Brian Barkley vs. Josh Billings — Career Comparison

Josh Billings built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Barkley as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Josh Billings posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.03 and WHIP 1.604 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Josh Billings had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.