Thread: IFF Question
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Old Wed Apr 13, 2005, 08:39pm
WestMichBlue WestMichBlue is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: West Michigan
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Why doesn't it include a runner on 1st alone?

The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent the defense from getting an out they don't deserve. They are entittled only to the out on the fly ball. But if they deliberately let it drop they could get a force out on runners that were trapped close to the base due the fly ball.

However - you are not going to get the out at 1B on the B-R. By time you let the ball drop, throw to one base and relay to 1B, the B-R is long past the base. (Remember that B-R was running all the time the ball was in the air, while the other runners were stationary.) Thus with a single runner on base you cannot drop the ball and get two outs.

But with two or three runners on you can easily let the ball fall and fire to two bases for two outs.

By making the Batter an automatic out, the force has been removed, preventing multiple outs.

WMB
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