Foul Tip Into Catcher's Glove

[CPSBDad]

Had this happen yesterday. Foul tip into catcher's glove. She didn't drop the ball. Initially the ump didn't make a call, then after protest by one of our coaches called it an out. Was blue correct? Can't remember if it was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd strike. One of our other coaches wasn't sure, neither was I.

Thanx--

 

[Ken Krause]

Whether it was third strike or not makes a huge difference in the answer. If it was a foul tip into the catcher's glove on strike one or two, the batter is not out and the ball is live. Runners are able to advance with liability to be put out. If it was strike three, the batter is out.

 

[CPSBDad]

Thanx Ken. I was once asked this question about a foul tip and didn't realize there is difference between a "tip" and "ball". I just thought a foul was a foul and if caught it was an out. I'll have to look at the book to see what strike this happened on.

 

[PA SB Dad]

As Ken said, the other thing to remember is that any foul tip caught by the catcher is a live ball (regardless of the number of strikes on the batter). Many in rec league do not realize that.

 

[CPSBDad]

As Ken said, the other thing to remember is that any foul tip caught by the catcher is a live ball (regardless of the number of strikes on the batter). Many in rec league do not realize that.

I'll let my catchers know that. Always learning.

 

[quincy]

“Foul Tip: A batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to the catcher’s hand(s) of glove and is legally caught by the catcher”

More or less a foul tip is a strike, like it never hit the bat as stated in above posts. If the C misses the ball, it becomes a foul ball and not a foul tip.

 

[chinamigarden]

“Foul Tip: A batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to the catcher’s hand(s) of glove and is legally caught by the catcher”

More or less a foul tip is a strike, like it never hit the bat as stated in above posts. If the C misses the ball, it becomes a foul ball and not a foul tip.

Where does the not higher then the batters head come from? As far as I know the rules don't indicate a specific height a ball has to reach in order for it to become a foul ball. A tip is one that goes directly from the bat to the glove, everything else is a foul ball.

 

[quincy]

Admittedly a little bit older ASA rule book but that is its definition of a foul tip.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I found this change on the Internet, listed for ASA 2006.


Comment: Deleted are the words “not higher than the batter’s head”. With the change in foul tip we will judge foul ball regardless of height.

Rule 1 – Foul Tip: A batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catchers hand(s) or glove / mitt.

 

[honus14]

ASA took out that "not higher than . . ." language in 2006 or so because it was confusing people. What they meant was, "if it's over the batter's head, it can't be a foul tip." But people took it to mean, "if it's NOT over the batter's head, it IS a foul tip." Which is not what was intended, so they took it out.

So: Sharply and directly to catcher's mitt, and caught = foul tip, strike, live ball. Not sharply, not directly, or not caught = foul.