Brian O'Connor vs. Steve Sparks — Career Comparison

Brian O'Connor
Gen XOhioThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Steve Sparks
Baby BoomersOklahomaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Steve Sparks built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian O'Connor as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Sparks posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.88 and WHIP 1.502 compared to 5.11 and 1.865 for Brian O'Connor. By the career numbers, Steve Sparks had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Brian O'Connor and Steve Sparks

Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
4.38
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.73
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
0.4
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
0.52
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.7
43.7
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.67
16.67
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.11
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.01
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.02
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
5.11
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
716
4.88
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.11
5.11
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.88
4.88
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.5
6.5
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.91
4.91
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.89
6.89
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.82
4.82
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.28
0.28
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
37
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
12.1
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
8.76
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
1451
9.9
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.76
8.76
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.9
9.9
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
1.46
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
154
1.05
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.46
1.46
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.05
1.05
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.33
0.33
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
8.03
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
520
3.55
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.08
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.03
8.03
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.55
3.55
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
5.11
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
658
4.49
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.11
5.11
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.17
1.17
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.44
2.44
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.46
1.46
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.893
0.893
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
2.92
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
54
0.37
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.73
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.35
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.03
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
62
45.24
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5832
39.77
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
1.46
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
45
0.31
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
8.03
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
800
5.46
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.03
8.03
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.46
5.46
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.73
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.18
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.73
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
54
0.37
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
128
0.87
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.865
1.865
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.494
1.494
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
48
35.03
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5179
35.32
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.83
1.83
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.96
2.96
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.297
0.297
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
45.24
45.24
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.77
39.77

Fielding Stats for Brian O'Connor and Steve Sparks

Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
4.38
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.73
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
37
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
12.1
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
115
0.78
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
270
1.84
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.09
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
398
2.71
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
385
2.63
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.73
96.73
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.426
1.426
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.67
16.67
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.16
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Brian O'Connor and Steve Sparks

Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
9
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
6
1800
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
272
3709.09
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
2
600
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
44
600
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
600
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
41
559.09
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.122
0.122
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.33
0.33
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
300
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5
68.18
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
300
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
54.55
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.47
140.43
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
0.86
11.77
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
300
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
81.82
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
300
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
81.82
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.146
0.146
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.289
0.289
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.024
0.024
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.35
0.35
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.101
0.101
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.194
0.194
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.208
0.208
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
40.91
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
54.55
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.52
156.97
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.35
-4.74
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
300
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PAverified
17
231.82
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.59
2.59
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.06
0.06
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
27.27
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA