Len Barker vs. Chad Smith — Career Comparison

Len Barker built a career as a starting pitcher and Chad Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Len Barker posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.34 and WHIP 1.376 compared to 8.31 and 2.000 for Chad Smith. By the career numbers, Len Barker had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.