What the heck is the infield fly rule?!
The Infield Fly Rule applies when a fly ball, which can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder, when first and second, or first, second, and third are occupied with less then two outs. The infield fly rule is not an automatic assumption. The key here is, if, in the judgment of the umpire, the ball can be caught with ordinary effort, the umpire must immediately declare “Infield Fly” to alert the runners on base. If in the umpires judgment the fly ball cannot be caught with ordinary effort, the infield fly is not in effect. Some other points of interest… If an infield fly is called by the umpire and is dropped untouched to the ground, and rolls foul before the ball passes first or third base, the ball becomes a foul ball. Conversely, if a declared infield fly drops untouched in foul ground and rolls fair before crossing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly. A line drive or attempted bunt do not qualify for the Infield Fly. Is a pitch that bounces to the plate a dead ball? No
