What is More Important?

accuracy

All the strength in the world wont put the ball over the bag

Of course both arm strength and accurate throws are part of baseball but to answer your question let me ask you two questions. Which do you lack, arm strength or accuracy? And which would rather have? Arm strength or accuracy? I would venture to say that if given a choice most players would rather have the gift of arm strength and work on improving their accuracy. If I were selling two books and guaranteed results, one on improving accuracy, and one on improving velocity, I would sell 100 times as many "velocity" books.
Fungo

I am lacking arm stregnth. But I have good accuracy. I don't know which I would rather have. Like futurecatcher27 said, a throw off the bag doesnt mean anything...But certainly arm strength is something that turns heads.

Think about it. Velocity and arm strength don't mean much if you're slinging the ball into CF or, gulp, RF (seen it!). I don't know how true the story is but Mike Martin Jr. down at Florida State once told my son that Tony Ritchie, a catcher they had down there a few years ago never popped below a 2.0 but was always dead on the bag. Tony's now playing double A for the Cubs, 4th round pick.

The bottom line is arm strength is more important than accuracy. If you as a coach have to choose between the two in a player you would pick arm strength. There are several things you can do depending on the accuracy problem in order to correct it. Sometimes it can be corrected in a very short time just by making some slight ajustments in footwork etc. Lack of arm strength can not be made up in a short period of time and may never be there regardless of what you do. You can improve arm strength of course but the fact is alot of kids regardless of what they do will never have a hose. I dont care how accurate you are if you are throwing lolly pops down to second base they are going to abuse you. If I see a kid throw a seed in the vicinity of second base in warm ups or between innings I am going to think twice about stealing. Im probaly going to sac if I need to move a runner. If I see a kid throw an accurate rainbow we are off and running. Yes accuracy is very important but it does not mean anything to me if its not down there with something on it.

Coach May

You have a PM

As the level of play increases so does the speed of the game. If you lollypop your throws now but still get the out then accuracy rules. However, as soon as runners start beating your "good" throws, I'll take a chance on the guy with the "gun".

If you had to pick between two guys side by side who were even except one was more accurate and one had a better arm. I'll take the gun. It's a lot easier to fine tune accuracy than develop arm strength.

You cannot use statements like...

quote:

I'm talking about 50 mph with good accuracy, like 65-70 and good accuracy or 80 and mediocre accuracy

because you have to apply it to a situation and other intagibles like how fast you xfer the ball from glove to hand and the runners speed.

quote:

But certainly arm strength is something that turns heads.

What turns heads is someone making plays.

Going back to the choices given in the original post, I'd gladly take 80 MPH from the catcher's position along with the mediocre accuracy. Like the esteemed coaches who weighed in said, the accuracy can be learned.