Scott Barnes vs. Joe Decker — Career Comparison

Joe Decker built a career as a starting pitcher and Scott Barnes as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Decker posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.17 and WHIP 1.531 compared to 5.2 and 1.265 for Scott Barnes. By the career numbers, Joe Decker had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.