This move to ban headfirst slides by the Astros is interesting. I like the idea of a team being proactive in teaching, using their power over players to enforce the things they want.

What I'm unsure of is the reasonableness of the move. A couple years ago, I showed off an AJSM study that pointed out that there's really not much difference in the numbers, but that the perception is definitely biased towards traditional slides.

Still, I think I like this move on most levels. I like the idea of a team trying to develop certain skills, even in the face of most teams not being made up of players they developed themselves. (How many Astros are Astros developed players now? Starting lineup, I think, is 3.)