John Clarkson vs. Ryan Rowland-Smith — Career Comparison

Ryan Rowland-Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and John Clarkson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Clarkson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.81 and WHIP 1.209 compared to 4.57 and 1.432 for Ryan Rowland-Smith. By the career numbers, John Clarkson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.