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Rounding the Bases Faster, With Math

An anonymous reader writes "The fastest route around the bases, mathematicians show, is one that perhaps no major-league ball player has ever run: It swings out a full 18.5 feet from the baseline, nearly forming a full circle. 'I would definitely experiment with it,' says former American Major League Baseball outfielder Doug Glanville, who last played with the Philadelphia Phillies. 'There's no question in my mind that runners could be more efficient.'"

14 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. 1st page of the proof: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1st page of the proof:
    Consider a spherical runner in a frictionless vacuum.

    1. Re:1st page of the proof: by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Consider a spherical runner...

      Baseball players are approaching that these days.
         

  2. Re:only if you know you're in-route to a home-run. by martin-boundary · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course if you're only trying to get to first, a straight line might be advised.

    Huh? You're trying to get to who?

  3. I'm sorry guys but... by pizzach · · Score: 1, Funny

    Does this not seem like a round-about answer to anyone else? *hides under a desk*

    --
    Once you start despising the jerks, you become one.
    1. Re:I'm sorry guys but... by Ironweaver · · Score: 2, Funny

      Surely an example of circular reasoning...

  4. Re:Maybe for a home run... by Angst+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    On the other hand, if it works, maybe high school jocks with start to find it counterproductive to bully the math geeks.

    --
    Proud member of the Weirdo-American community.
  5. Re:only if you know you're in-route to a home-run. by hldn · · Score: 4, Funny

    naturally!

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    http://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
  6. Guess I'm confused by tpstigers · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought a 'home run' was something else entirely. Involving a girl. A naked girl. I didn't know running in a circle was part of the process. Or running at all, for that matter.

  7. Re:Baseball is still a shitty sport. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    All I'm hearing out of you is "watching tall lanky guys", "bouncing balls", "putting it in a guy's hole", "playing with a guy's stick", and "left hand tugging a guy". It makes me think that you might be a user of Apple products.

  8. Re:Maybe for a home run... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They didn't account for all the variables. Kicking each basemen in the nuts buys you more time. Also swinging slightly wide and hitting the Catcher in the face mask can buy you the seconds need for an in field home run while they revive him. If that fails just aiming your cleats for his knee cap can have the same affect. Variables are critical to any equation. I mean what if your base hit beans the pitcher on the head and his lifeless body falls on the ball? That can easily turn a base hit into a home run if the pitcher is over 250 lbs.

  9. Re:Maybe for a home run... by Sarten-X · · Score: 2, Funny

    when they know they've hit doubles

    Right. The players will hit the ball, then watch carefully and verify its path, do some quick back-of-the-envelope calculus to verify the fielders' maximum speeds, apply their doctorate-level psychology knowledge to anticipate the fielders' actions, then once they know it's a double, they'll start running a longer path that's faster if their bodies work according to various assumptions.

    Or, they'll just run, and figure out what's best as they go.

    It's baseball. It's not rocket science.

    --
    You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
  10. Re:Maybe for a home run... by guyminuslife · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, if the math geeks can find a significant increase in efficiency, and they don't tell the jocks, then guess who gets the ladies?

    (The jocks. But it was worth a try.)

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  11. Re:only if you know you're in-route to a home-run. by DavidRawling · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, Who is on first, What is on second. I Don't Know is on third. FFS what do they TEACH you kids these days?

    Now get off my lawn!

  12. Re:Hitting the brakes slows you down. by Vegemeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is thus obvious that this rule should be repealed, and, furthermore, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" should be replaced in all occurrences with "Yakety Sax".