White: Umpires made correct call on infield-fly rule
- Paul White: The questionable infield-fly call was the correct ruling
- The game was delayed 15 minutes after fans pelted the field with trash
- The Braves played the remainder of the game under protest
Follow closely the controversial infield-fly play in the Braves-Cardinals game and you'll see the Infield Fly Rule applied as the rule book suggests.
If there's any argument about the result of umpire Sam Holbrook's out call, it's a disagreement on his judgment that the rule applies in this case. And, as a judgment call, that wipes out any hope the Braves have of getting their protest upheld because, by rule, protests can be over only a misinterpretation or wrong application of a rule — not over judgment.
Let's start with the rule.
An automatic out is called when, with runners on first and second (as in tonight's case) or the bases loaded and fewer than two outs, a fly ball is hit that the umpires believe can be routinely handled by an infielder. The rule exists so an infielder doesn't purposely drop the ball so he can get force outs for a double or triple play.
The comment in the baseball rule book that accompanies the explanation of the rule is what's most pertinent in tonight's case.
Here it is:
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.
Watch replays closely and you'll see that Holbrook, the left field umpire, watches as shortstop Pete Kozma backpedals into left field. As soon as Kozma waves his arms to communicate that he's ready to catch the ball, Holbrook raises his arm to signal an infield fly.
In other words, the umpire waits until he's certain it's a play the infielder can make. Kozma apparently thought it was a play he could make.
Whatever caused him to suddenly peel off — was it when, amid the stadium noise, Holbrook accompanied his signal with a verbal call of "infield fly?" — Kozma suddenly changed direction, as infielders are taught to do when they believe they hear the outfielder calling that he can make the catch.