Francisco Cordero vs J. J. Putz: Career Stats Comparison
Francisco Cordero has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Francisco Cordero played 1999–2012 as a pitcher; J. J. Putz played 2003–2014 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Francisco Cordero (1999–2012) and J. J. Putz (2003–2014) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Francisco Cordero finished with 47 wins and 796 strikeouts; J. J. Putz finished with 37 wins and 599 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? J. J. Putz, with 3.08 to Francisco Cordero's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Francisco Cordero, with 47 to J. J. Putz's 37.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Francisco Cordero, with 796 to J. J. Putz's 599.
- Who had the better WHIP? J. J. Putz, with 1.15 to Francisco Cordero's 1.37.
- Who pitched more innings? Francisco Cordero, with 824.2 to J. J. Putz's 566.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Francisco Cordero, with 15,835 career Pitcher PIV to J. J. Putz's 14,932.
Francisco Cordero
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 1990s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Francisco Cordero | J. J. Putz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 47 | 37 |
| Losses not scored | 53 | 33 |
| Games | Leads: 800 | 572 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 329 | 189 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 796 | 599 |
| Walks not scored | 375 | 184 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 751 | 469 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 64 | 50 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 824.2 | 566.2 |
| ERA | 3.38 | Leads: 3.08 |
| WHIP | 1.37 | Leads: 1.15 |
| K/9 | 8.69 | Leads: 9.51 |
| BB/9 | 4.09 | Leads: 2.92 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Francisco Cordero edges J. J. Putz 15,835 to 14,932 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Francisco Cordero played 16 seasons to J. J. Putz's 12, while J. J. Putz carries the higher per-season figure (1,244 to 990). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Francisco Cordero
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
J. J. Putz
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Francisco Cordero leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while J. J. Putz owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Francisco Cordero. PIV agrees: Francisco Cordero grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Francisco Cordero and J. J. Putz careers compare
Francisco Cordero and J. J. Putz were active at the same time between 2003 and 2012. The two careers are close in length, 800 games for Francisco Cordero and 572 for J. J. Putz across 16 and 12 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where J. J. Putz comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.08 to 3.38), WHIP (1.15 to 1.37), and strikeouts per nine (9.51 to 8.69). By rate, Francisco Cordero struck out 8.69 and walked 4.09 per nine innings; J. J. Putz struck out 9.51 and walked 2.92.
Francisco Cordero vs J. J. Putz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Francisco Cordero or J. J. Putz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Francisco Cordero leads J. J. Putz in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- J. J. Putz, with 3.08 to Francisco Cordero's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Francisco Cordero, with 47 to J. J. Putz's 37.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Francisco Cordero, with 796 to J. J. Putz's 599.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- J. J. Putz, with 1.15 to Francisco Cordero's 1.37.