Tiger's Red Sox game.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Multiple Sports

Personally thought the right fielder made a clean catch and lost the bal when pulling it out with his bare hand......

I saw the replay. What's the rule?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Adam

I saw the replay. What's the rule?

A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of
a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or
any other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously
or immediately following his contact with the ball, he collides with a player, or with
a wall, or if he falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is
not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or
an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. In establishing the validity of
the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control
of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. If the fielder has
made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch,
the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught.
Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even
though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases
the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line
of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground.
No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to
catch a ball. He does so at his own risk.
If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout, is “held up” and kept from an apparent
fall by a player or players of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed.

[MD Longhorn]

Looked to me like an incorrect call (same call in 2 different games yesterday, by the way). OF made the catch and clearly lost the ball while transferring it to his throwing hand. If this was an infielder - easy call... catch. Unfortunately, since these were outfielders, there was no umpire with any sort of angle to see that it was caught before the transfer to the throwing hand.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Looked to me like an incorrect call (same call in 2 different games yesterday, by the way). OF made the catch and clearly lost the ball while transferring it to his throwing hand. If this was an infielder - easy call... catch. Unfortunately, since these were outfielders, there was no umpire with any sort of angle to see that it was caught before the transfer to the throwing hand.

Agree. I was watching the game and in "real time", it looked like a no catch. After several replays, I still had doubts until I saw a head on close-up from NESN after the game. Then it was apparent that the call was wrong - it was a transfer. I'd say, making that call from 20-40 feet away, the umpires believed they made the right call.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Agree. I was watching the game and in "real time", it looked like a no catch. After several replays, I still had doubts until I saw a head on close-up from NESN after the game. Then it was apparent that the call was wrong - it was a transfer. I'd say, making that call from 20-40 feet away, the umpires believed they made the right call.

I agree 100%

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Agree. I was watching the game and in "real time", it looked like a no catch. After several replays, I still had doubts until I saw a head on close-up from NESN after the game. Then it was apparent that the call was wrong - it was a transfer. I'd say, making that call from 20-40 feet away, the umpires believed they made the right call.

And with nobody on base, quite frankly, it was the right call to make.

What's the hurry to transfer when there's nobody on base?

[NavyChiefBlue]

Problem was, while explaining the call for the media, the crew chief Ted Barrett said he "flipped" the ball from his glove to his hand. To me, that means he had voluntary release. I don't think you can have a flip without having voluntary release, even if it is dropped. On a side note, I haven't seen the play, only read about it.

Umpires defend call in 8th inning - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog