Science says slide headfirst...maybe

by Frosty Raptor on Sep 29, 2008 8:33 PM PDT

Wired has an article up on sliding titled, "Physicists Say Headfirst Slide to Base Faster, Maybe."

Here's an excerpt...

According to Peters, it's simple physics: As a runner slides headfirst, the body's center of gravity -- and therefore its momentum -- is thrust forwards. Slide feet first, and the body's center of gravity falls backwards, away from the base.

"It's basic, fundamental angular momentum and Newton's laws applied to a body in motion being flung through the air," Peters said. Fellow physicist Alan Nathan agreed, noting that it's easier for a runner's churning legs to generate force with head and arms leading, not trailing.

But...

Of three published studies to test the physicists' hypothesis, none found a significant headfirst advantage, and one a disadvantage.

"We found no statistically significant difference in speed between headfirst and feet-first sliding at all levels of play in this study," concluded University of Texas researchers in a 2002 American Journal of Sports Medicine analysis of base-stealing techniques.

Kicking ass for Newton to the tune of 10 million a year

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Does it say anything about somersaults some how causing throws from the outfield to be stronger and more accurate?

by Goose on Sep 29, 2008 9:11 PM PDT reply actions

Ichiro hurts this team by not properly applying his angular momentum

by JLC on Sep 29, 2008 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

I think the main advantage to sliding in head first is so the runner can slide around a fielder trying to apply a tag.

If you go in feet first, you have to slide a little past the bag before you can sneak a hand in to touch the bag.

by Kevman22 on Sep 29, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Isn't part of the idea behind sliding to bring yourself to a stop?

Isn’t that part of the idea behind sliding feet first?

by Gomez on Sep 29, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions

Yes.

The other part of it is that if you slide feet first correctly you can take an extra step or two and thereby get to the bag faster. You also reduce the risk of injury and can perform a pop-up slide if need be.

Sliding headfirst is a gimmick, or at best has extremely limited use.

by Smegmalicious on Sep 30, 2008 2:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd tell you what I think about your "science," but this video does a better job.

Link.

by Teej on Sep 29, 2008 10:36 PM PDT reply actions

Are you questioning Eric Byrnes?

It’s not my fault he’s a modern day Galileo Galilei.

by Frosty Raptor on Sep 29, 2008 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Speaking of Byrnes:

The Arizona Republic speculates that the Diamondbacks may try to trade Eric Byrnes during the offseason.
The newspaper notes that Byrnes may be tough to deal because he’s owed $22 million over the next two seasons, but suggests that “the club could look to match up his contract with another team’s bad contract, like that of Mets second baseman Luis Castillo.”

by Goose on Sep 30, 2008 12:37 PM PDT reply actions

M's for Silva! M's for Silva!

J.K.L.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 30, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, if the M's eat $26 million

by Gomez on Sep 30, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice, Mr. Bucket of Cold Water to the Face.

"Sorry I hit you in the helmet Hank, I meant to hit you in the neck." Stan Williams to Hank Aaron.

by dpseadv on Sep 30, 2008 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions

More like, M and M's for Silva.

The road to hell is paved with Mariners.

by .Taylor on Sep 30, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Castillo is owed $6M in 09,2010, and 2011

Eric Byrnes for Luis Castillo straight up? Contract for contract?

I’d do it.

by Goose on Sep 30, 2008 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

So much for that. Look what this miserable little cocksucker said in a radio interview transcribed:

"All right, here’s the deal. Conor’s playing LF right now, right? He’s doing a great job. Um, bottom line is this, in a matter of fact is this, I’m not going anywhere. Not for two years I’m not. I’m not… really there’s nothing they can do. For those that have a problem, who don’t know, and I’m not sure if they care or not, you guys are stuck with me. Okay, there’s this little thing I have in my contract that’s called a No Trade Clause. Okay, so… We’re getting, we’re getting to some really good stuff. So now you guys wanna ask me, Byrnsie, you got a No Trade Clause, what if they came to you and said we want Conor to play LF? You know, we wanna, we wanna, we wanna trade you somewhere during this offseason, you know, and we plan on this guy playin’ here and this guy playin’ here. Um… Hey, in all, in all honesty, I, I, I think that uh the answer would be no. I’d just say thank you, I appreciate you guys wantin’ to get rid of me. I think I’m, I think I’m gonna stick around for a little bit. So for everybody in Arizona who, who who, who’s sick of seeing me here, and who’ve said this offseason the Diamondbacks are going to so brilliantly ship me off, you guys better start thinkin’ again."

"Eric Byrnes: No Trade Clause to any team. If you try to trade me, I have my middle finger up in the air so don’t even worry about it. Save the phone call."

Here after about the 8 minute mark.

by Goose on Sep 30, 2008 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs