Mike Smith vs. Tommy Thompson — Career Comparison

Tommy Thompson 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. Mike Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.71 and WHIP 1.570 compared to 6.06 and 1.714 for Tommy Thompson. By the career numbers, Mike Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.