What exactly is an infield fly?
Question:All I know is that if there's a runner on first and there's a pop up to the infield, batter's out. Is that all there is to it? And what's the significance, anyway?
Answers:
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If the Infield Fly rule did not exist, the infielder could simply allow the the pop-up drop to the ground. This would let them force the runners at the next base; they would not run as they did not want to get doubled-off their base without tagging up.Who here likes going to a baseball game for the experiance and not exactly for the game?
The Infield Fly Rule in baseball (specifically, rule 6.05e, coupled with the definition in rule section 2.00) is intended to prevent unfair gamesmanship by the fielders that would result in an easy double play. The infield fly rule applies when there are fewer than two outs, and there is a force play at third (runners on first and second base, or bases loaded.) In these situations, if a fair fly ball is hit that, in the umpire's judgment, is catchable by an infielder with ordinary effort, the batter is out regardless of whether the ball is actually caught in flight. The rule states that the umpire is supposed to announce, "Infield fly, if fair". If the ball will be almost certainly fair, the umpire will likely yell, "Infield fly, batter's out!" or just "Batter's out!"Any fair fly ball that could have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort is covered by the rule, regardless of where the ball was caught. The ball need not be caught by an infielder, nor must it be caught in the infield. For example, if an infielder retreats to the outfield in an effort to catch a fly ball with ordinary effort, the Infield Fly Rule would be invoked, even if an outfielder ultimately caught the ball, and even if no infielder attempted to make a play on the ball. Similarly, a fly ball within the infield that could have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, but is caught by an outfielder, would also be covered by the rule.
On a caught infield fly, the runners must tag up and may attempt to advance, like on any catch. If the infield fly falls to fair ground untouched, or is touched and dropped, runners need not tag up. In either case, since the batter is out, the force play on other runners is removed.
Do you think it is disrespectful at MLB games...?
Here's the rule: With runners on 1st and 2nd, or w/the bases loaded AND less than 2 outs, any pop fly, BUT NOT A BUNT OR LINE DRIVE, that can be caught w/ordinary effort by any infielder in fair territory, shall be declared an "Infield Fly". The batter is automatically out. Any base runner may advance AT HIS OWN RISK once the ball has been touched by the infielder.An infield fly occurs when there are runners on first and second and less than two outs. Bunts and line drives cannot be infield flies.
The runners on base can't leave their bases until a fly ball is touched by an infielder, so without the rule the runners would have to stay close to their base. The infielders could then let the ball drop and turn a quick double play.
A similar rule applies with a runner on first and no runner on second: An infielder cannot intentionally drop a batted ball, including a pop-up, bunt, or line drive. If the fielder does, the ball is dead, the batter-runner is out, and no runners can advance.
The ball remains live when the infield fly is called. Runners are still required to tag up if the ball is caught. If the ball is not caught, the defense must tag the runners to put them out, as the runners are not forced to advance (the batter-runner is already out).
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