Infield fly rule, sorta

[David Emerling]

Originally posted by Steve M
David,
I do tend to agree with you on this. I see a difference between knocking a ball down and guiding the ball down - on paper. But I do need to say that I just have not seen this kind of a play happen in better levels.

Steve M

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So, Steve, let me ask you - if YOU were the umpire in an ASA game, how would you rule in the following situation?

R1 & R2. No outs. Batter hits easy line drive, directly at F5. F5 allows the ball to strike her glove, let's it fall to the ground at her feet, picks it up quickly, steps on 3rd for the force out, fires to 2nd for another force out, and F4 follows that up with a quick throw to 1st, in time to retire the batter.

Triple play????

No way! The intentionally dropped ball rule is specifically designed to prevent this kind of silliness.

If ASA does not interpret it in this manner, then here's my theory: Many of softball's rules are taken directly from the baseball rulebook. The ASA rulesmakers, when adopting the equivalent of baseball's intentionally dropped ball rule, didn't have a full understanding of WHY that rule existed. ASA's elaboration of this rule in the POE reveals their misconceptions.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PREVENTING CHEAP-O DOUBLE PLAYS!

If the ASA is saying that you can only "intentionally drop" a ball once it is has been legitimately caught ... is insane!