1 AOA March 12, 2014 Prepared by Steve Harms

 Definition  Mechanics  Casebook Plays  Video Examples 2

 Rules Definitions  NFHS 2-19  NCAA 2-47  OBR 2.00 Infield Fly 3

 Four key parameters  Non-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” 4

 Fly ball  NFHS2-6-2Appreciable height above the ground  NCAA2-31High in the air  OBR2.00High in the air  Line drive  NFHS2-6-3Travels parallel  NCAANot defined  OBR2.00Sharp and direct w/o touching the ground  Bunt  NFHS2-8Does not swing, holds to tap it slowly in the infield  NCAA2-13Not swung at, intentionally met, tapped w/in infield  OBR2.00Same as NCAA 5

 Ordinary Effort  NFHSNot Defined  NCAAEffort that a fielder of NCAA skill level should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given to the conditions of the field and weather  OBREffort 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 6

 Infielder  NFHSRule does NOT preclude outfielders from being allowed to make the catch  NCAAPitcher, catcher and any outfielders positioned in the infield shall be considered infielders  OBRSame as NCAA 7

 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 excBall remains LIVE  8-4-2kRunner is NOT out if hit by an infield fly if runner is touching his base  Ball IS dead in this exception 8

 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. 9

 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!” 10

 Casebook 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 11

 Casebook 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. 12

 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 13

 Childress BRD 2013: Play  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 14

 5/13/2013  San Philadelphia  Bottom of 7 th 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 Video Example 1 15

 7/31/2010  St. Louis  Top of 1 st 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 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 16

 4/8/2010  St. Cincinnati  Top of 1 st 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 Video Example 3 17

 4/17/2011  Washington  Top of 9 th 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 Video Example 4  Would you call this IFR in NFHS? 18

 6/23/2010  Oakland  Bottom of 4 th 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 Video Example 5  Meet definition of Fly ball? 19

 5/8/2012  San Los Angeles Dodgers  Top of 4 th 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 Video Example 6  Not an infield fly; not “intentionally dropped” either. 20

 5/14/2012  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 Video Example 7  Not an infield fly, i.e., “extraordinary effort” 21

 4/25/2012  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 Video Example 8  Not an infield fly, i.e. ball bunted  Bernadina forced at second base; R2 Ramos must be tagged 22

 7/3/2013  San Cincinnati  Top of 3 rd 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 Video Example 9  Posey did not need to run; force removed; so out not declared by U2 (Bill Welke) until R1 (Posey) tagged. 23

 8/26/2012  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 1 st base line. R1 (Ethier) interferes with F3 (Carlos Lee)  Umpires  PU - Tony Randazzo, U1 - Todd Tichenor,  U2 - Brian Gorman, U3 - Bob Davidson 24

 Video Example 10 - Vin Scully Video Example 10 - Vin Scully  Video Example 10 - Marlins 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) 25

 7/24/2013  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 Video Example 11  Is the ball “high enough” for a FLY ball? 26

 10/5/2012  St. Atlanta (1-game playoff)  Bottom of 8 th 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 2 nd and 3 rd base respectively  Two outs  Video Example 12 Video Example 12 27

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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 29