[greymule]

Can't agree there. "Show me the ball" creates a new "play," just like F6 dropping the ball while trying to make a throw.

With the fielder hitting the fence, stumbling, falling, etc., those things are all part of the same play. They are directly connected with each other and not part of a new act. I wish I had a tape of that outfielder at Wrigley field, because although the woman on the evening sports said she thought the fielder "held the ball long enough," the umpires did not, and the team did not argue the point.

Another interesting question is what establishes "secure possession" for a fielder touching a base. What if, for example, F3 fields a ground ball but trips over 1B as he tags it, falls, and drops the ball? What if the throw draws F3 into BR, and though F3 catches the ball and has it for a moment, a collision causes to ball to come out? To me, the line is a little different from that of an outfielder catching a fly, and I'm not sure exactly where that line is.

[Edited by greymule on Jun 12th, 2003 at 02:51 PM]