The Infield Fly Rule in baseball might sound complex, but understanding its purpose makes it quite straightforward. It’s designed to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping an easily catchable fly ball to create a double play when runners are on base.
Rule 2.00: Defining the Infield Fly
According to baseball’s official Rule 2.00, an Infield Fly is defined as: “a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or a bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second, and third bases are occupied before two are out. The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.”
This rule further specifies that “[t]he ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of being caught or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul ball.”
Key Elements of the Infield Fly Rule
To determine if the Infield Fly Rule applies, there are four essential conditions that must be met:
- Less than Two Outs: There must be zero or one out when the ball is hit.
- Runners on Base: Runners must be on first and second, or first, second, and third base.
- Fair Fly Ball, Not a Line Drive or Bunt: The batted ball must be a fair fly ball, excluding line drives and bunt attempts.
- Ordinary Effort Catch: An infielder must be able to catch the fly ball with ordinary effort. This is a judgment call made by the umpire.
The Purpose: Protecting Base Runners
The core reason for the Infield Fly Rule is to protect the runners on base from a defensive trick play. It’s not intended to be an automatic out for the defense. Without this rule, in a situation with runners on first and second and less than two outs, the defense could intentionally let an easy pop-up drop untouched. This would allow them to easily force out the runner at second and then the runner at first, resulting in a double play. The Infield Fly Rule eliminates this possibility by calling the batter out automatically.
The requirement for runners on first and second, or bases loaded, is crucial because it ensures there are runners susceptible to a force play. If there weren’t at least two forced runners, the defense wouldn’t gain an unfair advantage by letting the ball drop. Additionally, the “less than two outs” condition is necessary; with two outs, catching the fly ball or letting it drop both likely result in just one out anyway.
When Infield Fly Should Not Be Called: An Example
Deciding whether to call an Infield Fly often depends on the specific circumstances and the umpire’s judgment. Consider this example:
Scenario: Runners on first and second, no outs. A left-handed pull hitter is at bat. The defensive team employs a significant infield shift towards the first base side, leaving the third base side relatively open. The batter hits a weak pop-up that lands in fair territory near third base.
In this situation, because of the defensive shift, no infielder could realistically make a play on the ball with ordinary effort, let alone intentionally drop it for a double play. Therefore, the Infield Fly Rule should not be applied. However, if the infielders were in their standard positions, the same pop-up would likely be called an Infield Fly.
Addressing Misconceptions and Arguments
Managers sometimes argue for the Infield Fly rule to be called when a ball is dropped, hoping for an easy out. However, this misunderstands the rule’s purpose. The Infield Fly Rule is designed to protect the offensive team – the runners – not to give the defense a free out. If a batted ball genuinely qualifies as an Infield Fly, the defense should be able to catch it routinely and secure at least one out, if not more.
Runner’s Responsibilities During an Infield Fly
It’s important to note that the Infield Fly declaration only results in the batter being automatically out. The ball remains live. Runners are free to advance at their own risk, just as they would on any other fly ball. If the fly ball is caught, runners must tag up (retouch their original base) if they wish to advance and risk being thrown out. If the ball is dropped, runners are not forced to advance, but if they do leave their bases, they become vulnerable to being tagged out.
Runner Protected from Batted Ball
Interestingly, Rule 7.08(f) provides a unique protection for runners in an Infield Fly situation. If a runner is touching their base when an Infield Fly is called and is then hit by the batted ball, the runner is not called out. This is the only instance in baseball where a runner is protected from being called out for being hit by a fair batted ball.
In summary, the Infield Fly Rule is a specific rule in baseball designed to maintain fair play and prevent the defense from exploiting situations to gain an unfair double play advantage when an easy catch is possible. It’s all about protecting the runners and the integrity of the game.
