Merle Adkins vs. Dennis Blair — Career Comparison

Dennis Blair built a career as a starting pitcher and Merle Adkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dennis Blair posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.69 and WHIP 1.478 compared to 5 and 1.926 for Merle Adkins. By the career numbers, Dennis Blair had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.