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-   -   Infield fly not called (https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/49598-infield-fly-not-called.html)

mbyron Tue Nov 04, 2008 07:42am

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherblue (Post 548368)
Throughout this thread several poster's keep coming back to it was a ball that should have been caught with ordinary effort....maybe so...,or I would call it at it's apex.

You're using the wrong test. If the ball COULD have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, the we rule IFF. It doesn't matter whether the player actually catches the ball.

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.

dash_riprock Tue Nov 04, 2008 07:52am

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherblue (Post 548368)
...Something some need to add into their thought process, when calling an IFF is, is there a fielder comfortably under the ball to make that catch?...

Bingo. That's the magic criterion for me (change fielder to infielder, but I'm sure JAB meant that). I will sometimes call the IFR well after the ball has reached its apex, but never before.

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?

UMP25 Tue Nov 04, 2008 07:55am

Only if, in the judgment of an umpire, an INfielder could have caught the ball with ordinary effort.

ozzy6900 Tue Nov 04, 2008 08:35am

You also must judge if F7 was stationed in the infield in this scenario.

UMP25 Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:02am

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.

dash_riprock Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:25am

From my OP: F7 was positioned in shallow LF (he is an outfielder). No other fielder had a chance at the ball. Infield fly?

UMP25 Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:27am

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.

Dave Reed Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:40am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dash_riprock (Post 548405)

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?

Yes, even before he let it drop. This is an (unusual, but plausible) example of the kind of situation the IFR is intended to protect against. There is no requirement that the player who actually fields the ball should be an infielder.

mbyron Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:56am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Reed (Post 548451)
Yes, even before he let it drop. This is an (unusual, but plausible) example of the kind of situation the IFR is intended to protect against. There is no requirement that the player who actually fields the ball should be an infielder.

Exactly right.

dash_riprock Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:24pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Reed (Post 548451)
Yes, even before he let it drop. This is an (unusual, but plausible) example of the kind of situation the IFR is intended to protect against. There is no requirement that the player who actually fields the ball should be an infielder.

OK, now the DC comes out and asks you: "In your judgment, which infielder could have caught that ball with ordinary effort?"

johnnyg08 Tue Nov 04, 2008 01:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dash_riprock (Post 548462)
OK, now the DC comes out and asks you: "In your judgment, which infielder could have caught that ball with ordinary effort?"

"What difference does it make? I called IFF, the rules doesn't say as umpire, I have to specify a fielder does it?"

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?"

justanotherblue Tue Nov 04, 2008 07:36pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbyron (Post 548401)
You're using the wrong test. If the ball COULD have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, the we rule IFF. It doesn't matter whether the player actually catches the ball.

Yes and no. For instance, infield in, expecting a bunt, batter slashes and hits a pop up near the outfield grass line, 4 feet fair. F5 is unable to get near the ball to make a catch. Had he been playing in his normal position, an infielder COULD have caught this ball with ORDINARY effort, however becasue he is playing up, this is far from ordianary effort, and NOT an IFF. The intent of the rule is to protect the offense as has been stated, however by simply calling IFF because a fielder, (not just an infielder) COULD have caught the ball doesn't make it an automatic call.

justanotherblue Tue Nov 04, 2008 07:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dash_riprock (Post 548405)
Bingo. That's the magic criterion for me (change fielder to infielder, but I'm sure JAB meant that). I will sometimes call the IFR well after the ball has reached its apex, but never before.

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?

If F7 was close enough to keep R2 from taking 3B, then I most likely have an IFF. Otherwise, I most likely have Lefty taking the first pitch and R2 walking into 3B.
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.

dash_riprock Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:18am

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherblue (Post 548574)
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.

Yes, that (your sitch) would be an infield fly, but who winds up catching the ball is irrelevant to that determination.

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.

mbyron Wed Nov 05, 2008 09:00am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dash_riprock (Post 548603)
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.

I agree: if he's close enough to 3B to keep R2 from stealing, then he's an infielder.


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