Brian Smith vs. Dick Starr — Career Comparison

Dick Starr built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dick Starr posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.25 and WHIP 1.706 compared to 10.38 and 1.846 for Brian Smith. By the career numbers, Dick Starr had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.