While trying to block out my less-than-favorite announcer, Joe Buck, I caught Tim McCarver talking about sliding.
Not just any sliding…
Head first sliding.
Apparently, if it was up to Mr. McCarver, he would ban all head first sliding in MLB. He firmly believes that sliding head first is dangerous and can only lead to injury.
He went on to mention the two every day players that suffered injuries caused from sliding head first: Chase Utley, and Martin Prado. Utley injured his thumb, while Prado injured his pinky finger.
I respected McCarver’s opinion, but once he made his case, I responded, (to the TV of course, because everyone knows that the people on TV can hear you) “Didn’t Ryan Howard land himself on the D.L. with an ankle injury, for trying to slide FEET FIRST back into second base?”
For years, I’ve heard the debate of head first vs. feet first sliding. Regardless what you may have heard, or led to believe:
There is a place and time for both types of slides, but if you do EITHER of them wrong, you will get hurt.
Actually, I shouldn’t say “both types,” because there are variations that are equally as important and effective.
For feet first slides there you can:
- Slide directly into the bag
- Pop up as soon as you hit the bag
- Break up a double play (Note: there are levels of baseball that only allow sliding directly into the bag on double plays.)
- Hook slide, which is an oldie but a goodie. You don’t see it that often any more, but it is very effective when avoiding tags, or when you know throws to the base you’re running toward, are off line.)
The head first slide doesn’t necessarily have variations, BUT if McCarver got his wish, I wonder if baseball would have to ban diving back into bases on pick off plays, or diving for ground balls in the infield and gappers in the outfield? (As I write this, I can’t help but think about the TV military drill instructor that talks about going to “Namby Pamby Land.”)
The biggest problem: sliding isn’t practiced nearly enough. It’s assumed that if you need to slide, you’ll just do it instinctively.
Well I’ve seen enough jammed shoulders, wrists, ankles, and fingers – from both sliding techniques – to know that just isn’t the case.
I’m not going to say you can slide anywhere, but if you’re creative enough, you can manufacture you very own “sliding pit.” From grassy areas, to flattened cardboard boxes, to slip n’ slides, to actual sliding mats, there’s practically no excuse not to work on sliding.
And from my personal experience, sliding is a lot of fun! ( Even when I was a “serious professional,” it was hard not to smile when we practiced sliding in spring training.)
That being said, there are some keys points to remember when sliding:
- When in doubt, SLIDE!
- Always go feet first into home plate, (unless you’re trying – and allowed – to bowl over the catcher) breaking up a double plays, and when infielders try to block the base with their knee or shin.
- To avoid damaging fingers (and thumbs) run with batting gloves in balled up in your hand. Making a loose fist will prevent your fingers from getting jammed or exposed.
- Whether you slide feet first or head first, do not fear sliding. That alone will increase the chances of something going wrong!
Slide hard,
Coach Bones
