The only difference between an infield =
fly
and any other fly is that the batter is out when it is declared, and the ba=
ll
does not have to be caught. Because the batter is declared out the runners =
are
no longer forced to run, but they may run if they wish, at the risk =
of
being put out. If the ball is caught they must tag-up before running, the s=
ame
as on any fly ball. If the ball is not caught they may run without tagging =
up,
the same as on any fly ball.
If the umpires forget to call an obvious infield fly, the rule is assumed to
have been called and the batter is still out.
If a fly ball first lands untouched on foul ground before first or third ba=
se
and bounces untouched into fair territory, it is an inf=
ield
fly because it is now a fair ball and the batter is out. If the fly =
ball
first lands untouched in fair territory before first or third and bounces
untouched into foul territory, it is just a foul ball.
The Infield Fly is a judgment by the um=
pire
that the ball could be caught with ORDINARY EFFORT by a player who w=
as
stationed in the infield at the time of the pitch. It is not automatic just
because it's a pop-up in the infield. This is called when there is a runner=
on
1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd and 3<=
sup>rd.
and before there are 2 outs.