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Tim:
I certainly understand Greymule's and your perception; and don't have a quarrel with how you decide "catch" or "no catch". But "voluntary release" is only one criteria in which to judge possession.
Another example: "Show me the ball!" as runner slides into 3rd with a tag. F5 brings up his glove and instantaneously the ball "pops out of" his glove. In your interpretation, the same "occurence" would cause a "safe" call; but that's not what should have been ruled.
In the scenario listed, ball goes into glove, fielder hits fence two steps later (still holding onto the ball), fielder falls to ground (still holding onto the ball), elbow hits ground (still holding onto the ball) and only then does the ball come loose. In my opinion, the "occurrence" was the initial fielding of the ball into the glove and hitting into the fence. Once the outfielder has sustained those TWO events, he has already established the catch. The ball coming out of the glove didn't happen until AFTER his elbow had already hit the ground.
Again . . . my own view and opinion. I would have called a "catch" after his rebound from the fence and still in possession of the ball.
Jerry
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