Steve Baker vs. Joey Long — Career Comparison

Steve Baker built a career as a starting pitcher and Joey Long as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Baker posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.13 and WHIP 1.671 compared to 8.18 and 2.364 for Joey Long. By the career numbers, Steve Baker had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.