Heath Bell vs. Larry Dierker — Career Comparison

Larry Dierker built a career as a starting pitcher and Heath Bell as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Heath Bell led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 124 vs 102), home run suppression (HR9+ 113 vs 91), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 109 vs 98). Larry Dierker held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 104 vs 102). Role difference aside, Heath Bell holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.