[simple simon]

Do you have one of those questions that you just can't seem to find the answer to ?? This is the thread to ask it. Do you have a nagging question about Major League Baseball like "could someone tell me what they mean by the Infield Fly Rule".



To avoid the deleting of posts please remember that this is just to ask questions and to give responses to questions. This is also not the place to add an opinion. If you know the answer, post it. If you don't please keep checking back to see if anyone does know the answer.

[MJHMarc]

I'll be on the 'Expert' panel, here.

First of all, what ever happened to Hideki Irabu? That guy had potential, but yet he stunk.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

First of all, what ever happened to Hideki Irabu? That guy had potential, but yet he stunk.

Irabu played his final baseball game on July 12, 2002. He is listed as being retired and living in California today. Irabu was 34-35 with a 5.15 ERA over a six year career. Interestingly enough, during his best season (1999), he was a top ten guy in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings, strikeout to walk ratio and shutouts. Hideki Irabu Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

[alex83]

i have 2 pitching based questions, what is a 'slider'? and what is a 'change up'? im a big baseball fan but have never been to clear on those 2 pitches

[bears9]

Originally Posted by alex83

i have 2 pitching based questions, what is a 'slider'? and what is a 'change up'? im a big baseball fan but have never been to clear on those 2 pitches

a slider a curve ball that breaking down very but is very hard on 1s arm the change-up is a pitch that starts out fast then drascticly sows down as it reaches the zone

[MJHMarc]

Originally Posted by alex83

i have 2 pitching based questions, what is a 'slider'? and what is a 'change up'? im a big baseball fan but have never been to clear on those 2 pitches

I always thought a slider was like a sinker, sliding to the bottom of the strike zone.

A change-up usually has a high-rise and drops into the zone slowly.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

I always thought a slider was like a sinker, sliding to the bottom of the strike zone.

A change-up usually has a high-rise and drops into the zone slowly.

crap my baseball coach then he's a leir

[Lefty Noob]

SLIDER - A fast pitch released with the index and middle fingers close together and slightly off center so that it breaks in the same direction as a curve ball as it approaches the plate; CHANGE-UP - a baseball thrown with little velocity when the batter is expecting a fastball.

[simple simon]

ok i know im no baseball expert ........ someone explain the infield fly rule to me please

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by simple simon

ok i know im no baseball expert ........ someone explain the infield fly rule to me please

The infield fly rule baffles experts, even, but I'll take a crack at it. Okay, here goes. Basically, in any situation where there's a force play at third base, a pop-up that fails to make it to the outfield is an automatic out for the batter. This is to prevent infielders from intentionally dropping a ball and then getting a double or triple play because the runners had to hold close to the bag. That's it in a nutshell. If I left anything important out or messed something up, I'm sure someone else will be able to correct me.

[simple simon]

so when you see these guys struggling to make infield catches in these situations they are just trying to save face ?

and where exactly does the infield end ...... after the dirt ?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by simple simon

so when you see these guys struggling to make infield catches in these situations they are just trying to save face ?

Probably, although there are probably some cases where the sun makes a catch difficult. Now, with the runner being declared out, I believe that if a catch is botched too terribly a runner can tag and advance, but I'm not 100% sure about this.

Originally Posted by simple simon

and where exactly does the infield end ...... after the dirt ?

Yep. The start of the grass is the start of the outfield.

[simple simon]

ok then another slightly related question ..... what exactly is considered a fly ball ?

how far and/or high does a fly have to fly to be considered a fly ?

(damn that's like the woodchuck chuckin' wood thing)

i mean a player could try to lay down a bunt and it goes 10 feet into the air to the pitcher, is that an infield fly under the rule ?

[Tuck4Bama]

A FLY BALL is a batted ball that goes high in the air in flight

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. On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder_not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.

From "The Baseball Almanac"

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

A FLY BALL is a batted ball that goes high in the air in flight

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. On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder_not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.

From "The Baseball Almanac"

Rule 6.05(L)

(l) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base 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.