The Difference between football and baseball

[Whisky Dog]

Pitchers miss a month or more with a blister while Patrick Crayton missed a quarter of one game with a finger that snapped sideways. Baseball players are such pussies.

[monosylab1k]

Baseball has definitely gotten wussified.

[O-Factor]

I couldn't agree more.

[ATRAIN]

Its ironic though that baseball players make a whole hell of a lot more for slim to none contact!! Pussies or not, they are rich and dont end up all jacked up!!

[Melmart1]

With the average NFL career lasting less than five years and non-guaranteed contracts, it may make them tougher to play injured but certainly not smarter.

[johnsmith]

With the average NFL career lasting less than five years and non-guaranteed contracts, it may make them tougher to play injured but certainly not smarter.


So basically what you're saying is that NFL players are all dumb and MLB players are all smart?

[Melmart1]

Nope.

[O-Factor]

MLB is full of primadonnas(ex. Clemens), pussies(where to begin) and cheats(Bonds. The MLB is so ridden with scandal, Records being broken by cheaters and nothing is being done about it. There is no salary cap to ensure and even playing field like NFL or NBA. That kills parity and that is what is so great about the NFL. MLB is shit and will never measure up to the product the NFL puts out.

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Probably because they're completely different. You could say the same thing about basketball. Both the b-balls are finesse sports where something like a torn ligament or elbow tightness can totally mess up a pitcher, whereas Ray Lewis can play just as effectively with a torn tricep. I mean look at Chris Young for the Padres. Just a few back problems that every linebacker in the L plays through, but it totally messes up a pitcher. I'm sure these guys want to play through their injuries, but it just kills their performance.

And to say that the NFL isn't full of primadonnas is just stupid.

[Marklar MM]

Does non-guaranteed contract ring a bell?

[O-Factor]

And to say that the NFL isn't full of primadonnas is just stupid.

Never said the NFL wasn't. Fucking read. But since you bring it up, yes some NFL players are primadonnas, but baseball players just do it in a more annoying fashion. Baseball is just a weaker product in every category compared to the NFL.

[DarkReign]

My distaste for the NFL stems mostly for my disdain for the Lions.

That, and the parity that exists. You have 3 elite teams (Pats, Colts, Bolts) and everyone else is mediocre at best.

Well, woo-fucking-hooo! Its so awesome to know that 29 other teams have absolutely no chance at the Superbowl. And they all happen to be from the AFC. Which makes watching the NFC a minor league.

Thats why I dont like the NFL. There is the top and everyone else. Has none of the drama of college ball.

[DarkReign]

And no, the Cowboys have no chance at the Superbowl. They are (so far) the most dominant team in the NFC. Theyre like the App State of Div.2.

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Never said the NFL wasn't. Fucking read. But since you bring it up, yes some NFL players are primadonnas, but baseball players just do it in a more annoying fashion. Baseball is just a weaker product in every category compared to the NFL.

The NFL can't touch baseballs history. Plus their's something to be said about the small market teams going up against the evil empire, and just kicking back and watching a ball game. I love both of them, but they're totally different animals. The NFL might have a better commissioner and marketing, but as far as the game itself they're pretty much even.

[Whisky Dog]

I don't like how my thread got turned into a scoff about baseball history and some rant by DarkReign that made absolutely no sense ( BTW, Parity = more competition and more teams with a chance at a Superbowl, not only 3).





The fact remains, baseball players get to take advantage of the nature of their weak ass sport that allows pitchers to be fat asses who don't have to run a day in their lives and position players to stand around in one spot for hours only having to move if a ball is hit in their area.

That's so, so, so fucking weak. I still watch the scoreboards to see who wins, but I can't understand how anybody likes to watch that stuff. It's less physical than tennis for fuck's sake.

Blister = 1 month on DL. How fucking weak.

[Whisky Dog]

The Sox and Yanks just played a game the other day that took almost 5 hours for 9 innings. 5 Fucking Hours!! Not only that, but of that 5 hours maybe 1 hr and 5 min were times when something was actually fucking happening. Fucking weak.

[TheTruth]

Throw a fastball with a blister. You can't do it. I'm sure if the players could get through it without hurting the ballclub they would attempt to play. They can't, so they sit.

[Marklar MM]

Throw a fastball with a blister. You can't do it. I'm sure if the players could get through it without hurting the ballclub they would attempt to play. They can't, so they sit.


Adding to that...try throwing a CURVEBALL with a blister. You won't be able to do it effectively.

[FromWayDowntown]

The fact remains, baseball players get to take advantage of the nature of their weak ass sport that allows pitchers to be fat asses who don't have to run a day in their lives and position players to stand around in one spot for hours only having to move if a ball is hit in their area.

Have you looked at some of the offensive and defensive linemen in the NFL? Some of the defensive tackles in the NFL look like they can't easily jog from the sideline to the huddle. I'm not sure that the NFL can scoff baseball in terms of the conditioning of athletes. Each sport has extremely well-conditioned athletes, and each has extremely out-of-shape players as well.

Even if baseball players aren't moving as much as football players, there are two things that certainly are in their favor: (1) in many cases, they're more skilled than a lot of football players -- try hitting a major league fastball at some point (or anticipating a curveball and getting a fastball instead); and (2) they have to get out there and play their game almost every day for 6 months during the hottest months of the year.


That's so, so, so fucking weak. I still watch the scoreboards to see who wins, but I can't understand how anybody likes to watch that stuff. It's less physical than tennis for fuck's sake.

I'm guessing you've never played catcher in a baseball game. Catchers take all sorts of contact, but don't have all of the pads that football players get to wear. I played baseball as a catcher and football as an offensive lineman in high school and can tell you that there were days when catching was just as physical as football for me. And it's not as if I played in some sissy offense -- we ran the ball 80 times a game in high school; and it's not as if I never played, since I continued on to play football at a I-AA college.

I'd think that shortstops and second basemen who get wiped out by runners while trying to turn double plays might also want to have a word with you about the non-physical nature of their game.

I'm not saying that football players aren't tough; but saying that baseball players are sissies is beyond ridiculous.

[Whisky Dog]

Have you looked at some of the offensive and defensive linemen in the NFL? Some of the defensive tackles in the NFL look like they can't easily jog from the sideline to the huddle. I'm not sure that the NFL can scoff baseball in terms of the conditioning of athletes. Each sport has extremely well-conditioned athletes, and each has extremely out-of-shape players as well.

Even if baseball players aren't moving as much as football players, there are two things that certainly are in their favor: (1) in many cases, they're more skilled than a lot of football players -- try hitting a major league fastball at some point (or anticipating a curveball and getting a fastball instead); and (2) they have to get out there and play their game almost every day for 6 months during the hottest months of the year.



I'm guessing you've never played catcher in a baseball game. Catchers take all sorts of contact, but don't have all of the pads that football players get to wear. I played baseball as a catcher and football as an offensive lineman in high school and can tell you that there were days when catching was just as physical as football for me. And it's not as if I played in some sissy offense -- we ran the ball 80 times a game in high school; and it's not as if I never played, since I continued on to play football at a I-AA college.

I'd think that shortstops and second basemen who get wiped out by runners while trying to turn double plays might also want to have a word with you about the non-physical nature of their game.

I'm not saying that football players aren't tough; but saying that baseball players are sissies is beyond ridiculous.


5 Hours for an actual hour of action. 5 HOURS!!! You can't defend that. If you like wasting your time with it then fine, but it's absolutely ridiculous. Lineman are big because they have to be, but those bastards are running and pounding on each other constantly. Not sitting on their lazy asses collecting millions waiting to be used for an inning or only working every 5th day.

[Whisky Dog]

I'll give you the catcher has a tough job, but that's what 2 out of 30 some odd guys on a team? And only one gets the majority of the games. The umpire actually has a tougher job than everyone else that plays the sport.

[FromWayDowntown]

5 Hours for an actual hour of action. 5 HOURS!!! You can't defend that. If you like wasting your time with it then fine, but it's absolutely ridiculous. Lineman are big because they have to be, but those bastards are running and pounding on each other constantly. Not sitting on their lazy asses collecting millions waiting to be used for an inning or only working every 5th day.

Yeah, show me where defensive or offensive linemen are running more than about 10 yards on a consistent basis in football games. Linemen have to be big, but they don't have to be north of 350 pounds. No dude could conceivably play baseball at those kinds of weights.

Complaining about baseball boring your short-attention-span mind is a far cry from proving that football players are better athletes across the board or tougher individuals.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'll give you the catcher has a tough job, but that's what 2 out of 30 some odd guys on a team? And only one gets the majority of the games. The umpire actually has a tougher job than everyone else that plays the sport.

Put some wideout who refuses to block DB's at Second base some night and see how he likes being taken out on 3 different pivots.

[Whisky Dog]

Yeah, show me where defensive or offensive linemen are running more than about 10 yards on a consistent basis in football games. Linemen have to be big, but they don't have to be north of 350 pounds. No dude could conceivably play baseball at those kinds of weights.

Complaining about baseball boring your short-attention-span mind is a far cry from proving that football players are better athletes across the board or tougher individuals.

Better athletes? I never said that.

Tougher individuals across the board? I don't see how anyone can dispute that. Your average baseball player could never, ever endure the harsh pain NFL players have to endure. They wouldn't last.

It's sad that Linemen in this day and age have to be at least near 300 lbs, but if you want to keep up with the league it has to be so. They don't run more than 10 yards at a time, but in their 3 hour game exert a hell of a lot more energy and effort than any baseball player. The catcher gets some bumps and bruises and may get a collision at home plate every now and then, but linemen get it dozens of times a game. The only grueling thing about baseball from the players perspective is having to stave off boredom for a ridiculous 162 games a year.

[Whisky Dog]

Put some wideout who refuses to block DB's at Second base some night and see how he likes being taken out on 3 different pivots.

1st, there are no wide receivers that refuse to block DB's. Not in today's NFL. If you want to play, you're gonna block. That's a requirement.

2nd, the 2nd baseman gets a guy charging hard a few times, but rarely takes contact as MLB caliber 2nd basemen are usually adept at sliding across the bag to make the relay to 1st without contact. Besides, how many times a game does that even happen? 1 or 2? WR throw blocks on DB's or even LB dozens of times a game.

[Whisky Dog]

Let's put it this way: I regard Derek Jeter as a tough guy with a tough mentality, but if his finger gets snapped sideways there is no way he's staying in the game. He'd be out for a week at least.

[FromWayDowntown]

Better athletes? I never said that.

Tougher individuals across the board? I don't see how anyone can dispute that. Your average baseball player could never, ever endure the harsh pain NFL players have to endure. They wouldn't last.

It's sad that Linemen in this day and age have to be at least near 300 lbs, but if you want to keep up with the league it has to be so. They don't run more than 10 yards at a time, but in their 3 hour game exert a hell of a lot more energy and effort than any baseball player. The catcher gets some bumps and bruises and may get a collision at home plate every now and then, but linemen get it dozens of times a game. The only grueling thing about baseball from the players perspective is having to stave off boredom for a ridiculous 162 games a year.

I totally disagree with you. Many baseball players were football players at one point and each of them dealt with the pain that football players have to endure. That they chose to play baseball doesn't mean they couldn't hack football.

But since you're convinced they're a bunch of panty-waists who play a boring game, I wonder how you can claim to know so much about it? Do you just get off on paying attention to things that you don't like?

It's okay to love both baseball and football, and to respect the athleticism and toughness of the players in each sport -- I promise.

[Whisky Dog]

I totally disagree with you. Many baseball players were football players at one point and each of them dealt with the pain that football players have to endure. That they chose to play baseball doesn't mean they couldn't hack football.

But since you're convinced they're a bunch of panty-waists who play a boring game, I wonder how you can claim to know so much about it? Do you just get off on paying attention to things that you don't like?

It's okay to love both baseball and football, and to respect the athleticism and toughness of the players in each sport -- I promise.

I grew up playing both baseball and football so that's how I know about the sports. I never said I don't like baseball, but I just think at the major league level the players as a whole have become complete pussies. Although, I probably didn't do a good job of discerning my disdain for MLB as opposed to minor league or HS/College baseball. I guess I just got tired of the extremely long games with so much wasted time and hearing of people going on the DL for weak injuries. I have more respect for the guys trying to hack it out day in and out in the minors than I do for guys like Carlos Zambrano who stuff their fat faces constantly, perform poorly, then bitch when the fans finally boo their underachiving and overpaid asses. Then you have guys like Carl Pavano who take the huge contract then proceed to become oft injured weak tickets who don't earn a dime of their money. I just get that vibe from a lot of MLB players with a few like Jeter who will sacrifice themselves to win being the exception.

I know a lot of the guys grew up playing football and other various sports, but when they get to the highest professional level they are overpaid and underworked for what they actually do. Then they complain about it.

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Let's put it this way: I regard Derek Jeter as a tough guy with a tough mentality, but if his finger gets snapped sideways there is no way he's staying in the game. He'd be out for a week at least.

Because he couldn't hit jack and wouldn't be able to field. It's not good if you can play through the pain when you're hurting your team.

EDIT: There's also a ton of guys who bring their lunch pail to work every day in baseball. David Eckstein, Eric Byrnes, Miguel Tejada (took an at bat with a broken wrist), Torrii Hunter, etc. Not everybody in MLB is Carl Pavono, just like not everybody in the NFL is Terrell Owens.

[Marklar MM]

Could Derek Jeter even throw the ball straight if his finger is bent sideways.

[Whisky Dog]

Could Derek Jeter even throw the ball straight if his finger is bent sideways.

Troy Aikman did, and that ball was a hell of a lot bigger and heavier.

[Поповић]

Each sport emphasizes the use of different parts of the body. It's not surprising that a blister could take a pitcher off his game.

[Marklar MM]

Troy Aikman did, and that ball was a hell of a lot bigger and heavier.

in all reality, I guess it would be determined by which finger was bent. If it was his pointer or index, he wouldn't be able to throw. But I will say it is much harder to throw a baseball than a football with a bent finger.

[DarkReign]

I don't like how my thread got turned into a scoff about baseball history and some rant by DarkReign that made absolutely no sense ( BTW, Parity = more competition and more teams with a chance at a Superbowl, not only 3).

Wheres the reject button around here?

Youre dead wrong. Parity is supposed to mean "everyone has a chance", but that isnt true in pro football. Not even remotely. Sure, theres parity amongst the vast majority of teams in the NFL (like 27 of them), so I guess if you say "parity" and mean "Yes, youre as good as 26 other teams, but have no chance at the Superbowl", then sure...theres parity all over the mediocre place!

FACT: There are only 5 teams with a chance to win the Superbowl.

FACT: 3 of the above 5 are heavily favored over everyone else.

MY OPINION (which will be fact and cut short the reasons to even watch): One of those 3 above teams will win the Superbowl. (i know, i know...HUGE reach with that last statement, just friggin HUGE!!)

Call me when the season ends and tell me how wrong I was.

Just so I am clear and dont have any wiggle room, the other 2 teams with a chance are the Steelers and Cowboys. Total darkhorse that I believe has no chance (and I wont include in this argument) is Chicago.

Colts, Bolts and Pats....your 2007-2008 Superbowl Champs. Whoopety-doo for the other 29 teams!!!!

[Whisky Dog]

Wheres the reject button around here?

Youre dead wrong. Parity is supposed to mean "everyone has a chance", but that isnt true in pro football. Not even remotely.

FACT: There are only 5 teams with a chance to win the Superbowl.

FACT: 3 of the above 5 are heavily favored over everyone else.

MY OPINION (which will be fact and cut short the reasons to even watch): One of those 3 above teams will win the Superbowl.

Call me when the season ends and tell me how wrong I was.

Just so I am clear and dont have any wiggle room, the other 2 teams with a chance are the Steelers and Cowboys. Total darkhorse that I believe has no chance (and I wont include in this argument) is Chicago.

Colts, Bolts and Pats....your 2007-2008 Superbowl Champs. Whoopety-doo for the other 29 teams!!!!

That's not what parity is supposed to mean, that is what it means. If you go back a page you'll see this nice little quote:



That, and the parity that exists. You have 3 elite teams (Pats, Colts, Bolts) and everyone else is mediocre at best.


That statement contradicts itself. If parity exists, then there would be few elite teams and a lot of very good teams. You said it exists then said there are only three teams with a chance to win. That's why I said your statement made no sense.

[Marklar MM]

That's not what parity is supposed to mean, that is what it means. If you go back a page you'll see this nice little quote:



That statement contradicts itself. If parity exists, then there would be few elite teams and a lot of very good teams. You said it exists then said there are only three teams with a chance to win. That's why I said your statement made no sense.


He was sarcastic. There is parity amongst 29 teams while the other 3 teams will fight for the superbowl.

[Whisky Dog]

Also, it's not a lock that one of those three will win. If you just look back a few years you'd see that Tampa Bay won, Carolina came within a FG of a win, Philly came within a few points of winning one, Seattle got screwed by the officials out of a win, etc. There have been a lot of close SB recently with last year being the exception, and only the exception because of the abomination that is Rex Grossman.

I think you're confused. The league that truly lacks parity is the NBA where unless you're on a team with Shaq or Timmy D you didn't win 8 of the last 9 titles.

[Whisky Dog]

He was sarcastic. There is parity amongst 29 teams while the other 3 teams will fight for the superbowl.


That one didn't scream out sarcasm, but it's probably just a misunderstanding.

[samikeyp]

I think George Carlin said it best. :) (this was done about 20 years ago, I think)

Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.

Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.

In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom.

Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.

I enjoy comparing baseball and football:

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.
Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.

Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park!
Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.
Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.

In football you wear a helmet.
In baseball you wear a cap.

Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?
Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?

In football you receive a penalty.
In baseball you make an error.

In football the specialist comes in to kick.
In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.
Baseball has the sacrifice.

Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...
In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.

Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.
Football has the two minute warning.

Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.
Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.

In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.
In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.

And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!

:lol

[Whisky Dog]

Carlin 20 years ago was pure genius. He knew the pussy factor of baseball.

[DOMINATOR]

because baseball is a game of inches. a hurt finger on a pitcher who has to use many different grips for different pitches is going to effect him more than a toe... where as a hurt toe will effect a football player more than a pitcher.

BTW: Jason Hirsh broke his leg earlier this year in the first inning and he stayed in to pitch 5 more innings. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2966509

Chase Utley was hit in the hand in the 5th inning earlier this year... it broke his hand but he stayed in the game and went 2/4.

i could go on and on but WhiskyDog wont care anyway... he just doesnt like baseball which is fine.
also baseball players play EVERYDAY, football player have 16 games... hmm 162 or 16.
every pro athlete plays banged up.

[Spurs rock]

Baseball is boring.

[Fillmoe]

pitchers will take a month off simply because their vagina hurts

[TheSanityAnnex]

Baseball players many games, but they are still pussies.