Bill Barnes vs. Mark Small — Career Comparison

Bill Barnes built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Small as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Barnes posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.27 and WHIP 1.458 compared to 5.92 and 2.014 for Mark Small. By the career numbers, Bill Barnes had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.