tag play

[johnsonrod]

Originally Posted by youngump

In softball yes, the runner is out. (In baseball as I understand it, no, because by interpretation or style or tradition, the fielder must finish the tag by maintaining possession.)

However, and you seem to miss this even though people kept telling you over and over on the other thread: whether the fielder actually had possession before the tag is a judgment call and that judgment call is heavily influenced by what happens before and afterwards.
So the discussion board post:
F2 had possession and tagged the runner and the ball came loose is easy:
runner is out.
But in the real world it isn't usually that clear and that's why everyone keeps telling you this is all about judgment.

i was also told that if a fielder, who is undoubtedly securely possessing the ball attempts a swipe tag on a runner, and the instant after the swipe tag is made, the ball comes out, that the runner is safe. it was that response that confused me bc it seemingly contradicted the same person earlier sentiment that a runner would be out even if the ball came out after the tag.