Where’s the infield fly rule when you need it?
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Any true baseball fan knows the infield fly rule -- the one that wasn’t invoked during the fifth inning of the World Series on Monday night because miserable conditions, in the mind of the umpires, turned a routine pop-up into an adventure.
Now, for those of you who aren’t quite sure of the nuances of the rule, here’s a video that makes the infield fly rule crystal clear.
OK, so that might not have been that precise. Here it is in a nutshell: If first and second base are occupied, and there are fewer than two outs, a pop fly that can be caught by an infielder with reasonable effort will be called an out.
Of course, when that situation seemed to present itself in the fifth inning Monday, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins lost what would normally have been a routine pop fly in the rain and wind. Umpire Tim Tschida said he didn’t make the infield fly call because the conditions made it a difficult play.
We do believe that Rollins was in compliance with the above video definition of the pop-fly rule.
(Here’s MLB’s official explanation of the rule.)
-- Mike James
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, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball 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.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. 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.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder—not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
