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Hi Marshall
after our game on sunday there was some discusion with the umpire about the infield fly rule. He consulted with another umpire from our league and their understanding of the rule was that, if the ball is caught the runners may tag up and advance as with any fly ball. However if the ball is not caught the play is ruled dead and the runners are NOT allowed to advance.
My understanding of the rule is on a caught infield fly, a runner must tag up to be eligible to advance, as on any fly ball. If the infield fly falls to fair ground untouched, or is touched and dropped, runners need not tag up and can advance as they wish.
Can you please clarify
Thanks Marshall |
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Craig,
Your understanding is absolutely correct.
When an infield fly ball is caught, the runners must tag up and can proceed at their own peril to the next base. If the fly ball is not caught whether touched by a player first or falls untouched, the ball is still live and the runners do not need to tag up to proceed to the next base, once again at their own peril. In both cases, the batter is declared out.
I hope this clarifies.
Marshall
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Great, I was fairly certain my understanding was correct, but was surprised to hear the ump had different take on it.
Thanks Marshall |
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Craig,
There is another rule which can confuse the infield fly rule.
It is the 'intentionally dropped fly ball rule'. It goes like this. Situation -First base is occupied and no runner at second (ie first base occupied only OR first and third bases occupied) with less than two out. If there is a fly ball including line drives which could be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder and is caught and then the infielder intentionally lets (umpire judgement) the ball fall to the ground, then the ball is dead and the batter is declared out. If the infielder does not touch the ball even though he can make the catch and lets it fall to the ground then the ball is live and they can still try for the double play.
The infield fly rule takes precedence over an intentionally dropped fly ball. This may be where the confusion was with the umpire.
Marshall
BTW - I have never seen this rule called nor have I ever called it. |
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I see, does that apply to an outfielder playing very shallow as well, or is that rule strictly for infielders?
Thanks again Marshall
-Craig |
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The official ruling under SPO is that no outfielder, including rover, can be closer than 150 ft in co-ed ball regardless of who is at bat. Our league rule applies to female batters only. Thus if an outfielder is actually positioned on the infield (for argument's sake, on the gravel not on the grass) when a male batter is up then he/she would be considered an infielder for both the infield fly and intentionally dropped fly ball rules. If the outfielder is playing very shallow on the grass and comes in to make the play, he/she would be considered an outfielder and the rules would not apply. However, if an infielder backs up on to the grass, it will be umpire discretion to determine whether the ball really was hit to the outfield even though the infielder was able to play it with ordinary effort.
The 150 ft rule does not apply in all male or all female leagues thus your question is very valid.
Who said umpiring was easy? LOL
Marshall |
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