Mark Leiter vs. Blake Smith — Career Comparison

Mark Leiter built a career as a starting pitcher and Blake Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Leiter posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.57 and WHIP 1.412 compared to 6.23 and 1.615 for Blake Smith. By the career numbers, Mark Leiter had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.