Steve Lawson vs. Bruce Ruffin — Career Comparison

Bruce Ruffin built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Lawson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Lawson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.81 and WHIP 1.438 compared to 4.19 and 1.546 for Bruce Ruffin. By the career numbers, Steve Lawson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.