Catcher drops foul tip

[BalkHawk]

you can't drop a foul tip!! There, I said it.

perhaps a line could be drawn if the catcher holds the ball so long as to assure me that "firm and secure" possession was had, then (a second or two later) rather than pop into a throw down, the catcher lets the ball drop?

I say, if theoretically this were to happen as you say, as long as the catcher left ANY reasonable doubt, then when the coach comes to argue, ask him sincerely how he can "know" whether the catcher dropped the ball on purpose. He can't, therefore, its time to play!

[basejester]

As a tangent, why do we signal foul tip instead of just strike?

If there's an observer who didn't hear the bat touch the ball, we tell him. Why? It would seem like a safe assumption since we told everyone there was a foul tip instead of a swing and a miss, there would be some significance to the distinction. Certainly, I'd like for everyone to understand the rules because they've read them, but I don't want to confuse people who have not.

I guess there's some explanatory (but not action-defining) benefit for case like a check swing foul tip. But I'd think a verbal distinction would be sufficient.

[JaxRolo]

you can't drop a foul tip!! There, I said it.

To late. I already said it and got flamed for it.

[RichMSN]

As a tangent, why do we signal foul tip instead of just strike?

If there's an observer who didn't hear the bat touch the ball, we tell him. Why? It would seem like a safe assumption since we told everyone there was a foul tip instead of a swing and a miss, there would be some significance to the distinction. Certainly, I'd like for everyone to understand the rules because they've read them, but I don't want to confuse people who have not.

I guess there's some explanatory (but not action-defining) benefit for case like a check swing foul tip. But I'd think a verbal distinction would be sufficient.

There is an action defining benefit on the case of a checked swing where the batter didn't offer but tipped the ball anyway.

I do it because everyone else does it. I'm not going to hold myself responsible when teams don't know a basic rule of baseball. That's not on me.

[basejester]

There is an action defining benefit on the case of a checked swing where the batter didn't offer but tipped the ball anyway.

What I meant by action-defining is that, is that the players don't logically take one action based on a called or swinging strike and another based on a foul-tip. The umpire is, in effect, just telling the players why he called a strike.

[mstaylor]

Tradition is the first answer. It was explained to me years ago that we are letting everyone know we heard the bat touched ball but it wasn't foul. As far as a catcher dropping it on purpose, I am calling it foul unless he is so obvious to be rediculous. I can't imagine that happening. I taught my son that if it was less than two strikes, absolutely do not catch it, just knock it down.

[BigSimonia]

Great topic.

I would say if the release is "voluntary and intentional", then you have a catch and a live ball.

+1

[Jocko]

The reason for the tip mech was explained to me thusly:

So that everyone who heard the tip will know we heard it to. It affirms any questions before theyre asked.

Funny note. Calling rugrat travel ball. B4 tips K3. I give the mech and signal out. HC "He tipped it!" Me - "He sure did!"