How could it not be? It landed between two players.
What is obvious is that is was not an infield fly.
Except if you read the rule it's absolutely an infield fly.
Why do these leagues continue to give a pass for officials making horrendous calls?
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Except if you read the rule it's absolutely an infield fly.
Kobes Two Jerseys
8 or 24 best player of the era
The ball was clearly not easily handled by the infielder. You're trying to make an argument just for the sake of arguing.
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.
Twice now you've acted as if you know the rule and twice you've been wrong.
Even if people try to say its a judgment call it is most definitely not in the spirit of the rule . The runners didn't need to be protected and he waited too long to call it
At the Major League level, that's a very easy play. He waited until it was clear that Kozma was underneath the ball...which is actually the right way to do it.
And whether it was late or not doesn't really matter. If he had called it earlier the play doesn't change.
I agree that it was questionable as to whether it was in the "spirit" of the rule and whether they could turn two. Depends on where the runners were obviously, but I'd probably edge that it was unlikely. BUT, when the rule is intended to protect the runners, I completely understand erring on that side.
As the Harold Reynolds video shows, it's a call that is made exactly like that all season long. The only difference in this case is that Kozma fukked up.
And whether it was late or not doesn't really matter. If he had called it earlier the play doesn't change.
I agree that it was questionable as to whether it was in the "spirit" of the rule and whether they could turn two. Depends on where the runners were obviously, but I'd probably edge that it was unlikely. BUT, when the rule is intended to protect the runners, I completely understand erring on that side.
As the Harold Reynolds video shows, it's a call that is made exactly like that all season long. The only difference in this case is that Kozma fukked up.
That's the only questionable part of the call. And like said, with a rule intended to protect/benefit the offense, I understand erring on that side.
Why are we ignoring that this call is made all year long? It's only an issue because Kozma fukked it up...not because the ump did anything wrong. As the rule is written, it was a good call. Maybe it needs some tweaking, I don't know...but as it is the call was right.
And please stop complaining about how late it was. Even if you want to argue about its timing, it's irrelevant to what happened.
People in here saying he called it too late are saying that as if the umpire is looking at the ball. He isn't. He's looking at Kozma and his body language, which is why his arm goes up as it appears that Kozma settles under it.
And to the guy that said Kozma couldn't have easily handled it, they're also wrong. Kozma could have, but for some dumbass reason, he bailed on it. He even said so himself postgame, that he bailed on the ball. If he hadn't then the call wouldn't even be an issue, but Kozma fukked up majorly, and here we are.
By the rules, it was a good call. Except I think it was too deep like I've said before, but that's where the judgement of the umpire comes into play. It's a purely judgement call.
And to the guy that said Kozma couldn't have easily handled it, they're also wrong. Kozma could have, but for some dumbass reason, he bailed on it. He even said so himself postgame, that he bailed on the ball. If he hadn't then the call wouldn't even be an issue, but Kozma fukked up majorly, and here we are.
By the rules, it was a good call. Except I think it was too deep like I've said before, but that's where the judgement of the umpire comes into play. It's a purely judgement call.
Kobes Two Jerseys
8 or 24 best player of the era
WHEN IT SEEMS APPARENT.
It was only apparent once Kozma was settled under the ball...and at that point it was called immediately. People keep getting hung up on 'immediately" but aren't comprehending the entire sentence.
And again, if he had called it 2 seconds earlier...NOTHING CHANGES.
@ the "only fukk up" being from the umps...like Kozma didn't jump out of the way of an easy play
Kobes Two Jerseys
8 or 24 best player of the era
WHEN IT SEEMS APPARENT.
It was only apparent once Kozma was settled under the ball...and at that point it was called immediately. People keep getting hung up on 'immediately" but aren't comprehending the entire sentence.
And again, if he had called it 2 seconds earlier...NOTHING CHANGES.
Lol. A ball to the outfield where the left fielder could have caught it, is apparently an infield fly.
fukk outta here. You must be the dumbfukk ump who made the call.
Well HHR also defended the jerry meals blown call on texiera .so he must be a ump . It was a unnecessary call
Kobes Two Jerseys
8 or 24 best player of the era
I read somewhere he defended the Holocaust because it was in the nazi rulebooks.
I didn't defend the Teixeira call
I said I understand HOW he misses calls like that. I never excused it.
And yes, as a matter of fact, I am an umpire.
If you've never umpired/refereed/officiated anything it's hard to explain shyt like this to you. Sometimes shyt just happens, things look different from different angles.
....and that is call is made all season long, it just goes unnoticed because the players don't usually dive out of the way of the ball.
You should go back a read the rule you posted. It specifically covers this.
