Brandon Backe vs. Joel Johnston — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe
Gen XTexasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Joel Johnston as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joel Johnston posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.31 and WHIP 1.296 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Joel Johnston had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Brandon Backe and Joel Johnston

Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
145
2.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
79
1.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
0.53
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.5
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.67
51.67
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
54.48
54.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
305
5.23
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
4.31
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.23
5.23
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.31
4.31
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.49
5.49
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.24
5.24
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.49
4.49
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.28
0.28
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1576
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
525.1
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
574
9.83
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.83
9.83
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
87
1.49
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
1.05
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.49
1.49
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.05
1.05
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.6
0.6
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
238
4.08
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
3.89
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.15
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.08
4.08
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.89
3.89
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
360
6.17
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
6.41
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.17
6.17
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.41
6.41
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.48
2.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.138
1.138
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.144
1.144
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.26
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.31
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.03
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2332
39.95
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.4
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23
0.39
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
313
5.36
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
4.41
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.36
5.36
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.41
4.41
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.33
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.15
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
47
0.81
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.63
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.546
1.546
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.202
1.202
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2048
35.09
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.16
2.16
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.304
0.304
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.95
39.95
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.4
37.4

Fielding Stats for Brandon Backe and Joel Johnston

Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
145
2.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
79
1.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1576
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
525.1
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
0.63
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
1.13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
104
1.78
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
1.58
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
103
1.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
1.37
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
99.04
99.04
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
86.67
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.22
0.22
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
54.48
54.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.12
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Brandon Backe and Joel Johnston

Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
153
581.01
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
158
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
133
505.06
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
514.29
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.256
0.256
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.764
0.764
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
34
129.11
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
23
87.34
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5
18.99
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
7.59
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
15.19
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
11
41.77
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.324
0.324
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.03
0.03
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.118
0.118
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
18.07
68.62
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
55
208.86
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
46
174.68
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
2
171.43
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.317
0.317
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.414
0.414
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.731
0.731
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.158
0.158
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.246
0.246
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.68
0.68
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0.37
0.37
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
22
83.54
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
60.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
34
129.11
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
19.07
72.42
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
7.59
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
10
37.97
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
48
182.28
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
3.29
3.29
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.5
3.5
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.21
0.21
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
49.37
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
1
3.8
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
3.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
3.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brandon Backe
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA