So Major League Baseball Players Are The Best Athletes?

[David Sklansky]

It seems that under certain definitions, the answer is undeniable. In spite of the fact that almost none could compete in the decathalon or the old Superstars shows.

It has often been stated that the hardest thing in sports is hitting a 95mph pitch. But even aside from that I want to point out that three threads I started here add fuel to the argument.

1. Most people here think an NBA team could not beat a high school baseball team but they could beat a high school football team.

2. Most people here think mere blazing speed can overcome average athleticism if you want to play in the NFL. Clearly not enough for baseball.

3. Most people think that a mere foot in extra height can overcome average athleticism if you want to play in the NBA. Clearly almost irrelevant for baseball

I suppose I could also mention that even 15 Ohio State baseball players would have no chance against the Yankees (although that is a bit of unfair because of the importance of the pitchers).

Anyway the point is that unlike the other sports there is no one trait that encompasses enough of the game that inhuman ability in it is a through ticket to a baseball career. If you could train an orangutan to play football or basketball, he starts. But he doesn't even sit on the bench as a baseball player.

[VanVeen]

are you asking everyone to define athleticism such that baseball players are in more (or less) possession of it than other athletes? odd exercise! i hope everyone can do this!

no fluent speaker of the english language wouldn't include both speed and height as attributes relevant to 'athleticism' and no reasonably educated person would argue that lacking specialised muscle and visual training is indicative of a paucity of innate ability for some very obvious reasons.

as to your 'point' i must disagree: super natural eye-hand coordination and super quick reflexes would enable a person in possession of average musculature, flexibility, etc. to become exceptionally successful on the baseball field. how important eye hand coordination is to one's overall 'athleticism coefficient' is up for debate.

[tomdemaine]

Given the abiltity to throw a 300MPH fast ball a 350lb morbidly obese slob or a 95 year old on his death bed guy would still start for any MLB team no?

[VanVeen]

tom, would you have sex with a dude if he could throw a 300mph fastball? 400mph? how many miles per hour would a guy have to throw a fastball before you'd fellate him assuming he was of average attractiveness. how does your answer change if the guy is sklansky? diablo? please provide some reasoning.

[StregaChess]

[ QUOTE ]
Given the abiltity to throw a 300MPH fast ball a 350lb morbidly obese slob or a 95 year old on his death bed guy would still start for any MLB team no?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hell yes...., you find him I'll be his agent.

[MuresanForMVP]

[ QUOTE ]
Given the abiltity to throw a 300MPH fast ball a 350lb morbidly obese slob or a 95 year old on his death bed guy would still start for any MLB team no?

[/ QUOTE ]

this may be the worst argument I've ever read...ever

[DeuceDealer]

Team strength should be built in precedence of hitting, fielding, then pitching because run scoring and good defense create a psychological edge that improves pitching. A pitcher has no effect on his team's ability to field the ball or score runs.

Glad you asked?
DD [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

[Michael Davis]

"Team strength should be built in precedence of hitting, fielding, then pitching because run scoring and good defense create a psychological edge that improves pitching."

I hope someday we get to be general managers against one another.

-Michael

[pete fabrizio]

[ QUOTE ]
It seems that under certain definitions, the answer is undeniable. In spite of the fact that almost none could compete in the decathalon or the old Superstars shows.

It has often been stated that the hardest thing in sports is hitting a 95mph pitch. But even aside from that I want to point out that three threads I started here add fuel to the argument.

1. Most people here think an NBA team could not beat a high school baseball team but they could beat a high school football team.

2. Most people here think mere blazing speed can overcome average athleticism if you want to play in the NFL. Clearly not enough for baseball.

3. Most people think that a mere foot in extra height can overcome average athleticism if you want to play in the NBA. Clearly almost irrelevant for baseball

I suppose I could also mention that even 15 Ohio State baseball players would have no chance against the Yankees (although that is a bit of unfair because of the importance of the pitchers).

Anyway the point is that unlike the other sports there is no one trait that encompasses enough of the game that inhuman ability in it is a through ticket to a baseball career. If you could train an orangutan to play football or basketball, he starts. But he doesn't even sit on the bench as a baseball player.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you're saying that because the skills needed to excel in baseball are the least correlated with raw athletic ability, that it makes baseball players the best athletes? Exactly what bizarre definitions are you using that make this "undeniable"?

[southerndog]

Baseball's about hand eye coordination. Picture a baseball player trying golf, tennis, basketball, football.. Its not that hard to imagine..

Imagine a basketball player trying golf or baseball... Not very good, right?

When I was about 11 I axed my friend what sport was easiest to make it in.. He said "Football, you gotta be a monster, Basketball, you gotta be real tall, and hockey you gotta be a madman... Baseball players are just regular guys.."

Anyway, its kinda like high school wrestling.. Which weight division is the toughest to win? Probably the one which would have most boys of that age falling in that weight class.. most people get an opportunity to play baseball, and it doesn't really disriminate on size.. Neither does, golf, but not everyone's interested in it, and not everyone can afford it.