Fans of Pete Rose and Ryan Freel could have told you this years ago, but there's a new internet article (chance that it's flawed - 0%) that says sliding headfirst is the faster way to go.

Lone nut, er, respected engineer David A. Peters of Washington University explains why:

The reasons that it's faster to lead off with your noggin all have to do with physics, Peters said.

Specifically, it's a matter of the player's center of gravity (or center of mass) — essentially the point where gravity exerts its tug. For most people, their center of gravity is right around the stomach area, Peters said.

Whenever you leave the ground, no matter which end of your body you lead with, your center of gravity will move forward with the speed (and momentum) you left the ground with, Peters explained.

Two factors make you reach the base sooner if you dive head-first, Peters told LiveScience. One is that your arms are lighter than your legs, which means that as your body rotates, your arms are going to extend out farther than would your legs. Also, because your feet are still pushing off the ground as you dive, you can get a little extra acceleration.

Of course, sliding head first also means you have the possibility of going past the bag (cuz you're going so fast!), while sliding feet first will let you pop up at second base, like a ball off Corey Patterson's bat.  Sliding head first also means you're really sliding hands first, and can lead to jammed fingers.  So really, it seems like the advantages of a faster slide are mitigated by these potential hazards.

But that sort of hand-wringing is for girls and Cardinals fans.  The most important thing about sliding head first is that is merely a manifestation of your entire playing philosophy: BALLS OUT, BITCHES!

So there you go.  The people at Washington University are no smarter than Ryan Freel.  And no, they didn't reject me.  I turned them down!  ...jerks.