Test theories.

MLB lacks imagination to an extent that is continually amazing. On my Internet radio program this evening a caller asked my guest, physics professor Alan Nathan, if a player gets to first base faster by diving or by running. There was an interesting discussion in which Alan mentioned that someone had written a paper suggesting that a base runner gets to second base faster by sliding feet first rather than head first. What is amazing to me is that MLB teams have not simply tested these things in spring training. Have players try multiple methods to get to a base and time them to determine which technique works best for each player. The coaches think that sliding into first base slows down the runner. Many players think the opposite. You would think that the coaches would try my suggestion to prove to the players who is correct. Players could actually try this on their own, so they're not too sharp either.