Runner's Intereference/Obstruction

[NM FP Ump]

You had the IFF rule in effect, but is it applied here? I don't think I would have called the infield Fly. Since F3 was playing in front of 1st, and the ball was hit 5-10 feet behind 1st base, near the foul line, we have to judge if she could have made a catch with ordinary effort. Obviously, F4's effort to record an out on the pop-up does not qualify as "ordinary effort", "… The 2Bman makes the catch while sliding", so I don't think the IFF can be called.

The offense has to give the defense a chance to field the ball, and R2 (runner on 1st) interfered with F3's attempt to field the ball, so I would call Dead Ball, Interference, R2 is out, R1 returns to 2nd and B/R is awarded 1st.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by NM FP Ump

You had the IFF rule in effect, but is it applied here? I don't think I would have called the infield Fly. Since F3 was playing in front of 1st, and the ball was hit 5-10 feet behind 1st base, near the foul line, we have to judge if she could have made a catch with ordinary effort. Obviously, F4's effort to record an out on the pop-up does not qualify as "ordinary effort", "… The 2Bman makes the catch while sliding", so I don't think the IFF can be called.

The offense has to give the defense a chance to field the ball, and R2 (runner on 1st) interfered with F3's attempt to field the ball, so I would call Dead Ball, Interference, R2 is out, R1 returns to 2nd and B/R is awarded 1st.

Well, here's where a difference in judgment will get us two different answers. If you call the IFF, then I say you've got nothing. If you don't call the IFF, you've got INT on R2, R1 goes back to second, and the BR is also out like greymule says (in ASA).

The Infield Fly Rule does NOT require the defensive player to be camped out under the ball. I have no idea where you heard that, but it's dead wrong. It has to be a fair fly ball that can be caught by any infielder with reasonable effort when there are runners on 1B and 2B, or 1B 2B and 3B with less than 2 outs. "Reasonable effort" does not mean "if hit within arm's reach." "Reasonable effort" is also left completely to the umpire's judgment.

[greymule]

If you call the IFF, then I say you've got nothing.

Even if you called the IFF, if you judged F3 to be the primary fielder on that fly ball, you still have INT on the runner, and a second out.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

...It has to be a fair fly ball that can be caught by any infielder with reasonable ordinary effort when there are runners on 1B and 2B, or 1B 2B and 3B with less than 2 outs. "Reasonable Ordinary effort" does not mean "if hit within arm's reach." "Reasonable Ordinary effort" is also left completely to the umpire's judgment.

Small correction... (point is the same)...