I have a question for some of our umps out there. My son had his first Knothole game this year (13yr olds), and we had a situation where the bases were loaded, with no outs. Let me also preface this by saying that both teams are of the medium-lower talent level for this age group.

 

Batter hits a medium high pop-up more or less directly towards the shortstop (direction-wise), but about halfway between the pitcher and short (distance-wise). It was a ball that, in the majors, even the third baseman could've come over and made the play on. It was a textbook infield fly rule from the start, in my opinion.

 

However, the umpire waited until after the shortstop called for it, which was after the ball had already started to descend, til he finally called the infield fly rule. The shortstop did indeed come in and make the catch, but it sort of let our boys scrambling back to the bags in the mean time.

 

So, my question is this...does the umpire take into consideration the "ability" of the players in the field for what should be deemed a "normal, catchable" ball? Or does it hinge solely (in this instance) with regards to how high, and how far it is hit?

Ability of the infielders shouldn't play a role in the umpire making an infield fly call. The only thing that matters is if in the umpires eyes the ball can be caught by an infielder (including the pitcher and catcher) can catch the ball with ordinary effort. Now ordinary effort might mean something different when umpiring a game with 9 year olds vs a game of 18 year olds. Also, most umpires (I believe) wait until the ball reaches it's highest point before making the call, which might explain the delay you experienced in the situation you describe. All that said, if it looks like the infielder can easily get under the ball, you have to call the infield fly.

 

Also, why would the umpire delaying the infield fly call affect your baserunners?? On any fly ball in the infield with less than two outs, the baserunners need to stay relatively close to the base, regardless of whether it's an infield fly situation or not.

Edited April 16, 201610 yr by rjs4470

Also, why would the umpire delaying the infield fly call affect your baserunners?? On any fly ball in the infield with less than two outs, the baserunners need to stay relatively close to the base, regardless of whether it's an infield fly situation or not.

 

Well, remember what I said about our skill level too. From my vantage point (first base side, just a little to the right of the left-side batter's box, the main baserunner in my sight (while following the ball) was the guy on second. I didn't talk to him after the game, so this is only my guess...since there was nobody holding him on, and by the time he took his secondary lead, he was almost in line with where the ball was hit. His first steps were back towards the bag, but I think he felt the ball was going to drop since the shortstop was so late in coming in on it. And without the IFR call by the ump, I think he may have felt it was going to turn into a potential force play, which is what put him in limbo, imo.

 

It may be crystal clear to you and me...and in this instance, the best thing that could've happened, did (the kid caught the ball, and all the runners retreated safely). But, if he would've dropped it, all heck would've broke out on both sides, with runners feeling they had to run, and fielders not recognizing that they'd have to tag a player to make an out. It's just the skill/knowledge level of these kids.

Book reads "pop up/fly ball reasonably playable by an infielder."

 

It doesn't specify the talent level of the infielder nor the position of the ball. It could be a pop up into the outfield grass, but if it is reasonably playable by an infielder the infield fly rule applies.

 

Good umpires will signal each other with two thumbs up and rotating, near their breastbone, when the infield fly is in effect.

Book reads "pop up/fly ball reasonably playable by an infielder."

 

It doesn't specify the talent level of the infielder nor the position of the ball. It could be a pop up into the outfield grass, but if it is reasonably playable by an infielder the infield fly rule applies.

 

Good umpires will signal each other with two thumbs up and rotating, near their breastbone, when the infield fly is in effect.

 

Again, reasonably playable for a 9 year old is different than reasonably playable for an 18 year old. So I would say an umpire might call things slightly differently at younger levels of baseball. Also, I'm guessing in the OP's case, since it was youth ball, there was probably only one umpire.

Level of play is why umpires do not call it right away. They wait to see how much effort is required.

If this had been HS ball, I have no doubt that if this ball had dropped, there should have been an error attributed to it...it just wasn't that difficult of a play. I guess I just processed everything in my mind at a much faster rate, because I saw the ball go up, saw where it was headed and immediately thought "that's going to be an IF". Then, there was enough of a split second that went by that my next thought was "omg, he's not going to call it". Then the ball starts to come down, and finally the shortstop calls for it. I see our runner going back and forth. And then I hear the call. It just seemed late to me. That's why was wondering about the level of play coming into the decision.