why is there an infield fly rule in baseball?
547889
Basically, it's to prevent unfair play by the infielders.  Without the rule, an infielder could intentionally allow the ball to hit the ground, requiring the runner(s) on base to move forward.  It would then be easy to get a double play.
410998
It's based on scoring shorthand ... before we ubergeeks sat at laptops ... people would get a scorecard and actually have a shorthand system that they could follow every pitch of every game.\n\nYou're right one is the pitcher ... two is then the catcher ... three is first base ... and so on across the position players. From your short hand, 4-6-3 would be a ball hit directly to the second baseman who threw it to the shortstop covering second and then the shortstop threw it over to the first baseman for a double play.  \n\nI attached a link to a website that tells you how to actually score a game. If you want to watch every moment and see the game unfold, this is one of the best ways to do it.
1170865
1.04\nTHE PLAYING FIELD. The field shall be laid out according to the instructions below, supplemented by Diagrams No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 on adjoining pages. The infield shall be a 90-foot square. The outfield shall be the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the square, as in Diagram 1. The distance from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on fair territory shall be 250 feet or more. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines, and 400 feet or more to center field is preferable. The infield shall be graded so that the base lines and home plate are level. The pitcher's plate shall be 10 inches above the level of home plate. The degree of slope from a point 6 inches in front of the pitcher's plate to a point 6 feet toward home plate shall be 1 inch to 1 foot, and such degree of slope shall be uniform. The infield and outfield, including the boundary lines, are fair territory and all other area is foul territory. It is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East-Northeast. It is recommended that the distance from home base to the backstop, and from the base lines to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on foul territory shall be 60 feet or more. See Diagram 1. When location of home base is determined, with a steel tape measure 127 feet, 338 inches in desired direction to establish second base. From home base, measure 90 feet toward first base; from second base, measure 90 feet toward first base; the intersection of these lines establishes first base. From home base, measure 90 feet toward third base; from second base, measure 90 feet toward third base; the intersection of these lines establishes third base. The distance between first base and third base is 127 feet, 338 inches. All measurements from home base shall be taken from the point where the first and third base lines intersect. The catcher's box, the batters' boxes, the coaches' boxes, the three-foot first base lines and the next batter's boxes shall be laid out as shown in Diagrams 1 and 2. The foul lines and all other playing lines indicated in the diagrams by solid black lines shall be marked with wet, unslaked lime, chalk or other white material. The grass lines and dimensions shown on the diagrams are those used in many fields, but they are not mandatory and each club shall determine the size and shape of the grassed and bare areas of its playing field. NOTE (a) Any Playing Field constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide a minimum distance of 325 feet from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines, and a minimum distance of 400 feet to the center field fence. (b) No existing playing field shall be remodeled after June 1, 1958, in such manner as to reduce the distance from home base to the foul poles and to the center field fence below the minimum specified in paragraph (a) above.
515101
it is called the infield, but the reason the path is there is because of the constant torture the grass receives from the catcher going to the mound to talk to the pitcher. a lot of field maintenance crews determined it was an easier fix than trying to keep the grass green and full when its being trampled on for 6 months
175929
The American League instituted the DH rule before the 1973 season and Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first MLB player to officially play the postition on April 6, 1973.\n\nThe official rule states that any league may use the rule if it so chooses. The American League decided to experiment with the rule starting with the 1973 season in an effort to boost offensive production (since pitchers are traditionally poor hitters), liked it and has continued to use it. The National League (the Senior Circuit) decided to stay more traditional and has continued to make pitchers hit for themselves. The DH rule specifically states that the DH will be used in the home park of a team that regularly uses the rule (why you have DH in AL home games of a World Series) and that it will be used in an All-Star game only if both leagues agree in advance.\n\nIronically, it was the National League, not the American League, that first proposed using a DH. National League president John Heydler advocated the rule change at the annual major-league meeting in Chicago on Dec. 1, 1928. The NL owners approved the rule, but the AL rejected it, thus ending the debate on the rule until it revived in the 1970s.
579613
There is no rule in MLB that says it is a strike. However it is common sense that a ball put in play is a strike. On an official pitch count there must be a determination of ball or strike for every pitched ball.  Thus a ball put in play is considered a strike.  Hope this helps!
318045
Unless the ball is ruled dead by the umpire, any runner can attempt to advance.  Since the batter was not entitled to try and advance, he would just be directed back to the batter's box to finish his at-bat.  If the catcher makes a throw to 1st base, it simply creates a better opportunity for the runner at 3rd to score.
1029433
Greetings from the Yahoo Brain in New York City!  \nHope you're watching the live Answers webcast at http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\n\nI know many teams employ a seemingly random rotation between the second baseman and the shortstop, so as to keep the opposing batters guessing as to where the hole would be.\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
327634
What? Never heard that rule. I was of the understanding that if the ball hit the top of the wall/fence and went out, it was a home run. I guess there could be a different rule for softball.
1733
Because money talks in baseball. Baseball is a kids sport that adults tend to screw up.
462975
A runner can be called out though if he were to interfere with a fielders attempt to catch a fly ball while over foul ground.\n\nA runner is also not always out when hit by a batted ball in fair territory. If the ball has passed a fielder, (excluding pitcher) and no other fielder has an oppotunity to make a play, the runner will not be out if hit. You'll never see that in MLB though!
1007511
In Baseball: To preserve (another pitcher's win) by protecting one's team's lead during a stint of relief pitching. \n\nAccording to the Official Major League rules: \n\nCredit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: \n\n(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and \n\n(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and \n\n(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: \n\n(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or \n\n(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or \n\n(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game. \n\nA pitcher who records the final out for the winning team WILL NOT be credited with a save in the following situations: \n\n(1) He enters the game in the final inning with a 3-run lead and nobody on base, but does not complete a full inning. Under these conditions, a pitcher must complete one full inning to earn a save. \n\n(2) A pitcher cannot create his own save situation. For example, if a pitcher enters the game in the final inning with a 5-0 lead and nobody on base, he will not earn a save by allowing four runs before recording the final out. \n\n(3) Pitching the final inning for the winning team does not guarantee a save. Please refer to conditions a, b and c above when determining if a pitcher entered the game under save conditions.
487062
The reason is Major League Baseball rule 6.10 and it leaves it upto the League to decide to use or not use the rule.  The National League chooses not to use the rule as it bucks baseball tradition.  The younger American League is not so stooped in tradition and has used the rule since the 70's!The rule was put in initially to see if the offensive performance of a team could be enhanced by using a hitter in place of the pitcher who typically doesn't hit for average or power. \n\n6.10\nAny League may elect to use the Designated Hitter Rule. (a) In the event of inter league competition between clubs of Leagues using the Designated Hitter Rule and clubs of Leagues not using the Designated Hitter Rule, the rule will be used as follows: 1. In World Series or exhibition games, the rule will be used or not used as is the practice of the home team. 2. In All Star games, the rule will only be used if both teams and both Leagues so agree. (b) The Rule provides as follows: A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire in Chief. The designated hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game. Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter becomes the Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order. A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter may not pinch run. A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter. Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once the game pitcher bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. (The game pitcher may only pinch hit for the Designated Hitter). Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be announced until it is the Designated Hitter's turn to bat.
468776
There is something a little bit precarious about pitching from a mound...Stepping forward and down at the batter in the midst of a aggressive pitching motion while wearing cleats.  The throwing mechanics of the pitching motion can mostly be duplicated on flat grounf and allow the recovering pitcher to keep his arm lively while not risking any sort of slip from the pitching rubber.  I liken it to a flight simulator training for pilots before going up in the actual plane.
1061400
Apparently this has been done quite a few times.  See the link.  Some of the people who did it are quite famous, like Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Cochrane and Lou Gehrig.  There are 23 Hall-of-Famers on the list.  Others are quite obscure.  The most unusual name I saw at first glance was Yankee pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (July 20, 1965).  Randy Winn is the most recent player to do it.\n\nHonus Wagner did it five times.  Shoeless Joe Jackson did it three times.  Jimmy Sheckard did it on consecutive days in 1901.  Note that most instances were in the "dead-ball" era, when batters had to do a lot more running as balls that would go over the fence after 1930 stayed in play before then.  (That's when most of the records concerning triples were set, too.)  Also many ballparks had huge outfields, such as the Polo Grounds, the original Yankee Stadium, Forbes Field and the National League park in Philadelphia.  Today centerfield distances of 450 feet or more simply do not exist in MLB.\n\nAnother surprise is that so many catchers are on the list, including Cochrane, Tim McCarver, Wes Westrum and Dan Wilson, the latter recently retired from the Seattle Mariners.
510970
I shall add that an infielder running in the outfield to catch a ball also permits the rule to be invoked.  It's also scored as such if an outfielder drops the ball with less than 2 out, the runner from 3rd scores, and the defense gains a force on another runner (say from 1st going to 2nd).\n\nThere have been times when a runner from 2nd scores on an SF; this usually happens when the outfielder falls asleep, thinking there are 2 outs already.  If the runner hauls a$$ all the way home without stopping, it's an SF.  Usually, if he stops and sees the CF dozing, it's scored as a fielder's choice, an AB, and no RBI (this is from another section in the rulebook on RBIs).\n\nYou -could- possibly score all the way from 1st and have an SF, though I would think the fielder would have to first fall asleep and then, say, injure himself without throwing the ball.  That way, another fielder would have to take several seconds to run and get the ball from him, and the runner could go and go.  That would be an SF... :)
759675
It's up to the umpire. Usually the runner is "safe" unless the ball was clearly on base before the runner. Any doubts means the runner gets the benefit of the doubt. \nCan't give you the rule- as it is now well over 10 years since I called a game