Dick Bates vs. Tim Wakefield — Career Comparison

Tim Wakefield built a career as a starting pitcher and Dick Bates as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tim Wakefield posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.41 and WHIP 1.361 compared to 27 and 3.600 for Dick Bates. By the career numbers, Tim Wakefield had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.