Hochevar threw to catcher drew butera, who easily tagged bourgeois five feet from the plate for the inningending double play. Ironically the infield fly rule can lead to double plays because the runners often arent aware or forget the rules. On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder not by. Was the infield fly rule call in the 2012 nl wildcard. Braves fans litter field after controversial infield fly call. The rule was first introduced by the national league in 1895 and only applied with one out. Brandon phillips did this to buster posey a few years ago. That apparently happened in an october 2012 singleelimination wild card. The infield fly rule explained why the infield fly rule is a must. The infield fly rule was invoked for the out on bruce. The infield fly rule takes effect on a fair fly ball that, in the judgment of the umpire, can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort and when there are runners on first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs. Infield fly rule prompts criticism of umpires, call for instant replay in mlb. Andrelton simmons fly ball drops between matt holliday and pete kozma on the disputed infieldflyrule play.
Brian sits down with 28yr major league umpire jim evans to talk about the infamous infield fly call in the 2012 national league wild card game between the st. And if you let a ball drop in a slowpitch softball game, odds are at least one of the runners will go and you can just tag them out. Critically, the infield fly rule applies to a game situation that contains four distinct features. A controversial play, which played a key role in ending the atlanta braves 2012 season, involved an infield fly rule call on a ball that was nowhere near the infield. Baseballs infield fly rule is perhaps one of the most conditional and technical parts of the sports rules book, yet once the concept is grasped. Infield fly rule call mars cardinalsbraves wildcard game the cardinals just beat the braves in the firstever national league wildcard game, but it will go down in history for a different reason. It was held at turner field in atlanta, on october 5, 2012, at 5. Oct 06, 2012 first, we need to get the obvious out of the way. Conversely, if the ball had landed a few feet fair, bounced into foul territory and been touched there, this would simply be a foul ball, and the batter would return to the plate. Early in the games history, baseballs rule makers picked up on that sly trick and made it. Infield fly rule prompts criticism of umpires, call for. Oct 06, 2012 infield fly rule ends chipper jones mlb career in trashiest way possible photos by nesn staff on sat, oct 6, 2012 at 12.
Cardinals infield fly rule in the outfield diagram new, 2 comments there are a certain few plays that will live within the halls of baseball lore, whispered about in shame, and. The infield rule played a big role in the 2012 national league wild card game. Jun 08, 20 a controversial play, which played a key role in ending the atlanta braves 2012 season, involved an infield fly rule call on a ball that was nowhere near the infield. The rulebook makes clear that any player, including an outfielder, who stations. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not a line drive or bunt that, in the judgment of the umpire, can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort and when there are runners on first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs. On the play it is to be called early enough for runners to be able to have the opportunity to advance at their own risk. Dec 19, 20 major league baseball advanced media mlbam was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. With the nation and the world still in the grips of the covid19 pandemic and most sports shut down in the united states, including major and minor league baseball, the raison detre for this blog has taken a hit. Was the infield fly rule call in the 2012 nl wildcard playoff. Infield fly rule call mars cardinalsbraves wildcard game. 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.
Controversial infield fly call not subject to appeal, mlb rules. The 2012 national league wild card game was a playin game during major league baseballs mlb 2012 postseason played between the national leagues nl two wild card teams, the st. The umpire s declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out and all force plays are removed regardless of whether the ball is caught. As silly as trying to wrap ones mind around rule 2. Infield fly rule the infield fly rule is a simple and common, but occasionally misunderstood part of the game. The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. Scott cunninghamgetty images yes, they knew theyd put on one ugly little show out there. How much did controversial infield fly call cost braves. The infield fly rule was put in place to prevent a defensive player from intentionally dropping a pop up in the infield and turning it into an easy double play, or even a triple play. To purchase a printed hard cover copy of the rule book please contact the.
Orioles turn triple play after umpire decides not to call infield fly rule no infield fly was called as j. Oct 08, 2012 friday nights affair between the braves and cardinals will always be remembered as the infield fly rule game, as the obscure rule and the vague way it can be defined led to a long delay as fans. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an. Infield fly rule october 5, 2012 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, orfirst, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. Little league coaches struggle to understand it, and the rule has even mystified professional managers at times. The rule refers mainly to popups, since line drives or weakly hit fly balls that fall to the ground immediately would not allow time for the defense to react fast enough to catch the baserunners offguard. That said, we at outfield fly rule salute the nurses, doctors, emc personnel, and essential workers risking. Oct 05, 2012 the comment in the baseball rule book that accompanies the explanation of the rule is whats most pertinent in tonights case.
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. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to reorganize and recodify the official baseball rules into a more logical and organized manner. Infield fly rule ends chipper jones mlb career in trashiest way possible photos by nesn staff on sat, oct 6, 2012 at 12. If they stay close to their bases, the third base player could choose to let the ball drop and get multiple outs by tagging the runner who was on third, stepping on third base to force out the runner from second, and throwing to second base to force out the runner from first. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of rule 6. Concisely, an umpire shall immediately declare infield fly only when it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly. Major league baseball advanced media mlbam was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. The major league baseball silhouetted batter logo is a. The comment in the baseball rule book that accompanies the explanation of the rule is whats most pertinent in tonights case.
Controversial infield fly call not subject to appeal. Infield fly rule ends chipper jones mlb career in trashiest. That said, we at outfield fly rule salute the nurses. Without the infield fly rule, the runners have a dilemma. Oct 07, 2012 infield fly rule prompts criticism of umpires, call for instant replay in mlb. Official baseball rules, appendix 1, diagram of the playing field. The infield fly rule in the outfield diagram beyond the box. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions. The infield fly rule is a baseball rule intended to prevent the defense from getting a cheap double play by deliberately dropping a fly ball in the infield. Orioles turn triple play after umpire decides not to.
Louis cardinals atlanta shortstop andrelton simmons came to bat with runners on first and second and hit a high, shallow pop up between cardinals shortstop pete kozma and left fielder matt holliday. Oct 06, 2012 if on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of rule 6. It was a game marked by incredibly bad defense on the part of the braves, an extremely bad infield fly rule call by left field line umpire sam holbrook and a 19 minute trash throwing delay by fans that i never thought possible in atlanta. Oct 06, 2012 when an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. To begin, the rule can only come into effect when the following conditions are met. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul. Or, take the controversial infield fly call from the 2012 national league wild card game. Hardy missed a fly going toward lf, and the os end up with three outs. Infield fly, game under protest mark bravescardinals. Umps call infield fly rule on simmons popup youtube. Case book material is printed in smaller type than the rule language and is labeled as comment. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base. Bravescardinals wild card game infield fly rule explained.
All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the written permission of the office of the commissioner. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to. 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. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. However, the weirdest loss of all in atlanta postseason was certainly the 2012 nl wild card game the infield fly rule game. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in. Oct 06, 2012 andrelton simmons fly ball drops between matt holliday and pete kozma on the disputed infield fly rule play. The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the. Umpiring crew for atlanta braves nlds with cardinals includes. Major league baseballs official playing rules committee has opted to alter baseballs definition of the infield fly rule following a contested play late in the 2012 season that baffled. Friday nights affair between the braves and cardinals will always be remembered as the infield fly rule game, as the obscure rule and the vague way it can be defined led to a.
Infield fly, game under protest mark bravescardinals contest. Many called it controversial, saying mlb umpire sam holbrook erroneously ruled an infield fly on the play and costing the braves the game. When umpire sam holbrook invoked the infield fly rule as the braves. In 2012, the infield fly rule was thrown back in the spotlight by baseball analysts after the national league wild card game between the cardinals and braves. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of rule 5. Oct 05, 2012 when an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. Oct 11, 2019 brian sits down with 28yr major league umpire jim evans to talk about the infamous infield fly call in the 2012 national league wild card game between the st. If interference is called during an infield fly, the ball remains alive until it is determined whether the ball is fair or foul. What is the infield fly rule and why do they have it. In 2012, the infield fly rule was thrown back in the spotlight by baseball analysts after. Umpiring crew for atlanta braves nlds with cardinals. Louis cardinals has been announced, and theres a name that braves fans will notice.
Outfield fly rule atlanta braves through thick and thin. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an. Baseball rules book in considering the application of a particular rule. The runner on third base, bourgeois, broke from third base and tried to score. The infield fly rule is one of the most misunderstood rules in the game of baseball. No other game situation in baseball, or indeed any other sport, contains all four features. This was the first year of expanded playoffs in the mlb. Everything you always wanted to know about the infield fly rule. Braves ryan rudnansky senior writer i october 6, 2012 comments. In defense of baseballs infield fly rule the atlantic. Devils advocate and the infield fly rule athletics nation. The infield fly rule is designed to protect the offense from a fielder that intentionally drops or misses a pop fly in order to get a double play. The braves had 12 hits, scored 3 runs and made 3 errors allowing the cardinals to score 6 runs and only 2 earned.
Braves fans litter field after controversial infield fly. Feb 20, 20 major league baseballs official playing rules committee has opted to alter baseballs definition of the infield fly rule following a contested play late in the 2012 season that baffled. Holbrook ruled the batter out anyway under the infield fly rule. Mlb modifies infield fly rule in wake of confusing play. An infield fly is any fair fly ball not including a line drive or a bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall. Apr 24, 2017 in 2012, the infield fly rule was thrown back in the spotlight by baseball analysts after the national league wild card game between the cardinals and braves.
So, this is not a call that cost them the game in quite that sense. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder. Between 2009 and 2012, there were six infieldfly rulings on balls that werent caught, and the longest was. And the call, like the winnertakeall playoff, wont soon be forgotten. Drop the infield fly rule part i idle thoughts medium. Oct 12, 2012 critically, the infield fly rule applies to a game situation that contains four distinct features.
Rundown of how rule came into play in cardinals vs. The umpiring crew for the nlds between the atlanta braves and the st. And here is the mlb official rule book comment on the infield fly rule. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the written. Case book material in this edition are in shaded boxes and are labeled as comment.
1192 91 1146 1226 655 208 987 630 1464 401 166 245 737 791 1420 448 1209 1058 10 1156 245 1252 313 312 774 314 929 432 1156