Brandon Backe vs. John Hobbs — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and John Hobbs as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Hobbs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.18 and WHIP 2.118 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, John Hobbs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.