John Smoltz vs. Bill Sweeney — Career Comparison

John Smoltz built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Sweeney as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Sweeney posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.67 and WHIP 1.153 compared to 3.33 and 1.200 for John Smoltz. By the career numbers, Bill Sweeney had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.