[Vision2020] Beltre's Bobbled Tag

[Scott Dredge]

In the 8th inning of tonight's Red Sox / Mariner's game, Adrian Beltre tagged out Manny Ramirez who was heading into third base after a single to left field.  Immediate after the tag, the ball came completely out of Beltre's glove and he juggled it and then secured it without it hitting the ground.  I watched this in super slow motion replay on my TiVo and the umpire watched to make sure that Beltre secured the ball after juggling it and then he called Ramirez out.  I've never seen this before but as an M's fan I believe it was the proper call.  It didn't look like Ramirez knocked the ball out, it looked like Beltre flipped his glove up after the tag and the ball came out.  I imagine this play would have looked completely different to me if I happened to be Red Sox fan.  It was a strange call.  I'm not sure what the ump was waiting for while Beltre was juggling.  If the ball dropped would he have called Ramirez safe?  If so, why?  Either Beltre tagged Ramirez out and the
 subsequent mishandling of the ball is irrelevant (in my opinion) or Beltre didn't have control of the ball and the umpire made the wrong call.  I searched through the MLB rule book but could not find a clear rule for a bobbled tag.

-Scott

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