Doug Fister vs. Billy Smith — Career Comparison

Doug Fister built a career as a starting pitcher and Billy Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Doug Fister posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.72 and WHIP 1.267 compared to 4.09 and 1.442 for Billy Smith. By the career numbers, Doug Fister had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.