Bill Atkinson vs. Mel Stottlemyre — Career Comparison

Mel Stottlemyre built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Atkinson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mel Stottlemyre led in home run suppression (HR9+ 120 vs 64), walk avoidance (BB%+ 112 vs 90), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 99 vs 86). Bill Atkinson held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 112 vs 75). Role difference aside, Mel Stottlemyre holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.