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lilhokie525 OP
Mar 05, 2026 at 07:23 AM ET
today's trivia
Name all three criteria that are required for baseball's infield fly rule to be in effect.

34 Replies

A
Agoodhokie
4mo
Great question! 2 of my most heated arguments w coaches...
Came after dropped IFR.
C
Chesapeake_Hokie
4mo
you're right - "can be caught" by by IF is better
santafe santafe
4mo
Less than 2 outs, runners on 1st and 2nd at least and fly ball that be
caught normally. The fly ball must be fair as well. ** Edited by santafe at 3/5/2026, 7:38:33 AM ** Edited by santafe at 3/5/2026, 7:39:47 AM
TomTurkey TomTurkey
4mo
I had one about a foot in front of home plate. "...if fair" was stressed.
C
Chesapeake_Hokie
4mo
less than 2 outs, runners 1st & 2nd or bases loaded, fair pop fly caught by
infielder with reasonable effort and can’t be a bunt. although that's 4 things
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lilhokie525 OP
4mo
ding, ding, ding, correct!
1) runners on 1st and 2nd (or bases loaded, which by definition has runners on 1st & 2nd), 2) less than 2 outs, and 3) a fair fly ball that in the umpire’s judgment can be caught by an infielder making an ordinary play The rule is there to prevent an infielder from deliberately not making an easy catch in order to get a double play.
Stork Stork
4mo
Does it really have to be “caught”? I think it has to be “catchable”.
Strategy allows the infielder to allow the ball to drop. ** Edited by Stork at 3/5/2026, 9:00:19 AM
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
The batter is out before the ball lands. So no.
Stork Stork
4mo
Exactly, but the correct answer stated a caught ball. Doesn’t sound correct
to me.
TomTurkey TomTurkey
4mo
Dead ball as soon as ump orally makes the call.
We had a hand signal so the crew knew IFR was in effect. ** Edited by TomTurkey at 3/5/2026, 2:35:21 PM
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Chesapeake_Hokie
4mo
you're right - doesn't have to be caught. Trickey infielders . . .
will "drop" ball, hoping runners will run. At their own peril
RhinoVT RhinoVT
4mo
and that's the point of the rule.
santafe santafe
4mo
What was wrong with @Brown Water 's answer? Was it the bunt
thingy? Which seems to be 4 things?
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lilhokie525 OP
4mo
He did not say that it could be caught by an infielder
making an ordinary play.
V
Va AandM
4mo
In MLB rules, it state it applies outfielders, too…
“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” ** Edited by Va AandM at 3/5/2026, 12:10:57 PM
santafe santafe
4mo
Gotcha, thanks
TomTurkey TomTurkey
4mo
Is the pitcher or catcher "infielders"?
See my reply above. The runner jeopardy is in effect if they're positioned in the "infield."
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
That's what a pop fly is
C
Chesapeake_Hokie
4mo
if bunt is not part of the answer, then @Brown Water and my answer
are the same, and he answered before me
santafe santafe
4mo
I guess the bunt thing is what put you over the top, well done!
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
Meh, I've only been a baseball fan for 60 years. I think I know the
infield fly rule by now.
UTPr0sim UTPr0sim
4mo
Normally probably more than easily! LOL
santafe santafe
4mo
There I fixed it........... :)
UTPr0sim UTPr0sim
4mo
you are welcome!
JoesterVT JoesterVT
4mo
Hmm....runner on first, < than 2 outs, ball easily reached by an infielder
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
Less than 2 out, runner's on first and second or bases loaded, and a fair
pop fly easily caught. ** Edited by Brown Water at 3/5/2026, 7:43:14 AM
Stork Stork
4mo
By an infielder
** Edited by Stork at 3/5/2026, 7:44:10 AM
hoosnowahokie hoosnowahokie
4mo
Yeah, ask the Braves if it REALLY has to be an infielder
MP4VT2004 MP4VT2004
4mo
Yeah, that was BS. The spirit of the rule is to protect the hitting team...
...but as it was applied in that case, it penalized them.
JoesterVT JoesterVT
4mo
Infielder was camped under it. Fits the rule...
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
A pop fly (or popup) is a high, short-distance batted ball in baseball
usually caught by infielders
santafe santafe
4mo
That's probably what's missing.
Brown Water Brown Water
4mo
It's implied by a pop fly though.
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lilhokie525 OP
4mo
Reggie Jackson once said that Mark Maguire only hits pop flies. He then
qualified his comment by saying that MM's pop flies go 400 feet!