Brian Barkley vs. Mike Esposito — Career Comparison

Mike Esposito 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. Mike Esposito posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.75 and WHIP 2.114 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Mike Esposito had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.