Ernie Phillips vs. Shad Williams — Career Comparison

Ernie Phillips built a career as a starting pitcher and Shad Williams as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ernie Phillips posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 8.49 and WHIP 2.229 compared to 8.59 and 2.352 for Shad Williams. By the career numbers, Ernie Phillips had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.