Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry1953
From Baseball Digest: " Generally speaking, umpires want to see the player reaching into his glove. Veteran umpire Tim McClleland goes one step further. He says, "Voluntary and intentional release is when a player actually reaches into his glove and is in the act of pulling it out." Frequently, when a fielder is trying to rush a throw after making a catch he will drop the ball but is given credit for the catch because he was in the act of making the transfer which demonstrates complete control."
I take this to mean that for some minuscule fraction of a second, the glove, ball and throwing hand are all in contact at the same time. In the Astros game the VT LF was in the act of bringing his hands together - outstretched glove arm down to his throwing hand when the "sno-coned" ball in the heel of his glove fell out.
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A voluntary release does not necessarily entail a reach for the ball or simultaneous contact between glove, ball & bare hand.
Example: R2, less than 2 out. F4 dives and backhands a line drive up the middle. As he is still sliding, he flips the ball to F6 in an attempt to catch R2 off his base. F6 does not catch the ball.
The batter/runner is out because F4's release of the ball was voluntary and intentional. The bottom line on determining a catch is secure possession of the ball coupled with control of the body. A voluntary release is proof of such control.