David Hess vs. Joe Smith — Career Comparison

David Hess built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.14 and WHIP 1.230 compared to 6.25 and 1.545 for David Hess. By the career numbers, Joe Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.