I don't understand this........

[yyz]

I just saw a nice slide into first in the Yankee game. He was safe.

The thing is this:

Aren't you better off to keep running full speed? I have to believe that you lose something in the slide. Let's face it, once you hit the ground, you are decelerating, right? Why would you think you get any benefit in sliding, unless it was to avoid a tag?

Any one?

 

[ballplayer8]

Actually . . . i always thought the same thing, but the truth is if a runner slides head first through the bag, and not to the bag, it is a fraction of a second faster. Thats what they told us playing college baseball. I have always been an advocate of running through the bag, but . . . oh well!

 

[JJP]

I agree w/you YYZ. The coaches can talk all they want; I'll never believe sliding into first is faster. You lose a fraction of a second either going down diving or sliding. I don't care if Joe Torre or Sparky Anderson say sliding is faster; I still won't believe it.