Brian Barkley vs. Mark Thompson — Career Comparison

Mark Thompson 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. Mark Thompson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.74 and WHIP 1.688 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Mark Thompson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.