HAPPENED AGAIN.......

Jr. Legion game this week in Craven County: bases loaded, no outs. A very routine high pop up 5 feet or so inside base line, spittin' distance from 3rd base bag. I am going to say that because of their "maturity", both umpires had a brain fart, and nobody made a call of any kind. The alert 3rd baseman short-hopped the ball and turned an easy double play. Umpires huddled and eventually declared the batter out under the infield fly rule.
Is that the right call? ..... I guess I thought that the infield fly rule is never in effect unless an umpire makes the call when ball is in the air. Stretchy?????

 

The men in blue are priceless!

The infield fly rule is in effect in this bases loaded no out situation and the umpires should call it but even if they don't it still is in effect assuming it was a routine pop up! Brain farts can really smell bad. Good call after the umps huddled and ate some crow!

 

Stretchy...such an eloquent explanation and that's why we love you.

 

Extra innings...thank you for asking the question in the way you did instead of coming on here and blasting the umpires for being "stupid". It's actually a pretty good question on your part.

 

Stretchy, appreciate the response, and btw I agree when its reasonable to believe infielder can make the catch, then its automatic. But I have a question, at what point would you NOT call infield fly? What is your line? Ball in edge of outfield grass? If an infielder is moving?

This rule interpretation seems to come up an awful lot for both fans and umpires. THanks.

 

Point straight up in the air if your going to call it...

Edge of outfield grass really has no bearing as actually an outfielder could come in and end up catching a popup right behind the dirt where a SS would normally make the catch and it still could be ruled infield fly. Infielder moving also doesn't make it into the equation UNLESS the wind is blowing like crazy and the infielder is turning in circles.

I always wait to signal it on the bases or call it from the plate when I judge that it is truly just a routine popup. Of course I love when the infield fly is dropped and everyone goes nuts not knowing what in the world to do!

 

Agreed about the circus that ensues, after any infield fly is dropped. Never fails. I agree with your term "routine" popup. I was just wondering if it mattered if the ball went into shallow outfield, if that made any difference. Makes sense what you said. Thanks.

 

TJ...the book definition is when an INFIELDER can make a catch with ordinary effort than the infield fly is in effect. I look for a "belly" and a "camp" which means the infielder is for the most part facing the infield and is camped under the ball. The beauty of the infield fly is it can be called at anytime which means it can be called even after the ball hits the ground.

 

From the MLB rule book

Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder—not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an OUTFIELDER, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence

 

So what would happen if say the batter hits a pop fly and it is not caught it goes foul after the infield fly has been called.