Bill Atkinson vs. Frank Viola — Career Comparison

Frank Viola 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. Frank Viola led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 113 vs 90), home run suppression (HR9+ 73 vs 64), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 95 vs 86). Bill Atkinson held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 100 vs 94). Role difference aside, Frank Viola holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.