Earl Stephenson vs. Tim Wakefield — Career Comparison

Tim Wakefield built a career as a starting pitcher and Earl Stephenson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Earl Stephenson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.57 and WHIP 1.518 compared to 4.41 and 1.361 for Tim Wakefield. By the career numbers, Earl Stephenson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.