Baseball Rules Corner.

Infield Fly rule requires baserunners to remain alert

THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES TURNED the 12th triple play in their history on September 1 and there can't be a more bizarre one in the dozen.

In the bottom of the second inning, Cleveland had runners at first and second with none out when Sandy Alomar hit a pop fly into short left, about 15 feet off the infield dirt. Shortstop Melvin Mora went back for the ball, but instead of catching it, he wisely let it drop. Indians runners Travis Fryman at second and Wil Cordero at first never left their bases, thinking the Infield Fly rule would be called. But none of the umpires made a ruling and Mora alertly threw to second baseman Jerry Hairston, who tagged Fryman for the first out.

Meanwhile, Alomar apparently thinking he was out automatically on the infield fly, went back to the Indians' dugout. Hairston then threw to first, but umpire Ian Lamplaugh ruled Cordero safe. However, with Orioles manager Mike Hargrove and Indians skipper Charlie Manuel both on the field and players running all over the place Cordero was called out on a force at second.

The purpose of the Infield Fly rule (2.00) which has been around since 1895, is to protect runners from deceitful acts by the defense, namely infielders. From this corner, the umpires in the mentioned scenario failed to do their job by not invoking the rule.

To begin with, an Infield Fly is a fair ball which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two outs. Line drives and bunts are not included.

The key words are "ordinary effort." If the umpires deem that an infielder can catch the fly ball with ordinary effort, they signal by raising an arm straight in the air. If they do, the batter is automatically out and runners are protected from force plays in that they need not advance to the next base.