Hisanori Takahashi vs. Frank Viola — Career Comparison

Frank Viola built a career as a starting pitcher and Hisanori Takahashi as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Hisanori Takahashi led in home run suppression (HR9+ 88 vs 73), skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 103 vs 95), and run prevention (ERA+ 98 vs 94). Frank Viola held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 114 vs 105). Role difference aside, Hisanori Takahashi holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.