Atlanta Braves' fans

[Humpzilla]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Z5MIaISrU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mizgy5bS9Gs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlTJZAYkbdc

[thruby]

what a god awful call.

[Phila26Flyers]

MLB ****ed up big time with adding a second wild card. Been saying that all year, as have many others I'm sure. This new system could not have started any worse for MLB. A team that dominated all season and had the WC all but locked up for several months gets dicked over by brutal umpiring and loses to a mediocre team that had no business being in the playoffs in the first place. What a joke! Way to go Selig you ****ing greedy c*nt! What is it with commissioners slowly ruinin everything good abou their sports all in the name of money?

As for the Braves fans, that was a disgraceful display, but I understand their frustration. You can't excuse trashing the field, but you can't definitively say another fan base wouldn't have reacted the same way. Something like this IS mor likely to happen in a bandwagon market though, where fans care a lot less about respect for themselves, their team, and the game.

[bruiser11]

Braves still played like sh*t but how in the hell did that qualify under the infield fly rule? One of the worst calls I've ever seen.

[CubsJunkie]

I kinda hate the infield fly rule. I understand the rule is to avoid fielders purposely dropping the ball to get an easy double play, but you can never assume an out. This play was a perfect example, although, that was anything but a routine fly ball since Kozma was still drifting back when that idiot ump called an infield fly rule when the ball was about 50 feet from the ground. By the way, why did the OUTFIELD ump call it an INFIELD fly rule? That right there shows you how bad a call it was.

Ideally, the play-in wildcard game sounds awesome (from a fan's perspective) but when the first game of it is oversadowed by one of the worst calls anyone has ever seen, it makes the whole new format ridiculous. They really need to clarify the infield fly rule because it obviously gives way too much discretion to the umpires. It's just unfortunate it had to happen in a one-game playoff game.

[KiddYidd]

Not a brave's fan at all, although as much as I dislike what torture Chipper laid on the Mets would've liked to see him have a run at the title.

That being said, maybe one of the worst calls by a umpire I have ever seen.

Certainly no guarantee the Braves would have won but that did not help in the least.

[bruiser11]

I thought the umpires call that that right after the crack of the bat not when the ball hits the ground. It wasn't even in the infield anyway!

[CubsJunkie]

Originally Posted by bruiser11

I thought the umpires call that that right after the crack of the bat not when the ball hits the ground. It wasn't even in the infield anyway!

According to the MLB rule book, you're right:

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.
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.

Now when the rules say "can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort" I'm pretty sure sprinting 40 feet from the infield and still drifting back is not an "ordinary effort." Maybe for Omar Vizquel or Ozzie Smith, but not for some rookie playing in his first postseason game. I can't believe how awful this call was.

[theknuckler]

I was watching it on TV and was rooting for the braves as they were down 3 (I would have been rooting for the cards had they been down 3), the ball dropped I yelled out to no one 'NO WAY!' then it was ruled an infield fly! I couldn't believe it. I think the braves fans should have stormed the f-in field. I think they should have thrown everything and anything they had to throw. I'm not a braves fan, but that was ridiculous, and we can only speculate what might have been. But that was a ****ing terrible call, jeez.

[hockey doc]

I hate the Braves, glad they got hosed. The call was brutal, actually made by the wrong umpire. MLB adds additional outfield umpires during the playoffs to assist the outfield umpires and not the infield umpires. With instant replay available these additional umpires are not really needed any longer and they should be omitted from the game before they cause another fiasco.

[shaud19]

So apparently this kind of call can't be reviewed because its's a "judgement call". Isn't everything a judgement call in baseball?!?! Just brutal, MLB should be honest and apologize to the fans and stopping backing up the umps no matter what.


I would like to point out from day one I believe EVERYTHING should be reviewable. I got a lot of flack for that but now some of you may respect my views based on this fiacso.

[HardHitt3n]

Im a braves fan and i certainly wanted better for chipper. First and foremost that was the most passion ive seen from braves fans all year when they showered the field with trash lol They was almost disappearant all year. And braves are always a good regular season team, but they can never win a game of meaning. Thats why you always see them bounced in the first round or what not every year. I am however happy to see a great improvement this yr from the rooks, especially freeman. kid is gonna be a stud. Chipper had a solid year and a great career. Will definately be missed. Loved his loyalty. Hard to get that anymore

[Machinehead2k5]

I hate baseball b/c it is too friggin slow for me to watch, but I enjoy playoff baseball. This call was atrocious, 1. it was late 2. sprinting backwards and then bailing out on the catch does not constitute a infield fly. Hell I was watching the BYU-Utah St game and they were making fun of infield fly rule on fair catch punts.

I will say this though, Freddie Freeman will be the next Chipper (in terms of fan fave) and Medlen will be a good pitcher.

[Sukoshi84]

That Call was simply atrocious and the fans anger in my opinion was justified!

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by HardHitt3n

Im a braves fan and i certainly wanted better for chipper. First and foremost that was the most passion ive seen from braves fans all year when they showered the field with trash lol They was almost disappearant all year. And braves are always a good regular season team, but they can never win a game of meaning. Thats why you always see them bounced in the first round or what not every year. I am however happy to see a great improvement this yr from the rooks, especially freeman. kid is gonna be a stud. Chipper had a solid year and a great career. Will definately be missed. Loved his loyalty. Hard to get that anymore

What'd you think of his last hit? at one angle it looked like he touched the bag before chipper, but on the other chipper looked there. I was hoping for a big rally, oh well.