Yet more proof that the Umpires Union is corrupt and inept. That ball was 40feet into the outfield. But what really hacked me off was the puke announces chastising the fans for showing their displeasure, even while claiming it was a bad call. Okay, maybe they shouldn't have thrown things. However, it is the fans who pay for tickets, buy the products and make it possible for ML Sports to be possible. Clearly we have seen yet another reason to get rid of UNION Ump's and Refs.

It was a legit call. The pop fly was a "can of corn" play for the short stop. The rule is there to protect the offender, not the defense.

If a player hits a home run and the infield fly rule is invoked does that negate the home run? Basically, the call was wrong and the officials went into CYA mode. But, I'm not for instant replay with baseball. It's already slow enough.

I believe it could have been a legitimate call, but the timing is what made it illegitimate. An infield fly must be called immediately, if anything for the baserunners to know the situation.

The umpire called it extremely late. According to MLB Rule 2.00, the rule was misapplied.

Misapplication of the rule meant the Braves had a legitimate right to play under protest. But, it's up to MLB to decide, and the decision was to let the call stand.

With so much on the line, I could understand the fans actions, but I did not approve of them.

is baseball still going I thought it was football season.... yawnnnn
with all that is going on in this world right now, the fans react to a bad call. to bad they don't react to a bad president telling lies.

Let's come up with some more goofy rules.

1- If a batter spits more than once while at bat, he's out.
2- If a batter scratches himself more than once while at bat, he's out.
3- If a batter steps out of the box more than once, he's out.
4- Only one visit by catcher to pitcher per inning otherwise the side is retired.
5- Only a corpulent umpire can call the balls and strikes..minimum weight 300lbs. (He gets tired of standing so he calls more strikes so the game is over sooner).
6- Any ball thrown by the pitcher that doesn't hit the backstop on the fly is considered a strike whether or not the batter swings. Everything is a strike zone except the backstop.

Probably some other new rules that would speed up the glacial pace of the game.

The Shallow Left Field Fly Rule.

I as an Umpire say,

An infield flyball is called to avoid the intensional dropped ball with the bases loaded WHEN (and this is key) the - INTENTIONALLY - dropped ball forces the runners to leave the protection of the base giving the defense easy 2 or 3 forced outs.


1. I'm not a Card's fan!

2. It wasn't an infield fly!

An infield flyball falls or would fall in front of a shortstop and that one clearly fell behind the shortstop.......NOT an infield fly{PERIOD}.

SUPER CRAPPY CALL!

Once again, as in the Packers-Seahawks call, we are reminded that sports are entertainment and not to be taken more seriously than that. Umpires and refs are human, subject to all of the errors and influences that implies. Wherever there are "calls" there will be bad calls. Champions simply never let things get to the point where a few bad calls affect the outcome.

the umpire who made the call was one of the two extra umps working the outfield - I don't think it was his call to make - should have been the ump near third base - right?

An infield fly ball that landed in the outfield? Bad call.

As an Astros fan, I have no skin in the game. I'm with the other posters who say it shouldn't have been called.

It doesn't matter where the ball is, it matters whether the infielder, in the umpire's judgment, can catch it with ordinary effort. He was there and under it; he could have made the catch, but pulled off.

A judgement call, but not a wrong call.

ok, my user name gives me away, but it was not a bad call. read the rule - the ball doesn't have to come down in the infield.

Some said that call should not have been made in a playoff game but this is not the NBA where the rules change in the final 2 minutes. Had the ball bounced right to Holliday and he was able to start a double play the Braves fans would be screaming that they should have called the infield fly rule. They said he called it late, but he called it when the infielder was in a position to catch the ball - he had no idea the ball wasn't going to be caught.

I was born a Cardinals fan, but understand the frustration of the Braves fans. Apparently, the ump called the in field fly rule concurrent with the Cards players experiencing a little confusion on the field. That made it appear that the hitter was called out when he really should have gotten a hit. HOWEVER, when the ump invoked the rule he halted what would have naturally followed the missed fly ball - the batter would have advanced to first, but the lead runner would have been thrown out a third. Still two outs, but runners on first and second. Inexplicably, the infield fly rule was called, but the runners still advanced. Weird all around.

#13 is exactly right. According to the rule, it makes no difference where the play was made (or not made); all that matters is that the umpire judged it to be a fly ball that could be caught be an infielder with ordinary effort.

There is also nothing in the rule about which umpire's call it is to make or even whether the intent is to keep the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and creating an easy double-play opportunity.

As for the timing of it, yes the rule does say it should be called immediately - but not immediately after the ball is hit, but immediately after the umpire has made the judgment that it is a ball that an infielder could make with ordinary effort. In this case, the umpire did not make that judgment until the ball had reached its apex, which took quite a while. The reality here is that the timing of the call did not hurt the Braves, if anything it helped them, since the runners easily advanced bases when the ball wasn't caught (because they were half-way there before the call); if it had been called right away, they likely would have stayed on their bases.

The bottom line is that it is a judgment call, and, since the umpire judged it a ball that could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, it was called absolutely correctly. The only disagreement one could have is with the judgment that it could not have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. If that's what someone thinks, fine, but, there should be no dispute with how the rule was applied.

Call was correct. Read the rule. Braves fans should stop whining. Chipper let them down.

Some of you posters should listen to what Chipper and other Braves players said about the incident. Words to the effect that the play of some Braves not the disputed call cost them the game!!!!!

Go Tigers and Verlander, the best pitcher & Miggy the MVP in the American League!!! Ted in Mich.

KAB19 you have it right. Thanks for beating me to it.

I am not a baseball fan. It is too slow for me. While dangerous to say among all these fans, I think digital tv closeups and weight gains have not made baseball or basketball attractive games to watch.

Braves fan/Cardinals hater here. I thought the call was iffy, but it is a judgment call, so I could go with it except that it was a late call (as in, just before the ball touched the ground).

Bottom line, the bad call didn't matter. I've seen Little Leaguers play better than the Braves played last night. They didn't deserve to win the game. Bottom line was the players stunk, the fans stunk (I can't believe that ludicrous display), the call borderline stunk, and as always, MLB/Selig stunk. And MLB have those boobs Joe Torre and Joe Garagiola as VPs? Good grief. This is why I prefer watching college or high school baseball. I'm a purist and they just love playing the game.

I have never liked the rule and figure if it allows a double or triple play that is just too bad for the team batting.

IOW, why shouldn't they suffer the consequences of hitting the ball?

But the rule does exist and last night it was used correctly. The ball would have been caught with an ordinary effort. And those on the field knew it and acted accordingly.

I do see the other side of the argument. Baseball tries to prevent deceptions and tricks. Balks, hidden balls, etc. The infield fly rule prevents a trick.

As an umpire i would never call infield fly rule until the fielder was under the ball.. that never happened. The ump blew it but a judgement call will not be overturned on appeal

Learn the rule before making stupid, uniformed comments.

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.
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 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.

Watch this video by former major leaguer Harold Reynolds explaining why the call was correct: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25339817&topic_id=7417714

This was definitely an Obie move...I've got it...I've got it, then to avoid blame he moves out of the way and it falls on the ground...How typical!