A PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE INSIDE FLY RULE (COMMENT).

PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE INSIDE FLY RULE (COMMENT). Buddy Van Alstyne proposed in a comment here that the infield fly rule should be changed to provide that if the fielder drops an infield fly, the batter is awarded first base with the base runners each moving up a base. I think it would be a good change, consistent with the intent of the current rule to protect base runners, and with the advantage that it would solve the problem—which occurs only infrequently—created when the rule is invoked and the defensive team is unable to make the catch. The situation came up in the recent National League Wild Card Game between the Braves and the Cardinals. (You can see a video in this report.)