Joe Pate vs. Steve Soderstrom — Career Comparison

Steve Soderstrom built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Pate as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Pate posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.51 and WHIP 1.488 compared to 5.27 and 1.610 for Steve Soderstrom. By the career numbers, Joe Pate had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.