Hey Coach, Learn the Infield Fly Rule …

By Ray Dunn

 

            There is a difference between a fly ball hit to the infield and an “Infield Fly”.  Having been a Little League Umpire for 14 years, I have on several occasions, found myself explaining the rule to Majors managers.  In the Minors, it is such an unfamiliar rule that I incorporate the explanation into the pre-game plate meeting.  So, why is the infield fly rule one of the most misunderstood and elusive rules in Little League baseball today?  Because the rule it is not understood by managers and, therefore, not taught to the players.

 

            The purpose of this rant is to break down the Infield Fly rule into its fundamental components so that we may better understand the rule, its application and its confusions.  Once we understand it, we can teach to our players and their parents.  I know this will make my job as an umpire a little more enjoyable and will make you a better coach.

 

Why is this rule in the book?

            First, a little background; the purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent a defensive team from purposely not catching an infield fly with the intention of trying to turn a double play.  It’s an old baseball rule, and it happens to be one of my favorites.  As any umpire will tell you, it is completely necessary to the game.

 

So what’s the rule?

            The rule appears in the rule book in three places; the actual game situation and game particulars for an infield fly are formally defined in Section 2.00 of the rule book, Section 2.00; it goes like this;

 

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 stationed 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 baseline, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly if Fair."

 

The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of that 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 bounce foul and remains foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball, If 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.

 

Section 6 – “The Batter”, tells us what happens in the event of an “Infield Fly”   It states;

 

6.05- A batter is out when -

(d)       an Infield Fly is declared;

(k)       an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third bases occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases;


APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies.

 

            Finally, in Section 7 – “The Runner”, the rule is mentioned as part of what happens if runner gets whacked with a fly ball that has been declared an “Infield Fly”. It states;

7.08- Any runner is out when -

f)         touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, no runners may advance, except runners forced to advance;

 

EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching a base when touched by an Infield Fly, that runner is not out, although the batter is out.

 

NOTE 1: If a runner is touched by an Infield Fly when not touching a base, both runner and batter are out.


So where's the confusion?

            Like most rules, the confusion is in the details and the combination of things that can happen when the rule is in effect. First, let’s nail down the game situation on which the rule is in effect.  The rule says “when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out.”  More simply stated it says;

 

 

            Good umpiring teams, if you are luck enough to have a crew of two or more, actually signal each other when these game conditions exist.  Next time you’re managing, look for it.   So now we know when the rule is in effect, let’s move on to what has to happen for it to be called.  Not to appear obviously but for the infield fly rule to be in effect, the batter has to hit a fly ball in the infield that has a few special distinctions.  The rule states that “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.”  Simply, it’s a fly ball hit in the infield that can be easily caught.  The rule is also kind enough to state what an infield fly is not;

 

 

            Let’s have a word about “ordinary effort”.  There is no definition in rule book as to what constitutes ordinary effort in catching a fly ball.  This means that the decision is solely up to the umpire.  As an umpire, I can tell you every great umpire I have known always waits until the ball reaches its apex, takes a quick survey of the situation, and then decides if the catch can be made with ordinary effort.  Unfortunately, all umpires do not do this and sometimes the call is premature.  In any case, the rule states that;  “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 baseline, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly if Fair."  In any case, after the umpire decides that the infield fly rule applies, you’ll hear "Infield fly, batter is out."  If you don't hear the umpire yell that, then assume the rule doesn't apply. The rule is written this way to give the umpire the flexibly in the application the rule. A classic example is runners on 1st and 2nd and the batter squares to bunt.  The 3rd basemen charges, the batter resets and swings away, hitting a fly ball by 3rd base.  The umpire says nothing because, although the ball in a fly ball in the infield, the 3rd baseman couldn’t make the catch with ordinary effort.   Make sure you and your players just do not assume that the rule is effect on any fly ball to the infield.  It’s a judgment call by the umpire and you have to listen.

 

            One part of the definition that I have not touched on also generates a bit of confusion.  The rule refers to the fly ball as a “fair fly ball”. If the umpire calls the infield fly, and the ball is foul, the rule does not apply, period.  Also, the rule does not just apply to just infield positions.  The rule states “The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.”  One thing that the rule book does not define is where the infield stops and the outfield begins.  Again, in the case of the infield fly rule, the umpire is the sole judge of whether or not the ball is an infield fly.  Just because the ball was caught on the outfield grass just off of the infield, does not make it a bad call.

 

Ok, so what’s left?

            Well, it is important to remember that the ball is live.  The rule specifically states;  “The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of that 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”.  The first part of that sentence is what ordinarily gets things all jammed up if the ball is not caught by the fielder.  When this happens, the runner, believing he is forced, heads off for the next base not realizing that the batter is still out!  Unfortunately, most players in the field believe the very same thing and expect to retire the advancing runner by stepping on the bag.  Uh … no force here, without a tag before the runner gets to the bag, the runner is safe!   This is usually followed by a great moaning sound from the defensive dugout followed by a rather unpleasant discussion of the infield fly rule.

 

            I have just two more small points about the rule.  In section 6.05 of the rule book the rule is mention as part of long list of “the batter is out when” scenarios, specifically paragraph (d).  Down a little further is a little known rule about when a batter is out that also has been misunderstood down through the ages.  It is rule 6.05 (k).  It reads “The batter is out when; an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third bases occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases.  At first it kind of reads like another infield fly rule, but it’s not.  It deals only with intentionally dropped fly balls or line drives.  The rule is further clarified with the following; “APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies.”  Except where the infield fly rule applies … In the definition of the infield fly rule it is stated; “If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounce foul and remains foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball, If 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.”

 

            The last situation that must be talked about is the runners on base and the infield fly rule.  Section 7.08 paragraph (f) states that; “Any runner is out when touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, no runners may advance, except runners forced to advance; EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching a base when touched by an Infield Fly, that runner is not out, although the batter is out” and goes to note that “If a runner is touched by an Infield Fly when not touching a base, both runner and batter are out.” This is pretty straight forward, but the exception regarding the rule is definitely worthy of mention.