Brian Barkley vs. Rick van den Hurk — Career Comparison

Rick van den Hurk 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. Rick van den Hurk posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.08 and WHIP 1.677 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Rick van den Hurk had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.