John Axford vs. Mike Thompson — Career Comparison

Mike Thompson built a career as a starting pitcher and John Axford as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Axford posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.9 and WHIP 1.455 compared to 5.27 and 1.533 for Mike Thompson. By the career numbers, John Axford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.