Steve Bechler vs. Lee Thompson — Career Comparison

Lee Thompson 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. Lee Thompson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 8.27 and WHIP 1.839 compared to 13.5 and 2.143 for Steve Bechler. By the career numbers, Lee Thompson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.