In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that is not a foul tip, and that: A view of the playing field at Busch Stadium II St. ... In baseball, a foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catchers hands and is legally caught. ...

• touches the person of an umpire, player, or any object foreign to the natural ground while on or over foul ground, or
• settles on foul ground between home and first base, or home and third base, before a player or umpire touches it, or
• bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, before a player or umpire touches it, or
• first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or
• passes out of the playing field in flight while over foul ground.

When any foul or fair batted ball is caught in flight, the batter is out. When a batter bunts foul with two strikes, he is out. Otherwise, when a batted ball becomes a foul ball, the ball is dead, all runners must return to their time-of-pitch base, and the batter continues to bat. In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that. ... In baseball, the rules state that a batted ball is considered in flight when it has not yet touched any object other than a fielder or his equipment. ... A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. ... In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ... In baseball, the time of pitch is that instant when the pitcher has begun his pitching motion and, by the rules, has committed himself to throwing the pitch. ...

It is common for a ball moving in or over fair territory to become a foul ball. Batted balls can also be fair balls or foul tips. In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that. ... In baseball, a foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catchers hands and is legally caught. ...

In different situations, a foul ball may be considered a positive or negative outcome of a pitch or swing. When there are zero or one strikes, a foul ball counts as a strike, benefitting the pitcher. However, a foul ball may reveal to the batter that he has timed a pitch well and need only make adjustment to the location of his swing on the next such pitch; this is often called a good cut or simply a good swing. Foul balls with two strikes are generally considered positive for the batter, since he thus avoids strike three on a potentially difficult pitch. Also, foul balls with two strikes increase the pitcher's pitch count, adding to his/her fatigue, thus providing some small advantage to the offense. A strategy of swinging on any ball to try to produce additional fouls and prolong an at-bat is often used against strong pitchers to try to drive them from the game sooner (and also the possibility of the pitcher throwing a pitch a hitter can get a hit on); this does, however, have the disadvantage of generating more strikeouts. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher, often abbreviated as starter, is the pitcher who pitches the first pitch to the first batter of a game. ...