What’s the Infield Fly Rule in Baseball?

The Infield Fly Rule is one of the most important rules in baseball. It’s designed to protect the defense from giving up runs by forcing them to make a difficult catch. Here’s a quick overview of the rule and how it works.

What is the Infield Fly Rule?

The Infield Fly Rule is a judment call made by the umpire when there are runners on first and second base with less than two outs. The rule is designed to prevent the defense from turning a routine fly ball into a double play by intentionally dropping the ball in order to get two quick outs.

Here’s how it works: if the umpire judges that the infielder could have easily caught the ball with ordinary effort, he will call “infield fly, batter’s out” even if the ball is not actually caught. The runner on first base is automatically safe and can advance to second base at his own risk. However, the runners on second base and third base must stay put until the ball is caught or hits the ground.

Some people think the Infield Fly Rule is unfair to the offense because it takes away their chance of scoring a run. Others think it’s unfair to the defense because it doesn’t give them credit for making a smart play. But most baseball fans agree that it’s one of those weird quirks that makes our game what it is.

When is the Infield Fly Rule Used?

The Infield Fly Rule is used when there are less than two outs in the inning, and a fly ball is hit to the infield with the pitcher, catcher or any of the infielders excluding the first baseman being able to make an easy catch. In this case, the umpire will call “Infield Fly, batter is out!” and the batter is automatically out and runners cannot advance on the play.

What Happens if the Infield Fly Rule is Called?

An infield fly is a fair ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) that settles on the infield between home and first base, or between home and second base, before it can be touched by a fielder. The infield fly is automatically called by the umpire when this situation occurs.

So, what happens if the infield fly rule is called? The batter is out and runners cannot advance on the bases. In addition, if there are runners on first and second base and fewer than two outs, the batter is also out (this is called a double play).

What Happens if the Infield Fly Rule is Not Called?

If the infield fly rule is not called and the ball is caught by an infielder, the batter is out and the runners cannot advance. The infield fly rule only applies to batted balls; if a ball hits a batter or a fielder, and is then caught by an infielder, it is not an infield fly.

What are the Criticisms of the Infield Fly Rule?

The infield fly rule has been a part of baseball for over 100 years, but it has come under fire in recent years from both players and fans. The rule is designed to protect the baserunner from being doubled up on a pop fly to the infield, but some argue that it unfairly benefits the defense. Others say that it creates an artificial barrier to getting hits and that it should be eliminated altogether.

One of the most common criticisms of the infield fly rule is that it gives the defense an advantage, particularly when there are runners on first and second base. Under the current rule, if a grounder is hit to the shortstop or third baseman with less than two outs and there are runners on first and second base, the defensive team can essentially tell the runner on first base to stay put while they make the catch. This essentially turns what should be a sacrifice bunt into an out.

Another criticism of the infield fly rule is that it can act as a barrier to getting hits. If a batter knows that he only needs to hit the ball past the pitcher or into foul territory, he may be more likely to try to do so rather than swing for a base hit. This can lead to more strikeouts and fewer hits overall.

Ultimately, whether or not the infield fly rule should be changed or eliminated is up for debate. Some believe that it adds an element of strategy to the game, while others find it unfair and confusing. What do you think?