Plot

Howard becomes nervous after NASA asks him to throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game. Meanwhile, Leonard and Penny try to prove Sheldon wrong when he says that he and Amy have a 'superior' relationship.

Although not their first choice, NASA asks Howard to throw the first pitch for a Los Angeles Angels game on Space Day. Non-athletic Howard is worried that he will make a fool of himself. Bernadette and Raj help him practice, while Michael Massimino provides him with some sage advice. In the end, Howard will see if he is as good a pitcher as he is a scientist. Meanwhile, Leonard and Penny have agreed to go on a double date with Sheldon and Amy. On that date, Sheldon tries to convince Leonard and Penny that his and Amy's relationship is far superior to theirs, and he has the scientific proof to back up his claim. Based on Sheldon's argument about the method of evaluation, Penny fears he may be right, which in turn places fears in her about being the future Mrs. Leonard Hofstadter.—Huggo

At Leonard's place Howard is practicing throwing a baseball virtually in front of the TV. Raj is throwing insults at him because heckling is a "beloved part of baseball", to which Sheldon agrees. The Los Angeles Angels wanted an astronaut to throw out the first pitch for Space Day. NASA asked him because a lot of others weren't available. Raj is throwing insults at Howard again, ruining his throw and hurting his feelings. Leonard tells Penny that this is why they're not playing outside like she told them to.

Sheldon and Amy are returning from a dinner date where Sheldon asked if she enjoyed his lecture. His lecture was on the history of Cornwall, England because they were having Cornish game hen and the waiter should have been versed in that subject. Amy suggests they go to a movie the next night. Sheldon is behind in his number of date nights since he was away during the summer and has to make them up due to the Relationship Agreement. Penny sarcastically remarks, "That is so hot." Amy finds it better than hot because it is binding. Leonard and Penny get invited to come though Sheldon changes his mind when he finds out that that doesn't count as two dates if another couple joins them.

Bernie is impressed that Leonard wants to do throw a ball in front of a stadium full of people. Howard says that it's an honor that NASA asked him. Bernadette has played a lot of softball and offers to help him. She also wants him to practice running out to the pitcher's mound.

Penny is getting ready and is surprised that Sheldon wants to go to a pub. He did not like Amy's idea of a picnic, but he knows that they serve Yorkshire pudding at the pub and can't wait to lecture the waiter about Yorkshire, England. Sheldon feels that Leonard is just jealous with how great the Shamy relationship is. Sheldon states that their relationship is superior to Leonard and Penny's. Sheldon rates the quality of the relationships in the Social Group: Sheldon/Amy, Howard/Bernadette, Raj and Emily, Penny/Chardonnay, Penny/Leonard. Leonard argues that you can't rank relationships. Penny also tells him that it's not Chardonnay, it's Sauvignon Blanc.

At the Caltech gym, Howard admits that he never played baseball. Raj and Bernadette are setting up a 60-foot 6 inch distance (the regulation distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate in MLB) to help Howard practice throwing. Howard pulls it out as Bernadette reads the tape measure and keeps asking when to stop. He is very surprised at the final distance.

While driving to the pub, Leonard asks Sheldon why he thinks his relationship with Amy is better than Leonard's with Penny. Sheldon tells him that they enjoy spending time together. Leonard replies that they spend hours doing separate things when they spend time together. Leonard is disgusted that Sheldon has to be the best at everything. Penny asks him why he even cares. Leonard also reminds them that they can't do anything without consulting their Relationship Agreement. Sheldon has no problem with contracts since the thirteen colonies entered into a relationship agreement called the U.S. Constitution which he considers still that love affair is still hot today.

At the gym, Bernie tells him to look where he wants to throw, step toward where he wants to throw it and throw it. He takes so long warming up, Bernadette yells at him to just throw the ball and he throws it wild.

At the pub, Amy wants to know when they are getting married. They haven't set a date and Penny wants to wait long enough to prove to her mother that she's not pregnant. Sheldon asks to have one of Amy's fries, but Amy is rejected when asking for a bite of Sheldon's hamburger. Sheldon reveals that there is avocado in the burger and Amy's allergy of it. Leonard still insists one can't quantify the quality of a relationship. Sheldon disagrees and rates Amy's French fry at a 7, Spider-man a 9 and the number 9 ironically only a 4. Leonard asks Penny how ridiculous that is and she rates it at 100. Leonard insists that he is just assigning random numbers based upon his opinion. Sheldon shows him the work of Ellen S. Berscheid, Snyder, and Omoto and their relationship scale based on closeness predicting the stability of a couple. The Shamy ranks 8.2 out of 10. Leonard wants to take the test with Penny firmly says that she doesn't want to. Penny leaves to get a drink at the bar and Leonard follows him.

Back at the gym, Bernadette wonders if Howard is getting better. She tells Raj that its too late to cancel. A couple of wild pitches hit the wall to their right.

Leonard goes over to the bar and asks Penny if she is mad at him. Penny doesn't want to take the test to get a score that will make her more worried since she is already worried about their relationship. They are engaged and she is worried that they have nothing in common which scares her. Leonard admits to having similar feelings. Penny yells at him that His blind infatuation with her is the rock that their relationship is built on.

Howard seeks some advice from fellow astronaut Mike Massimino. Mike tells him to not do it since if he is successful no one cares and if he isn't, he will be an idiot on YouTube forever. Mike also wonders how he got a wife that is as cute as Bernadette.

As Penny and Leonard return to the table, they apologize and Amy admits they should have never compared their relationships. Next he wants to go up against Raj and Cinnamon for a real challenge. Leonard tells Sheldon that just because they are two very different people, that doesn't make them a bad couple. Penny decides she wants to take the test. Leonard doesn't care what the score is. Marriage is scary, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to do it. He wants to do it with Penny taking her hand and facing all their problems together. Penny is very touched.

At the baseball game, the gang is in the bleachers, while Bernadette and Howard are on the field. Sheldon wants to watch the pitch and then head to Disneyland to see Mickey's Soundsational Parade. Amy tells him that if he stays, she'll get him some cotton candy and a bobble-head doll. On the pitcher's mound, Howard is given a microphone and a baseball. He tells the kids in the stadium how he didn't think he could do it and keeps trying until he really failed. But he is not an athlete, he is a scientist. Then he decided to have a working prototype of the Mars rover deliver the ball to home plate. That excites the crowd. The rover takes so long that the fans start booing. Sheldon wants to leave, go to Disneyland and come back later to see the end of the pitch. The episode ends with the rover still moving slowly to the catcher as the fans continue booing.

Title reference: Howard not being athletic enough to deliver the first pitch a Los Angeles Angels baseball game.