John Allen vs. Brian Barber — Career Comparison

Brian Barber built a career as a starting pitcher and John Allen as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Brian Barber posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.77 and WHIP 1.710 compared to 18 and 2.000 for John Allen. By the career numbers, Brian Barber had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.