When is it considered a Legal Catch??

[jshock]

The leftfielder misjudges a fly ball and and takes his cap off and catches a fly ball. Is this a legal catch or does the ball have to be transferred to the glove or hand to be a legal catch? If less than two out, and a runner on base, when can the runner tag up legally to advance?




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..In the heat of competition....You can't rationalize with irrational Coaches.

[Sal Giaco]

Assuming he secures the ball in flight with his hat, this is not a catch - it is considered "detatched equipment". Since it was a batted ball, the B/R is awarded three bases. The ball also remains live at the moment of the detatched equipment infraction. As for the tag up question, this does not apply since the ball is not considered to have been legally caught.

[mbyron]

On a 3-base award any runner would score.

To answer the implied question: on an ordinary fly ball, the runner may retouch ("tag up") as soon as a fielder touches the ball (regardless of when he actually secures possession of it).

[archangel]

I always knew Madonna made a mistake...

[Kaliix]

If the ball remains live after it is caught in a hat, what is the signal, if any, for that particular scenario and when does the ball become dead and the award made?

[Sal Giaco]

I'm not totally sure on this because it's never happened and don't remember ever being trained on it.....

I would probably point at it and verbally say "that's detached equipment" - then I would give the safe mechanic and say "no catch, no catch".

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Kaliix

If the ball remains live after it is caught in a hat, what is the signal, if any, for that particular scenario and when does the ball become dead and the award made?

I agree with the mechanic that Sal mentioned. To answer your second question, the ball remains live and in play until all playing action stops. A runner advances passed his award base at his own risk.


Tim.

[Tim C]

The ball in the cap would not be a catch . . . it would be detached player equipment and a three base award.

Anytime a fielder touches a "ball in flight" runners can advance at the first touch by the fielder.

Regards,

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by jshock

The leftfielder misjudges a fly ball and and takes his cap off and catches a fly ball. Is this a legal catch or does the ball have to be transferred to the glove or hand to be a legal catch? If less than two out, and a runner on base, when can the runner tag up legally to advance?

It's not legal for a fielder to use (intentionally) other parts of his equipment to make a catch. It's not a catch and the runner need not "tag up." In fact, all runners will be awarded three bases (althought the ball will remain live so BR can attemtp for home, if he so chooses).

(If it were a catch, the runner can leave the base as soon as the ball is touched.)