[greymule]

It's hard to believe that MLB has never clarified this play. (After all, even the Amateur Softball Association has decreed that a ball cannot be knocked loose on a force play or an out at 1B. Instantaneous possession is enough.)

On the crash on the throw at 1B, I call an out unless the catch, crash, and drop appear to occur practically simultaneously. I usually see it when the throw draws F3 into the runner and the collision occurs immediately after the ball hits the glove. If F3 holds the ball for any discernible time and then the crash occurs, it's an out. I do not require the same kind of maintaining of possession that I would with a tag or a catch in the outfield.

In a related (but admittedly rarer) play, what would you call here?:

Ground ball to F3, who throws to F1 covering 1B. F1 catches F3's throw but stumbles before he reaches 1B. As he is trying to regain his balance, he sticks his foot out and kicks the bag, takes another stumble step, and falls to the ground and the ball comes out. I admit I don't know how to call this one.