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You're right that weather can enter the judgment of whether ordinary effort could be sufficient to make a play. But the question of whether we expect a fielder to make the catch is irrelevant. |
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How about this: Lefty Pullsall is at bat, 1st & 2nd, no out. Lefty has never hit a ball to left field in his life. The defense is stacked on the right side, except for F7, who is in very shallow left field, close enough to 3rd base to prevent R2 from taking an easy base. Lefty hits a soft fly right around 3B. F7 gets under it but lets it drop for an easy triple play. No other fielder had a chance at the ball. Is it an infield fly? |
Only if, in the judgment of an umpire, an INfielder could have caught the ball with ordinary effort.
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You also must judge if F7 was stationed in the infield in this scenario.
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Even if he wasn't, if an infielder could have caught the ball with ordinary effort, the I.F. can still be called, of course.
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From my OP: F7 was positioned in shallow LF (he is an outfielder). No other fielder had a chance at the ball. Infield fly?
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If no other fielder had a chance at the ball, it sure sounds like an infielder could not have caught the ball with ordinary effort; hence no I.F.
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or "I would've called it the same way for your team" Typically you're not going to get the defensive coach arguing...most coaches "get it"...where you could get in trouble is OC coming out saying "why didn't you call it?" |
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And no, I'll keep it fielder, F6, goes out onto the outfield grass, using ordinary effort, he is 20' onto the outfield grass and he is comfortable under the ball. F8 comes in and calls him off making the catch. Still an IFF in my book. |
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Under the "spirit of the rule," this (my sitch) clearly SHOULD be an infield fly. But under the letter of the rule, the only way it is an infield fly is if F7 is judged to be an infielder. I don't think it is a stretch to do that. |
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