Jim Abbott vs. Mark Mercer — Career Comparison

Jim Abbott built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Mercer as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Abbott posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.25 and WHIP 1.451 compared to 4.7 and 1.826 for Mark Mercer. By the career numbers, Jim Abbott had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.