– Why do NFL teams basically play one quarterback all/every game, while MLB teams play multiple pitchers?
In: 11
The average number of pitches thrown in a 9-inning baseball game is around 150, give or take. The number of pass attempts in a NFL game is tops out at around 40.
The average speed of an NFL pass is around 40-50 mph. The average pitch speed in major league baseball is around 80-90 miles per hour.
So we’re talking about roughly four times as many throws, thrown not quite twice as fast. Now it’s true that pitchers aren’t scrambling, running, and getting tackled in normal play, but the pressure put on their throwing arm is still huge. And in baseball, the pitcher’s throws are what directly influence scoring opportunities. In football, the quarterback doesn’t *have* to throw the ball every time, and can let the backs run the ball. So it’s much worse for the pitcher’s arm to be tired than it is for the QB’s arm to be tired.
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