The Infield Fly Rule...
This week's NAVYU Rule of the Week is everyone's favorite, the dreaded Infield Fly Rule.
Question: We had only one umpire. Runners on 1st & 2nd w/ one, or no outs. A fly ball was hit near 1st base and the infield fly rule was not called. 1b couldn't get to the ball as he was back. After the play I asked the umpire "wasn't that an infield fly rule situation"? He said that as he was alone, the infield fly rule was not in effect. To further complicate things, the other coach said the call is based upon the ability of kids at our level to catch a fly ball. Is this right ?
Answer: Coaches were right, umpire wrong: the Infield Fly rule has NOTHING to do with having only 1 umpire. Any umpire can call the infield fly by pointing to the sky and YELLING "INFIELD FLY ! BATTER IS OUT!! INFIELD FLY ! BATTER IS OUT !!" .
If one umpire calls it, the others should point to the sky and call it too.
Whenever you recognize an infield fly is possible, you should signal to your partner. With no out, point a closed first up & touch the brim of your cap. With 1 out, point up with 1 finger & touch the brim of your cap. Your partner should "echo" your call so you both know. If you don't signal it before it happens, you will forget the rule when it does happen.
So, when is the Infield Fly Rule in effect ? 0 or 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
If a FAIR fly ball (not a bunt or line drive) can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, then it's an infield fly.
The pitcher, catcher, and outfielders stationed in the infield are considered infielders for the purposes of this rule.
So, the rule is in effect any time the defense could get a cheap double or triple play by letting the ball fall to the ground at the last second to force the runners.It is NOT in effect with a runner at first base only.
When the umpire calls an Infield Fly and the ball stays fair, the batter is automatically out, removing the force.The fly ball does NOT have to be caught.
Regular fly ball rules about when runners can advance (after first touch) still apply. If the ball is dropped, runners can run, but they don't have to.So, in this situation, the infield fly was in effect and should have been called.
If you forget to call an infield fly and the defense turns a cheap double or triple play, you must fix this after the play is over.
You get to play God here: you get to decide what should have happened if you called the Infield Fly. The best thing to do most of the time is to call the batter out and return all the runners to their time-of-pitch bases.
Also, the other coach is correct: ordinary effort is umpire judgment, and varies by level, but it should NOT vary by the skill of the player attempting the catch. At the A division consider any popup 2-3 steps in front, 1-2 steps to the side, and 1 step behind an infielder catchable by ordinary effort. Any popup between the pitcher & catcher should be considered an infield fly.
However, what is ordinary effort is up to you. You'll know it when you see it.
For reference, the rule is on page 52 of the green book, (Instructor Comments are from a special version of the rulebook):
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baseline, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair." The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched or caught, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
NOTE (1): If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground, outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
NOTE (2): The Infield Fly Rule does not apply in Tee Ball.
INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS: In judging "ordinary effort" by an infielder, an umpire (any umpire) must evaluate the relative age group of the players, not the individual ability of the respective player. "Ordinary effort" will change from division to division. Whether the ball is an infield fly or not is solely the judgment of the umpire and may not be protested. However, if the umpires forget to call the Infield Fly because of absent-mindedness the situation must be corrected. The defense must not be allowed to get a double play when the Infield Fly should have been called. Make the belated call and get the situation corrected the way the rule was intended. Generally, the Infield Fly is first called by the plate umpire if the infielder is moving in; in cases where the ball is even with the infielder or the infielder is moving back, the base umpire can initiate the call. When one umpire calls "Infield Fly," all umpires working the game call it. There cannot be an Infield Fly on a bunt or a line drive, regardless if the other criteria have been met. When an infield fly 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(k). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
"The Right Call" Casebook -- The infield dirt and the outfield grass do not form a boundary line for infield fly purposes. An outfielder can catch a declared infield fly. Play 2-8: Runners on first and second, one out. Batter hits a fly ball that is called for by the left fielder. The left fielder is between the shortstop and third baseman, just one step onto the grass. Ruling: Umpire should call "Infield Fly, the batter is out."
NAVYU News: NAVYU Rule of the Week Vol 1 No 2 - The Infield Fly 