John Axford vs. Lee Wade — Career Comparison

Lee Wade 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. Lee Wade posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.77 and WHIP 1.309 compared to 3.9 and 1.455 for John Axford. By the career numbers, Lee Wade had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.