quote:Originally posted by JMoff:
Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment: ... The official scorer shall charge an outfielder with an error if such outfielder allows a fly ball to drop to the ground if, in the official scorer’s judgment, an outfielder at that position making ordinary effort would have caught such fly ball...
Here is the crux of the arguement. If the fielder could have made the play "with ordinary effort", is an error regardless of whether he touches or "gets leather" on the ball or not.
Therefore, you could have a play where an outfielder who misplays a ball that should have been caught with ordinary effort, that he never gets a glove on, that should be scored an error. On the other hand, you could have a play where the fielder makes a diving attempt at a ball, the ball hits his glove but he doesn't catch it that should be scored a hit. You can argue that the play required effort beyond ordinary, therefore even though the fielder got leather on it, it is still a hit.
Hope that helps clarify it.