Any Runners on an Infield Fly
- Thread starter kornphed
- Start date
johnsonrod
Starting Player
the runners dont have to wait for anything. the IFF simply says the runners dont have to run. if they choose to run, its no different than a fly ball to the OF. either wait to the ball is caught/touched then run so you cannot be ruled out for leaving a base early, or you can run while the ball is in the air and hope the fielder misses the ball.
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
Anytime they please. However, something you need to remember, the IF only rules the batter-runner out. All other rules (save an intentional drop) are still in effect.
So......
AWall13
Addicted to Softballfans
So you can leave while the ball is in the air but if they catch it its same as any fly ball and a force play and you have to get back whatever base you were at?
NDSoftball
Addicted to Softballfans
runners can run whenever they want but if it's caught they obviously have to touch the base they were on
BretMan
Addicted to Softballfans
You are almost correct.
As far as when runners can advance or tag up, on an Infield Fly it is exactly the same as on any other batted fly ball. The ball is live and if it's caught on the fly they need to tag up before advancing. If it's not, then they don't.
Where you went astray was in refering to the defense tagging the base before the runner gets back as a "force play". It's not a force play. A force play has a very specific meaning and definition under the rules...and this ain't one of them!
Making a live ball appeal of a runner leaving early on a caught fly ball might look like a force play, since all the defense has to do is touch the base while holding the ball. But a real, honest-to-goodness, genuine force play is something else altogether- and something that has entirely different ramifications with respect to the playing rules.
A true force play can only be had when a runner is forced to advance by the batter becoming a batter-runner (ie: when the batter is entitled to advance to first base). On an Infield Fly, the batter is out. Thus, the runners are never forced to advance and there can never be any force plays available to the defense.
Sure, the defense can tag a base left too soon on a catch to retire a runner, but that IS NOT treated as a force play!
Boston's #7
Star Player
If you are talking about a force out then you are wrong. An appeal with runner's leaving too early on a catch is a force out, as any runners who have scored before the appeal, and it being the last out of the inning, do not count.
Pylon #00
Bad Mother****er
:facepalm:
Why is this so hard for people to comprehend?
A force out by definition.....
The situation you described is NOT a force out. As long as the run scores before the out is recorded, it counts. This is the same ruling in mens softball, womens softball, kids baseball, and ML Baseball.
NCASAUmp
Un-Retired
It's amazing how people complicate things once an infield fly is involved.
I'll make it simple. The infield fly rule only pertains to the batter. That's it. It affects no one else. The rule, once invoked, calls the batter out.
Beyond that, all of the other rules of softball apply: tag up if the ball is caught, don't tag up if it's not.
I'll make it simple. The infield fly rule only pertains to the batter. That's it. It affects no one else. The rule, once invoked, calls the batter out.
Beyond that, all of the other rules of softball apply: tag up if the ball is caught, don't tag up if it's not.
DeputyUICHousto
Addicted to Softballfans
Oh my God!
This topic (Force Out) has been discussed on this board and many others so many times it should be indelibly marked in everyones mind.
Lets try this scenario to help understand. If there are runners on 1st and 2nd base with no outs and the batter hits a pop fly to left field which is caught for an out are the runners forced to advance? NO!!!! They run at their own risk. They are free to leave whenever they choose to do so. If they leave before the ball is touched they can be appealed and called out. They are NOT forced. On a caught fly ball you can never ever have a force out.
The same rules apply to the Infield Fly. The only difference being that the batter is out even if the ball is not caught. All other rules of the game still apply. Tagging up, appealing runners, etc.
THERE IS NO FORCE OUT!
This topic (Force Out) has been discussed on this board and many others so many times it should be indelibly marked in everyones mind.
Lets try this scenario to help understand. If there are runners on 1st and 2nd base with no outs and the batter hits a pop fly to left field which is caught for an out are the runners forced to advance? NO!!!! They run at their own risk. They are free to leave whenever they choose to do so. If they leave before the ball is touched they can be appealed and called out. They are NOT forced. On a caught fly ball you can never ever have a force out.
The same rules apply to the Infield Fly. The only difference being that the batter is out even if the ball is not caught. All other rules of the game still apply. Tagging up, appealing runners, etc.
THERE IS NO FORCE OUT!
Boston's #7
Star Player
I stand corrected
Traenok
Star Player
Our team always watches our opposing defenses to see how they handle IFF's. We have caught two teams so far starting to throw the horn on these and have sent our runner parked on third home twice. Successful once, other time - well - lets just say - he needs to lay off the Dough Rollers for awhile!
Only thing I have done was to advance from third to home on a foul out the catcher chased down along with the Pitcher and 1st baseman. I walked home. Didn't jog or trot. Walked.