Arm strength is for defense.  Velocity is for pitching.  Two different things.

As an aside . . . I really do think they are two different things.  My 12 year old plays Little League.  I think he's got pretty good arm strength as he can throw the ball a long way when he's in the outfield.  But put him at SS, 3B or on the mound, there's not much zip on his throws.  So I do believe you can have the ability to make long throws (arm strength) without them necessarily being particularly fast (velocity).

They are definitely two totally different things. You definitely have to have a strong arm to have good velo, but having a strong arm doesn't necessarily mean good velo. I had a buddy in JUCO that could out long toss me, but he topped out at 76 on the mound and I threw upper 80's. Defenitely to different things.

It's two different things.  Probably 3 and maybe 4.   Throws from the infield, outfield and mound are different.   And I'd be hard-pressed to argue that throws from behind the plate aren't different.   I think, as much as anything, you can only throw as hard as your accuracy will allow. 

i grant there may be some difference when one can crow hop or what not, but it's not possible to be able to throw the ball far and not throw it with some degree of moderate velocity.  i have a player who has 80 arm strength and 7 velocity.  that's not realistic.  rafael furcal can throw 90 from the mound just as easy as he can throw 90 to 1B.

He has horrible mechanics on the mound.

Posted by d__i on 11/5/2010 6:36:00 PM (view original):
i grant there may be some difference when one can crow hop or what not, but it's not possible to be able to throw the ball far and not throw it with some degree of moderate velocity.  i have a player who has 80 arm strength and 7 velocity.  that's not realistic.  rafael furcal can throw 90 from the mound just as easy as he can throw 90 to 1B.

You're actually taking the name of the rating too literally.  "Velocity" does not really refer to how fast the pitcher throws.  It has more to do with his ability to induce strikeouts.  I'm sure you'll agree that you can strike a batter out with location and movement in addition to the speed of the pitch.

Posted by tecwrg on 11/5/2010 8:41:00 PM (view original):

Posted by d__i on 11/5/2010 6:36:00 PM (view original):
i grant there may be some difference when one can crow hop or what not, but it's not possible to be able to throw the ball far and not throw it with some degree of moderate velocity.  i have a player who has 80 arm strength and 7 velocity.  that's not realistic.  rafael furcal can throw 90 from the mound just as easy as he can throw 90 to 1B.

You're actually taking the name of the rating too literally.  "Velocity" does not really refer to how fast the pitcher throws.  It has more to do with his ability to induce strikeouts.  I'm sure you'll agree that you can strike a batter out with location and movement in addition to the speed of the pitch.

If this is the case it is misleading and needs a name change.