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You forgot one:
__ Just being stupid
__ Just being stupid
Being lazy?????
Great slide for jammed fingers and dislocated shoulders
Watched 100's of college and minor league games since 2001. Not sure I can remember the last time a player went in feet first especially to 2nd. These are players who compete extremely hard and, IMO, play extremely hard. Sliding has a risk. More than a few broken ankles going into second, and most are career threatening. It is clean, hard baseball going in head first, but you had better be good at it. Personally, I am a little surprised by these responses.
infielddad
I agree with you about sliding into 2nd base-most players will slide in head
first and I believe it is quicker than feet first. However, the question is about head first into FIRST base. Most baseball people agree that sliding into first will not get one there quicker than actually running through the bag. If that is the case then why take a chance on injury unnecessarily?
I agree with you about sliding into 2nd base-most players will slide in head
first and I believe it is quicker than feet first. However, the question is about head first into FIRST base. Most baseball people agree that sliding into first will not get one there quicker than actually running through the bag. If that is the case then why take a chance on injury unnecessarily?
Do Olympic Runners slide head first into the finish line? No. Theirs a reason you can run through first base.
infielddad
we like our kids to us the "pop up" slide going into second so they are ready to run if the ball is overthrown
Moc1
your guess is as good as mine
we like our kids to us the "pop up" slide going into second so they are ready to run if the ball is overthrown
Moc1
your guess is as good as mine
Sliding head first all shows all out hustle. Many young youth players are hesitant to do it but my son recently dove head first for the first time ever after hitting a double! Even though the slide looked ugly at first many people were telling him great hustle! I asked him , " where did that come from". He responded with , " I just wanted to get there quicker". To me instinct really took over and he didnt have much time to think since it was a relatively close play at 2nd as he got there just before the tag.
Also, Pete Rose was probably one of the most popular players to do it!
Getting there quicker and sliding under a tag are two completely different animals.
1) Why slide at all? What is the effect of the slide? The point and effect of sliding is to slow you down by applying drag to the body either the chest or rear-end depending on how you slide. If you did not slide going into second base, you would not be able to slow your momentum enough and would consequently overrun the bag. An easy out. Sliding into second is two-fold - slide under the tag, and more importantly, slow your speed down rapidly so you don't overrun the bag.
2) Since it is a given that sliding applies a drag on your body and has the effect of slowing you down, why would you want to slide into first? In this case, YOU ARE ALLOWED to overrun the bag by rule, thus sliding can do nothing but slow your time to reach first base. Why slow yourself down? The correct answer to the question imho is basically what PAmom has said - just being dumb.
2a) IMHO, there is an exception to the no slide rule at first. If the runner can tell that the first baseman has been or is going to be pulled off the bag, basically where only a tag will work to get the runner out, then it makes sense to slide to AVOID the tag. Otherwise, run full blast and never try and purposely slow yourself down by sliding to first.
1) Why slide at all? What is the effect of the slide? The point and effect of sliding is to slow you down by applying drag to the body either the chest or rear-end depending on how you slide. If you did not slide going into second base, you would not be able to slow your momentum enough and would consequently overrun the bag. An easy out. Sliding into second is two-fold - slide under the tag, and more importantly, slow your speed down rapidly so you don't overrun the bag.
2) Since it is a given that sliding applies a drag on your body and has the effect of slowing you down, why would you want to slide into first? In this case, YOU ARE ALLOWED to overrun the bag by rule, thus sliding can do nothing but slow your time to reach first base. Why slow yourself down? The correct answer to the question imho is basically what PAmom has said - just being dumb.
2a) IMHO, there is an exception to the no slide rule at first. If the runner can tell that the first baseman has been or is going to be pulled off the bag, basically where only a tag will work to get the runner out, then it makes sense to slide to AVOID the tag. Otherwise, run full blast and never try and purposely slow yourself down by sliding to first.
YIKES!!! My bad! 
Read the question twice and overlooked the first base part. Hope I don't get banned from the HSBBW 
Different answer completely. Only person I see slide into first with some regularity is Omar Vizquel. Don't think it helps him but also don't think it is "hot dogging."
Read the question twice and overlooked the first base part. Hope I don't get banned from the HSBBW Different answer completely. Only person I see slide into first with some regularity is Omar Vizquel. Don't think it helps him but also don't think it is "hot dogging."
ClevelandDad, Very well put.
ClevelandDad is right on with 2a.
Only reason to slide at firstbase, is to avoid a tagout.
Only reason to slide at firstbase, is to avoid a tagout.
I only dive at first base on:
a) a pick-off
b)avoiding the tag by the firstbaseman
I think head-first is quicker than feet-first. Some argue that you should slide feet-first so you can pop-up and be ready to run, however the pop-up slide takes practice-as does the pop-up DIVE. The slide you use your legs and feet to pop-up, the dive you use your arms and hands to pop-up. SO I don't think either slide rules out the other here.
The other argument is that head-first is dangerous. You could jam a finger, but sliding feet-first you can twist an ankle. Either way sliding is dangerous. I prefer to dive cause I think it's faster, popping-up you have your body already in a running-ready position, and well...it's a lot more fun!
a) a pick-off
b)avoiding the tag by the firstbaseman
I think head-first is quicker than feet-first. Some argue that you should slide feet-first so you can pop-up and be ready to run, however the pop-up slide takes practice-as does the pop-up DIVE. The slide you use your legs and feet to pop-up, the dive you use your arms and hands to pop-up. SO I don't think either slide rules out the other here.
The other argument is that head-first is dangerous. You could jam a finger, but sliding feet-first you can twist an ankle. Either way sliding is dangerous. I prefer to dive cause I think it's faster, popping-up you have your body already in a running-ready position, and well...it's a lot more fun!
If it is a semi close play,I will usually slide feet first
If I know Im likely going to be out if i dont bust my rear its always a head first.
It really just depends on situation and judgement
If I know Im likely going to be out if i dont bust my rear its always a head first.
It really just depends on situation and judgement
As Mr3000 said: I only slide head first into first is to
A)Avoid a tag and
B)Avoid a pick off.
I never slide head first to get there faster. That just doesn't make any sence. Running through the bag is a heck of a lot quicker than sliding. Sliding is semi-dangerious anyway so the way I see it, why slide if it is not needed? Don't get me wron though, if it is close by any stretch of the imagination you had better bust you butt to get in there. Anything to be safe but, first base? Unless the the firstbasemen gets pulled off the bag, run through it! That is the way you are taught way back in little league and it still comes into play today. Don't risk twisting an ankle or jamming a finger or jamming a wrist, if you don't have to.
A) When stealing a base I go head first because you can kind of avoid the second baseman or Shortstop's glove by using you hand to get to the bag.
B) When getting to a bag after a hit, if there is a play on me, I go feet first just because I can pop up easier(in my opinion) if the ball is over thrown and take off for third or home.
The reason A and B are different is because I feel (in my opinion) that you have a better chance of being thrown out by an accurate throw by the catcher vs. a throw comming from a longer distance (when it comes from the outfielder himself) or from a cut off man is;
1) From the outfielder himself it may be a longer distance, meaning he could under throw it.
2) Cut off man could over throw it.
Basically a throw from the outfield has a better chance of being inaccurate or a bad throw vs. a throw from the catcher.
The pop up slide gets you to you feet quicker than a head first slide. So I use that when I can.
In conclution, sliding into first base when there is no tag play or a pick off play is cockey (in my opinion).
-Kevin
A)Avoid a tag and
B)Avoid a pick off.
I never slide head first to get there faster. That just doesn't make any sence. Running through the bag is a heck of a lot quicker than sliding. Sliding is semi-dangerious anyway so the way I see it, why slide if it is not needed? Don't get me wron though, if it is close by any stretch of the imagination you had better bust you butt to get in there. Anything to be safe but, first base? Unless the the firstbasemen gets pulled off the bag, run through it! That is the way you are taught way back in little league and it still comes into play today. Don't risk twisting an ankle or jamming a finger or jamming a wrist, if you don't have to.
A) When stealing a base I go head first because you can kind of avoid the second baseman or Shortstop's glove by using you hand to get to the bag.
B) When getting to a bag after a hit, if there is a play on me, I go feet first just because I can pop up easier(in my opinion) if the ball is over thrown and take off for third or home.
The reason A and B are different is because I feel (in my opinion) that you have a better chance of being thrown out by an accurate throw by the catcher vs. a throw comming from a longer distance (when it comes from the outfielder himself) or from a cut off man is;
1) From the outfielder himself it may be a longer distance, meaning he could under throw it.
2) Cut off man could over throw it.
Basically a throw from the outfield has a better chance of being inaccurate or a bad throw vs. a throw from the catcher.
The pop up slide gets you to you feet quicker than a head first slide. So I use that when I can.
In conclution, sliding into first base when there is no tag play or a pick off play is cockey (in my opinion).
-Kevin
"Slide Right" Having worked as a sliding instructor over the past 25 years let me weigh in on this one. Cleveland Dad's perspective seems right on. Slide into first only to avoid a tag not beat a throw. The runner has sight of 1st base so that he can touch front side, he also will see 1st baseman's feet. If his feet is moving down the line towards home than slide to avoid tag. Head first or bentleg? I teach both after seeing Kenny Lofton tear his shoulder with the head first. Point of emphasis on head first: palms up fingers in a fist on landing, full extension of arms, and simualtaneous contact of arms, chest and legs. DO NOT reach for bag untill after landing. Often the reaction to this play occurs too close to the bag for the head first and the bent leg would be safer.
I would like to also endorse the "Slide Right" as an outstanding piece of equipment for safely teaching sliding technique. I believe that every program should have one.
I would like to also endorse the "Slide Right" as an outstanding piece of equipment for safely teaching sliding technique. I believe that every program should have one.