Dale Thayer vs. Fernando Valenzuela — Career Comparison

Fernando Valenzuela built a career as a starting pitcher and Dale Thayer as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dale Thayer led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 132 vs 80), run prevention (ERA+ 117 vs 95), and strikeout rate (K%+ 95 vs 79). Fernando Valenzuela held the edge in home run suppression (HR9+ 110 vs 91). Role difference aside, Dale Thayer holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.