>>I just watched the play. That was the right call. The infield fly rule doesn't require the ball to be in the infield. It only requires that an infielder can make the play with ordinary effort. It doesn't matter where the ball is as long as it's in fair territory. That was an easy play for Holliday. Hardly even took 'ordinary' effort on his part. The fact that he skittered off at the last second doesn't change anything. I agree with the ump on this one.
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>Alan and Rich,
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>I stand corrected. From the Wikipedia:
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>Contrary to popular belief, the infield fly rule does not only apply to balls hit on the infield, with the rules specifically stating that no arbitrary limitation such as the grass or base line shall prohibit an umpire from declaring an infield fly away from the infield. The rule pertains to the fielder, not to the location of the ball and may be more accurately described as, "The infielder fly rule". [11] Specifically the rule states: "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." [12]
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I'm not even sure about that explanation exactly. The baselines don't matter? The ball has to be in fair territory. Otherwise, what's the point?

>And here I was pompous enough to think I knew everything about baseball.
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>I am vaguely remembering that you played some baseball yourself, didn't you? An infielder, in fact?

I was a third baseman. the odd time I played the outfield, but (not bragging, just stating facts) I was a very good 3rd and a barely so-so outfielder. I even pitched one game. I had a good game, actually. I had no stuff (I wasn't really a pitcher), but I had a burning fastball and excellent conmmand, and because of that, a sort of passable change-up. We were reduced to the catcher holding his glove where he wanted the ball, and my hitting his glove.

I pitched a complete game and gave up 2 runs, and one of those was because, not being a pitcher, I had no idea how to deal with a guy stealing bases on me. Felt like a real idiot watching hiim take 2nd and then 3rd (and he wasn't even particularly fast). Scored on a sac fly. Anyway, I felt a pop in my shoulder in the 8th. Didn't really think anything of it until the next morning when I couldn't lift my arm above my shoulder. I popped the muscle that lies in the bicepital groove. The worst pain I've ever experienced in my life was when the doctor manouvered it back into the groove with his thumbs. Afterward, the coach asked if I was interested in working on becoming a pitcher and I told him where he could put that idea. I Never even considered pitching again.

I don't kid myself though. I caught the other team by surprise. You can't go very far with a fastball, a change-up and nothing else, no matter how good your command.

Anyway, there's no place on the field like 3rd base.