonald
MillenialCaliforniaThrows RightBats LeftNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueStarting Pitcher
Roberto Vargas
Silent GenerationP.R.Throws LeftBats LeftCaribbeanMilwaukee BravesNational LeagueRelief PitcherAll-Star

James McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Roberto Vargas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. James McDonald posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.2 and WHIP 1.442 compared to 7.24 and 2.000 for Roberto Vargas. By the career numbers, James McDonald had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for James McDonald and Roberto Vargas

James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
131
2.3
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
28
6.15
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82
1.44
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.66
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
32
0.56
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
30
0.53
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.22
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.61
51.61
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
62.6
62.6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.71
10.71
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.44
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
239
4.2
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
33
7.24
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.2
4.2
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.24
7.24
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.17
4.17
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.49
7.49
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.16
4.16
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.83
4.83
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.252
0.252
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.344
0.344
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1537
27
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
123
27
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
512.1
9
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
41
9
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
487
8.55
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
62
13.61
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.56
8.56
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
13.61
13.61
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
56
0.98
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.88
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.98
0.98
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.88
0.88
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.14
0.14
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
231
4.06
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
3.95
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
0.37
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.44
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.06
4.06
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.95
3.95
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
442
7.76
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
20
4.39
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.76
7.76
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.39
4.39
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.37
3.37
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.71
0.71
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.314
1.314
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.927
0.927
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.33
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.88
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.33
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.66
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.02
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2215
38.91
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
203
44.56
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.19
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.54
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
261
4.58
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
8.12
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.58
4.58
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.12
8.12
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.33
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.44
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.26
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39
0.69
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.44
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.401
1.401
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.951
1.951
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1931
33.92
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
180
39.51
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.99
1.99
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.32
1.32
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.301
0.301
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.372
0.372
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.91
38.91
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
44.56
44.56

Fielding Stats for James McDonald and Roberto Vargas

James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
131
2.3
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
28
6.15
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82
1.44
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.66
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1537
27
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
123
27
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
512.1
9
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
41
9
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
34
0.6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.88
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
47
0.83
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
2.85
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.07
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
85
1.49
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
3.73
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
81
1.42
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
3.73
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
95.29
95.29
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.618
0.618
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.607
0.607
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
62.6
62.6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.71
10.71
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.05
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for James McDonald and Roberto Vargas

James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
6
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
136
477.19
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
28
1866.67
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
171
600
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
9
600
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
145
508.77
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
9
600
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.11
0.11
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.389
0.389
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.667
0.667
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
16
56.14
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
200
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
14
49.12
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
200
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
7.02
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
7.02
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.125
0.125
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2.68
9.4
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.92
61.11
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
18
63.16
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
200
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
29
101.75
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
200
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.184
0.184
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.124
0.124
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.308
0.308
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.667
0.667
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.014
0.014
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.114
0.114
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.233
0.233
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.231
0.231
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0.229
0.229
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
15
52.63
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
66.67
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
14.04
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
19
66.67
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
1
66.67
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
-1.18
-4.15
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.24
82.59
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
45.61
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
75
263.16
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.28
2.28
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.17
0.17
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
James McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
45.61
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
5
17.54
Roberto Vargas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
Roberto Vargas
Career
Per 600 PA