John Bates vs. Bret Prinz — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Bret Prinz are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bret Prinz posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.89 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.674 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 1.27). By the career numbers, Bret Prinz 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.