Kurt Birkins vs. Merle Settlemire — Career Comparison

Merle Settlemire built a career as a starting pitcher and Kurt Birkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Merle Settlemire posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.47 and WHIP 1.822 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Merle Settlemire had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.