A handle full of guys have been arguing about this for a couple of days, on whether or not a bunt can be considered an infield fly. I say that a bunt CAN NOT be an infield fly. Can I get some input from the baseball community on this one?

Well,
 

You could buy a rule book and find the answer.

It is written very clearly.

In Fed and OBR rules, a bunt should not be called an infield fly.

I do own a rule a rule book smartA@@. I states that a line drive and or an ATTEMPTED bunted ball is not. That is what I'm having trouble with.

Read the definition of "bunt"...

A bunt is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield. Anything else, such as ball in the air high enough to be thought of as a fly ball is an "attempted" bunt because it was not done correctly. A bunt goes to the ground quickly.

with that definition of a bunt. I would come to conclude that an attempted bunt would be a ball hit in the air (infield fly) and therefor would not be included in the infield fly situation.

Now you've done . . .
 

"I do own a rule a rule book smartA@@."

Gosh darn I'm so offended.

instead of saying buy a rule book I should have said:

"Work on your reading skills!"

Learning can be fun.

Hey Tee can't believe some of the questions that have come up lately. The next one will be a debate about whether the hands are part of the bat.........LOL

So to answer my question, A bunt and or line drive can not be an infield fly rule.

It is prety hard for a batted ball to be a bunt and a line drive.

WADDA YA MEAN
 

C'mon now. You can line drive a bunt, but you can't bunt a line drive. Well you could but you'd be out.

To clarify. (1)A bunted ball off the bat by definiton posted earlier and a (2)swinging line drive off the bat, neither one are included in the infield fly situation.

Re: Now you've done . . .
 

Tee...

I disagree with my partner on this one. He claims each batter gets three strikes. I argue four. Whose correct? The rule book says three, but I am still unsure. Thanks.

Yikes. Will this be a future post?

Its summer ball time, anything is possible ;)

could you go over that one more time? Having some trouble here..... :)

The infield fly rule doesn't apply to line drives or a bunted ball. There's an additional rule that applies to an intentionally dropped ball including line drives and fly balls when the infield fly rule is not called. This rule states that the batter is out if a defensive player intentionally drops the ball with the intention of gaining a defensive advantage by not catching it. An example is there's a runner on first and a line drive is hit to the shortstop close to second base. The shortstop drops the ball in order to try and turn a double play. This rule differs from the infield fly rule in a number of ways:

This rule can apply with a runner on first base or first and third in addition to the force plays listed for the infield fly rule
This rule can be called by the umpire after the play occurs. An infield fly rule must be called when the ball is in the air.
Once the umpire has made the call, the ball is dead and the base runners must return to their original bases. They cannot advance on the play.

LMan - you keep pitching 'em. He'll keep missin' 'em.

Re: Re: Now you've done . . .
 

Some would say a batter only gets 2 strikes.

Once he has 3 strikes, he's no longer a batter...

Really? I've called it after a fielder has caught the ball - on a very windy day when "routine" catches are few and far between...
Does it say that it "must be called in the air" in a manual somewhere?

This rule can be called by the umpire after the play occurs. An infield fly rule must be called when the ball is in the air.
Once the umpire has made the call, the ball is dead and the base runners must return to their original bases. They cannot advance on the play.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Ball not dead. Batter out runners advance at their own risk even if the ball is dropped. Force no longer applies.

Once again, where does it say this in a manual? In the FED book it says, "When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire immediately announces it for the benefit of the runners." What if it's not apparent until it's been caught? Is that too late to declare it an infield fly and protect the runners?



[Edited by JJ on Jun 28th, 2005 at 11:21 AM]

Infield fly is a "rule". Everyone (Players, coaches, UMPIRES) are expected to know the rule. Oridinary effort is the key. This involves judgement, awareness of the situation ie. how many men on base and number of outs. If you wait until the ball is caught before annoucing it...... well I hope you enjoy your tee ball career!!!!!!!!!

JJ,

No manual is necessary. If it is not apparent, well you then have never seen, heard, played, been at, are aware of or know anything about baseball.

In that case you should look to officiate a more familar sport other than baseball.

If it's an infield fly, call it. If one or both umpires have brain failure and forget to call it, they can correct it by declaring BR out, everything else stands. Do not call IFF after a catch has been made because its not apparent until its caught. Thats the intent of the rule! If its not apparent its going to be caught, its not an IFF, period. If any situation occurs making the catch not able to be made "with ordinary effort" its not an IFF.

If it's an infield fly, call it. If one or both umpires have brain failure and forget to call it, they can correct it by declaring BR out, everything else stands.

OK, Bases juiced bottom of the last inning score tied no outs. Batter pops up to the shortstop (neither umpire declares it an infield fly) he camps under it and for an unknown reason he drops the ball runner from third takes off throw sails over the catchers head or throw nails the runner at home. In either case what's your call?

[Edited by gordon30307 on Jun 28th, 2005 at 12:35 PM]

Well,
 

Well, actually JJ DOES understand the game, and especially umpiring.

I think we have confused this issue enough for today.

I still have an infield fly and the batter is out. If the runner scores then fine, it counts. If he is nailed at the plate, then he is out.

Gordon - in your sitch, I have whatever the result of the play is. The runner from third can advance after the catch/no-catch at his own risk (whether I called IFF or not).

The fixable non-called IFF is more likely when the runners ran BECAUSE of the no-IFF call (usually meaning BEFORE the catch/no-catch).

I guess the crux is... call your damned IFF's when you're supposed to and you don't have to worry about it.

After we all agree that an IFF should be called while the ball is in the air lets get back to the original question. Do the majority feel like a BUNT is not an IFF?

Rule 2.00 Infield Fly - is a fair ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
The infield fly rule does not apply on a bunted ball; however, the intentionally dropped ball rule does...6.05(1).

So Let's Get This Straight
 

The same person that opened the thread with:

"A handle full of guys have been arguing about this for a couple of days, on whether or not a bunt can be considered an infield fly. I say that a bunt CAN NOT be an infield fly. Can I get some input from the baseball community on this one?"

And called me an a$$ because I told him to get a rule book.

Has just posted:

"Rule 2.00 Infield Fly - is a fair ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule."

So by following my advice (that of an a$$), he has found the correct answer after post, after post, after post.

As PapaC (another "quality a$$") might say, "Lah Me!"

Been sliced diced and disected. Have a good day.

There. Now was that so hard?

Kudos!! to all the wonderful and intelligent umpires that bless this site with your unfounding wisdom and humor. Keep up the great work in making the diamonds a safer working environment!!!!

I'm not sure you can give kudos on a bunted ball...