James Atkins vs. Stephen Ridings — Career Comparison

James Atkins built a career as a starting pitcher and Stephen Ridings as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Stephen Ridings posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.8 and WHIP 1.200 compared to 3.6 and 1.733 for James Atkins. By the career numbers, Stephen Ridings had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.