Hideki Okajima vs. Steve Soderstrom — Career Comparison

Steve Soderstrom built a career as a starting pitcher and Hideki Okajima as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Hideki Okajima posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.09 and WHIP 1.314 compared to 5.27 and 1.610 for Steve Soderstrom. By the career numbers, Hideki Okajima had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.