Tom McCarthy vs. Lee Smith — Career Comparison

Tom McCarthy built a career as a starting pitcher and Lee Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tom McCarthy posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.34 and WHIP 1.320 compared to 3.03 and 1.333 for Lee Smith. By the career numbers, Tom McCarthy had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.