What the heck is the infield fly rule?!
The Infield Fly Rule applies when a fly ball,
which can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder, when first
and second, or first, second, and third are occupied with less then two
outs. The infield fly rule is not an automatic assumption. The key here
is, if, in the judgment of the umpire, the ball can be caught with
ordinary effort, the umpire must immediately declare “Infield
Fly” to alert the runners on base. If in the umpires judgment the
fly ball cannot be caught with ordinary effort, the infield fly is not
in effect.
Some other points of interest…
If an infield fly is called by the umpire and is dropped untouched to
the ground, and rolls foul before the ball passes first or third base,
the ball becomes a foul ball. Conversely, if a declared infield fly
drops untouched in foul ground and rolls fair before crossing first or
third base, it is an Infield Fly.
A line drive or attempted bunt do not qualify for the Infield Fly.
Is a pitch that bounces to the plate a dead ball?
Nope. There are no specific rules against
"bouncing the ball" to the batter. A pitched ball can zoom out of a
pitchers hand and cross the foul line or roll to the plate or bounce
it's way there, in all cases, it is considered a legally pitched ball.
A batter may legally hit a pitch that touches the ground on it's way to
the plate. If the batter is struck by the pitch he is awarded first
base. If the batter swings at the pitch and misses it is a strike. A
ball that touches the ground before crossing the plate cannot be a
"called strike".
Can a batter who was just issued a walk advance to second base?
Mmm. There is no specific rule to prevent this.
If the ball is not in the pitchers hand, and the pitcher is not on the
rubber ready to deliver the next pitch, the ball is live. All runners
may advance. However, the runner(s) advances on his own risk.
Is the bat an extension of the hands?
No. The hand bone's connected to the arm bone...
Sorry.. The hands are considerd part of the body. If a pitched ball
hits the hands, the ball is dead; if a batter swung at the pitch, the
call is a strike and the batter is not awarded first base. If
the batter was attempting to avoid being hit by a pitched ball and was
hit on the hands, the batter is awarded first base.
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