Infield fly causes a shitstorm.

[Guest Guest]

So, Babe Ruth league game. Bases loaded, with 1 out. Home team up to bat, down by 2 in the last inning.

The batter hits a shallow pop up around second base. No one catches it and F6 gets it on a couple of hops, and throws to F4 for the force on R1. The BR gets to first and R2 and R3 both advance safely advance. Neither umpire calls infield fly, and the play seems over. But after R1 is in the dugout and R3 had scored the umpires call infield fly. The BU puts ALL the runners back on their bases (including the guy who scored and the guy who was forced out at second) and calls out the BR. He explains to the coach that "No runners can advance on an infield fly." That's obviously wrong, and the coach knew he was wrong and tries to explain the runners can advance at their own risk. But the umpire doesn't get it and the coach goes back to the dugout. So, what would you guys do here?

Also, the next batter drilled a double over F7's head, so the home team won on the walk-off hit.

Thanks.

[Umpy]

In my experience Infield flies always cause a SH*# storm.

[renegadewolf]

A protest has to be done at the time of the contested call--before the next play or pitch. He didn't know that his team would win it on the next hit at the time it would have been protestable.

Okay, so after the game winning hit, could he drop the protest? Or does the coach have to stick with it?

A protest does not need to be followed through on. When the protest is made, all the Ps and Qs need to be followed and the game will be "played under protest". If the team protesting ends up winning the game there is no point to following through on the protest because if they win the protest the game is replayed from the time the protest is made. Why risk a loss when they already have a win. Also in many leagues and tournaments a protest must be accompanied by a deposit check from the protesting team (this can help deter frivilous protests). If they win the protest they get their money back, if they lose, the association or tournament keeps it.

[renegadewolf]

In my experience Infield flies always cause a SH*# storm.

Called a triple play last year because the offence thought there was an infield fly and the runners on 1st and 2nd and the BR didn't move. The ball was hit in a very low albiet slow arc towards second on the left side looked at my partner he wasn't holding his arm up to signal he was calling for IFF and I didn't have mine up so I absolutely wasn't calling it. SS had to make an amazing dive to even get close to catching the ball but he didn't catch it, so he picked up the ball walked over to second, tagged the runner, touched 2nd and threw the ball to first. Insert SH*# sotrm here

[SanDiegoSteve]

I would have called it right in the first place.

If I had been that umpire, not knowing the rules, I would have expected the word "protest" to be coming loud and clear out of the coaches mouth.

This isn't protestable. IFF can be called retroactively. In general, IFF is only protestable if the criteria aren't met, and it is called anyway.

I would protest the interpretation that runners can't advance on IFF. That is what the umpire uttered out of his ignorant ASShat mouth. Where do they get these guys? That part is not a judgment call. Once the umpires called IFF and did any runner sending back tricks, I would be protesting if they refused to get it right.

[Jocko]

In my experience, IFF is as simple as it gets. Just like BOO. Cut and dried. Never had any arguument, and it RARELY happens.

[JaxRolo]

In my experience Infield flies always cause a SH*# storm.

Mosquitoes and gnats are pretty nasty also.

Last week I was in B and had a huge Palmetto Coackroach land on my shoulder and I started jumping around trying to get it off. Which someone had video taped it. Crowd got a good laugh.

[umpire_scott]

I was not aware that an IFF could be called retroactively. I would probably find a way to not do this. To me since the wording says that an IF must be able to be "caught with ordinary effort" I would say if they did not catch it then it didn't fall under the ordinary effort clause. Obviously the circumstances would dictate whether or not this was an out to use or not. If it was certainly catchable but the fielders mucked it by not communicating then that's different, but almost any other situations other than dropping off the glove would mean that ordinary effort was not enough.

[mstaylor]

While for the most part, that is probably true, I wouldn't approach it that way. Obviously the age level does play into ordinary effort. Wind can affect it but sun does not. As the kids get older the chance that a ball falls to the infield uncaught and it not be ordinary effort is small. Once it expands into the outfield judgement becomes more important. If the infielder can get under it and stop then call the IFF. If he has his back to the infield chasing, no IFF.

[Jocko]

In my experience Infield flies always cause a SH*# storm.

Mosquitoes and gnats are pretty nasty also.

Last week I was in B and had a huge Palmetto Coackroach land on my shoulder and I started jumping around trying to get it off. Which someone had video taped it. Crowd got a good laugh.

OMG! You have GOT to send me the link! You know they put that on youtube.

[Richvee]

.... Since you are so knowlegable of the rules what is the difference in OBR and FED IFF rule?

OK. I plead ignorance here. I've read both rules. What am I missing?

[noumpere]

I was not aware that an IFF could be called retroactively.

Right from the FED casebook that you recently received. Just one more example of why its important to have both. (and i forget the rules used in the play being discussed so this was just a general comment)

Plus remember tha tthe purpose of the rule is to protect the offense. So if you fail to call it even in pro rules and the sefense gets no outs then let the play stand. Same if they get one out. But if they get two outs or three outs and it was an umpire mistake then you should of fixed it.

[Replacematt]

.... Since you are so knowlegable of the rules what is the difference in OBR and FED IFF rule?

OK. I plead ignorance here. I've read both rules. What am I missing?

In FED, an infield fly can occur without it being declared. OBR, it must be declared. Now, keep in mind, what FED is saying is that everyone is supposed to be a mind reader. I cannot say enough colorful language to emphasize how much FED is incorrect on this one.

[Richvee]

.... Since you are so knowlegable of the rules what is the difference in OBR and FED IFF rule?

OK. I plead ignorance here. I've read both rules. What am I missing?

In FED, an infield fly can occur without it being declared. OBR, it must be declared. Now, keep in mind, what FED is saying is that everyone is supposed to be a mind reader. I cannot say enough colorful language to emphasize how much FED is incorrect on this one.

Oh. OK. Thanks. I thought I was missing something on what constitutes an IFF.

[UMP45]

Bingo!

[Jocko]

I agree. Just like a pitch. It's nothing ubtil I call it. IFF isn't unless I/we say it is.

[umpire_scott]

I was not aware that an IFF could be called retroactively.

Right from the FED casebook that you recently received. Just one more example of why its important to have both. (and i forget the rules used in the play being discussed so this was just a general comment)

Plus remember tha tthe purpose of the rule is to protect the offense. So if you fail to call it even in pro rules and the sefense gets no outs then let the play stand. Same if they get one out. But if they get two outs or three outs and it was an umpire mistake then you should of fixed it.

And in the OP since only one out was recorded I would let it go.

[stl_ump]

And people wonder why coaches go off the deep end?

I'm not one to side with coaches but when an umpire, who's supposed to know the rules, screws something up this bad, then the umpire deserves whatever comes his way.

[mstaylor]

It was stated that IFF generally causes a SS. I disagree for the most part, most IFFs are obvious. I had one years ago where the F4 went deep into right field but turned and camped. As I was debating in my head whether it qualified my PU called it. Right after he called it the F9 called the F4 off and caught it. I thought, oh oh here we go. Not a word was said, I was shocked. It was the correct call but it was really odd.

[umpire_scott]

I have seen the SH*#storms caused only when IFF is called and ball is dropped. And this is usually at the younger ages when they think they now have to run.

[scrounge]

always entertaining....especially when you get a triple play out of it

I have seen the SH*#storms caused only when IFF is called and ball is dropped. And this is usually at the younger ages when they think they now have to run.

[mstaylor]

That's not my definition of SH*#storm, that classifies as a cluster. The SH*#storm comes when you have a screaming manager having a fit because you called the obviously impossible to catch ball an IFF. Never mind the ball was two feet from where his little darling SS started.

[Guest Umpire]

The infield fly rule is in-effect even if both umpires fail to call it

Runners on first and second or first second and third less than two outs

Easy fly ball is hit to an infielder

It is still an infield fly even if both Umpires are sneezing or having hiccups.

Runners advance at own risk.

Defensive manager comes out to appeal. And Umpires agree Infield fly should have been called.

Manager your correct Infield fly batter is out runners are safe where they advanced to depending if ball was caught or if they tagged up.

[Guest Umpire Sam]

The infield fly rule is in-effect even if both umpires fail to call it

Runners on first and second or first second and third less than two outs

Easy fly ball is hit to an infielder

It is still an infield fly even if both Umpires are sneezing or having hiccups.

Runners advance at own risk.

If runned headed to second third or home is called out on a force which does not exist the runner going to home scores

any other runner safe where they end up

This happens on missed tage but normally runner stops at next base

If runner is called out on a force at second or third and remains on that bad during the appeal they are safe on that bag

Defensive manager comes out to appeal. And Umpires agree Infield fly should have been called.

Manager your correct Infield fly batter is out runners are safe where they advanced to depending if ball was caught or if they tagged up.

• Quote
  

[Guest umpire78]

For starters, I know the rule, so I would have called it correctly.

Same here, Jocko. When in doubt, CALL THE INFIELD FLY as it's purpose is to protect the baserunners. If the OFFENSIVE coach has a problem with that, ask him this question: "Which would you prefer coach, 2 runners on and 1 out, or 1 runner on and 2 outs?"

He shouldn't have to call NASA on that one.