Frank Bates vs. Scott Downs — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Frank Bates and Scott Downs are fairly close on the surface numbers. Scott Downs posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.56 vs 6.33) and WHIP (1.387 vs 2.082). Frank Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.28 per nine innings vs 0.8). By the career numbers, Scott Downs 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.