More than one member of the geeky gang faced their fears in The Big Bang Theory season 8, episode 3. Check out our recap and share your thoughts on “The First Pitch Insufficiency.”
Strike one
Howard has been tapped to throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game for Space Day, and is practicing on the Wii. Raj hurls insults at him to authenticate the experience.
Afterward, Bernadette rubs out Howard’s pathetically sore arm. She offers to train him, and subtly points out that his run is equally pathetic.
Playing catch(up)
Amy and Sheldon come home from a disappointing date – Sheldon has to catch up on missed date nights per the relationship agreement. The next night, they go on a double-date to a pub with Leonard and Penny.
On the way down the steps, Sheldon asserts that he and Amy have a better relationship than Leonard and Penny (and Penny and chardonnay.) In the car, Leonard challenges this assertion, bewildering Penny and pleasing Amy.
Strike two
Bernadette and Raj take Howard to a gym to train his pitching arm. He is intimidated by the measured distance from home plate. Howard spends more time doing awkward stretching than actually throwing the ball; once he gets around to tossing, he’s miserable at it.
Howard Skypes with astronaut pal Mike Massimino and asks for advice. Mike tells him not to throw out the pitch, and calls Howard “Fruitloops.”
A walk
At the pub, Penny tells Amy that she and Leonard won’t be getting married for a while – at least until she can prove to her mother that she isn’t pregnant. Leonard continues to take issue with Sheldon’s propensity for ranking everything from french fries to relationships.
Sheldon pulls out a relationship-ranking science test thing to prove that he and Amy are the best. Leonard wants to take the test, but Penny refuses, and walks away upset.
Safe!
At the bar, Penny confesses that she’s scared for their relationship – they are engaged, but have nothing in common. Leonard is scared too, but his attempt to pitch their mutual relationship fear as a solid basis flops.
Sheldon continues to insist that the test will tell them whether or not their relationship will work. Now Leonard doesn’t want to take it – he tells Penny that being scared doesn’t make him want to marry her, it just makes him want to take her hand and do it with her.
“It would make me so happy if you said things to me like that,” Amy says sadly. Sheldon insists she is happy because of the test.
You’re out
At the ballgame, Sheldon wants to bail after the pitch, but agrees to stay after Amy bribes him. Howard takes the mic and walks to the mound. He says that he realizes he can’t really throw… but it’s cool, because he’s a scientist, not an athlete. He’s brought the Mars Rover to deliver the pitch.
It seems like a win, until the Rover starts moving about two inches a minute. The crowd boos. “You suck, Wolowitz!” Raj yells down.