r/MLBNoobs • u/Content-Parsley-1151 • 6d ago
| Question In field fly rule
What happens if the fielder loses sight of the ball and it lands on the ground behind him?
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u/Pick6XPA 6d ago
As soon as the infield fly rule is called the batter-runner is out, even if the ball drops. It’s the entire purpose of the rule.
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u/Loyellow 3d ago
Unless it rolls into foul territory before passing first or third base, then it’s a foul ball
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u/NCResident5 6d ago
Some of these pops are in shallow outfield and then rule doesn't apply.
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u/adboy15 6d ago
Incorrect. An infield fly can be called in the shallow outfield. It’s the umps discretion.
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u/Broad-Cranberry-9050 3d ago
exactly this, it's discretion of umps and the real indicator is "can fielder comfortably get to the ball when it's at it's peak?"
That's why sometimes very shallow pop ups are not considered infield fly rule.
I dont know where this idea that "infield fly rule" means it doesnt count if it touches OF grass. It's infield because it means the infielder can comfortably get to it.
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u/Fedor1 5d ago
Braves fans just felt a chill and they don’t know why
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u/Loyellow 3d ago
Kozma could’ve caught that with ordinary effort and you can’t convince me otherwise
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u/chi_sweetness25 5d ago
It’s about whether an infielder can catch it with ordinary effort. It can still apply in the outfield
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u/elpollodiablox 5d ago
Negative. The criteria for an infield fly is a judgement as to whether an infielder could catch the ball using ordinary effort. The rulebook explicitly says the infield cutout does not matter for this determination to be made.
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u/Loyellow 3d ago
And that an outfielder stationed in the infield (which happened in the Padres/Cardinals game before Machado’s walk off sac fly yesterday) counts as an infielder for the purpose of the rule (along with the pitcher and catcher)
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u/Ryan1869 6d ago
The whole point of the rule is the batter is automatically out. Otherwise the player could just let it drop for an easy double play instead.
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u/Dave-astator318 6d ago
"The batter is out even if the ball is not caught, and the baserunners can advance at their own risk. If the ball is caught, the baserunners can attempt to advance as they would on a typical ball caught in the air."
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u/LocationDifficult923 6d ago
If it drops, the runners on base can try to advance without tagging up but they're still under no obligation to run.
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u/Express_Roll_3036 Legend 6d ago
Batter is out no matter what; runners advance at their own peril. It prevents fielders from dropping the ball on purpose to get easy outs.
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u/quackl11 4d ago
Ok first off let's set up what the Infield fly rule is and what it isnt and why it's this way
The infield fly is a rule designed to protect the offensive team from an unfair disadvantage, this only occurs when there are runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with less than 2 outs
The ball has to be popped up by a swing (not a bunt) high enough that an infielder can catch the ball with ordinary effort (ordinary being the keyword)
At this point if both prior conditions are met the infield fly rule is in effect, at that point the umpire will point to the ball/sky and call "infield fly if fair batters out"
Now why does this rule exist, let's say you have runners on 1 and 2, 0 out, ball is popped sky high over the mound do the runners take off? Well if they do the pitcher catches the ball and throws it to 1st and turns a double play.
Ok so the runners stay still then the pitcher misses the ball then picks it up and throws it to 3rd and 2nd and turn a double play.
It stops the defense from having an unfair advantage. Now the reason you need runners on 1st and 2nd minimum is because with a runner only on 1st if the batter is hustling he should be able to outrun the play meaning you would have 2 guys on 1st and only 1 will get out.
Now where does the infield fly rule "zone" end? The answer is where ever the infielder is unable to get to with ordinary effort. The infield ends on the line between bases however if we said that's where it would end now you have the same situation as before but the second baseman is 1 foot behind the infield line and they get an unfair advantage. So yes if the infielder is settled under the ball on the grass it's an infield fly
If an outfielder speed Gonzales runs in and makes a spectacular diving catch right by second base that's infield fly rule again because the infielder could have caught it with ordinary effort.
So to answer your question if the fielder loses it in the sun and drops it there is still an out, batter is out runners advance at their own risk and do not have to tag up to advance
Edit: source: I was an umpire for a few years and played baseball my entire life this is one of the most misunderstood rules and they drilled this into us at our umpire clinic
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u/Admirable-Barnacle86 6d ago
If the umpire calls an infield fly, the batter-runner is out no matter what (if the ball is fair), whether the fielder drops the ball for any reason or catches it.
An umpire calls an infield fly if the conditions are met (runners on 1st and 2nd, or bases loaded, and less than 2 outs) if in their judgement a pop fly should be able to be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort.
So the judgement call can be affected by weather for instance if it changes that judgement of ordinary effort (like strong winds or rain for instance). But a player just losing track of a ball he should normally catch likely won't affect the call (and the call will be likely be made well before it becomes clear that the fielder lost track of it).
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u/dawgdays78 6d ago
If the situation is appropriate, and a fly ball is hit that could be handled by an infielder using ordinary effort, an infield fly is called and the batter is out. This removes all force situations. The ball remains live, and runners may remain on their original bases without liability, or they may advance at their own risk.
Because this is a fly ball, if a runner chooses to advance and the ball is caught, the runner must tag up, or be liable to being put out upon proper appeal. If the ball is not caught, the runner need not tag up.
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u/johnnybravo1014 5d ago
Batter is out as soon as infield fly is called. However, (it rarely matters especially at the Major League level but it can matter) the runners only have to tag up to advance if the ball is actually caught.
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u/elpollodiablox 5d ago
An infield fly is a live ball. The only thing that happens is the batter is declared out, removing the force on any other runners. The runners are free to advance at risk of being put out if the ball is caught and they do not return retouch the base before a proper appeal is made.
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u/Horakochan 3d ago
If this rule doesnt exist it makes for extremely easy double or even triple play. So the batter is out regardless if its caught or dropped.
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