Steve Bechler vs. Mark Ciardi — Career Comparison

Mark Ciardi built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Bechler as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Ciardi posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 9.37 and WHIP 2.143 compared to 13.5 and 2.143 for Steve Bechler. By the career numbers, Mark Ciardi had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.