Headley putting best foot forward on slides

SAN DIEGO -- Third baseman Chase Headley stole his first base of the season on Sunday against the Giants, though it was not necessarily the way he wanted it to happen.

It was the first time Headley slid into second base since fracturing the tip of his left thumb during a Spring Training game on March 17.

In that game, Headley slid feet-first, trying to break-up a double play. On Sunday, he slid feet-first again because, well, that's what he's essentially been instructed to do.

"I don't think I slid headfirst one time last year, after it was made apparent to me that I shouldn't," Headley said.

Headley's incident in March isn't the first time he's injured a finger while sliding.

In August 2011, Headley fractured his left pinkie finger when he hooked it on the second-base bag during a stolen base attempt. He missed over a month of action.

"They basically told me after I broke my pinkie a few years ago that I couldn't slide headfirst," Headley said. "So I've been feet-first since then.

"But I still feel like it's faster and you can avoid more tags going headfirst. For me, the risk-reward isn't there. My primary job isn't to steal bases."

Actually, hitting is. Headley hit a career-best 31 home runs and led the National League with 115 RBIs a year ago. That said, he's always been a proficient baserunner. In 2010, he stole 17 bases. Last season, he stole 17 again.