Saw this reader email today from the Deadspin funbag, reminded me of a play last night in our kickball game. (yes- kickball, rules) JHM tried to catch a deep fly ball and batted it into the air where Keith secured it afterward for the out. Then, for the third and final out of the game, Keith threw it to me at first and got the runner (who probably took off assuming it was a drop and was super confused) trying to tag up from second base.   Awesome end to a game which we won 12-0.  We were playing kindergartners, btw.  Just kidding, they were adults, and we were shorthanded. NBD.

Anyway, from Deadspin:

Situation, bottom of the ninth, runner on third, one out, scored tied at 2-2. Batter launches a fly ball surely deep enough to score runner on third. Instead of catching the ball the left fielder, takes the back of his glove and bats it into the air towards home plate. When the ball comes down again, he bats it up in the air again. Finally, after batting it 50 feet closer to the plate he secures the ball and throws it home. The runner does not advance because the ball was no longer deep enough and the runner just has his mind blown by the left fielder.

PLAUSIBLE?

No, but that isn’t gonna stop me from fantasizing about being the first outfielder to do so. Just as I spent much of my youth fantasizing about being the first outfielder to jump into the stands and catch the ball twenty rows back. Young Me didn’t know that this would still be a home run anyway, so I always dreamt of being the first to conceive of such a play and then blowing the announcer’s minds with it. Did he just climb into the stands to catch the ball? WHAT MOXIE! This is why Doug Flutie practiced drop kicks all the time.

Your idea isn’t plausible in baseball. HOWEVER, it is possible in kickball, isn’t it? I’m not sure if you can turn a pop-up into a volleyball serve in kickball, but I sure would love to try.