foul ball or strike out

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Is there such a thing as a foul tip in Slowpitch? I don't think so, but haven't done any in probably 5 years.

I have never seen a foul tip (baseball and Fastpitch softball) that did anything other than go directly into the catcher's mitt - bobbled possibly, but directly. Directly, as in a straight line - the catcher was gong to catch the ball independent of the batter and the change in flight of the pitch, due to the batter's contact, was so minimal that the ball still went into the catcher's mitt. It is nearly instantaneous - no pop-ups.

An important difference that hasn't been discussed much was pointed out by Roger Green. A foul ball is a dead ball. A foul tip is a live ball; runners can still advance and plays can be made by the catcher after a foul tip e.g. a throw to 2nd.

I have never seen anykind of a pop-up in a fastpitched game that went below the batter's head and was caught by the catcher - they always hit the backstop or me. Catchers are not quick enough to move their mitt during that last two feet of the pitch's flight. Perhaps it is possible but it seems very far-fetched.