Jim Crawford vs. Tommy Thompson — Career Comparison

Tommy Thompson built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Crawford as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Crawford posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.4 and WHIP 1.583 compared to 6.06 and 1.714 for Tommy Thompson. By the career numbers, Jim Crawford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.