Expert: Dr. Mark R. Ambrose - 10/16/2009

Question
Had a player from a team really get mad last night on a call that I made.  I am new to ASA umpiring, but feel I do a decent job overall.

Scenario- Runners or first and second with one out.  Batter pops a ball into the infield over the first base line about half way to first.  I called infield fly rule 'if the ball is fair'.  The pitcher made and attempt to grab it, but did not touch the ball and the ball rolled foul.  I called it a foul ball since the pitcher did not touch it.  A player from the defending team assessed that I called an infield fly and the batter should be out regardless.  I read back through the manual, but could not find anything concrete on the umpire 'if the ball stays fair' stipulation.  I believe that I read an answer to a question here about the 'if the ball stays fair' situation, so that is probably where I got it.  I feel it was the right call, but the other player was adamant about my call being wrong.  Was it the right call??  And another question....if the pitcher would have made contact with the ball before rolling foul, even if he did not catch it, I believe that the batter would be out since a defensive player touched it prior to touching foul ground...correct?? Thanks in advance for your time and answers.  I want to get better at umpiring and feel this situation will occur again some time down the road and I want to get it right.

Answer
Hi Greg,

here's the def....INFIELD FLY: A fair fly ball, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied with less than two outs.

The player was obviously wrong, the ball must be fair to be an IF.  

A few years ago I had a pitcher purposely not catch an IF hoping I believe to nail a runner  and the ball kicked left on hitting the ground and bounced into foul territory (betw hp and 3rd) "FOUL BALL".  The batter hit the next one off the fence.

2nd q, yes if he touched it in fair territory, the ball is fair, batter out and runners can advance at their own risk.  You do not have to catch an IF for the batter to be out.

The approved mechanic for something near the foul line is "IF, batter is out, if fair" just as you did but even if we call "IF, batter is out" and the ball rolls or lands foul, the IF is canceled and we just have a foul ball.

Mark