How to Understand the Infield Fly Rule

Baseball is a game of many subtle rules and one of the more obscure, and frequently misunderstood, is baseball's infield fly rule. The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent a fielder from intentionally misplaying a pop-up with runners on base in order to force a double play.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check the number of outs. In order for baseball's infield fly rule to be enforced, there must be fewer than two outs. The purpose of the rule is to prevent a defensive team from intentionally committing an error in order to force a double play.

2. Scrutinize the runners on base. There must be runners on at least first and second base, or bases have to be loaded for the infield fly rule to be called. In other words, there must be a force play available at third base.

3. Watch those infield pop ups. If runners are on first and second, or bases are loaded, a ball hit up in the air that does not leave the infield is subject to the infield fly rule.

4. Listen for the judgment call. The infield fly rule is a judgment call by the umpire who must determine if the infielder can make the play with "ordinary effort." If so, the umpire will signal and yell, "Infield fly rule."

5. Watch to see if the batter gets automatically called out. Once the umpire has called for the infield fly rule, the batter is automatically out and the runners cannot advance a base. The purpose is to prevent the infielder from intentionally dropping the pop up, setting up a potential force out or double play at any base.

Resources

• WebbBall is an informative site that discusses baseball rules.

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[drhink]

on 2/18/2009 Step 5 is wrong. Runners may advance "at their own peril" on a called IFR because the ball is live/in-play as long as it stays in fair territory. And there is no longer any force out at any base, so runners advancing MUST be tagged out. Go look it up.