Emmett O'Neill vs. Matt Thornton — Career Comparison

Emmett O'Neill built a career as a starting pitcher and Matt Thornton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Matt Thornton posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.41 and WHIP 1.331 compared to 4.76 and 1.709 for Emmett O'Neill. By the career numbers, Matt Thornton had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.