Guys...please offer your thoughts and opinions on a HUGE call that was made in our game today.
Runners on 1st and 2nd with with nobody out. Pop up and home umpire yells "infield fly the batter is out!" The ball ends up in shallow right field and our 2nd baseman missed it. The runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd (as they should ). The umpire then says "wait....no infield fly, the ball landed to far past the infield." Then he justifies the BS call by saying "I have the right to over rule my batter out call after seeing where the ball lands." WTF is this horse ****? This was a major play in the game (even though we did go on to win). After looking up the rules and checking with numerous umpires and players, this was obviously determined to be a horrible call. Infield fly rules states that when the umpire announces the batter is out he is out and the runners advance "at their own risk." This needs to be addressed and corrected for future games. ANY THOUGHTS?
When the Infield Fly Rule Applies The infield fly rule applies when there are fewer than two outs, and there is a force play at third base (runners on first and second base, or bases loaded). Under these conditions, if a fly ball is hit into fair territory and the umpire perceives that an infielder using ordinary effort would be able to catch the ball, the umpire will call the batter automatically out. Even if the infielder later drops the ball, it makes no difference. As soon as the umpire makes the call, the batter is out and must leave the field.
According to the rule, the umpire is supposed to announce, "Infield fly, if fair." If the ball will be almost certainly fair, the umpire will likely yell, "Infield fly, the batter is out!" Umpires also usually raise one arm straight up to signal to everyone that the rule is in effect.
Based on this i would say you are correct.........the batter is automatically out........and there is no provision to change that.
I umpired softball for 25 years and have been in that situation a few times. I have made the infield fly call and the ball has fallen in play. Oh well, I look stupid but the batter is still out.
In reading the rule regarding the INFIELD FLY on the MLB.com official rules website, I'd say the real bogus nature of the rule indicates there is need for clarification:
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 who stations himself 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 baselines, the umpire shall declare Infield Fly, if Fair.
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
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.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infieldernot by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpires judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpires judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule 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 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
First of all, if the batter is indeed "out" when an infield fly is declared, why then would a ball that is left untouched falls in fair territory then rolls foul be considered a foul ball? Should not the batter be out?
Second, there is way too much, "if in the judgement of the umpire" going on here. It specifically states "when it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpre shall immediately declare 'infield fly' " and in the comment is says that the judgement shouldn't be made "by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the baselines..."
To me, the fact that he changed his mind is pretty lame. He exercised way too much leniency in his "best judgement of the umpire."
In a case like this where you truly believe that the ump made an incorrect ruling (not a bad CALL, but a rules interpretation), you should nicely notify them that you want to protest the game at that point, before another pitch is thrown. Once play is continued, you lose your right to protest that play.
Both team's books would have to be marked and you have time after the game to look up the ruling to see if you want to pursue the protest. If that call was a turning point in your game, protesting it would give you a recourse, not just a complaint.
Because you won the game, the protest would go by the wayside.
