In the Act of Fielding the Ball

[BretMan]

I see where you're coming from (at least, on the first part, not so sure about the second part).

But "having the opportunity to make an out" isn't one of the requirements for interference when a fielder is fielding a batted ball. His protection is absolute, whether the opportunity for an out is there or not...isn't it?

Unless you're saying that after the bobble the fielder is no longer "in the act of fielding the ball", so a different standard applies (an opportunity for an out).

On the second part- the ball could be "past" the fielder and yet still be within his reach.