re: Infield fly rule

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An argument would be, “the infield fly rule should be eliminated because . . .”

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Ok, the infield fly rule should be eliminated because it would potentially penalize a team for hitting into a pop-up and reward the team that induced it and it would provide excitement to the game without drastically changing the fabric of the game, such as lowering the mound and introducing the DH did. It would also take the onus off the umpire to make an often subjective decision on when to apply the rule.

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an argument would be the infield fly rule protects the baserunners because otherwise they would have no chance at either advancing or returning to base safely.

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They would have a chance though. The defense still has to let the ball drop, cover a base, and make two decent throws. Much like they are required to do on a normal double play ball. In fact, one could argue that a team that laces a hard hit ball at the SS with a runner on first is more often penalized by the outcome than the team that hits a weak pop-up to the shortstop in the same situation.

I am not saying its a valid enough argument to make the rule change, and honestly, it isn't broke so why fix it probably makes the most sense here, but lets not pretend there isn't at least some validity to eliminating the rule.