Mariano Rivera vs. Frank Smith — Career Comparison

Frank Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Mariano Rivera as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mariano Rivera posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.21 and WHIP 1.032 compared to 2.59 and 1.166 for Frank Smith. By the career numbers, Mariano Rivera had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.