Infield fly situation

[rbmartin]

OBR rules. Bases loaded, no outs, right handed batter at plate.
Batter hits a high pop-up which could be caught by the pitcher "with ordinary effort". The umpire immediately declares "Infield Fly, Batters out if Fair!" The pitcher, upon hearing the umpire, allows the ball to fall to the ground in fair territory about half way between HP and 1B. No other fielders make an attempt on the ball. The runners, knowing this is potentially a live ball begin to advance to next base. Due to the spin on the ball, the ball abruptly skips sideways and is obviously headed to foul territory when it hits the Batter/runner in fair territory (out of the box and in route to 1B). Ball is inadvertently kicked into the dugout by the B/R (this action is in no way intentional).

How do you sort out this mess?

[kylejt]

Call the BR out for INT.

It would have been cooler if R3 booted it, then you could have had the IFF AND INT.

[MikeStrybel]

You stated that the ball was in fair territory when contacted, right? The umpire correctly announced the call, the batter is out if the ball is fair. By rule, it became fair when contacted by the BR. He was out the instant he touched it, either way. Because he interfered with the potential live ball, it is dead and the runners return to their bases. Smart pitcher. One of my 11U kids this year tried to glove a similar pop up. It hit the heel of his glove while fair and rolled into DBT. Ouch.

[MD Longhorn]

Unless you have intent (and you state that you don't), I don't see any mess to clean up. Batter is out. Ball is dead. Runners back to their TOP bases. No mess at all.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Unless you have intent (and you state that you don't), I don't see any mess to clean up. Batter is out. Ball is dead. Runners back to their TOP bases. No mess at all.

So you have a fair ball leaving the field? Isn't that a 2 base award?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by mbyron

So you have a fair ball leaving the field? Isn't that a 2 base award?

When did a live fair batted ball leave the field?

[DG]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

You stated that the ball was in fair territory when contacted, right? The umpire correctly announced the call, the batter is out if the ball is fair. By rule, it became fair when contacted by the BR. He was out the instant he touched it, either way. Because he interfered with the potential live ball, it is dead and the runners return to their bases. Smart pitcher. One of my 11U kids this year tried to glove a similar pop up. It hit the heel of his glove while fair and rolled into DBT. Ouch.

Why is this smart pitcher? If it rolls foul without being touched it is foul, vs. catch it for an out, or at least touch it in fair territory. Catch it is best option.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

The runners, knowing this is potentially a live ball begin to advance to next base.

What is this supposed to mean? Did you think an IFF was a dead ball situation?

Or did you think that a dropped IFF forced the runners?

Rita

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Rita C

What is this supposed to mean? Did you think an IFF was a dead ball situation?

Or did you think that a dropped IFF forced the runners?

Rita

I am well aware that an infield fly is a live ball and runners may attempt to advance at their own peril. It's just that only about half youngsters playing ball today know this.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

I am well aware that an infield fly is a live ball and runners may attempt to advance at their own peril. It's just that only about half youngsters playing ball today know this.

Didn't sound like it.

Rita