Rich Barnes vs. Duke Esper — Career Comparison

Rich Barnes built a career as a starting pitcher and Duke Esper as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Duke Esper posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.39 and WHIP 1.573 compared to 5.65 and 1.919 for Rich Barnes. By the career numbers, Duke Esper had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.