catch?

[yankeesfan]

a ball is hit deep to the outfield, the center fielder has the ball hit off his glove,then the ball hits the fence and then the centerfielder catches the ball before the ball hits the ground. do we have an out?

[Atl Blue]

Only if you throw the ball back into the infield and tag a runner while off the base!

[Jeremiah]

Yeah, it's kind of like when a pop-up hits off the screen, it's no longer an "airborne" ball. Once the ball hits an unnatural object, the ball is no longer airborne.

-Jeremiah

[mario]

5 minutes ago in the Olympic final between Cuba and Australia, it happened and the umpire gave the fly out! It looks like the ball can it the fence... weird!

[greymule]

Good rule for you, Mario: Do not assume every ruling you see is correct, even in the Major Leagues.

Another rule: Do not trust anything a TV announcer says.

[mario]

Having second thoughts it's impossible that the ball has actually hit the fence, as I agree with you. But: (1) I have seen it with my eyes, I'll get new glasses and (2) the TV people didn't say a word about it being not a proper out. Anyway, if I am right we'll read it on some paper tomorrow. Ciao

[Atl Blue]

A fly ball that hits the fence is no longer in flight and cannot be caught for an out. It is however, still "in flight" if it hits the fence and continues OVER the fence, and is therefore a home run.

On the call in the Cuba-Australia game, the umpire did not rule that it was an out even though it hit the fence, he ruled it never hit the fence.

He didn't blow the rule, he's just blind.

[mario]

Thanks, I am glad I can save money on my glasses.

[jicecone]

Whew, thought for a minute there that there was a new Euro-Greko-Olympio Rule.