voluntary release

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by noleump

My question is at what point would you call an out, when a fielder with the ball tags a runner? Should there be a delay to see if he keeps the ball in his glove/hand?

You call him out when he is out, not before. The runner is out when one of two things happen:

1. The fielder has secure possession of the ball while the tag is made AND AFTER the action has stopped. (He had the ball securely in his hand or glove when he made the tag, he maintains secure possession, and action stops).

2. His release of the ball is voluntary. In other words, he had secure possession of the ball, and the drop is the result of a separate, voluntary action (usually, taking the ball out of his glove to make a throw to 1st)