Sherry from El Cerrito asks “Why don’t players ever slide into first base?”

Sherry, believe it or not, the experts say you reach first base from home plate more quickly if you simply run through the bag. I think most umpires get distracted if a runner slides into the bag on a close play and will call the runner out. The umpire is trained to listen for the sound of the ball hitting the first baseman’s mitt while watching the feet of the runner. If the runner slides, the umpire doesn’t know what to do and will probably call the runner out and then walk away like he saw the play perfectly.