Foul Ball?

Musketeer2010,

The umpire was correct with his call. A pitch that goes directly from the bat to the catcher's hand or glove and is caught is a foul tip, not a foul ball. When a foul tip occurs the ball remains live and in play.

There's that old saying that we've all probably heard so many times it makes us puke "There's nothing foul about a foul-tip". I almost wish there were another term to use for this that didn't include the word 'foul', maybe a 'tipped-ball'?

'tipped strike'

"tipped strike" gets my vote....

I was a freshman in college and was umpiring a Babe Ruth game and same thing happened but the runner was thrown out. I ruled foul tip and runner was out. The team who had the runner thrown out started protesting saying it was a foul ball and put the runner back at first. I stood my ground and wouldn't budge on my call (I don't know if they were clueless or trying to intimidate an 19 year old homeplate umpire - I was the only ump too).

Finally the other team said let it go and put the runner back on first. I told them no the runner was out and that was that. Well the team who threw the runner out kept saying it was no big deal for a few minutes. I finally said if they didn't care they were getting screwed then I put the runner back. Amazingly they went on to lose the game.

I should have tossed some people looking back on it now.

Never turn away a chance to get two outs!!!!