Rick Grapenthin vs. John McFarland — Career Comparison

John McFarland built a career as a starting pitcher and Rick Grapenthin as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rick Grapenthin posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.35 and WHIP 1.588 compared to 12.24 and 2.520 for John McFarland. By the career numbers, Rick Grapenthin had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.