John Axford vs. Al Veach — Career Comparison

Al Veach 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 11.7 and 2.900 for Al Veach. By the career numbers, John Axford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.