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AOAMarch 12, 2014

Prepared by Steve Harms

Definition Mechanics Casebook Plays Video Examples

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Rules DefinitionsNFHS 2-19NCAA 2-47OBR 2.00 Infield Fly

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Four key parametersNon-judgment parameters

With less than two outs With R1 and R2, or R1, R2, R3

Judgment parameters Fair FLY ball

Not including a line drive or bunt

That can be caught by an infielder with “ordinary effort”

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Fly ball NFHS 2-6-2 Appreciable height above the ground NCAA 2-31 High in the air OBR 2.00 High in the air

Line drive NFHS 2-6-3 Travels parallel NCAA Not defined OBR 2.00 Sharp and direct w/o touching the ground

Bunt NFHS 2-8 Does not swing, holds to tap it slowly in the

infield NCAA 2-13 Not swung at, intentionally met, tapped w/in

infield OBR 2.00 Same as NCAA

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Ordinary Effort NFHS Not Defined NCAA Effort that a fielder of NCAA skill level

should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given to the conditions of the field and weather

OBR Effort that fielder of average skill at a position…should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given to the condition of the field and weather considerations

Wind is a factor, sun is NOT – Jaksa/Roder Manual

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Infielder NFHS Rule does NOT preclude

outfielders from being allowed to make the catch

NCAA Pitcher, catcher and any outfielders positioned in the infield shall be considered infielders

OBR Same as NCAA

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8-4-1j Batter-runner is out when hits an infield fly and IFR

is in effect. Force-out is removed Runner(s) may advance at their own risk

Must retouch their base if the batted ball is caught

Related rules 8-4-1cIntentionally dropped ball 5-1-1j exc Ball remains LIVE 8-4-2k Runner is NOT out if hit by an infield

fly if runner is touching his base Ball IS dead in this exception

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Introduced in 1895 by National League Why?

In response to infielders intentionally letting drop untouched a pop-up in order to gain a double play while runners held their positions near their bases assuming the batted ball would be caught

Originally applied with R1 and R2 only and one out

Modifications to the Rule 1901

Include bases loaded runner configuration Less than two outs

1904 Added “line drive” 1920 Added “bunt”

Why not R1 only? No significant advantage in forcing out R1 BR SHOULD reach first base on fly before “double-play” could

be completed Intentionally dropped rule.

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Declaring an infield fly When it becomes apparent that a batted ball will be an infield

fly, the umpire immediately declares it for the benefit of the runners. “Infield fly, batter is out” If batted ball “challenges” foul line

“Infield fly, batter is out IF fair”

Finger to brim of hat Brush-off

Common practice is to “point” to ball Declaration, NOT pointing is what makes batter-runner out

Ideally, declaration made when ball reaches apex Can be later, “when it becomes apparent”

Ball not caught “Batter’s out! Batter’s out! Batter is still out!”

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Casebook 10.2.3 F “Twist” No outs, R1, R2 Passed ball and R1, R2 advance to second/third B4 hits a high fly in the infield above F4’s head BU erroneously declares “Infield fly. The batter is

out” F4 drops ball; R3 scores; B2 ends up on second

base RULING:

Play stands. Each team (offense and defense) has responsibility to

know when conditions exist for an infield fly Brush-off

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Casebook 10.2.3 G No outs R1, R2 only B3 hits an infield fly Neither umpire declares “infield fly” Is the infield fly rule in effect? RULING:

Even though IFR not declared, it is still in effect Both teams have responsibility to know when conditions

exist for an infield fly

NFHS OI When an infield fly occurs, but is not declared, if any

other runner is put out, that out will also stand.

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Casebook 7.4.1G One out R1, R2 B4 hits an infield fly which could have been

caught by F4 F4 unintentionally drops the ball, but picks

it up to tag R1, who is standing off first base RULING:

Half-inning is over B3 is out #2 R1 tag out is out #3

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Childress BRD 2013: Play 125-272 R1, R2, 0 outs B1 hits a “towering pop fly” in the infield F4 moves only a step or two before settling under

the ball Umpires fail to declare the infield fly At last moment, F4 steps back and ball falls to

ground untouched Both R1 and R2 attempt to advance F4 recovers the ball on one bounce and tags R1 Throws to F5 who tags R2 Ruling:

Triple play

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5/13/2013 San Diego @ Philadelphia Bottom of 7th inning: R1, R2; one out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs

Jimmy Rollins hits high fly ball to F3, (Yonder Alonso) does not catch ball. R1 (Carlos Ruiz) takes off for second base. F6 (Jason Bartlett) does NOT tag R1

Video Example 1

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7/31/2010 Pittsburgh @ St. Louis Top of 1st inning: R1, R2; one out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs

B3 (Garrett Jones) hits fly ball down third base line, but F2 (Yadier Molina) drops ball. Throws to F4 (Skip Schumacher) covering second base; R1 (Neil Walker) “tagged” at second base.

Video Example 2 Handled correctly?

U2 (Mike Everitt) seems to signal IFR (7-second mark) PU (Tim McClelland) seems to signal OUT at 9-second mark

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4/8/2010 St. Louis @ Cincinnati Top of 1st inning: R1 (Pujols) and R2 (Schumacher);

one out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs

Matt Holiday hits high fly ball; Ball not caught by F4 (Brandon Phillips); Pujols tagged out.

Video Example 3

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4/17/2011 Milwaukee @ Washington Top of 9th inning: Bases loaded; nobody out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs

R3 (Carlos Gomez scores) on B4 (Ryan Braun) fly ball. Washington F4 (Espinosa) does NOT catch ball.

Video Example 4 Would you call this IFR in NFHS?

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6/23/2010 Cincinnati @ Oakland Bottom of 4th inning: Bases loaded; Nobody out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs

B4 (Gabe Gross) hits “sinking line drive” to F4 (Brandon Phillips), who lets it fall, untouched, to the ground. Throws to F2(Ramon Hernandez) for force of R3(Conor Jackson) at home and then F2 throws to F5 (Miguel Cairo) for force of R2 (Kurt Suzuki)

Video Example 5 Meet definition of Fly ball?

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5/8/2012 San Francisco @ Los Angeles Dodgers Top of 4th inning: R1 only (Brett Pill) ; Nobodfsy out Conditions met for potential IFR?

No, Runner configuration not correct.

B2 (Joaquin Arias) hits fly ball to F3 (James Loney), who lets it fall untouched to the ground. Tags R1 (Pill) and then steps on first base for unassisted double play

Video Example 6 Not an infield fly; not “intentionally dropped”

either.

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5/14/2012 Colorado @ San Francisco Bottom of 4th inning: R1, R2; Nobody out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs correct.

R2 (Gregor Blanco) R1 (Joaquin Arias); B3 (Melky Cabrera) hits fly ball to short right field F4 (Marco Scutaro) goes out and makes great “over-the-shoulder” catch

Video Example 7 Not an infield fly, i.e., “extraordinary effort”

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4/25/2012 Washington @ San Diego Top of 4th inning: R1, R2; nobody out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs correct.

R2 (Wilson Ramos); R1 (Roger Bernadina); B3 (F1 Jordan Zimmerman) bunts ball; F3 (Yonder Alonso) allows ball to fall untouched to ground.

Video Example 8 Not an infield fly, i.e. ball bunted Bernadina forced at second base; R2 Ramos must

be tagged

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7/3/2013 San Francisco @ Cincinnati Top of 3rd inning: R1 (Buster Posey) and R2

(Gregor Blanco); One out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs correct.

B3 (Hunter Pence) hits high fly ball to F4 (Brandon Phillips)

Video Example 9 Posey did not need to run; force removed; so out

not declared by U2 (Bill Welke) until R1 (Posey) tagged.

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8/26/2012 Miami @ Los Angeles Dodgers Bottom of 7th inning: R1 (Andre Ethier) and R2

(Adrian Gonzalez); One out; 1-2 Count on B3 (Luis Cruz)

Conditions met for potential IFR? Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs correct.

B3(Luis Cruz) hits high fly ball down 1st base line. R1 (Ethier) interferes with F3 (Carlos Lee)

Umpires PU - Tony Randazzo, U1 - Todd Tichenor, U2 - Brian Gorman, U3 - Bob Davidson

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Video Example 10 - Vin Scully Video Example 10 - Marlins Ultimately What Decided?

R1 (Ethier) ruled out on interference Ball ruled “foul” R2 (Gonzalez) returned to second base B3 (Cruz) returned to bat with 1-2 count

Caused a change to rules in OBR Infield Fly Rule Comment

If interference is called during an infield fly, the ball remains alive until it is determined whether the ball is fair or foul. If fair, both the runner who interfered with the fielder and batter are out. If foul, even if caught, the runner is out and the batter returns to bat (with a

strike added to his count, if < 2 strikes before the pitch, of course)

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7/24/2013 Minnesota @ Los Angeles Angels Top of 9th inning: R1(Doug Bernier) and R2 (Clete

Thomas); Nobody out Conditions met for potential IFR?

Yes, Both runner configuration and number of outs correct.

B3(Justin Morneau) hits a little flare to F1 (Ernesto Frieri)

Watch U1 at 45-second mark… Video Example 11 Is the ball “high enough” for a FLY ball?

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10/5/2012 St. Louis @ Atlanta (1-game playoff) Bottom of 8th inning; St. Louis leads 6-3 R1, R2, 3-2 count on B3 Andrelton Simmons B3 hits a high fly ball that F6 (Pete Kozma) goes

out ULF Sam Holbrook rules infield fly R1, R2 advance to 2nd and 3rd base respectively Two outs Video Example 12

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R1, R2, nobody out How can you get three outs on one play WITHOUT

the defense touching the ball? Fly ball hit just to left of second base

Infield fly situation: 8-4-1j B3 is out. Out #1

R1, off with the pitch, touches second base and passes R2. Runner passing another unobstructed runner 8-4-2m Out #2

R2, confused by actions of R1, is standing off second base and is hit by the batted ball. Runner hit by batted ball 8-4-2k Out #3

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