Turn Off Ads?
Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 31 to 45 of 54

Thread: The infield Fly

  1. #31
    For a Level Playing Field
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Oakwood, OH
    Posts
    11,789

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by Sea Ray View Post
    Fair enough but how deep does it have to get before it's not an INF Fly?
    And that is "the judgement" part of it left to the umpires. And there are a lot of those (balls-strikes, safe-out, etc). They are not perfect as we all know, but I like to think they are the best (like the NFL, lol). There are no rules as to how far out of the INF it goes. And lets hope we do not have new INF-fly lines drawn on the fields of MLB! I agree with the fact that the LF umpire was a late in making the call. I actually yelled INF-fly at my TV as it became apparent to me that Kozmos should get it (and I yelled before LF umpire called it). It is a toughie for sure, but one of many judgement calls that we hope the men-in-blue make correctly... and timely!


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #32
    Member wlf WV's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    huntington,wv
    Posts
    1,082

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicDumpling View Post
    Reynolds and Vasgersian are certainly not authorities on the subject.

    No they didn't get the call right, that much is almost universally agreed by people who truly understand the rule and the spirit of the rule. If there is no reasonable possibility of turning a double play by letting the ball drop then the infield fly rule should not be invoked. The Cardinals had zero chance of turning a double play on that ball. They would have been extremely lucky to get even one out, much less two outs. They ended up getting nobody out at all after the ball dropped and the runners advanced easily. Calling the infield fly on that play was beyond ludicrous. Absolutely embarrassing.

    It was a black eye for baseball that will make famous blown call highlight reels for decades.
    Exacty.
    I a agree with RMR though.
    The rule protects the runners,who earned their way on base;the ground ball double play rewards the defense,it seems balanced and fair,I have no problem with this.But like Rick said,the defense should have to catch the ball.
    May the Lord bless

  4. #33
    Member RedsManRick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Guelph, ON
    Posts
    19,441

    Re: The infield Fly

    One angle I've not heard discussed much is that the call was made by an additional umpire who would not normally had been on the field in that location.

    If that call were left to the ump positioned right behind the bag at 3rd, would he have interpreted it differently? Given that he would have had a vantage point where the SS was running away from him, I think he would have been much less likely to make that call. Possibly he still would have; Reynolds showed the example of Starlin Castro.

    But either way, putting extra umpires on the field simply has not resulted in higher quality of umpiring. We have replay to help the umps make difficult boundary calls. Adding 2 additional umps to the field simply puts them in a position that they are not accustomed to. Get rid of the extra umps.
    Last edited by RedsManRick; 10-06-2012 at 01:11 PM.
    Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.

  5. #34
    Member camisadelgolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    12,405

    Re: The infield Fly

    I just came across this. It's a satellite image of Turner Field's new infield dimensions:

  6. #35
    For a Level Playing Field
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Oakwood, OH
    Posts
    11,789

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicDumpling View Post
    I don't have a problem with getting rid of the rule. It is a pretty dumb rule.
    AD, I think doing that is to stop situations that happened few and far between. Without having stats (god forbid lol) I'd guess that the majority of INF-fly calls are made on plays that will put the the runners in no-man's land; hence, the reason for the rule. It might be more exciting to some, but I do not prefer the circus-thing/tricky-dicky/nonsense in this great game. No one should drop an out on purpose to benefit their team! This is why this rule was put into place long ago. Akin to basketball having rules in place for purposely missed free throws (must touch rim, etc). Most of us have made jest of "play the game the right way". But this rule is what that is about and why it is there.

    I have no problem with people saying the umpire's judgement was wrong (although I think he made the right, although late, call). However, I think the rule is necessary and that is why it has been there for so many years. We do not want the XFL shenanigans in MLB.

  7. #36
    Droll, yes. Quite droll. FlightRick's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    The Birthplace of Aviation
    Posts
    695

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by RedsManRick View Post
    One angle I've not heard discussed much is that the call was made by an additional umpire who would not normally had been on the field in that location.

    If that call were left to the ump positioned right behind the bag at 3rd, would he have interpreted it differently? Given that he would have had a vantage point where the SS was running away from him, I think he would have been much less likely to make that call. Possibly he still would have; Reynolds showed the example of Starlin Castro.

    But either way, putting extra umpires on the field simply has not resulted in higher quality of umpiring. We have replay to help the umps make difficult boundary calls. Adding 2 additional umps to the field simply puts them in a position that they are not accustomed to. Get rid of the extra umps.
    Then you weren't paying attention to the "Scoreboard Watching" thread, when I mentioned it last night. Not that you can be blamed for not noticing, given what that thread turned into. [Somebody did touch on it a bit earlier in this thread, too.]

    But credit where it's due: I didn't think of it all by myself. The TV guys were putting this theory forward during the delay. All I did is go back to my umpiring days, and put myself in the situation. I still don't think I'd have called the infield fly, but running the simulation in my head, I could see why you'd be a lot more tempted to do it if you're watching from LF. I definitely thought it was a theory worth sharing/discussing.

    So in the end, I think it's a bad call, but not -- by the rule -- a wrong call. Kind of the inverse of the ol' neighborhood play when turning two: when that happens, it's a wrong call by the rules, but nobody really thinks it's a BAD call when it's applied within reason (because you want the same protection for your SS/2B, too). It's all a matter of context and the spirit of the law being considered when making a call.

    I think that's what's got so many britches bunched. It seems like such a common sense thing NOT to call, but at the end of the day, it was still properly called as the rule is written. Cognitive dissonance. Brain goes splodey.



    Rick

  8. #37
    Member powersackers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,660

    Re: The infield Fly

    Anyone considering the merit of the rule should read this.

    http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/34...nals-wild-card
    Attended 1976 World Series in my Mother's Womb. Attended 1990 World Series Game 2 as a 13 year old. Want to take my son to a a World Series Game in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

  9. #38
    Beer is good!! George Anderson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    5,964

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by RedsManRick View Post
    One angle I've not heard discussed much is that the call was made by an additional umpire who would not normally had been on the field in that location.

    If that call were left to the ump positioned right behind the bag at 3rd, would he have interpreted it differently? Given that he would have had a vantage point where the SS was running away from him, I think he would have been much less likely to make that call. Possibly he still would have; Reynolds showed the example of Starlin Castro.

    But either way, putting extra umpires on the field simply has not resulted in higher quality of umpiring. We have replay to help the umps make difficult boundary calls. Adding 2 additional umps to the field simply puts them in a position that they are not accustomed to. Get rid of the extra umps.
    Holbrook IMO was like a fish out of water by having to make that call in that position. Having been in this situation many times where more umpires are added to the rotation resulting in different responsibilities and rotations etc.. it will no question at times lead to confusion.

    One thing I can say for sure is the reason Holbrook was late making that call was he had to stop and think what his responsibilities were on the play, where to stand, who has fair foul, who has the catch etc.. Keep in mind this stuff happens in a split second so with everything else going on in Holbrooks head suddenly the infield fly idea popped into his head albeit a little late and IMO with poor judgement.

    I would almost rather see umpire crews promoted to the playoffs as opposed to individual umpires. Also don't add more umpires to the crew because by doing so it will change rotations, responsibilities etc. which will result in more confusion like what we saw last night. An umpire crew is a team so if that team is doing well keep them together and don't split em up.
    "Boys, I'm one of those umpires that misses 'em every once in a while so if it's close, you'd better hit it." Cal Hubbard

  10. #39
    KungFu Fighter AtomicDumpling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hamilton, OH
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by powersackers View Post
    Anyone considering the merit of the rule should read this.

    http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/34...nals-wild-card
    LOL by that crackpot explanation just about any routine fly ball in the outfield should be called an "infield fly rule" play.

    It is a fly ball and an infielder had time to run out there and catch it? Infield fly rule!

    Might as well station all the outfielders on the warning track because any fly ball short of the warning track is an "infield fly rule".

    They are going to have to re-phrase the rule to make sure the gullible umpires don't get confused and make a fool of themselves in front of tens of millions of people like that goofball did last night.

    No chance of a double play = no infield fly rule.
    Last edited by AtomicDumpling; 10-06-2012 at 02:21 PM.

  11. #40
    Member 757690's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Venice
    Posts
    33,292

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by powersackers View Post
    Anyone considering the merit of the rule should read this.

    http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/34...nals-wild-card
    Neyer makes the same mistake Brutus made. He conflated being able to catch the ball with being able to routinely catch the ball. Has Kozma caught the ball, there was nothing routine about it, it would have been the result of an exceptional effort. It was a routine catch for Holliday, but a tough catch for Kozma.
    Hoping to change my username to 75769024

  12. #41
    Member powersackers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,660

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by 757690 View Post
    Neyer makes the same mistake Brutus made. He conflated being able to catch the ball with being able to routinely catch the ball. Has Kozma caught the ball, there was nothing routine about it, it would have been the result of an exceptional effort. It was a routine catch for Holliday, but a tough catch for Kozma.
    Camped under it, waiving off the Lfer does not make for a routine catch?
    Attended 1976 World Series in my Mother's Womb. Attended 1990 World Series Game 2 as a 13 year old. Want to take my son to a a World Series Game in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

  13. #42
    KungFu Fighter AtomicDumpling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hamilton, OH
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by powersackers View Post
    Camped under it, waiving off the Lfer does not make for a routine catch?
    He wasn't camped under it all. Just because you call for the ball doesn't mean you are going to catch it. He didn't catch it, then they didn't get anyone out much less a double play, which goes to show just how ridiculous the call was. And the fielders didn't realize the infield fly rule had been invoked until after the play was over, you can tell by their WTF reactions.

  14. #43
    Member powersackers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,660

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicDumpling View Post
    No chance of a double play = no infield fly rule.
    Then the rule needs re-written to that definition. Because that's not the rule.
    Attended 1976 World Series in my Mother's Womb. Attended 1990 World Series Game 2 as a 13 year old. Want to take my son to a a World Series Game in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

  15. #44
    Member powersackers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,660

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicDumpling View Post
    He wasn't camped under it all.
    He 100% was camped under it, and he had to move 2 steps forward to not catch it.
    Attended 1976 World Series in my Mother's Womb. Attended 1990 World Series Game 2 as a 13 year old. Want to take my son to a a World Series Game in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

  16. #45
    KungFu Fighter AtomicDumpling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hamilton, OH
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: The infield Fly

    Quote Originally Posted by powersackers View Post
    He 100% was camped under it, and he had to move 2 steps forward to not catch it.
    He never reached the spot where the ball landed. Never.

    If he let the ball drop on purpose they would not have gotten a single out, much less a double play. It was a moronic call and the whole nation is mocking him for it. The umpire is the laughingstock of the country right now. Deservedly so.
    Last edited by AtomicDumpling; 10-06-2012 at 02:32 PM.


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator