The infield fly rule in baseball is a judgement call by the umpire. The comment in the baseball rule book that accompanies the explanation of the rule is whats most pertinent in tonights case. When an infield fly is called, the batter is automatically out assuming that the ball eventually lands or is played in fair territory. We want to bring you the most uptodate, informative and exciting baseball information. Simply put, the balk rule prevents pitcher from balking, loosely meaning stopping a pitch halfway through, penalizing them by allowing all runners to advance one base. Umps call infield fly rule in padresphillies game deep. The infield fly rule was established to prevent infielders from purposely securing more than one out for their team.
An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive. Some examples include four balls constituting a walk, the pitching distance set at 60 feet six inches and a caught foultip counting as a strike. The rule is in place to protect against a team allowing a shallow fly ball to drop in with the intention of causing a force play at second and third or second, third and home. Outfield fly rule atlanta braves through thick and thin. This is normally called to put a stop to a double play. The infield fly rule is not operative on a foul ball and the umpire must rescind his or her infield fly call 2. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of rule 5. Oct 12, 2012 baseballs infield fly rule has sparked more legal fascination than any other rule in sports. The rule refers mainly to popups, since line drives or weakly hit fly balls that fall to the ground immediately would not allow time for the defense to react fast enough to catch the baserunners offguard. Major league baseball advanced media mlbam was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. It was held at turner field in atlanta, on october 5, 2012, at 5. Umps call infield fly rule on simmons popup youtube.
The rule says that an infield fly is a ball that can be caught by an infielder, but that does not mean that it must be caught by an infielder. Designed by major league baseball to ensure good sportsmanship and fair play during the course of a game, the rule deals with those strategies that undermine. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions. The infield fly rule is the most misunderstood rule in baseball and perhaps in all of sports. The infield fly rule is normally called under two circumstances. The infield fly rule is an easy rule to understand if you can remember the purpose of the rule. In nfhs softball, for the purpose of the infield fly rule, an infielder is defined as any defensive player on the infield circa 2016, i need to grab my 2018 book to see if that has changed. Drawing on interviews with experts, legal arguments and a study of every infieldfly play in eight major league seasons, this book tells the complete story of the rule. The rule was first introduced by the national league in 1895 and only applied with one out. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first. What is the most confusing rule in the mlb rule book. Baseball instituted some of its most fundamental regulations around the time of the infield fly rules inception. If the umpire fails to call an infield fly on a batted ball that should have been the runners and fielders are expected to know that it is an infield fly and treat it accordingly.
The infield fly rule takes effect on a fair fly ball that, in the judgment of the umpire, can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort and when there are runners on first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs. The idea is that if a pitcher makes half a pitching motion. In defense of baseballs infield fly rule the atlantic. May 02, 2020 the infield fly rule is not operative on a foul ball and the umpire must rescind his or her infield fly call 2. Without the infield fly rule, the runners have a dilemma. Case book material in this edition are in shaded boxes and are labeled as comment. Baseballs infield fly rule has sparked more legal fascination than any other rule in sports. Oct 06, 2012 the umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpires judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. Thanks to everyone who has followed along with this series, and hopefully its been a worthwhile look at the club as they roll into the major league and minor league. Catchers were compelled to remain continuously under the bat. Mar 10, 2020 a few important points about the infield fly rule. Everything you always wanted to know about the infield fly rule. Bravescardinals wild card game infield fly rule explained with 28yr mlb umpire jim evans duration. It was put in place in order to prevent defensive players from dropping a fly ball hit to the infield on purpose in order to turn a quick double play.
While mlbs official baseball rules explain what the umpire should call. Apr 06, 2019 bravescardinals wild card game infield fly rule explained with 28yr mlb umpire jim evans duration. Lets suppose that there are runners on first and second, the most basic situation for an infield fly. If a fly ball falls to the ground untouched outside the foul lines then bounces fair, before reaching first or third bases it is an infield fly. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of rule 6. Infield fly rule confusion by fielder and umpire baseball. The infield fly rule was put in place to prevent a defensive player from intentionally dropping a pop up in the infield and turning it into an easy double play, or even a triple play. The major league baseball silhouetted batter logo is a. While 99% of infield fly rule applications are standard, noncontroversial situations the ordinary effort by an infielder portion of the rule is what causes the controversial issues. Oct 05, 2012 when an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. The infield fly rule explained why the infield fly rule is a must. Foul strike rule was adopted by the american league.
Infield fly with a shift ask the umpire umpireempire. The common law origins of the infield fly rule the1 infield fly rule 2 is neither a rule of law nor one of equity. The umpire can retroactively rule the hit as an infield fly although he may not have said anything while the play was in progress. It returned to the national spotlight this past week when an unusual and controversial infield fly. Since were on the topic of infield fly heres a literal interp, based on the obr rules. Confusion over the infield fly rule occurred on august 22, 2017, when the angels hosted the rangers. Reading the definition of the infield fly rule straight from the rules book, one can clearly see where the issue can arise. If a declared infield fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an infield fly. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when. The rule is put into effect when there is a pop up in the infield that is catchable.
When both of these conditions are met then any high popup that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort invokes the infield fly rule iff. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. Height of the mound was limited to 15 inches higher than the level of the baselines. The full squad has now reported to spring training and the first exhibition game is a few days away. Visit our frequently asked questions section to find solutions for your issues. The umpires declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out and all force plays are removed regardless of whether the ball is caught. If they stay close to their bases, the third base player could choose to let the ball drop and get multiple outs by tagging the runner who was on third, stepping on third base to force out the runner from second, and throwing to second base to force out the runner from first. The infield fly rule denotes that a hitter is out if a fly ball is hit in the infield, there are less than two outs, and runners are on base. The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. Another oddity is the infield flys rule book contemporaries. Oct 05, 2012 the comment in the baseball rule book that accompanies the explanation of the rule is whats most pertinent in tonights case. The batter hits a fair fly ball not a bunt or line drive catchable by an infielder with ordinary effort. Particularly at higher levels, a deep infield fly might be taken by an outfielder coming in.
The infield fly rule will only be called under certain conditions. Here is the way major league baseball defines the infield fly. When the infield fly rule is called in baseball, can a. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to reorganize and recodify the official baseball rules into a more logical. The ifr provides two options for the umpire in declaring the batter out 1 infield fly, or 2 infield fly if fair. In the bottom of the fourth, the angels had mike trout on first and kaleb cowart on second and one out when albert pujols hit a pop fly in front of the pitchers mound. On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball. I have a lot of possible answers to this questionseeing singin in the rain for the first time on a birthday date with patty at the hollywood bowl in 1990. Aside the common law origins of the infield fly rule the1 infield fly rule 2 is neither a rule of law nor one of equity.
An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder. The infield fly rule is only in effect with runners on first and second or first, second, and third. When the infield fly rule is called in baseball, can a runner. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to.
The infield fly rule is a baseball rule intended to prevent the defense from getting a cheap double play by deliberately dropping a fly ball in the infield. Apr 24, 2017 reading the definition of the infield fly rule straight from the rules book, one can clearly see where the issue can arise. Its pretty much, and even stated in the rules, that its a way to retroactively call infield fly when the play was too fast to call. The 2012 national league wild card game was a playin game during major league baseballs mlb 2012 postseason played between the national leagues nl two wild card teams, the st. The only other instance when the infield fly rule is called is when either runners are on first and second, or the bases are loaded. The umpires judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. The cardinals won by a 63 score and advanced to play the washington nationals in the nl. The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the.
The umpire s declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out and all force plays are removed regardless of whether the ball is caught. Ncaa infield fly rule question posted by wacotiger on 4718 at 9. The rulebook definition of infield fly says the umpire shall immediately declare infield fly for the benefit of the runners. Jul 17, 2019 in nfhs softball, for the purpose of the infield fly rule, an infielder is defined as any defensive player on the infield circa 2016, i need to grab my 2018 book to see if that has changed. The first one is when there are less than two outs.
Dec 19, 20 major league baseball advanced media mlbam was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. Jun 03, 2009 the umpires judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. My interpretation of the mlb rule is that the batted ball is treated like a caught flyball whether the ball is caught or not, so the runners must retouch their base before advancing. Infield fly rule october 5, 2012 an infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, orfirst, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. If a declared infield fly falls to the ground untouched and bounces foul before passing first or third bases, it is a foul ball. Series of infield fly or potential infield fly plays youtube. What is the infield fly rule and why do they have it.
The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpires judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. A fly ball catchable with ordinary effort in major league baseball might not be in a junior high school. Some examples include four balls constituting a walk, the pitching distance set at 60 feet six inches and a. Major league baseball consists of 30 teams split between the american and national. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if. If interference is called during an infield fly, the ball remains alive until it is determined whether the ball is fair or foul. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not a line drive or bunt that, in the judgment of the umpire, can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort and. That is a rule, but its literally never enforced, you see it pretty commonly with fielders just gloving down line drives when infield fly cant be called. While mlb s official baseball rules explain what the umpire should call, they wont tell you why.