Keep forgetting to ask, but notice several of the guys using a black mitt once they are on base. Assume that would be a sliding glove of some sort, but wondering the purpose - a little extra length and good contrast on a white base or home plate?, padded to protect fingers?, or what?

Thanks.

I believe the purpose of the glove is to keep them from jamming their fingers when diving into a base. Also, gives them some type of protection in the event their hand gets stepped on

Protect against jamming or breaking a finger going into a base.

Often players who do not wear the oven mitt will hold a batting glove in their hand to prevent them from straightening their fingers when diving into the base. The curved finger is less likely to get hurt.

I still have a crooked pointer finger where I jammed it sliding into 3rd my Freshman year if high school.

The sliding mits weren't around back then!

The school I coach at had a kid break his thumb diving back in to a bag a few weeks ago. They serve a good purpose

I notice Choruby and Shewmake wearing these. What's confusing to me is that both wear it on their right hand, but when sliding headfirst into 2nd or 3rd they go into the bag with their left hand. Seems like the left hand would be more at risk.

Trying to protect their throwing hand? Worried about jamming fingers diving back into 1st on pickoffs? Is it hard to stay on the bag with the glove on the left hand? I'm not sure.

I agree. They look goofy as hell, but I have seen many of these jamming injuries sliding back into bases as well. Soon someone will make an Under Armour version that looks cool, and none of us will even notice them anymore. Kind of like the shin/elbow protectors everyone uses when up to bat, now.

Yes, it's about their throwing hand.

I guess it's just not cool to feet first slide anymore --- problem solved

Also, by my math, it gives the runner about a 1 1/2 inch advantage in reaching the base on the slide. At some point, a nice long sliding glove my improve our stealing percentages.

So on a pick off attempt from the pitcher, you are expecting a runner to slide back into the bag feet first?

Take it from a pro....if you're slow enough, they never expect you to slide at all.

This is what happens, and its a 22 year old mistake! i actually probably broke it.

not diving back into 1st base with the same velocity as sliding into 2nd base on a steal

1 of the Sliver said:

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Also, by my math, it gives the runner about a 1 1/2 inch advantage in reaching the base on the slide. At some point, a nice long sliding glove my improve our stealing percentages.

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Great minds think alike! I was thinking we just get some sliding gloves that are about 6 feet long and we'd almost never get picked off at 2nd again. It would be almost as if every batter to reach first would be turned into a RISP situation.

Half the injuries I have seen with this in youth baseball are from diving back to a bag, so I think the assumption this is only helpful on a steal, is not correct. That's all I was saying.

magnumtmp said:

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This is what happens, and its a 22 year old mistake! i actually probably broke it.

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Nah, you rubbed dirt on it and fixed it fine.

I always thought it was a wrist brace.

Aggie09Derek said:

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Yes, it's about their throwing hand.

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So lefties keep it on their right hand to protect throwing hand?

I think Vandy was the first team I saw using them last year.

Lefty batters who throw the ball right handed, yes

Pete Rose laughs at the mitts. No batting gloves while we're at it.

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I guess it's just not cool to feet first slide anymore --- problem solved

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This. We were taught to never go in with the hands, to slide back in the day. I still don't get it because if you slide, you can do a hook slide away from the tag that gets the body away from the bag and harder to tag you. Lost art.....and now stupid gloves to promote it.