Headfirst into first

Watching the Braves game Sunday afternoon I witnessed one of the dumbest things I see done in Major League Baseball today. Martin Prado hit a dribbler toward the area between the 1st and 2nd basemen and the pitcher. Seeing that there was a bit of confusion, Prado spiked chalk as fast as he could and it was obvious the play was going to be close. Seeing the pitcher nearly at the bag, he dove headfirst toward the bag.

Good news - he was safe!
Bad news - he's out 6 to 8 weeks with a grade 1-2 sprain on his thumb!

What on earth possesses big leaguers to do this? Do you see Olympic sprinters dive across the finish line to gain that extra advantage? Absolutely not. It's actually so discouraged in the minors (and most recreation leagues) now that any person doing this, is immediately pulled from the game and in some farm systems, called out.

I don't know that I'm quite that vigilant about it; I just can't understand, for the life of me, why any pro ballplayer would slow himself down getting to the bag at the only base he can run past and still be safe! Put out the landing gear for 2nd and 3rd all you want. Run through first on a close play - it's faster and far less likely to cause an injury.

Oh, by the way, when Prado did his slide in to 1st base, the Braves were up by 6 with 3 innings left in the game.