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BASEBALL The infield fly is one situation that impacts force plays. Since the batter is out, the force is removed and the runners may remain at their bases or advance at their own risk. Ramon Armendarlz, Los Angeles (left), and Kendall Snyder, Azalea, Ore. TOUR DE FORGE $--{*wr t* h{mv*gmt* F*nce-Fiay !ntri*mcl*s iil, {,r,orgi, llL:mtirioi.t 81 is out and R1 must be tagged. to third because 81 became a batter- A force play occurs when a runner runner when he hit a fair ball. There f,orce plays are a crucial part of loses his right to the base he occupies is no requirement for F5 to run to I baseball. Whether or not a third because the batter becomes a batter- third and touch it for the play to be a out is a force play can determine runner (NFHS 2-29-3; NCAA 2-33; pro- force p1ay. Also, it would not matter whether or not a run scores. It also Definition of Force Play). A force can if R2 were declared out for leaving determines how a runner may be put subsequently be removed and umpires the baseline or for interfering with F5. out. If a runner is forced, he or the must recognize that when it happens. As long as R2 is retired before legally base to which he is advancing may Here is an actltal play where the touching third, the run cannot score. be tagged. In all other situations, the force out negated a run. A run cannot be scored if any runner runner must be tagged for an out to Play 2: With the bases loaded and is forced out for the third out (NFHS occur. The method of putting out a two out, 81 hits the ball toward third. 9-1-1 Exc. b; NCAA 5-6c Exc. 2, 8-5j AR runner is never a factor in determining F5 muffs the ball, which remains at his 1; pro 5.08a Exc.2/ 4.09a2). whether or not an out is a force out. feet. R2 sees F5 in his path and decides A force is removed when a runner Unless otherwise noted, the material to retreat. F5 recovers the ball, chases reaches the base to which he is forced applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and down R2 and tags him. R3 touches the to advance. When a runner is forced pro rules. plate before R2 is tagged. Ruling 2: out, the force is also removed on Here is an elementary example. The run does not score. R2's out is a any preceding runners, but not on Play 1: With R1 on first, 81 hits the force out. following runners. If the batter-runner ball hard to F3, who steps on first and The tag out does not change the is retired, force plays on all runners are fires the ball to F6 at second. Ruling 1: fact that R2 was forced to advance removed. 12 I REFEBEE May2O16 Play 3: With one out and R1 on Here is a play where the codes first, 81 hits a sharp one-hopper to F3. treat a force play differently. R1 does not react and remains at first. Play 5: With the bases loaded and F3 (a) tags R1 and then the base, or no one out, 81 hits into a 6-4-3 double Reelin' in the Years: (b) tags the base and then R1. Ruling play. R2, who ran on the pitch, scores The following apply to the 2016 3: The tag sequence is important and but misses third. On appeal, R2 is MLB umpire crews (see page 79 makes the difference between one or called out for missing third. Ruling for the 201 6 roste0: two outs. 5: In NFHS and pro, the run counts .--38-- When 81 hit a fair baIl, a force because the missed base occurred after Years of MLB experience for ihe on R1 was (a) created. Thus in R1 is the out at second removed the force. most-tenured crew chief, Joe out. The fact he was still on first is In NCAA, the run does not count. West irrelevant - he was forced to advance. For purposes of running infractions, a When the base was subsequently force that exists at the time of the pitch 17_ Years of MLB tagged, a double play occurred. In (b), remains in effect throughout the play. experience for the least-tenured crew chief, Bill Miller the base was tagged first retiring 81, Infield fly. The removal of a force but that also removed the force on R1 play is the primary reason the infield _59_ who then became entitled to remain fly rule exists. Without that rule, a Average years of MLB experience at first. The subsequent tag on R1 fielder could allow the fly ball to drop for all crews meant nothing. If R1 had attempted and create a force on two runners to advance in (b), he would have to be making a cheap double play possible. ,o- Years of MLB experience for the tagged to be put out. Merely getting Play 6: With one out and runners most-tenured crew: West (38), the ball to second before R1 got there on first and second, 81 hits a high pop Kerwin Danley (19), Andy Fletcher would not be sufficient as the force up behind the mound. The umpires (16.5), Mark Ripperger (2.5) play no longer existed. call an infield fly. F1 first cails for the _ _ Here is another example where ball, then F4, followed by F6. In the 46.5 Years of MLB experience for the the force is removed on a preceding confusion, the ball falls on the back of least-tenured crew: Miller (17), runner. the mound and rolls away. R2 takes Tony Randazzo (16.5), Brian Play 4: With one out and runners off for third. F4 picks up the ball and Knight (7), Todd Tichenor (6) on first and second, B1 hits a grounder throws to F5 who hurries to third. to F4. The flip to F6 at second retires Ruling 6: The declaration of an infield R1. F6 then notices that R2 slipped and fly removed all force plays. R2 must fell on his way to third, so he throws be tagged before reaching third to be to F5 at third. Ruling 4: The force out declared out. Don't be afraid to yell to your partner that you are on the line .;, ) on R1 removed the force on R2 who l, t r; : : i. i, t r t I t i o i t., d.o! tr t tl l 5 r i i t i; ;,';t, or that the fly ball is in your was a preceding runner, so R2 must be ,i.rrirr.. Ir !l:t t.irr;'*tl \lll-r rlll coverage area. Normally umpire- tagged be i i t ! i, r t to retired. i.: ; i: t t .fi; r i h ; s I r; ! t ol' i)t! tt r t i,t. to-umpire signals should be discrete and happen before play is ready to resume, but when the ball is in play, communication remains vital. Umpires cannot take their eye off the ball to see Stand Out on the Field where a partner is, so verbal for the Right Reasons communication becomes key. i:]r, lJihlr: Cabrera threw a tantrum Jor and "Whenever you have a tight Carapazza ejected him. Manager situation and there's a close pitch, ln 201a, MLB umpire Yic Carapazza Matt Williams came out and ended the umpire gets a squawk no Istood out during an NL Division up ejected as well. Intrigued, I closely matter how he calls it." Series game between the San observed the next few innings of Francisco Giants and Washington what turned out to be an 18-inning, * Red Nationals. 6:23 marathon that the Giants won. Barber In the bottom of the 10th inning, Among other things, I wanted to see sporrscasfer Carapazza called a strike on Asdrubal if there were more fireworks and from 1939-66. Cabrera of the Nationals in the lf Carapazza would maintain his upper-most part of the zone. Cabrera composure. After all, he was a fourth- expressed displeasure with the call year major league umpire working his but got back in the box, only to take a first playoff series, and most would third strike in the exact same spot. tell you that it takes about five years, HEFEREE May2016 I 13 ::i :l:llli:l.:BrcEBALiL,liil at a minimum, for an umpire to physical appearance, communication establish himself in the maior leagues skills, handling situations, judgment, and gain the participants' respect. rules knowledge, solid game ln each of the following, you are I think that is especially true now, management, and the like, I wanted given a situation and at least two see reacted when things possible answers. You are to decide when, for various reasons including to how they which answer or answers are correcl the replay system, there are so many got tough. for NFHS, NCM or pro rules, which new faces in the major league umpire If they had a goofy situation might vary. Solutions: p.81. ranks. I was curious to see if they or their strike zone seemed to 1. With R1 on first, R3 on third and would settle down and just play ball temporarily go south - and one out. 84 hits a ground ball to with a young guy behind the plate.