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Old Wed Feb 01, 2006, 12:47pm
IRISHMAFIA IRISHMAFIA is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2000
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"Ordinary effort" is a variable. The umpire must take into consideration the players and their ability.

It would be different for a 12U game than that of an 18U.

If you haven't seen the upper levels of SP lately, it is quite possible a pop-up could literally land on 2B and not be an IF. The middle infielders routinely play 40-50 feet behind the baseline, sometimes farther.

There is no set-in-stone standard an umpire can use. Each possible IF situation must be evaluated individually based on the position and ability of the players and their attempt to make the play. If not, what would you do as a single umpire when F4 realizes that there is no way any of his/her teammates is going to get to the ball, so just stands there, pounding the glove and screaming, "I'VE GOT IT"? Before you ask, no, I would not consider that verbal obstruction.
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