Tim Wakefield vs. Mark Woodyard — Career Comparison

Tim Wakefield built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Woodyard as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Woodyard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.5 and WHIP 0.667 compared to 4.41 and 1.361 for Tim Wakefield. By the career numbers, Mark Woodyard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.