Debate: Pitching or Quarterbacking

[Fern]

Correct. You don't see any QBs needing Tommy John surgery.

Jake Delhomme (formerly) of the Panthers had it.

Fern

 

[GobBluth]

Quite true!

There are many athletes who can run/throw that never make it at either college or pro level as a QB. The mental aspect of reading defenses, calling audibles etc and then going through the reads is very difficult. Also, on a lot of offenses these days the receiver has to read the DB when the ball is snapped and run the correct route. The QB has to make the same instant read. They better both be on the same page. And the QB has to know what every other player on the offense is supposed to be doing. That's not hard to memorize for a pitcher.

BTW: OP, while the 'spin' on the football is always the same, the throws are not. There are 'power' type throws and finesse type throws (lob over DB's head to your receiver etc.). You screw those up and you have at best a dropped ball or at worst an interception.

For the pitcher the target is stationary and at the same distance. Quite the opposite for the QB. Pitcher never has to run right and then throw left across his body either. Pitcher has it easier for many reasons, although it takes a lot of talent.

Fern

Heard, understood, and acknowledged.

That said, there is nothing simple about the "stationary" target. Try getting a QB to hit a target while applying enough pressure and spin to bend his throw from on the east and west axis (curve ball, Slider, Circle Changeup, Cutter, 2-seam, etc).

However you make some good points. It just is not as simple as you are making it out to be in your post.

 

[pelov]

As oppose to good ole Rape-lisberger being a supreme athlete?

troll...

Sabathia is at least 7 months pregnant. Roethlisberger is still pissing onto an iPod shuffle every morning, trying to determine whether it's someone's baby or he's just a little bloated from the Taco Bell he had the night before.

 

[Farang]

Sabathia is at least 7 months pregnant. Roethlisberger is still pissing onto an iPod shuffle every morning, trying to determine whether it's someone's baby or he's just a little bloated from the Taco Bell he had the night before.

I read this like 10 times because it seemed like a really funny joke I wasn't getting.. now I sort of get it, but why is an ipod shuffle a pregnancy test?

 

[Farang]

Yep. There's no one else on the field, just the pitcher and the batter. There's not a single other person behind the pitcher who could possibly be expected to help him out in the event of a hit. This is why every time a batter manages to make contact with a pitch, he scores.

How many times after a blowout does someone say 'Gee, that 3rd basemen really blew it.'

While defense can make a difference, the amount of difference baseball's defense makes to their performance versus football's offense, with interchangeable pitchers and QBs, respectively, is night and day. A great baseball defense isn't going to make Bobby Ayala become Felix Hernandez. But Trent Dilfer can win a championship.

 

[pelov]

I read this like 10 times because it seemed like a really funny joke I wasn't getting.. now I sort of get it, but why is an ipod shuffle a pregnancy test?

Because it looks like a tampon/pregnancy test.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Someone actually tried that (with a fat suit) and it didn't work. Even a 2,000 lb person wouldn't be large enough to cover the upper corners.

Interesting. I always thought that would work. Go figure.

 

[ichy]

But Trent Dilfer can win a championship.

Could win a championship. Obviously this is a matter of opinion but plenty of people say that today's rules make it impossible to win a Superbowl with a mediocre quarterback.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

How many times after a blowout does someone say 'Gee, that 3rd basemen really blew it.'

While defense can make a difference, the amount of difference baseball's defense makes to their performance versus football's offense, with interchangeable pitchers and QBs, respectively, is night and day. A great baseball defense isn't going to make Bobby Ayala become Felix Hernandez. But Trent Dilfer can win a championship.

Not all games are blowouts. I've heard as much about blown saves as I've heard about errors in fielding that ended up costing a team a close game. I've seen more mini-documentaries on Bill Buckner than any pitcher. And you still have a multitude of pitchers on an MLB team, both in terms of starters and relievers, and not all of them are going to be Felix Hernandez. A quarterback almost universally plays the entire game, every game.

 

[GobBluth]

Not all games are blowouts. I've heard as much about blown saves as I've heard about errors in fielding that ended up costing a team a close game. I've seen more mini-documentaries on Bill Buckner than any pitcher. And you still have a multitude of pitchers on an MLB team, both in terms of starters and relievers, and not all of them are going to be Felix Hernandez. A quarterback almost universally plays the entire game, every game.

Your argument about Bill Buckner is irrelevant. He ruined a World Series on a routine ground ball. No different than a false start that takes you out of FG range in the Super Bowl.

And if you read the previous posts, this argument was squashed already. The stress on a pitchers arm/body is far worse than that of a QB. Hence, the need for multiple pitchers. If QBs played 162 games and had to throw 100 or more passes they wouldn't last all game every game either.

 

[Zargon]

As a former pitcher, I am bias but... Pitching requires such strength, precision, mental toughness, skill, etc. (loneliest place in the world - The Mound)

A QB has the option of bailing out if the play doesn't feel right. A pitcher does not. When you are on the hill, you have all eyes on you. Both dugouts, the fans, the umps, the batter, the cameras, etc. Scrutinizing your every movement. That is a lot of pressure. At the big league level, its ^10.

Pitcher, hands down.

Your argument about Bill Buckner is irrelevant. He ruined a World Series on a routine ground ball. No different than a false start that takes you out of FG range in the Super Bowl.

And if you read the previous posts, this argument was squashed already. The stress on a pitchers arm/body is far worse than that of a QB. Hence, the need for multiple pitchers. If QBs played 162 games and had to throw 100 or more passes they wouldn't last all game every game either.

I am NOT saying pitching isnt hard. I washed up at it at a young age in baseball and now do slow pitch

but saying standing on the mound and making precise throws to a stationary target with only mental pressure on yourself is harder than throwing precise throws, to moving targets(with MULTIPLE moving defenders) while being required to have extreme situational awareness so that someone like Peppers, Pierre-Paul, Ware, ETC doesnt hit you so hard you piss blood for a week, and having to make said throws while a) backpedaling b) running at speed c)someone wrapped around you tugging on your jersey ETC is pretty freakin insane

especially once you remember that its the QB's job to identify coverage, and rushers, and modify blocking schemes and receivers routes or aduible to new plays to ensure success on top of all that


you are crazy biased if you actually think pitching is harder. Maybe the act of pitching is harder than throwing a pass, but being a QB is 10 times that act, and pitching is 90% pitching, even with thee ability to steal bases at stake

 

[GobBluth]

I am NOT saying pitching isnt hard. I washed up at it at a young age in baseball and now do slow pitch

but saying standing on the mound and making precise throws to a stationary target with only mental pressure on yourself is harder than throwing precise throws, to moving targets(with MULTIPLE moving defenders) while being required to have extreme situational awareness so that someone like Peppers, Pierre-Paul, Ware, ETC doesnt hit you so hard you piss blood for a week, and having to make said throws while a) backpedaling b) running at speed c)someone wrapped around you tugging on your jersey ETC is pretty freakin insane

especially once you remember that its the QB's job to identify coverage, and rushers, and modify blocking schemes and receivers routes or aduible to new plays to ensure success on top of all that


you are crazy biased if you actually think pitching is harder. Maybe the act of pitching is harder than throwing a pass, but being a QB is 10 times that act, and pitching is 90% pitching, even with thee ability to steal bases at stake

Solid argument. Well said. I'm not that biased.

 

[torpid]

I might start watching baseball if they added a position that involved running at high speed towards the pitcher and then clobbering him if he doesn't make a throw of some sort within, say, 7 seconds.

 

[Chapbass]

Maybe the act of pitching is harder than throwing a pass, but being a QB is 10 times that act, and pitching is 90% pitching, even with thee ability to steal bases at stake

I think this is a key point right here. The act of pitching is harder than throwing a QB pass, however there is much more to that for a QB than there is for a pitcher, and thats what makes it more difficult (IMO).

Good post, Zargon.

 

[torpid]

Counterpoint to my own answer of QB: http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/12...ics-is-the-n-f-l-a-quarterback-driven-league/

 

[edro]

QB, 100x more difficult.