Dick Matthews vs. Mark Melancon — Career Comparison

Dick Matthews built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Melancon as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dick Matthews posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.6 and WHIP 0.950 compared to 2.94 and 1.200 for Mark Melancon. By the career numbers, Dick Matthews had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.