Mike Birkbeck vs. Mark Hamburger — Career Comparison

Mike Birkbeck built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Hamburger as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Hamburger posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.5 and WHIP 1.000 compared to 4.86 and 1.539 for Mike Birkbeck. By the career numbers, Mark Hamburger had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.