- Jul 25, 2013
- 1
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Infield fly! Not foul! From Umpire.
Umpire here. I also coach two of my daughters high level teams. The reason it was ruled a infield fly is that it must be an easily caught routine fly ball. It should have been caught. The reason for the rule is to prevent the fielder from purposely dropping the ball and creating an easy double play. It does not matter whether the ball was one inch from the line or in the middle of the pitchers circle and still rolled foul. I do not call "Infield fly if caught".
"Infield fly if foul" is used in case the ball is in foul territory, then if ball is dropped the batter is not out. Fielder can not create a double play if they let it drop. It is foul if it touches foul territory first whether touching ground or glove. If it touches fair territory first whether it rolls out or not it is fair. The infield fly call supersedes the ball rolling foul because it should have been caught.
The only two things you can question is whether, since you said it was a shallow hit, is should it have been called an infield fly, was it high enough to be an easily caught routine fly ball? And should he have yelled "if foul." Since it landed fair it was the right call. But you can still question it being easily caught.
Regardless, once called, and landing fair..... LIVE BALL. Runners may advance at risk of being put out. Always field an infield fly ball call.
Umpire here. I also coach two of my daughters high level teams. The reason it was ruled a infield fly is that it must be an easily caught routine fly ball. It should have been caught. The reason for the rule is to prevent the fielder from purposely dropping the ball and creating an easy double play. It does not matter whether the ball was one inch from the line or in the middle of the pitchers circle and still rolled foul. I do not call "Infield fly if caught".
"Infield fly if foul" is used in case the ball is in foul territory, then if ball is dropped the batter is not out. Fielder can not create a double play if they let it drop. It is foul if it touches foul territory first whether touching ground or glove. If it touches fair territory first whether it rolls out or not it is fair. The infield fly call supersedes the ball rolling foul because it should have been caught.
The only two things you can question is whether, since you said it was a shallow hit, is should it have been called an infield fly, was it high enough to be an easily caught routine fly ball? And should he have yelled "if foul." Since it landed fair it was the right call. But you can still question it being easily caught.
Regardless, once called, and landing fair..... LIVE BALL. Runners may advance at risk of being put out. Always field an infield fly ball call.