First Base
Is sliding into first base better than running?
One of the guys on Baseball Tonight said that guys who slide head first into first base are making a mistake because you are much more likely to be called safe if you just run it out. I usually give no credibility to anything they say, but I honestly don’t know about this one. Anyone have an idea? Some support to your answers would be helpful.
Sliding involves friction between the players body and the ground. Running involves momentum. Friction slows a moving object, so sliding slows you down. Regardless of feet first or head first, sliding slows you down.
When you are running to first, you make contact to be safe. You can then step off and still be considered safe. So running through the base, as long as you are there before the ball reaches the 1st baseman, you are safe, even if you keep running down the baseline.
When you are running to 2nd or 3rd you have to remain on that base after you make contact, or the defensive player can tag you out the second you are no longer on that base.
So, the main reason you slide into a base is to remain on that base when your body stops.
From the sourced link I am providing:
When to Slide
1. To avoid a tag.
2. To stop at the base.
3. To break up a double play.
4. To get back to base.
5. Always when play is close.
To Kris below, I agree that it is not meant for plays at first. I copied that from the page I linked to. I took number 4 and 5 as kind of being the same thing. When a player is taking a lead from first to potentially steal a base, and the pitcher tries to pick him off, that is a close play, so sliding back to first would come into the play. When you have to get to the base and make sure that you are going to not lose physical contact with the base, sliding is a way to verify you wont miss the base. (unless you overslide, which is a whole other discussion)
The core of this entire question is sliding into first on a single. When you are running you are the fastest you can be. As soon as you leave your feet, you have no propulsion. You’re slowing down. It is simple physics. Friction slows momentum.