Lee Smith vs. Mike Thurman — Career Comparison

Lee Smith
Baby BoomersLouisianaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueHall of FameRelief PitcherAll-Star
Mike Thurman
Gen XOregonThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaMontreal ExposNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Mike Thurman built a career as a starting pitcher and Lee Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lee Smith led in strikeout rate (K%+ 128 vs 84), home run suppression (HR9+ 131 vs 102), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 112 vs 96). Mike Thurman held the edge in walk avoidance (BB%+ 106 vs 104). Role difference aside, Lee Smith holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Lee Smith and Mike Thurman

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
105
1.91
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
87
1.59
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.5
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
26
0.47
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
92
0.64
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
36
0.66
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.56
43.56
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
41.94
41.94
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82.86
82.86
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
478
3.34
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
434
3.03
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
277
5.05
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.03
3.03
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.05
5.05
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.04
3.04
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.75
4.75
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.11
3.11
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.64
4.64
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.237
0.237
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.278
0.278
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1481
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
493.2
9
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1133
7.91
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
537
9.79
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.91
7.91
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.79
9.79
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
89
0.62
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
59
1.08
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.62
0.62
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.08
1.08
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.56
0.56
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
486
3.39
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
190
3.46
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
0.7
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.33
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.39
3.39
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.46
3.46
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1251
8.73
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
296
5.4
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.73
8.73
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.4
5.4
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.22
1.22
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.82
2.82
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.347
1.347
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.985
0.985
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.33
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
0.31
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.07
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
0.38
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5388
37.61
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2187
39.87
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
5.6
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.16
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
475
3.32
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
311
5.67
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.67
5.67
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
63
0.44
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
25
0.46
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
38
0.27
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
22
0.4
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
77
0.54
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
0.73
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.256
1.256
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.473
1.473
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4791
33.44
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1929
35.17
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.46
0.46
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.96
2.96
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.303
0.303
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.304
0.304
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.61
37.61
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.87
39.87

Fielding Stats for Lee Smith and Mike Thurman

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
105
1.91
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
87
1.59
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1481
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
493.2
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
52
0.36
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.42
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
111
0.77
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
1.11
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.03
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.09
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
167
1.17
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
89
1.62
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
163
1.14
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
84
1.53
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.6
97.6
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
94.38
94.38
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.16
0.16
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.8
0.8
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82.86
82.86
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.06
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.02
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Lee Smith and Mike Thurman

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
18
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
6
6
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1023
8645.07
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
105
406.45
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
71
600
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
155
600
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
64
540.85
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
131
507.1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.031
0.031
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.247
0.247
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.232
0.232
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
15.48
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
15.48
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.016
0.016
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.33
11.23
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.4
1.56
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
4
15.48
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
12
46.45
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.09
0.09
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.086
0.086
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.094
0.094
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.031
0.031
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.183
0.183
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.117
0.117
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.064
0.064
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.047
0.047
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.148
0.148
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.095
0.095
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.095
0.095
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.105
0.105
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
23.23
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
23.23
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-3.06
-25.86
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
-8.34
-32.29
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
3.87
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
27.1
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
42
354.93
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
93
360
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.69
1.69
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
1.67
1.67
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.07
0.07
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.08
0.08
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
4
33.8
Mike Thurman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
61.94
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Mike Thurman
Career
Per 600 PA