Bill Barnes vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Bill Barnes and Bert Cole are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bert Cole posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.67 vs 5.27) and home runs allowed (0.39 per nine innings vs 0.8). Bill Barnes had the advantage in WHIP (1.458 vs 1.593). By the career numbers, Bert Cole had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.