Quote:
Originally Posted by Centerfield9
Thank you. Is this in the rulebook?
At mlb.com, they define it this way:
"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 who stations himself 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 baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the 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 bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a 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."
My interpretation of the MLB rule is that the batted ball is treated like a caught flyball whether the ball is caught or not, so the runners must "retouch" their base before advancing. ASA rules could be different but I cannot find it in the book.
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Point #1. This isn't a baseball board, just saying.
Point #2. Doesn't make any difference, to the best of my knowledgethe rule and it's application is universal.
Point #3. The portion in
RED is reliant upon the first half of the sentence prior to the comma, the ball being caught.
Point #4. Again, ttbomk, in all cases, the IF ruling affects only two portions of the rules: a) it declares the batter-runner out, and b) instructs participants & umpires alike to ignore the Intentionally Dropped Ball rule. No other rule or the application of the rule is affected by an IF call.