John Middleton vs. Lou Polli — Career Comparison

John Middleton built a career as a starting pitcher and Lou Polli as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lou Polli posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.68 and WHIP 1.843 compared to 7.36 and 1.909 for John Middleton. By the career numbers, Lou Polli had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.