Jeff Barkley vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Bert Cole built a career as a starting pitcher and Jeff Barkley as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bert Cole posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.67 and WHIP 1.593 compared to 5.4 and 1.378 for Jeff Barkley. By the career numbers, Bert Cole had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.