Steve Barber vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Bert Cole built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Barber as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bert Cole posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.67 and WHIP 1.593 compared to 5.08 and 1.744 for Steve Barber. By the career numbers, Bert Cole had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.