Intentionally Dropped Line Drive?

[HawkeyeCubP]

HTBT, but as the OP reads, I don't think this is an intentionally dropped ball, at least by the ASA rule set. (I am, however, completely uneducated on USSA, so I don't know there.)

ASA POE 30 clarifies that the ball must actually be caught and then dropped. Unless the knocking to the ground involves the outside (perhaps backside, as I've seen done many times) of the glove and the fielder's other hand guiding/knocking the ball down, I don't have an intentionally dropped ball in this situation in ASA, since it's physically impossible to catch a ball for an out using only the backside of the glove without the assistance of the other hand.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCubP

HTBT, but as the OP reads, I don't think this is an intentionally dropped ball, at least by the ASA rule set. (I am, however, completely uneducated on USSA, so I don't know there.)

ASA POE 30 clarifies that the ball must actually be caught and then dropped. Unless the knocking to the ground involves the outside (perhaps backside, as I've seen done many times) of the glove and the fielder's other hand guiding/knocking the ball down, I don't have an intentionally dropped ball in this situation in ASA, since it's physically impossible to catch a ball for an out using only the backside of the glove without the assistance of the other hand.

When I started umpiring I thought it meant handled and intentionally missed. Now that I know it has to be caught first, then dropped, I imagine even fewer occurences. The catch is a catch, batter out.
I guess the application is if the ball is then dropped to confuse the runner(s), it's a dead ball, so runners are protected. Sort of like IFR.
I might have called this at some time, but don't remember one.