I'll put it like this. I have watched baseball since I was a kid. Literally thousands of games. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of pop flies hit out to that range in the outfield with runners on base. Many of those included an infielder going out and camping under the ball usually catching it. Not once have I seen the infield fly rule called that far into the outfield until last night. So, either hundreds and hundreds of umpires have blown that call or this moron blew this one.
__________________
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
and for that one moment I could be you.
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes.
You'd know what a drag it is to see you.
-Bob Dylan
I don't know why people are against single elimination playoffs. The best playoffs in all of sports is single elimination from start to finish (March Madness). There are plenty of other examples of single elimination and it adds more excitement (The World Cup and Champions League after group stages being two other examples).
It's being debated because some people just can't resist being overly anal. And this is perhaps *the* textbook case in baseball of being overly anal.
That play had absolutely zero to do with why that rule was created and the people who insisted on it being made part of the game would probably beat the snot out of the fool who made that call or the crew who backed it up and refused to correct it on the spot.
From a completely objective standpoint as someone who couldn't give two flips for either of these teams (or MLB in general), I think the call was valid. Was it a bit weak? Maybe, but it was valid. There is no distance requirement on the rule. The infielder stopped and was in position to make an easy catch, at which point the ump raised his fist and the play was dead, right there at that moment in time. Nothing else matters, play is over. FYI, I had to watch youtube replay cause I didn't watch the game.
From the official MLB rule book:
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 infielder—not 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 umpire’s 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 umpire’s 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.
Not certain what play you saw but it wasn't the same one that we are all discussing from last night. You are absolutely correct in that there is no distance requirement. However, when he stopped he was absolutely not in position to make a catch (easy or otherwise). Your first clue would be that white round thing that hit the ground behind him and well out of his reach was THE BASEBALL. Apparantly, both you and the umpire never bothered to look for the ball when the player stopped. Just because the player stops does not mean he is ready to make a catch. Based on the fact he wasn't near where the ball landed I think we can rule out he was 'ready to make a easy catch.'
Here is the play again. The ESPN guys do plenty of commentary on how bad the call was. If you don't want to listen to them then hit mute and watch the play over and over again. There is clearly no 'ordinary effort', the player is never 'settled under the ball'. As one of the ESPN guys points out, if there wasn't a LF Ump then the call never would have been made. Just a horrible, horrible call. I just hope this level of incompetency and arrogance by our Major League Umpires brings us closer to instant replay. This sort of 'call' is easily reversible with instant replay.
bakaduin, because baseball is unlike any other sport. You need at least three games to make it anything but a crapshoot. Basketball is a completely different story. And actually last night proved why one game is not enough in a postseason series. In a three game series, the Braves would have a chance to overcome the bad call. One bad call in basketball is unlikely to change a game as much as it can in baseball. It is assinine to have a one-game series in postseason baseball.
__________________
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
and for that one moment I could be you.
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes.
You'd know what a drag it is to see you.
-Bob Dylan
The puropse of the infield fly rule is to protect the team at bat from the fielder intentionally dropping the ball and getting a cheap double play. And while there is no specific distance rule, if you watch the play, can anyone truly believe that the Cardinals would have enough time to intentionally drop the ball, throw to 3rd to get the lead runner and then to 2nd to get the other runner?
The fact is, both runners made it safely to 2nd and 3rd respectively without a throw! Look at the replay above and I think the LF would have had time to possibly get the lead runner at 3rd, or the runner at 2nd. But in no way would the Cards have had time to turn two.
And umpires throughout the history of baseball agree with me. It's why ESPN hasn't found an infield fly call within 47 feet of the call made yesterday! There just isn't enough time to pick up the ball and turn two from that distance. Remember, it's not like an outfielder backing up and catching the ball with momentum to make a throw. It's a fielder having to bend over, from a standstill, to pick up the ball then make the throw.
I knew MLB would close ranks and suport the umps. They really had little choice in overturning the call, especially after the game continued. The Cards still had a 3-run lead at the point and had a high probability of winning. They then threw their closer for 1.3 innings, and to have the protest upheld would put the Cards at a serious disadvantage for the next round, having to throw their closer for another inning or more. Still, I would have liked someone from MLB come out and say they will review the call and say at least it was questionable given the distance the ball traveled and the amount of time it took for the ump to finally make the call.
After the game the measurement was taken from home plate to where the ball landed----225' from homeplate. That's a fly ball to the outfield. I'll say it again, the best umpires I ever saw are the ones that when you're leaving the field---you don't even remember. Nobody comes to the game to watch the umpires, not even their wives.
Didn't see it live, but sure looks like a bad call. Always hated the rule anyway, way too subjective for me, probably because I've been in the wrong end a few times. Still, no excuse for fans to act like j/asses.
Don't like the one game playoff, it's simple, win the division.
Hopefully the cards go down in the next round. Thought they used up all their good karma last yr.
MLB umpires are the most egotistical and arrogant officials of ANY SPORT. And its not even close. And for some reason MLB refuses to call them to the carpet when they fail. This was a HORRIBLE call made from an umpire in a position he is not accustomed to being. Now that instant replay is available for home runs, there is absolutely no need for them to be there anymore. But the union will raise hell if they cut them because of the $$$. Ridiculous.
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