Brandon Backe vs. Erik Hamren — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Erik Hamren as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Erik Hamren posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.38 and WHIP 1.622 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Erik Hamren had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.