Baseball rules corner: many players unaware of tag requirements when Infield Fly rule is called.

REMEMBER THE BEATLES SONG "Help"? That's what the language of the Infield Fly rule (2.00) needs--help! Every big league player knows that the rule is invoked whenever a batter hits a fair fly that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two outs.

The batter is automatically declared out, but thinners may attempt to advance at their own risk. The purpose of the rule that was instituted in 1895 is to protect runners from deceitful acts by members of the defense. If an infielder purposely drops a soft fly ball, it can easily result in a double play or triple play. Bunts are excluded as far as this rule is concerned.

As stated, when the umpires call "Infield Fly," the batter is automatically out but runners may advance at their own risk. If they should advance, a tag is required to put out an advancing runner since runners are not forced to advance on such plays. This is where the confusion lies because the situation resembles a force play but it is not. I know of at least three instances during the 2003 season when defensive players (primarily third basemen) were not aware that a tag was necessary to retire a runner. And as often happens, the runner is not usually aware that a tag is required.

I strongly believe that the language of the rule needs to be amended to explain the necessity of a tag when runners advance at their own risk after an Infield Fly is called. Although sacrosanct to baseball's playing code, the Infield Fly rule lacks understanding by an alarming number in the baseball world, both past and present.

Ignorance of the tag aspect of the rule occurred on May 13 this past season at Pac Bell Stadium where the Giants hosted the Expos. In a previous column, I covered the play from the eyes of the official scorer. Here is what happened.

The Giants had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning. Dan Smith had just relieved Tomo Ohka when Barry Bonds hit a fly ball that fell in front of home plate. Plate ump Jim Joyce correctly signaled "Infield Fly." Thinking he had a force at home, Expos' third baseman Fernando Tatis picked up the ball and stepped on the plate unaware that a tag was required to retire Neifi Perez, the Giants' runner on third who for some reason came thundering home to score the tying run untouched.

Obviously, Tatis and Barrett did not understand the defensive requirements of the rule and I'm not sure if Perez had a handle on the offensive side.