Pop fly fielders choice

[coach1]

Soft pop up to short. Runner on first ss could have caught popup but let's it drop to the ground and then throws runner out at second lowing batter to reach first. I say fielders choice others say hit. Which is correct

[mprusak]

Text book Fielders Choice...definitely NOT a hit.

Makes no difference if SS could or couldn't have caught it or even if they could or couldn't have gotten the out at first. By getting an out, it becomes a FC. And, an out isn't even required if the scorer believes the runner could have been put out at first, but instead the lead runner was unsuccessfully attempted to be put out instead.

Here is the specific language from mlb:

(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
(1) runner is forced out by a batted ball, or would have been forced out except for a fielding error;
(2) batter apparently hits safely and a runner who is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner fails to touch the first base to which such runner is advancing and is called out on appeal. The official scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit;
(3) pitcher, the catcher or any infielder handles a batted ball and puts out a preceding runner who is attempting to advance one base or to return to his original base, or would have put out such runner with ordinary effort except for a fielding error. The official scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit;
(4) fielder fails in an attempt to put out a preceding runner and, in the scorer's judgment, the batter-runner could have been put out at first base; or
Rule 10.05(b) Comment: Rule 10.05(b) shall not apply if the fielder merely looks toward or feints toward another base before attempting to make the putout at first base.
(5) runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorer's judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred.

[coach1]

Thanks, its nice to be right once in a while. I knew I had read this rule but couldn't find it in the heat of our discussion.