Dropping The Ball

RAY: I didn't give you the whole scene obviously. I had to leave out some important pieces of information. Had I given you all the information...

TOM: It would not be a puzzler.

RAY: It would be too easy. There was a runner on third base.

TOM: Right.

BOTH: There was one out.

RAY: The fly ball that's hit to the outfield is in fact deep, but it is also a foul ball. He makes the catch in foul territory and realizing that the guy on third base could tag up and score the winning run -- because the score was tied...

TOM: And you left that out too.

RAY: I left that out. I had to leave it out. I had to! I had to, Jerry! And if the score's -- and if he catches the ball the guy's going to tag up from third -- even though it's a foul ball -- you can tag up on a foul ball.

TOM: I didn't know that actually.

RAY: Well that's why you didn't get the right answer.

TOM: But I asked you the right question.

RAY: What was that?

TOM: I said "can you tag up on a foul ball?"

RAY: Oh.

TOM: And then I said Oh.

RAY: And of course he realizes that he has to take his chances and drop the ball hoping that the pitcher will get like a strikeout or some such thing and that's why he drops the ball. Because the umpire runs out and rules it a catch -- the guy scores and then the game's over. Who's our winner?

TOM: The winner is -- oh interesting name. Jay Hipps from Vallejo -- is that how you pronounce that?

RAY: I think Vallejo.

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]