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Does Diving for 1st base really get you there faster?

It's been debated. Roberto Alomar *SWEARS* he gets there faster by diving. Coaches say you don't. I... don't know... It's more dangerous. And... may not be worth it. Probably not worth it, even if you get that slight burst.
 
Sometimes it's to avoid the guy swinging his glove (with ball inside) around at your back because you're between him and the base, or you're trying to slide in under the tag for leading off.
 
headfirst dive, mb.

sliding feet first, definitely no.

the argument is that the runner can launch himself just at the point required to get him in the air and to first.

that is difficult to time and if mistimed will definitely be slower than running thru.

 
Highly unlikely because you're no longer running and any minute jump forward you're about to do surely isn't as powerful as another stride. The only advantage I see is possible evasion of the other guy tagging you at the cost of a filthy uniform and greater liklihood of injury.
 
Originally posted by: Hammer
Originally posted by: notfred
It gets your body out of the way of the guy's glove w/ the ball in it.
Click to expand...

in baseball, you only have to touch the bag to get someone out at first.
Click to expand...

Or, 2nd, 3rd, and home in the situation of a force out. 😉
 
i tend to agree that it doesn't help.

however, i was just thinking about it...if you assume that the leg speed does not decrease and that the timing is just right so that you reach the base just as you completely sprawl on the ground don't you gain a time advantage the way a sprinter does by leaning forward at the finish line?
 
Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i tend to agree that it doesn't help.

however, i was just thinking about it...if you assume that the leg speed does not decrease and that the timing is just right so that you reach the base just as you completely sprawl on the ground don't you gain a time advantage the way a sprinter does by leaning forward at the finish line?
Click to expand...

that's the argument, BUT if the runner starts sliding chest first on the ground before hitting 1st than he has slowed himself down considerably.

it's the difficulty of the timing that makes it hard to claim that it will speed you up.

 
Originally posted by: Hammer
Originally posted by: notfred
It gets your body out of the way of the guy's glove w/ the ball in it.
Click to expand...

in baseball, you only have to touch the bag to get someone out at first.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can't figure out if he was trying to make a statement about the first baseman compensating for a bad throw, or if he was talking about pick off throws. If he was talking about the former, then I can agree with it. If he's talking about the latter (or doesn't know that you don't need to be tagged), then he is out of his element.

edit: If I were a coach, I would strongly discourage my players from doing that unless it's a playoff game. There is a much bigger chance of shoulder injury (see Kenny Lofton)
 
Originally posted by: Izzo
Originally posted by: Hammer
Originally posted by: notfred
It gets your body out of the way of the guy's glove w/ the ball in it.
Click to expand...

in baseball, you only have to touch the bag to get someone out at first.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can't figure out if he was trying to make a statement about the first baseman compensating for a bad throw, or if he was talking about pick off throws. If he was talking about the former, then I can agree with it. If he's talking about the latter (or doesn't know that you don't need to be tagged), then he is out of his element.
Click to expand...

i think he's referring to those instances where the play pulls the first baseman(or whoever is covering first) off of the bag obligating him to tag the runner like a slow grounder up the first base line.
 
Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i tend to agree that it doesn't help.

however, i was just thinking about it...if you assume that the leg speed does not decrease and that the timing is just right so that you reach the base just as you completely sprawl on the ground don't you gain a time advantage the way a sprinter does by leaning forward at the finish line?
Click to expand...

the natural tendency when sliding usually results in you slowing down ever so slightly so you can put yourself in a position to slide (head or feet first) into a base. Very rarely can a player go full speed into a slide. at least in my experience (played up through D1 college baseball).

So in the case of first base, a player can run through the bag so I always have had the belief it's faster to run full speed through the bag then have a slight slow down to slide.
 
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