Willie Smith vs. Barry Zito — Career Comparison

Barry Zito built a career as a starting pitcher and Willie Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Barry Zito posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.04 and WHIP 1.357 compared to 6.31 and 2.026 for Willie Smith. By the career numbers, Barry Zito had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.