[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BoomerSooner

The rule also does not say anything about ordinary effort from the fielder making the play, but rather could be caught with ordinary effort. I doesn't say "could be caught with ordinary effort by the closest player" or anything to that effect. That's where the umpire's judgement to what is ordinary effort comes into play, and my general rule is that it must be ordinary effort for an average player of that skill level.

I don't think its fair to judge ordinary effort by the best or the worst player on either team or even in the league. Ordinary effort for Derek Jeter is just about anything within a mile of his position, but for Travis Hafner's level of mobility (there is a reason he is a full time DH) we are looking at 2 feet. So you can't apply D. Jeter's ordinary effort to Hafner or the other way around. To maintain uniformity just go with the average players ability and you'll have it good judge of ordinary effort. That's all I have to say about that.

Speaking ASA

Actually, the rule DOES state "ordinary effort".

Rule 1 - INFIELD FLY.

A fair fly ball, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher (thank you, very much) with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied with less than two outs.