Mark Esser vs. Mike Thompson — Career Comparison

Mike Thompson built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Esser as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mike Thompson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.27 and WHIP 1.533 compared to 16.2 and 3.600 for Mark Esser. By the career numbers, Mike Thompson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.