Catch or No Catch?

While my general approach here is often literal and occasionally dry statutory interpretation, I figured I'd throw in something fun. A little game. If you're reading this, odds are you're a pretty big sports fan and/or a regular sports spectator. Since you probably live in the United States, you've likely seen at least a couple of baseball games.

I've seen at least hundreds of baseball games in my life and possibly thousands. One thing that I've learned as a sports fan, a student, an employee, and especially as a husband and father is that I know very, very little. Here, I'm going to focus on one issue that many of us probably feel pretty secure about: what is a catch? I'm going to throw out a few hypothetical situations. See if you can determine whether the play results in a valid catch or not. We probably won't see most of these in the upcoming World Series, but part of the beauty of sports is that you just never know when something crazy will happen.

For these examples, I will consider a hypothetical Cubs-White Sox game with the following players performing the following acts:

Batter: Anthony Rizzo
Baserunner: Brett Jackson
Second Baseman: Gordon Beckham
First Baseman: Paul Konerko
Right Field: Alex Rios
Third Baseman: Kevin Youkilis
White Sox Manager: Robin Ventura
Second Base Umpire: Joe West

Hypo #1: With no runners on, Rizzo hits a pop fly to the right side. Beckham camps under the ball, it falls into his glove, he squeezes the glove, secures the ball, and carries it with him into the dugout. Catch or no catch?

Hypo #2: With no runners on, Rizzo hits a fly ball down the right field line. Rios, Konerko, and Beckham all give chase. While running, Beckham looks up to track the ball. He gets an eyeful of sunlight, so he raises his glove in the air to block the sun. Unfortunately, his glove comes flying off. Fortunately, it does so in a way that enables Beckham to pick up the flight of the ball. He calmly removes his cap and the ball falls neatly into the hat. Catch or no catch?

Hypo #3: With Jackson on third base and one out, Rizzo hits a fly ball over Beckham's head toward shallow right field. Beckham gives chase running backward while Rios comes charging in attempting to make the play. Beckham dives for the ball, but can't quite make the grab as it bounces off the tip of his glove. Thinking Beckham has failed to make the play, Jackson charges home and crosses the plate. However, the ball popped up off of Beckham's glove and Rios secures the ball in his glove before it touches the ground. After making the grab, Rios calmly throws to Youkilis, who steps on third base. Catch or no catch? And what to make of Jackson?

Hypo #4: With Jackson on second and none out, Rizzo lifts a fly ball to deep right. Rios settles under the ball, loading his body into a throwing position so he can make a throw to third base in an attempt to nab a tagging Jackson. As the ball approaches, Rios begins to move forward, then as the ball hits in the pocket of his glove, he reaches his right hand into the glove to remove the ball for a throw toward third base. When he reaches his hand in, instead of securing the ball, he knocks it out with the outside of his hand and the ball falls to the ground. Rizzo elatedly strides into second base while Jackson advances to third. Catch or no catch?

Hypo #5: Rizzo lifts a high pop up to the right side in foul territory. Konerko gives chase, reaching the railing of the White Sox dugout. Konerko discerns that he cannot quite reach the ball yet, so he reaches out toward the ball. Unfortunately, he reaches too far and loses his balance. Ventura is there to save him, propping up Konerko's otherwise falling body so Konerko avoids the fall. The ball falls into Konerko's glove. Catch or no catch?

Hypo #6: On a blustery Chicago day with a fierce left-to-right wind with no runners on base, Rizzo lifts a towering pop up to the center of the diamond. Umpire West charges toward the first base side of the field in an attempt to offer Beckham plenty of space to make a play on the ball. As the ball flies, it is blown well off course, seemingly chasing West as he runs. Beckham tracks the ball reasonably well, but he is just off course as the ball falls toward the ground. Beckham lunges toward the ball, it deflects off of his glove, and he falls to the ground. Unknown to West, Konerko was also tracking the ball. West collides with Konerko, knocking the first baseman unconscious by the impact of his fall. Right after the ball deflected off of Beckham's glove, the ball hits West in the face, then falls into Konerko's glove as he lays on the ground where he unconsciously secures it, the ball having never touched the ground. Catch or no catch?

Hypo #7: This grab. In MLB, catch or no catch?
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Well, there we have it. Seven examples to test your baseball acumen. Enjoy!
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ANSWERS
#1: Catch. This is just your token catch. The basic definition of a catch in Rule 2.00 is "the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it."

#2: No catch. The rule is clear: the definition above governs "providing he does not us his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession."

#3: Catch. The Comment covers this one: "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." Clearly, even though Beckham made the initial contact with the ball, Rios made a catch and Rizzo is out. However, the bonus portion of the Comment means that Jackson is safe at home: "Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball."

#4: Catch. The Rule itself speaks specifically to this common situation, giving wide discretion to the umpire: "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."

#5: No Catch. The Comment handles this obscure scenario: "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." So why isn't this a catch? Unless he comes out of retirement, Ventura isn't a player. Had a reserve player propped up Konerko, the catch would stand. But a non-player manager cannot do so.

#6: No Catch. Again, this one might not be for the reason you anticipated. As far as the rules are concerned, the player's equipment is an extension of his person. In this case, Konerko's glove is part of him, so when the ball settles into his glove, it is as if the ball settled into his hand. According to the "secure possession in his hand...of a ball in flight," Konerko has made a catch. However, "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." It seems that the rule would give Beckham a valid catch had the ball fallen into his unconscious hand, but for Konerko, there is no such luck.

#7: Catch. "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." Note that no interference is called on any play where a fielder reaches over a fence or railing to catch a ball. Obviously interference isn't an issue here.