Sliding into first

[ShaBoomer]

You too bud.

[ManiacMatt1782]

Any baseball coach I ever had told me you pretty much never slide into 1st for the reasons mentioned above, plus injury risk. It's just not a smart play. Guys feel like the are making an extra effort, but as evidence has proven, if you can run through the bag, and do not have to stop yourself it is faster to go through the bag. Now if you have to avoid a tag on an errant throw that pulls the 1st baseman off the bag, that is a different story, sliding may be the only way to get around or under the tag. But in general sliding into 1st is a mistake, even if some professionals still make it.

[Mizzou24]

I've slid on a few plays where a guy muffs the grounder and has to find it and it was successful. But typically I don't slide.


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[pjs24]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShaBoomer

Show me some data that says it's slower then please. Also, explain why you see runners slide into first on non-tagging plays. Also, your point about what the umps are listening for when making a call at 1st is no longer accurate. The rules have changed because of expanded instant replay. The ball is now considered to be caught the instant it is in the glove, not when it makes the sound of hitting the pocket. Let's just leave it at this: Runners slide into 1st for many reasons. It happens in real life, and it happens in the game. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

It's science, man. It's been on that ESPN Sports Science. Players do it bc they're stupid. They foolishly think it's helpful. It's no wonder one of the worst players in the game is essentially KNOWN for it... Nick Punto.

Mind you in the comparison of the world, Nick Punto is a brilliant ballplayer and to get a 14 year career out of those skills is an achievement, but in the realm of MLB, he's trash. 76 OPS+ says it all. And his trademark is sliding into to first to make it look like he's hustling. He's also the idiot who rips off his teammates jerseys to celebrate walkoffs. So holding up that the players do it as a reason for its viability doesn't hold much water.

[pjs24]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShaBoomer

Here's Giambi sliding into first on a non-tag play, in a game where the Indians are winning 14-2. So in other words, he didn't even need to reach base, but he really wanted the hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTikOHMCNLg Puig sliding into first, non-tag play. Beat the throw by a millisecond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eSGnnF5p-c And to show I'm not biased, here's EPSN's Sport Science segment on running vs. diving: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10766501 In this video they find that running is 10ms faster than diving from 10ft. However, the video only shows this from the perspective of 1 runner, who as you can see in the video, didn't dive/slide into 1st very well. And for fans of Mythbusters: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/my...an-running.htm If you saw this episode, Mythbusters confirmed sliding can be faster than running through, depending on the situation. I'd also like to point out that I didn't say it was ALWAYS faster. But sometimes it is. Like I said, if you screw up your gait when you leave the box you may have to half-step to line yourself up with the bag. In this case, sliding can be faster.

Should've read through before responding to your first one since you included the SS clip I referenced.

I don't doubt that you can find singular instances where sliding may've helped, but it's OVERWHELMINGLY used in situations where it not at all the right choice.

[pjs24]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShaBoomer

I never said it was always faster. What I said was there are situations when it is beneficial to slide rather than run through. If there weren't, then nobody would do it. But that's not reality.

This isn't really correct. Especially the part of "If there weren't, then nobody would do it" because that gives people WAAAAAAAY too much credit. People consistently do lots of things they think are beneficial when they really aren't. Sliding it first is one of them, especially the frequency and situations that they choose to do it.

[caseyj622]

The only time it happens to me is on a GIDP when I try to slide into 2nd and break up the throw, my guy running to first always slides also. It's a bug. I hope it will be patched.

[bfindeisen]

Haha, what a joke this thread has become. Did you ever figure out your original problem OP?

The arguing over semantics is silly. I am fairly certain most agree that sliding into first is generally a bad play, but there are ABSOLUTELY times when sliding into first is the difference between being safe and out (first baseman pulled off bag by throw and attempts a tag). It shouldn't be done regularly by any player, but in certain circumstances it is effective.

If it were the playoffs and there were 2 outs and my team needed a baserunner or hit and there is play at first where the throw pulls the firstbaseman down line towards home and he attempts a sweep tag, you better believe I'm sliding underneath it to outside of first.