Dave Downs vs. Blake Smith — Career Comparison

Dave Downs built a career as a starting pitcher and Blake Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dave Downs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.74 and WHIP 1.217 compared to 6.23 and 1.615 for Blake Smith. By the career numbers, Dave Downs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.