I agree...good points. in this instance tho I think that if there was a bobble it was ‘controlled’ before the runner hit the bag. other times, no you are correct and if the fielder is acting like the ball is a mexican jumping bean, then no...runner safe no matter how much earlier the ball arrived.
Yeah, I’m in agreement with you. In this particular situation, it doesn’t matter as Galarraga has control before Donald hits the bag, but I would like to know in general.
On a sac fly, the runner is allowed to leave as soon as the fielder touches it even if he bobbles it. I guess this is done because otherwise outfielders would have mastered the art of the “fake bobble” to catch runners leaving early. I know obvious bobbles are, well, obvious, but I wonder about ever-so-slight almost-bobbles that are only visible in slow motion. I liken it to football - in this case it’s like a ball hitting a receiver’s chest and then being immediately secured in his hands. Few people would consider that a bobble, as we all know what an actual bobble looks like when we see it.
Interesting question.