James Shields vs. Tom Thomas — Career Comparison

James Shields built a career as a starting pitcher and Tom Thomas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tom Thomas posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.31 and WHIP 1.355 compared to 4.01 and 1.280 for James Shields. By the career numbers, Tom Thomas had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.