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Well,
A very agressive thread exposed this play quite well.
We know that a ball can be hit after it bounces (good clip about that right fielder fella from the Mariners is played on ESPN etc) for a hit or an out.
When this first issue (your question)came up Rick Roder noted that the ball COULD NOT BE CAUGHT for a foul tip.
When informed of this Jim Evans basically lost it. His position was that any ball that could be hit for a home run would also have the penalty part of the rule also.
Roder then noted that he would consult with Major League Umpires.
Roder then came back and said, "it appears that I may have been incorrect -- I am talking with all MLB umpires and will get back to you."
Roder came back a few days later and explained that he was incorrect in his first interpretation and, in fact, the ball could be caught for a foul tip.
I give you this long version since it is important sometimes to see how some of the opinions stated here are developed.
A ball that bounces can be a hit batter, a ball, a swinging strike or hit safely or into an out . . . the same bouncing ball can indeed become a "foul tip."
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