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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.'"
If that really worked, everybody would be doing it already.
Tell that to Dick Fosbury.
The researcher seems to expect ball players to gamble with every such run, betting their play on what the researcher thinks is "almost certain".
If you've hit in the gap it's clear you're going to get a double. Everyone knows that.
That means that, while trying to hit the ball, the player must know the tactics and maximum speeds of all the opponent fielders. I don't think that's going to happen.
If only they had scouts and game film, and played like 162 games.
In all seriousness, you've never watched a sporting event at any level have you?
You get a hit, you run straight for 1st. If after arriving you can keep going, you curve over to second. Unless you belted it out of the park (and are therefore in little hurry) it's unlikely you can get further than that, but anybody going on to 3rd will make another wide curve.
In general, if a runner thinks he can clear two bases, he'll make a wide curve. Otherwise it's just a beeline for the next base.
Interesting theory, but not how it works in practice. Players know (very likely) how far they'll get based on where the ball lands. Details in my other posts.
No offense, but wow, only on /. would you find so many people who don't know (and still promulgate theories about it). Kinda funny how we fit the stereotype. Nobody would make similar mistakes about World of Warcraft!
Yes, of course. I figured this out in kindergarden. You can get much further in rounders if you succesfully predict and select the correct base to aim at. There is no reason for baseball players to experiment with this, any 9 year old european already know this. But why the fuck are adults still playing this kiddie game?