Bruce Ruffin vs. Mike Smith — Career Comparison

Bruce Ruffin built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bruce Ruffin posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.19 and WHIP 1.546 compared to 8.22 and 2.000 for Mike Smith. By the career numbers, Bruce Ruffin had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.