Brian Barkley vs. Al Lary — Career Comparison

Al Lary 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. Al Lary posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.53 and WHIP 1.675 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Al Lary had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.