Eli Cates vs. Rex Smith — Career Comparison

Eli Cates built a career as a starting pitcher and Rex Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Eli Cates posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.53 and WHIP 1.267 compared to 5.5 and 2.111 for Rex Smith. By the career numbers, Eli Cates had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.