There's rarely a need for a player charging down the first base line to slide into the bag. Runners can run over the base, and sliding can slow them down and expose them to injury. However, there are certain situations where it may be advantageous, such as when a bad throw pulls the first baseman off the base.

Baseball games are nine innings long. With a season that runs from the start of April to the end of October, many times weather impacts a game.