Basic question.........(stupid)

[flamin-gitaur]

Hey guys, I have a question, hope you can help.

If there is a runner going to 1b, and the ball gets thrown to the first baseman but drops it, has to reach for it, so his foot comes off the bag, then scoots the ball to him while trying to get his foot back on the bag, would the runner still be out if the ball never came off the ground? In other words, if the first baseman simply made contact with the ball with his glove while it was on the ground and the bag, is the runner still out, or does he have to have full posession of the ball, and by full posession I mean off the ground "in" his glove or hand?

Thanks

[refman]

Must have possession.....ball in glove or hand.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by flamin-gitaur

Hey guys, I have a question, hope you can help.

If there is a runner going to 1b, and the ball gets thrown to the first baseman but drops it, has to reach for it, so his foot comes off the bag, then scoots the ball to him while trying to get his foot back on the bag, would the runner still be out if the ball never came off the ground? In other words, if the first baseman simply made contact with the ball with his glove while it was on the ground and the bag, is the runner still out, or does he have to have full posession of the ball, and by full posession I mean off the ground "in" his glove or hand?

Thanks

F3 (or any fielder) must have full possession, but the ball needn't be off the ground.

[flamin-gitaur]

Thanks guys!!

So it seems that this could could be a highly judgemental call, all depends on the umps decision I guess. So does this mean that simply touching the ball that is on the ground and the bag at the same time that the runner would be safe or out? Would a glove cupped over the ball that is on the ground mean posession?

[SanDiegoSteve]

When the fielder lifts his glove off the ground after the play the ball stays in his glove, that is possession. If the ball stays on the ground, no possession. Simply touching the ball on the ground is not considered possession. The fielder has to demonstrate possession, and that means the cupped ball has to be in the glove (or hand), not just trapped against the ground.

[flamin-gitaur]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

When the fielder lifts his glove off the ground after the play the ball stays in his glove, that is possession. If the ball stays on the ground, no possession. Simply touching the ball on the ground is not considered possession. The fielder has to demonstrate possession, and that means the cupped ball has to be in the glove (or hand), not just trapped against the ground.

Perfect!!! Thanks!