Joe Connors vs. Ryan Rowland-Smith — Career Comparison

Ryan Rowland-Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Connors as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ryan Rowland-Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.57 and WHIP 1.432 compared to 5.57 and 2.238 for Joe Connors. By the career numbers, Ryan Rowland-Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.