Infield Fly in Wild Card Game

[DG]

Does not look like one to me.

The rule is supposed to protect the offense from easy double plays, no chance of that here.

[DUNDALKCHOPPER]

#1 Could the crew chief over-rule the Ump who called it an IFF. #2 shouldn't they have resolved it then and there rather than playing- since playing it out tomorrow if upheld is rather remote. Also let's face it- you can't protest a judgement call.

[DG]

#1 No
#2 It was resolved, protest was logged and they kept playing.

MLB will not overturn a judgment call.

[tmagan]

This is a problem with postseason baseball. Umpires, who are not stationed in the outfield all year long, are in the outfield in the postseason and are not just used to it, and their depth perception changes.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by tmagan

This is a problem with postseason baseball. Umpires, who are not stationed in the outfield all year long, are in the outfield in the postseason and are not just used to it, and their depth perception changes.

U3 called it from 3rd base. I can easily see it both ends of the stick on this one. Take your pick. The protest is a no-brainer denial.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

U3 called it from 3rd base. I can easily see it both ends of the stick on this one. Take your pick. The protest is a no-brainer denial.

U3 calls it after Holbrook and he's just reacting to what he'd done. The ball is already clearly going to fall when he puts his arm up.

[D Ray]

For those that feel this should not have been called, I wonder what standard you use in your games to determine "ordinary effort". In my neck of the woods, if the infielder turns his back to the plate, he is demonstrating EXTRA-ORDINARY effort to make a play. F6 never turned his back. From my arm chair, I feel he would have made the catch had he not bailed. It appears these are the fact used be the umpires on the scene.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by D Ray

For those that feel this should not have been called, I wonder what standard you use in your games to determine "ordinary effort". In my neck of the woods, if the infielder turns his back to the plate, he is demonstrating EXTRA-ORDINARY effort to make a play. F6 never turned his back. From my arm chair, I feel he would have made the catch had he not bailed. It appears these are the fact used be the umpires on the scene.

The rule calls for the catch to be accomplished with ordinary effort. While the effort an infielder expends to get into position is a contributing factor, it shouldn't be the deciding factor. An infielder could turn his back and sprint 10-20 feet to get settled under the ball, and then make a routine catch.

So I wouldn't necessarily support your standard. Just watch the infielder get into position, and then judge if the catch is one that he can turn into a possibly easy DP if he let it drop.

[Dakota]

Judgment call, so protest goes nowhere, but it was poor judgment IMO.

[tmagan]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

U3 called it from 3rd base. I can easily see it both ends of the stick on this one. Take your pick. The protest is a no-brainer denial.

Only after the left field umpire called it. You and I know Nelson wouldn't have called it without Holbrook preceding it

[tmagan]

Here is how rule should be rewritten:

• Less than two outs.
• Ball is a pop-fly.
• Ball is fair.
• Runners at least on first and second.
• Fly ball is, at its zenith, not more than a foot behind the grass cutout beginning the outfield.
• If in doubt, do not call the 'infield fly rule.'

[Ump29]

Clearly not an infield fly. Bad call.

[DG]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Here is how rule should be rewritten:

• Less than two outs.
• Ball is a pop-fly.
• Ball is fair.
• Runners at least on first and second.
• Fly ball is, at its zenith, not more than a foot behind the grass cutout beginning the outfield.
• If in doubt, do not call the 'infield fly rule.'

The first 4 bullets are already rule. Ordinary effort is required and that can happen several feet behind the grass. At it's zenith you don't know where it will land, but you should know by then whether an infielder can catch with ordinary effort.

The last bullet can't be written into rule.

[Steve Meyer]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Here is how rule should be rewritten:

• Less than two outs.
• Ball is a pop-fly.
• Ball is fair.
• Runners at least on first and second.
• Fly ball is, at its zenith, not more than a foot behind the grass cutout beginning the outfield.
• If in doubt, do not call the 'infield fly rule.'

You left out a few, but added some that were wrong to make up for it.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Here is how rule should be rewritten:

• Less than two outs.
• Ball is a pop-fly.
• Ball is fair.
• Runners at least on first and second.
• Fly ball is, at its zenith, not more than a foot behind the grass cutout beginning the outfield.
• If in doubt, do not call the 'infield fly rule.'

disagree. What if the call benefitted your team, then would you want the rule changed?