Infield Fly - F7 runs in from LF to the edge of IF

[johnnyg08]

Have you ever seen a coach bring in an outfielder to play infield when the game winning run is on 3B? The defense walks the bases loaded in order to create the IFF and a force at all bases...I have seen this several times...in this instance, yes, F7 is in the infield, he is an infielder, but he's the left fielder playing in the infield...otherwise, what is his position name since all of the other infielders have their position names? It's not really an odd defensive alignment...it's a strategical defensive formation.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Have you ever seen a coach bring in an outfielder to play infield when the game winning run is on 3B? The defense walks the bases loaded in order to create the IFF and a force at all bases...I have seen this several times...in this instance, yes, F7 is in the infield, he is an infielder, but he's the left fielder playing in the infield...otherwise, what is his position name since all of the other infielders have their position names? It's not really an odd defensive alignment...it's a strategical defensive formation.

No I haven't seen that alignment in well over 1,000 games umpired. I imagine it does happen from time to time, but it clearly falls into the category of an odd defensive alignment.

Originally Posted by GarthB

RIF

I am not familiar with this acronym.

[johnnyg08]

Oh well...anyway, thanks guys...I do appreciate all of your feedback with respect to the original scenario. I did learn a few new interpretations while reading.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I think all the confusion stems from whether an outfielder's ability to catch the ball with ordinary effort is a factor in determining an IFF. It is not. Only an infielder's ability to catch the ball with ordinary effort is used as criteria for calling IFF. I think Johnny was asking if F7 comes running in, does he qualify for an IFF rule. The answer is NO. He can certainly catch the ball, but to be an IFF, an infielder must be able to catch the ball with ordinary effort. He can always give way to an outfielder calling him off, if he thinks the outfielder has a better angle on the ball.

[SAump]

This thread can't last forever. Forget the people in the OP then, start with R1 and R2, a towering fly ball within the "outskirts" of the infield and less than 2 outs. IFF, if Fair. As Mr. Carl Childress stated, "The situation determines the out."

Edited to delete: No one will argue whether jibber or jabber missed the catch.

Edited to add: The umpires will not care whether jibber or jabber missed the catch. The play will not be "uncalled" for either team.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by SAump

The umpires will not care whether jibber or jabber missed the catch.

These words brought to you courtesy of the King of Jibber Jabber himself!

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I think all the confusion stems from whether an outfielder's ability to catch the ball with ordinary effort is a factor in determining an IFF. It is not. Only an infielder's ability to catch the ball with ordinary effort is used as criteria for calling IFF. I think Johnny was asking if F7 comes running in, does he qualify for an IFF rule. The answer is NO. He can certainly catch the ball, but to be an IFF, an infielder must be able to catch the ball with ordinary effort. He can always give way to an outfielder calling him off, if he thinks the outfielder has a better angle on the ball.

Thank you. Amidst an incredible level of noise (I think it's called WOBW) and muddled writing, you have finally correctly and concisely answered the frickin' question.

[mook11]

I have to admit that I have not done many games but...

The defense walks the bases loaded in order to create the IFF and a force at all bases...I have seen this several times...

I have never seen a defense walk the bases loaded to create an infield fly situation. I can't even imagine why someone would do so.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by mook11

I have to admit that I have not done many games but...

The defense walks the bases loaded in order to create the IFF and a force at all bases...I have seen this several times...

I have never seen a defense walk the bases loaded to create an infield fly situation. I can't even imagine why someone would do so.

If the winning run is on third base with less than two outs...my friend, you haven't watched much and probably played even less baseball...why wouldn't you do that unless you have Danny Almonte pitching in at the LL World Series when he strikes everybody out. That is a widely used strategy in many baseball games...so if you have other coaching strategies out there you tell me how you'd align your defense when your team is playing defense in the bottom of the 9th inning tied 2 - 2 and B1 leads off with a triple...

I'm sure your reasons might be good...obviously this isn't the be all and end all strategy, but a very common one.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

If the winning run is on third base with less than two outs...my friend, you haven't watched much and probably played even less baseball...why wouldn't you do that unless you have Danny Almonte pitching in at the LL World Series when he strikes everybody out. That is a widely used strategy in many baseball games...so if you have other coaching strategies out there you tell me how you'd align your defense when your team is playing defense in the bottom of the 9th inning tied 2 - 2 and B1 leads off with a triple...

I'm sure your reasons might be good...obviously this isn't the be all and end all strategy, but a very common one.

Yeah, load up the bases, but I don't usually think of that as being done to create an IFF situation. I see it being done to create a force at home. Maybe that was what he was thinking. What I have never seen is an outfielder moved into the infield in conjunction with loading the bases. I've seen them pulled in to take away short singles but not all of the way into the infield.

[DG]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

If the winning run is on third base with less than two outs...my friend, you haven't watched much and probably played even less baseball...why wouldn't you do that unless you have Danny Almonte pitching in at the LL World Series when he strikes everybody out. That is a widely used strategy in many baseball games...so if you have other coaching strategies out there you tell me how you'd align your defense when your team is playing defense in the bottom of the 9th inning tied 2 - 2 and B1 leads off with a triple...

I'm sure your reasons might be good...obviously this isn't the be all and end all strategy, but a very common one.

I have NEVER seen the defense walk 2 batters intentionally to load the bases after a leadoff batter hit a triple in the bottom of 9th of a tie game. The normal strategy is to pull the infield and outfield in to hopefully prevent the runner from advancing from 3B on a ground ball or shallow fly ball. If I got an out on the next batter without the runner advancing I might walk the next batter, keep the corners in and move F4 and F6 back to normal to hopefully get a DP. Or, I might leave the infielders in, depending on the batter coming up, what position in the batting order, and what he has done at bat today. Outfielders would still be in because a deep fly ball wins the game.

I'm certainly not going to walk the number 8 man and the number 9 man to load the bases with none out for the top of the order. And if Danny Almonte is pitching and striking everybody out how did the batter hit a triple? Geez..

[johnnyg08]

I'm sure your reasons might be good...obviously this isn't the be all and end all strategy, but a very common one.

that's why we play the game...different coaches, different strategies, different levels of baseball. and DG, while I have seen what I describe work, I have also seen it fail...much like you scenario...I can find a million reasons why your strategy is good too...but like any plan in baseball...it doesn't work every time.

In the Almonte case...maybe it was a dropped 3rd strike followed by two passed balls....there R3 no outs. :-)

[BEAREF]

Originally Posted by mook11

I have to admit that I have not done many games but...

The defense walks the bases loaded in order to create the IFF and a force at all bases...I have seen this several times...

I have never seen a defense walk the bases loaded to create an infield fly situation. I can't even imagine why someone would do so.

I'm pretty sure that you've seen this happen more than you can remember...just haven't considered that it creates the IFF rule, but just the force at all bases. I don't remember the last time IF AT ALL that I've seen where an outfielder has been positioned in the infield however.

[WayneG]

Rule 2 , Sec. 19 Infield Fly
"An infield fly is a fair fly which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, (rule does not preclude outfielders from being allowed to attempt to make the catch)....."

The way I understand it if I'm reading it correctly, the infielder must be able to make the catch with ordinary effort but the outfielder may make the actual attempt.