it’s like a plague is hitting this team. I know it’s earlly in the year and these things happen, and as far as players go to be out of action things could be worse, but seriously….getting injured sliding head first into a base? C’mon Tolbert, you’re fun to watch, I love to see you with the team and I want you to succeed! Don’t make stupid decisions!!

Another cup of coffee for our friend Howie Clark. Could be interesting to see how he meshes in the clubhouse and on the bench. I don’t envision him playing much, unless he goes 4-4 in his first start. Then Gardy will play the hot hand for all it’s worth.

...that once you leave your feet, your momentum slows. You can not accelrate further by leaving your feet. Sprinters maintain their momentum by running THROUGH the tape. What happens once you leave you feet is a principle for both pole vaulting and hurdles. Once you leave your feet, you slow.

Sliding is a way to keep from OVERRUNNING a base, not to get there faster. It’s also a way to avoid the tag. Because a baserunner is allowed to run past first, and does not need to be tagged (hence, no need to avoid a tag) there is no point in sliding. You gain nothing, risk everything.

Further, baseball is a game that can’t be played without hands, which take a tremendous beating over the course of seven months. To expose your means to a living like this is stupid. You are better off not wearing a protective cup than sliding headfirst. After two significant injuries for the Twins in less than two months, it’s time to issue and edict about this.

Gently ask them where all the head first sliding comes from. Maybe point them to a web page that scientifically proves that sliding into first base is folly. You’re in a unique position to end this