During an asa tournament game this weekend, a batter hit a shallow fly ball to center field. Centerfielder charged in and made a "shoestring catch" but it knocked off her glove. The glove went to the ground but the ball stayed in the glove. One ump said the batter was out. The other ump called her safe. Which one was correct?
Glove knocked off?
- Thread starter sydney
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Well obviously the umps will get together and make a call and that will be the right call. In these situations as with all umpire rulings it always comes down to two things 1) what did you see? 2) what was the ruling?
The question that has to be answered is exactly when did the glove come off? if she had the glove on long enough to demonstrate control of the ball then it would be an out, if she never had control it would not be a catch. Something I think that also helps is was her release of the ball voluntary, nobody usually voluntarily lets their glove leave their hand so this would lean very heavily towards a no catch ruling.
The question that has to be answered is exactly when did the glove come off? if she had the glove on long enough to demonstrate control of the ball then it would be an out, if she never had control it would not be a catch. Something I think that also helps is was her release of the ball voluntary, nobody usually voluntarily lets their glove leave their hand so this would lean very heavily towards a no catch ruling.
- Jun 22, 2008
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There is also the argument that if the player didn't have control of themself or the glove, how could they possible have control of the ball? And, as noted, I wouldn't think this could be sold as a voluntary release, though I have seen players drop their glove with the ball due to injury, but only after an out call was made.
Agreed these things are always hard to tell without seeing it for our selves. Maybe OP will come back with a better description but if the momentum of the ball literally knocked her glove off her hand I would lean towards no catch.
Thanks for the information. I always thought it was about having control of the ball. In this situation, the cf charged the ball, ball hit glove, cf took one step, glove came off, and fell to the ground with the ball inside. Imo it was not a catch; however there was a lot of discussion around the park. I just always like to see what others think.
I would definitely also say the batter was not out. The glove coming off right as she caught the ball would not have shown control. As others stated, you often have to be there also...but based on the description, that is not an out.
