Quote:
Originally posted by BigUmpJohn
Quote:
Originally posted by VaASAump
OK. Here's a mechanics question.
R1 on 2b. R2 on 1b. One out. B3 hits an infield fly. Kinda windy, but F4 only takes two steps and waits for fly ball. BU raises right arm with closed fist (infield fly rule signal). PU sees BU's raised arm, but elects not to invoke infield fly rule. Ball falls untouched. Now R1 advances to 3b, where she is ruled out by force (F4 retrieved ball and threw to F5, who was standing on 3b).
After wards, PU tells defensive coach that, in his judgement, F4 did not get to ball with little effort. Conditions were too windy (huh?).
Question: Who's call is infield fly? And what do you do as BU if, in your judgement, it is an infield fly and you have already given the signal (but not vocalized)?
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Not say anything. I always thought that the PU made the infield fly call, as they had the call on pretty much all fly balls.
I sometimes help my partner out by putting my right fist down near my leg when I believe that we have an IF. But, ultimately, it is his call and JUDGMENT to make.
I sometimes can't remember this, however, is wind and sun a factor in judging the IF?
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No! Stop! Don't get into this petty BS! The rule is too simple to screw up. Don't read anything into it. I don't care what the conditions are, that is not a requirement to the rule.
The only requirement is that the infielder be capable of catching the ball with normal effort. PERIOD! If the conditions are that bad that it cannot be made with normal effort, the rule does not apply. IT IS THE UMPIRE'S JUDGMENT AT THE TIME THE BALL IS RISING TO IT'S APEX! Don't look at the trees or hold up your finger to see how windy it is, look at the fielder and see if s/he is struggling with the play. If you have a partner, DEFINITELY look at them for possible help. They DO have a better grasp on the location of the ball as it relates to that of the fielder's.
If it is "iffy", I would prefer to error on the side of applying the IF and protecting the runners. Though it is a correctable error if not called, I wouldn't make it a habit of waiting to see what happens and then applying the IF after the fact.