Infield Fly
 

Bases loaded, one out.

Infield is shallow. Batter pops a ball into very shallow CF. CF lets it drop and turns two.

Should infield fly have been called. I know that an outfielder can catch an infield fly, but doesn't an infielder still have to be in position to make the catch with reasonable effort.

I've seen it argued that if the ball being allowed to drop is an advantage to the defense, then IF should be called.

that's a tough one...but sometimes it's just baseball.

Getting doubled up on a fly ball to center takes some horrible base running. They deserve it.

I have yet to call my first infield fly that can't be caught.

Very shallow center? Not so much.

I hope not, since if it can't be caught, it's not an infield fly.

No.

Incorrect.

The test of whether to call IFF is given right there in the rule: whether an infielder could catch the ball with ordinary effort. And it matters where they start: if the infield is in and the ball is in short CF, then it's unlikely that an infielder could catch it with ordinary effort.

A) A fly ball that drops in shallow center that doubles up a batter-runner is the result of loafing, or some other form of horrible base running. How can it happen otherwise?

B) Okay, isn't that the point I made?

Like Michael says, the key is 'ordinary effort'. In no way, in the sitch presented, should this be an IFF. No infielder could have caught this shallow fly ball with ordinary effort.

I had a situation, IFF in effect, batter takes a full swing and hits a nubber in a soft arc, and it lands about 20 feet away between the pitcher's mound and first base line. The ball is untouched, and was no infielder would have been able to reach it even with herculean effort. No IFF was called, everyone was safe. Defensive coach was a bit perplexed, we talked about it at the time and he also came out to discuss it more between innings. He eventually accepted our ruling.

Yes, which is why the IFF requires runners at first and second or with the bases loaded. . .as in the OP. I don't think anybody else was talking about doubling up the batter-runner in this sitch.

And it is horrible base running and/or loafing for the trail runner and lead runner to both get caught on a fly ball to center with the infield in. Inexcusable, really.

The runner that gets put out 2nd is the horrible loafer.

Thanks, Dash ... I needed somebody to understand what I was imparting. It takes a blend of one or two runners with their heads up their @sses, and at least one who's loafing.

(And, have you worked a [SUNY] game that Tyler Johnson pitched yet?)

yeah, the coaches will whine and want you to bail them out for their lack of coaching this concept...oh well.

Not yet - hopefully next year. I did have Tropeano though. Someone did a good job of recruiting to land those two freshmen.

Read the OP

"CF lets it drop". Intentional legal act - situation based.

R1 or R2 is screwed no matter what. He reads potential catch. If he goes CF catches it and he's doubled off. If he stays CF lets it drop he's out at some base.

BR is the loafer - he should be at first in either case.

I read the OP and I stand by my statement. As soon as F8 lets it drop, all runners should be off and running. Whoever is put out 2nd is the lazy lout (including the BR).