Is hitting MLB pitching the hardest thing to do in sports?
doubledragon
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What do you think, some pitches come in so fast you barely have time to even blink, a lot of them have movement, you think you got it and then it disappears, it's ridiculously hard to hit MLB pitching, is it the most difficult thing to do in sports?
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I think probably. imagine facing Pedro during 99-00. the greatest in the world were flummoxed.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I remember playing little league as a kid, and there was this guy on an opposing team, he wore glasses, looked kind of geeky, he was a pitcher. I stepped up to the plate and thought, this kid looks weak, I'm going to try and hit a home run. Well, the first pitch he threw almost blew me out of my socks, he could really bring the heat, he threw it so hard I dreaded having to face him, I never could get a hit off of him. I never forgot that, I played all four major sports when I was young, and trying to hit his fastball was the hardest thing to do, I can't imagine trying to hit major league pitching.
Yea, I think it is.
The highest lifetime batting average was .365 by Ty Cobb. That met he was out 63.5% of the time.
Yeah, Pedro had some nasty stuff. I can't remember for sure but I think it was the All Star game when Pedro struck out the side and it was the big name starters.
If you had 1,000 swings at MLB pitching, no matter who the pitcher, you would hit the ball sometimes, and hit it in fair territory occasionally. Even AL pitchers, before the DH came to the NL, would sometimes get hits in interleague play, and they had a lot fewer than 1,000 swings.
The question seems to be limiting "hardest" to the level of skill required. But strength and stamina are also factors that limit what a person can do. Take 1,000 swings and you'll get a few hits; try 1,000 times to stop Lawrence Taylor, or any NFL defensive lineman, from getting past you to the QB , and you will never be able to do it.
I don’t know, I think if I got 1000 swings at Lawrence Taylor with a baseball bat I might stop him a few times 😳
In terms of a consistent thing yea hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports. In terms of a one off event it would be a hole in one in golf
Missouri 14 OSU 3
I was in a batting cage once. Got no respect,the machine threw a brushback pitch at me.
Absolutely, it really makes me appreciate some of the greats at it like Tony Gwynn who make something that is terribly difficult look relatively easy.
I've played a lot of baseball and football, and a pretty fair amount of tennis, golf, bowling, handball, pool, and a variety of others.
I would agree that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports. At least in the sports that
I've tried.
Bowling a 300 is a toughie too.
Not the hardest thing to do. The hardest thing to do in all sports is returning a 150 MPH serve in Tennis. It's nearly impossible.
Terry Bradshaw was AMAZING!!
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Not I. Even when I was young, I would have struck out 100% of the time.
@dallasactuary I was thinking along those same lines.
I was thinking basketball. If the average person were tasked with getting a shot off while being guarded by Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman, they most likely never hit the rim, let alone make one. Average person, being five foot nine and decent athletic ability. That person definitely has a better chance at getting a hit off of a MLB pitcher.
Ask yourself this,
You get 50 at bats off the best MLB pitcher(with a defense behind them) to reach base safely. If you do it, you get ten million dollars. If you fail, you have to go down on Roseanne Barr every day for a year.
You get 50 possessions to score one on one against prime Scottie Pippen(or the best six foot eight defender in the NBA). If you do it, you get ten million dollars. If you fail, you have to go down on Roseanne Barr every day for a year.
You get 50 snaps to protect a stationary QB from LT (or a bull rushing MVP pass rusher) and you get three seconds to hold him off, If you do it, you get ten million dollars. If you fail, you have to go down on Roseanne Barr every day for a year.
Your obvious personal size and skill level will dictate your choices, so instead of "You" think of the most average Joe at work you know, and HE had to do those tasks but YOU had to live with the results.
Which one do you pick as the hardest(where you better get a bib) and which is the most likely success?
oh boy, I think I am going to have a really miserable year...
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Is it, hardest thing for a mere mortal to do? Or hardest thing for an elite athlete?
Robb
I'd go with scoring on Scottie Pippen. Not that I could ever do it with skill but he can't stop me from putting up a hail Mary hook shot, and 1 out of 50 just might go in. But, like getting a hit off of MLB pitching, that's because there is some element of luck involved. Not so with stopping an NFL pass rusher.
I dont know, If I had Marino and his quick release behind me, a sloppy wet field and a handful of sand to throw in LT's eyes, I MAY be able to stop him 1/50, if he slipped on the wet field.
maybe...
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
That is the question too. When it comes to elite athletes the answer will inevitably be, it all depends as each of them vary with their skill sets. Some are specialists for their sport, some have special skills only good for their sport, and some are as well rounded as can be. So I guess it would come down to the well rounded elite athletes to decide, lol. Not an easy question.
Jeter asked Mahomes that question in the interview on Sunday. Mahomes downplayed his ability to hit a baseball even though he said hitting a baseball was hardest.
If I had to pick between Mahomes and Jeter in a contest to face Pippen, LT, and the best pitcher...I would go with Mahomes winning two out of the three.
Brady would beat Jeter too, even more so than Mahomes as I would go with Brady's height and shooting ability vs Pippen...and Brady hitting at the plate better than Mahomes.
The easiest way to look at it is the best baseball players in history failed more than 6 out of 10 times hitting. Even in college the best players fail more than half the time. Crews is one of the best players weve seen in a long time and he hit under .450 with a metal bat. Any other sport if you failed that much youd be out of the league quickly if youre giving up a sack more than half the time, dropping a catch, hitting a ball out of bounds etc.
Missouri 14 OSU 3
I guess it helps to define our terms. "Hitting a baseball" is a WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT than getting a hit.
we could look at it this way. Deion Sanders was an all-world athlete and inner circle NFL HOFer.
on the baseball field, he was a below-average hitter. his career OPS+ was 89
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
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I am glad they didnt have him eat 383 pancakes after he set the record!
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
A slap shot from a hockey player with a puck travelling 100mph at a goalie's head and him catching it is right up there!
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