Ed Appleton vs. Francisco Rodriguez — Career Comparison

Ed Appleton built a career as a starting pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Francisco Rodriguez posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.86 and WHIP 1.198 compared to 3.25 and 1.435 for Ed Appleton. By the career numbers, Francisco Rodriguez had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.