Please explain the infield fly rule to me.
Our situation: Runners on 1st and 2nd less than 2 outs. Batter hits infield fly, umpire rules that no players made an attempt to catch it, so it is ruled as a regular hit, runners must advance. My understanding is that any infield pop up in this situation should be called as "infield fly" as soon as it goes up in the infield, not waiting to see if any infielders make an attempt to make a play on it. What am I missing?

Perhaps because, as you describe, nobody moved to catch the ball the umpire didn't feel "ordinary effort" applied?


1.41 • INFIELD FLY
A fair fly ball (not including a line drive) that can be caught by any fielder with ordinary effort when first and second bases or first, second and third bases are occupied with less than two outs. Any fielder can catch an infield fly.

GMCinCOS,

That rule says "can be caught by any fielder with ordinary effort" it doesn't say any fielder has to make the effort.

John028.. if a fielder makes no attempt to make the catch how is an umpire suppose to judge their effort.. If it was on my field and no fielder made an attempt I wouldn't make an IF call

The umpire said since he didn't call it, it was the base coach job to send the runners

B.J. ... Respectfully, I'm going to jump in with JohnO28 on this one ... The intent of the IFR is to protect base runners from a circumstance where a "cheap" double (or triple) play results from "..[A] fair fly ball (not including a line drive) that can be caught by any fielder with ordinary effort.." ... As a director, I want the umpires on site to exercise good judgment in that sole determination ... It complicates matters, and creates an opportunity for deception and abuse, if we allow the defense to simply freeze and let everything drop, to the detriment of base runners ... In my view, that's inconsistent with the intent of IFR ...

Thank you

Wow, I can’t believe what BJ posted. It must be called.

In our 60+ and 70+ leagues locally ( a lower level of competition than ssusa tournaments) we've decided that there is no such thing as "ordinary effort" on an infield fly. if you can't catch it then it is a live ball.

If "any" fair fly ball in the infield area with runners on first and second or the bases loaded with less than two outs, is to be called the infield fly rule, why doesn't the rule only state just that?
Respectfully, the fact that the rule says, "...can be caught by any fielder with ordinary effort," as an umpire, I HAVE to make some type of judgement (in my mind) to what that effort is. If no fielder makes an attempt or any effort to catch the ball, I wouldn't make an IF call. DD, you're right, the main intent of the IFR is the protect the base runners. But at the same time, the intent of the rule is not to excuse the fielders from making an honest attempt at catching the ball. I don't believe the IF rule call is automatic. Just my opinion.

TheScreamer5,

Where has it ever been stated at any level that the intent of the rule is not to excuse the fielders from making an honest attempt to catch the ball? It's not like this is a SSUSA the IF rule from Little League to MLB in my experience is consitently the same in every organization. I have never seen another variation of the rule to reference players having to attempt to catch it. The only judgement part would be IMO if the 1B, 3B Catcher had to sprint to get to a little blooper and make a diving play which the term "reasonable Effort" would negate anyhow.

JohnO28,

That's not what I meant to imply. If a fair fly ball is hit in the infield area with runners on first and second or the bases loaded and there are less than two outs, and no one makes the effort or an attempt to catch the ball, the fielders are assuming that the IF rule call is automatic. To assume the umpire is going to automatically call the IF fly rule is a mistake by the fielders. If no effort is made by the fielders, there is no effort to judge, and thus, I would have no IF rule. JMO

Chiming in here with my 2 cents-

Before we get people screaming for the IFR to be called every time a ball is popped up or lands intouched on the infield, let's remember something-

-Ordinary effort in a 75s game isn't the same as ordinary effort in a 50s game.
-Ordinary effort on a windy day (i.e. VA Beach 2 weeks ago) isn't the same as ordinary effort on a calm, overcast day.

Dave referenced the scenario where a defender tries to get a cheap double (or triple) play. The Infield Fly (1.41) and Intentional Drop (1.37) rules are in the book for a reason, and are both umpire judgment calls.


Carry on....

The ball is truly and really the ONLY determinate. The "Ordinary Effort" is on the UMPIRE. Just Call "INFIELD FLY" when it fits the rule as written.

DD, I should have explained that if the defense ended up making a double play I would then call IF which in SSUSA you are allowed to do after the play is over to protect the runners as Tim stated above.. but if no outs were made after the ball landed on the ground and it spun away from the fielder I would allow the batter and all runers that advanced to stay and tell the defense to make an effort to catch the ball .. all fielders have different mobility abilities so how does a umpire judge what ordinary effort is if he never moves/attempts to catch a fly ball unless the ball is hit directly over his head..

BJ,

You're still missing the point. regardless of whether or not a player attempts to catch it or just lets it land it's still an IF and batter is out if there are men on 1st and 2B with fewer than 2 outs a player "CAN" make a play with "Ordinary Effort" doesn't mean the player has to attempt it. It should be called every time that scenario presents itself because that is what the rule states. If the ball is popped up and those circumstances are present you know damn well every player in the field will be calling IF along with you because it's the right call as well as the base runner so he doesn't get doubled up. The call is based on the base circumstances, ball flight and number of outs not what an umpire thinks of the players abilities.

I sure hope this doesn't upset any cosmic balance out there, but JohnO28 is 101% accurate in this analysis ... There is nothing else I can add to that technical eloquence ...

What he said!

john, I still don't agree with you especially now that I have proof in writing .. if DD agrees with you, your ANALYSIS has to be wrong..

OUCH!

B.J.

Doesn't really matter one way or another if you agree with me or not. Those are the written rules and need to be followed by the umpires on the fields. Regardless of whether or not you think they're right.

The infield fly rules exists to prevent defenders from deceiving base runners by intentionally dropping (or letting drop) an easily catchable pop-up so the defense can turn a double play. What defines ordinary effort? If an infielder can, in the judgment of the umpire, make the catch without making an extraordinary play. If infielders do not move to catch the ball, the ball cannot be caught with ordinary effort! It could drop for a base hit. (I’ve seen this happen many times.) As BJ says, an umpire can call IF late to prevent the double play. But if the play can end with the bases loaded, or even with a run scoring, umpires should let that happen. They should not give the defense an automatic out. That is not the intent of the rule. So, like BJ, I will not immediately call IF if the defense does not attempt to catch the ball. I wait to see what develops — and then I protect the offense if needed.

Donna,

Well you can do as you please but that is not how the rule is written nor intended to be enforced.. Nowhere at any level of baseball or softball does the rule say or even imply that the fielder has to make an attempt to catch the ball. Making calls late is what causes injuries and confusion. Call the rules the way they were written and stop overstepping your role.

Yep, what he said.

john, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were on the SSUSA National Rules Committee and had a part in writing the IF and Intentionally Dropped Fly Ball rule or that you have all that knowledge of how the rule was written and how it should be interpreted and Donna shame on you for being elected again as the Chair Person of the SSUSA Rules Committee and "overstepping your role" and voicing your opinion to try to explain to John the rule