What does it mean to 'slide' in a baseball game?

What does it mean to 'slide' in a baseball game?

Alan Jaeger (Pitching Coach / Founder) gives expert video advice on: What does it mean to 'slide' in a baseball game?; What is a 'straight-leg slide' in baseball?; What is a 'hook slide' in baseball? and more...

You slide as a baseball player anytime that you feel that there is going to be a close play, and you're really trying to avoid the tag. Secondly, sliding allows you to run as fast as you can to the last possible minute because sliding helps you break, so to speak, at a close proximity of the bag. So, sliding is really two-fold; one is to slow you down and allow you to run as fast as you can coming to the bag and two really is to avoid the tag.