[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Manny A

What possible information does a tagging base runner gain when it comes to fair/foul? It shouldn't matter to him; the moment the ball is touched, he's running. He doesn't need to look at the umpire for a fair/foul call. He's taking off, and he'll let his base coach or his teammate tell him that he can slow up if the ball ended up foul and uncaught.

OTOH, consider R1 who goes halfway on the hit, and is waiting to see if the ball is caught or not. If the umpire first gives a fair signal, and then waits to give a catch signal as you said you would, you put the runner at a distinct disadvantage. He's not going to know for sure whether he should hightail it to second or go back to first. In fact, if you first give the fair point, he's probably going to assume the ball was NOT caught, and head to second. Then you come up with the hammer, and R1 is leaning the wrong way.

That's why I think a fair-first-then-catch mechanic is not always appropriate, despite what is taught.

Uh Manny - he can go on first touch - waiting for the actual catch isn't part of the decision.