Mark Acre vs. Brandon Backe — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Acre as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Acre posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.17 and WHIP 1.669 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Mark Acre had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.