Baseball Strategy Question-

[bahua]

I never post, but I always appreciate reading this board.

 

My question is this. A buddy of mine were discussing the other day about purposely dropping fly balls…especially of the infield variety. I can think of three reasons this might be helpful.

 

1) A speedy runner(or anyone with a reputation as a good base runner)on first base could easily be eliminated by dropping an infield fly(obviously fair) and throwing him out at second. I’ve watched a lot of baseball and I’ve never seen this happen. Even on shallow fly balls to the outfield this could be done.

2) Line drives at people could easily be purposely dropped to turn double plays (I’m pretty sure there is a rule against this one, my friend didn’t think so)

3) Checking to see if someone is barely jogging down the 1st base line on an infield fly, a dropped ball could double that person up as well.

I think only #1 would have any real implications, but knowing how important good base running is and how distracting speed can be, I’m just surprised it’s never used as a strategy.

 

Anyone have thoughts on this? I apologize in advance if this is something that has been discussed.

[mjuedes]

I never post, but I always appreciate reading this board.

 

My question is this. A buddy of mine were discussing the other day about purposely dropping fly balls…especially of the infield variety. I can think of three reasons this might be helpful.

 

1) A speedy runner(or anyone with a reputation as a good base runner)on first base could easily be eliminated by dropping an infield fly(obviously fair) and throwing him out at second. I’ve watched a lot of baseball and I’ve never seen this happen. Even on shallow fly balls to the outfield this could be done.

2) Line drives at people could easily be purposely dropped to turn double plays (I’m pretty sure there is a rule against this one, my friend didn’t think so)

3) Checking to see if someone is barely jogging down the 1st base line on an infield fly, a dropped ball could double that person up as well.

I think only #1 would have any real implications, but knowing how important good base running is and how distracting speed can be, I’m just surprised it’s never used as a strategy.

 

Anyone have thoughts on this? I apologize in advance if this is something that has been discussed.

 

 

Well part of the reason is, if the fielder is deemed to have intentionally dropped the ball (it goes into his glove and he never closes it, type deal) they rule it a dead ball I believe and the batter is out. Now they doesn't mean that on a pop fly someone couldn't intentionally let it land in front of them. The risk there is you could throw the ball away or it could take a funny hop. And lastly there is the infield fly rule which protects against this as well.

[hawkeyecub]

Even in cases when it could be helpful, instincts usually get in the way.

 

The one instance I've seen happen multiple times is where the batter is trying to sac bunt, pops it up and doesn't get out of the box. The fielder can let it drop, throw to second (because the runner is frozen) and then go back to first for the double play. The Cubs could have done it this weekend when a Rockies pitcher popped a bunt up to Lee and stayed in the box.

It would have been an easy double play for Lee, but when you have less than a second to react and your instincts tell you to just catch the ball. Plus you're taking on added risk of an error.

[bahua]

Right, but the inflield fly only protects against the easy double play…with men on 1st and 2nd or bases loaded. There is no infield fly with a man on 1st or on 1st and 3rd because a dropped ball would not lead to an easy double play if the batter is hustling down the line.

I agree that the ball could take a bad hop or the risk of a bad throw, but I think I’d trust big-leaguers to get the job done.

[LetsPlayTwo]

The infield fly rule is designed to specifically prevent these types of scenarios.

 

Edit: Or not. Stupid infield fly rule.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Let'sPlayTwo

[FergieJ31]

The infield fly rule is designed to specifically prevent these types of scenarios.

 

No, the rule doesn't protect the team with a runner on first w/less than two outs. Letting a short pop fly ball drop and gunning out the (presumably faster) lead runner, bahua's first scenario, happens a few times every year.

 

I'll have to think about the other two scenarios, bahua, but I think you're right on all three.

[CubmanPi]

[pure imagination]

 

With the way the ball would have to glance indirectly off the bat in the event of a popup, I think that would create a little more spin that a batted ball already would normally have, so the likelyhood of a tough hop is almost certain, unless you're standing on abnormally tall infield grass. Furthermore, if an infielder lets it drop and doesn't have it in firm grasp and ready to throw within about a second and a half or so, that just about negates any advantage you would have had. Granted, the necessity of the infield fly rule means that doing this is indeed possible and has been done or tried on plenty of occasions, but I just can't imagine it would ever be practical, especially in the cases you mention which aren't protected by the IFR.

 

[/pure imagination]

[Guest]

They should get rid of the infield fly rule. Stupid rule. If you don't want to get doubled up, don't pop up!

[Exile on Waveland]

They should get rid of the infield fly rule. Stupid rule. If you don't want to get doubled up, don't pop up!

 

The infield fly rule may be stupid, but I don't believe the reason behind it is. It's a pro-offense policy. By reducing easy double plays, it stimulates offense. I think we all know baseball wants scoring/home runs, and rightfully so.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think it has to do with fielders not wanting to take their eye off the ball in air which they would have to do to check on the runners. Regarding line drives, there's just not enough time to battle your instincts.

[Electron Blue]

They should get rid of the infield fly rule. Stupid rule. If you don't want to get doubled up, don't pop up!

 

The infield fly rule may be stupid, but I don't believe the reason behind it is. It's a pro-offense policy. By reducing easy double plays, it stimulates offense. I think we all know baseball wants scoring/home runs, and rightfully so.

 

i agree, but not as enthusiastically on the pro-offense angle. I'm just glad we don't have to deal with cheap DPs on these types of plays.

[Exile on Waveland]

They should get rid of the infield fly rule. Stupid rule. If you don't want to get doubled up, don't pop up!

 

The infield fly rule may be stupid, but I don't believe the reason behind it is. It's a pro-offense policy. By reducing easy double plays, it stimulates offense. I think we all know baseball wants scoring/home runs, and rightfully so.

 

i agree, but not as enthusiastically on the pro-offense angle. I'm just glad we don't have to deal with cheap DPs on these types of plays.

 

Personally, I don't need home runs or even much scoring to enjoy the game. But it's quite obvious that casual fans are drawn to offense.

[JeffH]

This falls loosely into the category of not taking a made field goal off the board in football just for a chance of scoring a touchdown.

 

Or, if you prefer, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[MSG T]

I never post, but I always appreciate reading this board.

 

My question is this. A buddy of mine were discussing the other day about purposely dropping fly balls…especially of the infield variety. I can think of three reasons this might be helpful.

 

1) A speedy runner(or anyone with a reputation as a good base runner)on first base could easily be eliminated by dropping an infield fly(obviously fair) and throwing him out at second. I’ve watched a lot of baseball and I’ve never seen this happen. Even on shallow fly balls to the outfield this could be done.

2) Line drives at people could easily be purposely dropped to turn double plays (I’m pretty sure there is a rule against this one, my friend didn’t think so)

3) Checking to see if someone is barely jogging down the 1st base line on an infield fly, a dropped ball could double that person up as well.

I think only #1 would have any real implications, but knowing how important good base running is and how distracting speed can be, I’m just surprised it’s never used as a strategy.

 

Anyone have thoughts on this? I apologize in advance if this is something that has been discussed.

 

I actually tried #1 in a game in HS. They had a very fast #2 hitter and the third hitter hit a popup. So I let it hit, figuring at the very least I'd get the guy with the wheels out. Umm, well, it kind of took a bad hop( the backspin, I'd imagine) and in my rush to get the out at second, I was SS, I threw the ball into RC. Ended up 2nd and 3rd no outs.

 

I got the butt chewing of my life, coach would have done a Drill Sergeant proud. I never even thought about it again. With a bad hop, I could see something similar happening in MLB. Guys get rushed and make bad throws occasionally anyway, add in the idea of doing something they shouldn't have, and you can imagine the results.

[MikeDog]

While we are talking about strategy/taking chances, I've often wondered this:

 

Why won't a pitcher pick off a baserunner when there are 2 outs and the batter has a full count? They always run with the pitch, couldn't a pitcher catch a runner a little off guard? I suppose it has to do with the possibility of throwing it away, but if they are going to run anyway, the pitcher could take a little off the throw.