Brandon Backe vs. Mike Hinckley — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Hinckley as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mike Hinckley posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.93 and WHIP 1.286 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Mike Hinckley had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.