Brandon Backe vs. Cal Howe — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Cal Howe as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Cal Howe posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 0 and WHIP 0.500 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Cal Howe had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.