At the MLB level, I just view it as a penalty for popping up in a crucial AB. Just the same as grounding into a DP. You also put some pressure on the defense to make a decision - take the sure out, or gamble for two.AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote: ↑September 28 21, 8:34 amNo way would I want to get rid of the IFR. Like Joe said, it would become an abomination of outs. Think about the situation where runners are 1st and 2nd, no outs, and batter hits a fly ball to the pitcher.
SS moves in to make the catch and is sitting under it (somewhere in the middle of the infield).
What do the runners on 1 and 2 do:
Go halfway? SS catches and at a minimum doubles off the runner on 2nd.
Go 1/4ish of the way? I think SS still catches it and doubles off the runner at 2nd.
Stay on the bag? SS drops and gets the force at 3rd and almost assuredly 2nd.
Without momentum (moving on the hit) the runner from 1st (or wherever) is going to have a tough time getting to the next base before the defense can turn 2.
We run into situations All. The. Time. in little league where we have a runner on 1st (or 1st and 2nd) and the batter hits it to shallow OF. Because kids are 8/9 they're not bombing many balls well beyond the infield so the outfielders are playing shallow, maybe 10-20 feet off the infield. If the runner on 1st (or 2nd), goes halfway on a flyball/even line drive to shallow OF, they can get doubled off pretty easily. If they stay near the bag to prevent being doubled off, they risk being forced out at the next bag if the OF doesn't make the catch....which is at least better than being doubled off.
Same principle with the IFR. There shouldn't be a situation where a hit ball overwhelmingly favors the defense turning a DP, imo, except a ground ball that requires the defense to make good plays.
Little league level, I could buy your argument especially for fly balls to shallow OF. But also at that level you have a higher chance for a throwing error to get 2 outs.
I mostly say this because any time you make the defense have to make plays, I think it improves the game. The IFF is generally a very boring play.