Why is there an infield fly

Instead, the ball simply drops to the field. Except, in this case, the batter is still ruled out. The reason? An obscure but necessary baseball rule that occasionally finds itself in the spotlight. If these conditions are met, the umpire verbally declares the infield fly rule to be in effect and points to the air, while the ball is still airborne. When this occurs, the batter is automatically out, regardless of anything else that happens on the play.

The fielders can catch the ball, try to catch it and fail, or intentionally let it drop. None of that changes the result for the batter. As for the baserunners, they can advance -- at their own risk. If the ball is caught, a runner who strays off his or her base risks being the victim of a double play, should the fielder throw back to that base before the runner returns. If the ball drops, a runner has the opportunity to make it to the next base.

In this case, the defense must tag the runner out, because there is no force in effect. In most cases, the runners will simply hold, and the play will end with the batter out, and the runners at their same bases. 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 the game and create unfair if not altogether shady advantages.

Therefore, baserunners are allowed to advance at their own risk seeing that the ball either hits the ground or the runner tags up once the ball is caught. The main concept of the batter being called out on an infield fly rule is to protect runners on base against a team allowing a shallow fly ball to drop in with the intention of causing a force play that would not occur if the ball were caught in the air.

In the instance of a shift put on by players in the field, any player who positions themselves on the infield on the play will be considered infielders if the situation occurs where this rule must be called. The main thing to remember is that the rule is a judgment call made by the umpire. If the umpire determines that a player can make the catch with ordinary effort, then the rule can be applied. The umpire is required to yell "Infield fly, if fair" and will typically raise one arm straight up to signal to everyone that the rule is in effect.

Runner Advances on Infield Fly. Runner Attempts to Advance on Infield Fly. You Make the Call! Runner Tries to Advance on Infield Fly. Related Rules Definition of Terms. Infield Fly. Related Forum Topics. B1 pops up to the 2nd basema Logic might dictate that the safest bet is to stay on base and not risk running for the out.

In the ordinary course of play, their goal is to catch a pop up or a fly ball; it does not make sense for them normally to let a ball drop. With runners on first and second or the bases loaded, a dropped ball would mean the runners are forced to advance to the next base. The batter must go to first base, and the other runners must follow suit. When a single out is on the board, an infielder such as a shortstop can use the lack of choice the runners have to force an easy double play and end the inning.

Catching the batted ball, in this scenario, would actually give them the opposite position they want to advance toward their goal of ending the inning.

Leaving the ball uncaught in fair territory gives them an undue advantage. From its name, you might assume that the infield fly rule only applies to infielders. In fact, the rule is a bit more complicated. Pitchers, catchers, and outfielders who station themselves in the infield on the play can be considered infielders for the purpose of the rule. And umpires can determine that under the conditions of this play, if they judge that a ball can have been as easily handled by an infielder, the rule stands.

In Atlanta, the Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals were in a win-or-go-home game that would determine which team advanced to the NL Division Series.

In that game, St. Louis Led But in the bottom of the eighth, the Atlanta Braves had runners on first and second with one out. They were ready for a potential rally. Simmon popped the ball up to shallow left field—not exactly the infield. The ball was not caught in the outfield.