Rick Langford vs. Roger Smithberg — Career Comparison

Rick Langford built a career as a starting pitcher and Roger Smithberg as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rick Langford posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.01 and WHIP 1.351 compared to 4.09 and 1.318 for Roger Smithberg. By the career numbers, Rick Langford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.