Brian Smith vs. Bill Williams — Career Comparison

Bill Williams 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. Bill Williams posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 7.71 and WHIP 1.714 compared to 10.38 and 1.846 for Brian Smith. By the career numbers, Bill Williams had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.