Bud Smith vs. John Sutton — Career Comparison

Bud Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and John Sutton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Sutton posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.15 and WHIP 1.485 compared to 4.95 and 1.500 for Bud Smith. By the career numbers, John Sutton had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.