Brandon Backe vs. Paul Hopkins — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Paul Hopkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Paul Hopkins posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.96 and WHIP 1.573 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Paul Hopkins had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.