Batter bunts and foul tips backwards on first or second strike. caught by catcher. not an out is it?

Question

Okay. i was umping a game the other day, doing bases. the other ump that was doing plate has a tendency of not knowing the proper rules for routine calls. i/e a kid was batting, 1-1 count, and he foul tipped it to the catcher and she called him out. the coach asked me for my opinion and i said that the batter is not out and i called it a 1-2 count. later in that game in a play at first, the 1st baseman got the throw, dropped it, and picked it up with his throwing hand before the baserunner got there. i called him out. she then took her mask off and without me appealing cuz i was positive of my call and said "no, im overrulling that call, hes safe cuz the ball was not in his glove." . then later a kid squared for the bunt, fouled the first pitch back and the catcher caught it. she called him out. when the coach asked me i said i thought it was just strike 1, but wasnt sure. does anyone know the exact rule. i know on stike 3 hes out but i am honestly not completey sure about stikes 1&2

Answer 1

It depends on the situation. If he hit it straight back into the catcher's glove, it is a strike. If it had any movement at all, like it went up a foot or so and the catcher caught it, it would be an out. A foul tip on strike one, like you said, though, would be a strike. I hate umpires like that. They have screwed me over many a game.

Answer 2

if the ball was bunted over the catchers head then yes he would be out, but if not then it's a strike. u can only be called out for a foul tip on the thrid strike.

and the play ar first base. you can pick a ball up with your bare hand and still make an out, you see it in the majors all the time. infact i saw it the other day. the ball was flipped to the first baseman and he used his throwing hand to catch the ball and make the out.

to me it sounds like the person you were umping with was pissed at you and just wanted to make things a little controversial maybe. dont worry about it, u made the right calls

Answer 3

on any fall TIP with less than 2 strikes, swing or bunt, if the catcher catches it, it is played like any regular strike, runners can steal and the whole thing. If there was 2 strikes he would be out simply for bunting it fouls with 2 strikes. I

Answer 4

First of all - a foul tip by definition is a ball that goes directly into the catchers glove and is caught cleanly. If it does go up and come down, it is a foul ball, not a foul tip. A ball that is barely tipped and is NOT caught is not a foul tip, it is a foul ball.

Having got the terminology cleared up -

A foul tip is a strike. Period. So if it is the third strike, the batter is out. If it is not caught, it is not by definition a foul tip, and is merely a foul ball. This would obviously hold true for the third strike, and because a foul tip is a strike, it would hold true regardless of the count. Again, the definition is that a ball MUST BE caught by the catcher to be defined as a foul tip. So, no, a foul tip for the first or second dtrike is merely a strike.

As for the other call at first. Provided the fielder has the bal in their possession and under control, it does not matter whether or not it is in their glove or their bare hand.

Both were terrible - basically because this particular umpire obviously does not know even the most basic of rules. it is something that really should be addressed to either the league board or the umpire in chief for the league.

And a plate umpire should not be making calls on the bases unless they have called the base umpire off the call (and NEVER on a play at first)

But, although you know the rules, you did do one thing slightly wrong. Don't ever tell a coach that another umpire made a mistake, particularly when you do not have the right to overturn the call. You were right in knowing the rule, but not in questioning the other umpire's call to a coach like that.

But you definitely need to let someone know that she is making these calls, and that she obviously is not very familiar with even ver basic rules. I would hope she never gets any real tough rules decisions to make (apparent fourth out, appeal plays, batting out of order, etc.)

Link to MLB rulebook (sometimes a little tough to find the exact rule, but check the index for foul tip)

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/off...

Answer 5

From what I understood, if the ball was fouled back it had to be hit higher than the batters head.  But then again, that doesn't make sense for something line a line-drive foul out.

Answer 6

as long as it didnt go over his head then hes safe if there were 1 or no strikes.2 strikes already then hes out

Answer 7

Catching a fly ball before it hits the ground, foul or not, is an out.

Answer 8

if they catch it, foul or not, its an out. If they drop a ball, its not an out as it wasnt in his hand, even though he caught it at first.

Answer 9

ok on the first foul tip one u were right on

the first base one u were right because he had the ball before runner got there

the third one u were wrong because he was bunting and its like a foul pop out if it gets caught your out

Answer 10

OK first thing first -- seems that you have the rule on foul tip correct (Official Rule 2.00 definitions -- foul tip) and the concept of possession.

Regardless of your opinion of your partners call, never let a coach ask your opinion or it will be a you versus her.  Handle any disagreements you may have with your partner in a post game discussion.  Letting the coach in on what you think every time is opening the door for problems on a close play later in the game.