Infield Fly?
 

Okay - so I thought I was finally starting to understand the IFF rule, but I was confused by a situation in today's Mets-Tigers game.

1 out, runner on 1st, when the batter hits a pop fly to fair territory right in the vicinity of 1st base. F4 comes over to field the ball, but he doesn't make the catch. F4 throws to F3 (who's on the bag), but the throw is late and the BR reaches first safely. F3 then throws to F6 (who's covering second) and forces out a very confused R1.

I thought that the BR would be out on an infield fly, and R1 would have to be tagged to be put out. Did anyone see the play? Alternatively, can anyone correct my misunderstanding of the rules?

If there was only R1, it was not an infield fly. IFF requires less than two outs and R1, R2 or R1, R2, R3.

From OBR 2.00 An 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.

When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. if the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”

The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball, if the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. if a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.

Infield Fly rule is in effect when first base AND second base are occupied with less than two outs.

Not the IFF Rule Situation
 

You need a runner at 1st and another runner at 2nd (at least) to trigger the IFF Rule.

Just to pile on...you need at least a runner on first and a runner on second (or the bases loaded) with less than two out for the in field fly rule to be in effect.

how many runners do you need? Just want to be clear on this.

I think I got it. Thanks. :p

Two, maybe three but never none nor one.

Almost there...could you go over it one more time?

If Who's on first, and What's on second, but not if Who's on first without What on second or What on second and I Don't Know on third. Now if Who's on first, What's on second, and I Don't Know's on third, with one or none out, then it is a possible IFF situation.:)

On a side note, is Rick Reed always horrible behind the plate, or just today?

Shouldn't it be called the "Infielder's Fly Rule"?

No. That's more like a "SHOE CHECK!" in a Little League game. Only different gear.

Steve, to answer your question, YES!!

I'm just curious, Mark Dexter. You have been registered here since 1999, and have posted 4,160 times, but not in the baseball forum, correct? And you are not an umpire, right?

I'm a basketball and football official who lurks (and occasionally posts) over here on the baseball board. The only umpiring I've done is when I've been asked to be a BU at some of my brothers' LL games (and before anyone says anything, I do NOT wear a ball bag when I do so!).

I am not a baseball ump either, (fb and bb) but I witnessed a similar situation this past weekend where there was an IFF called. The bases were loaded and the infield was drawn in, so on the hit they had to retreat a bit to catch the ball, but i thought it was clearly an IFF situation. The base ump signaled IFF, but no one in the stands heard him call it audibly. Do you usually holler IFF? Do you have to yell it loud enough that they hear you in the concession stand? I thought it appeared he handled it properly, but he sure caught hell from the gathered rules experts in the bleachers.