Comments on: What the Cardinals can learn from Rickey http://www.fungoes.net/2009/01/15/what-the-cardinals-can-learn-from-rickey/ Official blog of the St. Louis chapter of SABR Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: dave http://www.fungoes.net/2009/01/15/what-the-cardinals-can-learn-from-rickey/comment-page-1/#comment-5283 dave Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:39:26 +0000 http://fungoes.net/?p=1570#comment-5283 My sliding theory is that players who dive head first subconsciously slow down slightly more (we're talking milliseconds, with any of this), pre-slide, out of survival/injury fear. A new proposal: Everyone (excepting Schumaker) realizes running through a base is the fastest way to get there. If you were allowed to over-run every base, sliding would solely be used to avoid high tags. Given that, any means of ending on a base that is closest to the speed gained running through would be the fastest. I'll term my new technique "pole vaulting" likely shortened in 50 or 60 years of common use to "vaulting": Run straight for the base, exactly as if you were to round and head to the next, but pace yourself such that your outside foot can be jammed as directly and firmly into the angle between the bag and the ground as possible. Given that sticking point, let your body domino over the top of the base, putting full concentration on that foot sticking its spot. It won't be pretty, but if it gets you on base 1% more, that may be the difference between stealing being worth it (and its absurdity will likely make you famous, leading to fan appeal, a better negotiating stance, and the big bucks). My sliding theory is that players who dive head first subconsciously slow down slightly more (we’re talking milliseconds, with any of this), pre-slide, out of survival/injury fear.

A new proposal: Everyone (excepting Schumaker) realizes running through a base is the fastest way to get there. If you were allowed to over-run every base, sliding would solely be used to avoid high tags. Given that, any means of ending on a base that is closest to the speed gained running through would be the fastest. I’ll term my new technique “pole vaulting” likely shortened in 50 or 60 years of common use to “vaulting”:

Run straight for the base, exactly as if you were to round and head to the next, but pace yourself such that your outside foot can be jammed as directly and firmly into the angle between the bag and the ground as possible. Given that sticking point, let your body domino over the top of the base, putting full concentration on that foot sticking its spot. It won’t be pretty, but if it gets you on base 1% more, that may be the difference between stealing being worth it (and its absurdity will likely make you famous, leading to fan appeal, a better negotiating stance, and the big bucks).

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