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From: stevev@tekchips.UUCP (Steve Vegdahl)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Is the infield-fly-rule necessary?
Message-ID: <65@tekchips.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Jun-85 12:39:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekchips.65
Posted: Fri Jun 14 12:39:40 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Jun-85 00:45:19 EDT
References: <57@tekchips.UUCP> <602@ihlpg.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 41

>>The purpose of this message is to question whether this rule is necessary.
>>On a pop fly, there is presumably enough time for the batter pass the runner
>>occupying first.  Once he does this, he is called out for passing the runner,
>>thereby removing the force-out situation.

>Where does it say that the batter WILL pass the runner
>just because there is enough time to do so?  In fact,
>the batter would be pretty stupid to do that.
>Perhaps I'm missing your point?

Based on responses I've gotten so far to this query, my point was obviously
not made clearly.  Let's try again.

Currently, it is the responsibility of the umpire to declare an infield
fly.  The point of my original posting was that on a pop-up, the batter
himself could in effect "declare" an infield fly by simply rounding first
and passing the runner there.  Similarly, he could ALMOST pass the runner,
and wait to see what happened to the ball:
	- If the ball was caught, it would not matter.

	- If the ball was dropped, he could immediately pass the runner,
	  causing him to be out, and THEREBY REMOVING ANY POSSIBLITY OF
	  A FORCE OUT.

	- If the ball was dropped, but did something like hit a fielder's
	  knee and bound away, he could remain on first and allow the
	  other runners to advance.

In effect, this would allow the batting team to accept or decline the
infield fly on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether it is to their
advantage.  Currently, it must be accepted.

The infield-fly-rule is a special rule that was ``added'' to handle
an anomalous situation.  I am suggesting that there are actions that the
batting team could take in the absence of the rule that would prevent
such an anomalous situation from taking place.

		Steve Vegdahl
		Computer Research Lab.
		Tektronix, Inc.
		Beaverton, Oregon