Learn Hardcore Japanese: sensyu wo mukae ni iku mae ni, kitte wo yuubinkyoku de kaeba zikan wo setuyaku dekiru. - Before going to pick up the players, buying stamps at the post office can save time.

選手せんしゅ　を　迎むかえ　に　行いく　前まえ　に、　切手きって　を　郵便局ゆうびんきょく　で　買かえば　時間じかん　を　節約せつやく　できる。senshu o mukae ni iku mae ni, kitte o yuubinkyoku de kaeba jikan o setsuyaku dekiru.

Before going to pick up the players, buying stamps at the post office can save time.

Breakdown of senshu o mukae ni iku mae ni, kitte o yuubinkyoku de kaeba jikan o setsuyaku dekiru.

をo

direct object particle

Questions & Answers about senshu o mukae ni iku mae ni, kitte o yuubinkyoku de kaeba jikan o setsuyaku dekiru.

In 選手を迎えに行く, why is there a に after 迎え? Why don’t we just use 迎える?

Japanese often uses a noun or nominalized verb + に + motion verb (行く/来る) to mean “go/come to do X.” Here, 迎え is the noun “pick-up,” so 迎えに行く literally means “go to pick (someone) up.”
By contrast, 迎える is a standalone verb “to welcome/meet,” usually implying the subject is already at or near the location. 迎えに行く makes it clear you’re going somewhere to pick up the player.

How do we form “before doing something” as in 行く前に? Why add 前に after the verb?

To say “before doing X,” attach 前に directly to the dictionary form of a verb:
Verb-dictionary form + 前に → “before doing that verb.”
So 行く前に means “before going.”
(If it were a noun, you’d use の前に, e.g. 試合の前に “before the match.”)

What role does the ば in 買えば play? How is this conditional form created?

ば here marks a conditional “if/when.” The ～えば form of 買う is formed by replacing the final う with えば (買う → 買えば).
買えば means “if you buy…” or “when you buy…,” showing that the main clause (時間を節約できる) follows as a result.

Why is で used in 郵便局で買えば instead of に?