Until it comes in I'll be wearing this...it's RED!! ps..I really do have this hat! Hope it's close enough!
AJ...we're underdogs! Not a single person picked us to win the WS in the ESPN experts picks. In fact nobody even picked us to win the NLCS. Don't worry though I'm in with you all the way!
LOL....aaahhhhhh you guys... Dopn't worry about it Teammate...they said the same thing last year!! 3 words for ya Doc.....BACK TO BACK
But as Chipper Jones said in his post-game interview: "That call did not necessarily beat us, the three errors did." That is a sportsman’s attitude... a lesson that could be learned by a lot of players and fans!
I know Sid is, but you two also sound like Cubs fans right now. Major League Baseball rule 2.00: Infield Fly rule By / MLB.com 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.
Immediately doesn't mean just before the ball reaches the ground. The second that the ball was hit the SS went back to possibly make a play. It was obvious that it was withing infielder range. The more important thing is that that ball was not far from the left field foul line. The runner on first could easily have come almost halfway on that ball because of the distance from first. It would be highly unlikely that the fielder could intentionally drop the ball, throw to third and then get the force at second. In other words, there was no reason to invoke the infield fly rule because the play it was intended to prevent was not a real possibility.
Gip hit the nail squarely on the head. I was thinking exactly the same thing.....no realistic possibility for a double play. In addition, it was not obvious that the SS could catch the ball "with ordinary effort." It was a bad call. Period. For baseball to uphold it is a travesty.
"Not right before it hits the ground".... :roll: You guys forgot to leave out that your experts on the talent and strength of these ball players nowadays, and your Nostradamus like abilities are an uncanny ability to determine the "what if" of the play. :shock:
I'm sorry just what does that have to do with "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." You mean that the ump didn't know that it was an "infield fly" until he finally called it? Please...what what the short stop running to field?