Infield Line Drive Not Caught
 

First time I've seen this one...

LAA vs. BRS

0 Outs, R1

Batter hits a line drive 12" off the ground to F5. F5 gloves the ball on the fly, then (obviously) drops the ball, and begins to initiate a Double Play. U3 immediately kills the play, calls the Batter out, and sends R1 back to 1st.

I guess the Infield Fly Intentionally dropped, also applies to Infield Line Drives.

Well Now You Know !

Nick,

It's not the Infield Fly Rule, it's Rule 6.05(l), in which an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The batter is out, the ball is dead, and the runner or runners return to their original bases.

The Infield Fly Rule supercedes this rule, BTW, but is not applicable in this situation, since it was a line drive.

Steve

See MLB 6.05 (l)

An intentionally dropped line drive with an IFF situation in effect allows for the same result as an uncaught IFF.

This is incorrect. This only applies if the infielder permits the ball to fall to the ground untouched. An intentionally dropped line drive results in a dead ball in all instances, the batter is out, and the runner or runners return. The batter is not out on an untouched uncaught fly ball, unless the Infield Fly rule applies. The Infield Fly rule never applies to any line drive.

Edited for clarity. I hope I was successful!:)

Good response SanDiegoSteve!

"Well now you know"? Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......I have known this rule since my first year of umpiring over 20 years ago! ;)

But good that know YOU know!

nick,

this is not even an IFF situation, why would you think the Infield Fly Intentionally dropped would apply to this situation.

People, I never...
 

referred to the Infield Fly Rule !

I do know that the IFR was not in effect for this play.

I was referring to when a fly ball in the infield is intentionally not caught to increase the number of runners the defense can put out.

I am just trying to understand why the umpire made the call that he did on a Line Drive ?

Now, can we talk about that ?

Nick, I think we already said why he made the call. Rule 6.05(l). Know it, live it, love it.:)

The capitalization of Infield Fly implies the rule itself, not just any fly in the infield.

I never said that the ruling or way that we umpire the situation is the same as an IFF, but rather the result is the same. If both teams were to play with a proper understanding of the IFF rule then on an uncaught IFF we would have the BR out and runners staying put. If we have an intentionally dropped line drive BR will be out and runners are put back where they started. Therefore the result is the same. The point of the rule is to prevent cheap double plays.

the mistake I did make, however, was that the dropped LD can occur with only a runner on 1st while IFF cannot.

I'm a litle surprised at the question, but:

A batter is out when -- An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive ...

(emphasis added).

Also for clarity, It is an intentionally DROPPED ball, not intentionallly NOT CAUGHT. Two very different things. One is legal and one is not. Both however should get the next batter PLUNKED. LOL

Why? The offense did nothing but hit the ball.

Bob

sorry in the following inning.

The difference betweent the effect of a Infield Fly Rule hit that is uncaught and intentionally dropped line drive is in IFR the ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk, and in the intentionally dropped line drive the ball is dead and the runners return to their bases.

Thanks,

Dennis