Bret Saberhagen vs. Brian Van Belle — Career Comparison

Bret Saberhagen built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Van Belle as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bret Saberhagen posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.34 and WHIP 1.154 compared to 5.4 and 1.560 for Brian Van Belle. By the career numbers, Bret Saberhagen had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.