[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Jim Porter
Originally posted by GarthB


Do we have to have documented reports of dozens of children in wheelchairs before even considering the prohibition of this slide? My God I certainly hope not. The idea is to keep the kids out of the wheelchairs, and on the baseball field.

Jim I agree, but then the rules have to be applied consistently. The end result of the slide in the LLWS was that the runner was head first with his hand extended to touch the base.

If you are worried about safety as your aforementioned statement suggests, then the runner in the Final play of the LLWS should have been called out.

IMO you can't have it both ways. Granted, the runner went into the slide with his feet first, but because he had to avoid F2, he twisted and eventually he was head first. The umpire could have called the runner out and I do not believe her decision would have got overturned, because when all was said and done the runner was head first.

In conclusion, that's the problem with head first slides. I would have ruled the same as PU, but one can make a case that the last run was via a head first slide. Also, why allow a head first slide backwards. It seems as though one picks and chooses the ramifications of the head first slide.

As with all things in life, one takes a risk when you play a sport. When B1 comes up to bat there is a chance that he could get hit in the wrong area and be seriously injured - do we tell F1 not to pitch inside?

Therefore, until statistics proove otherwise, put the head first slide back in the game at least for the 12 yr. old division.

Pete Booth