[greymule]

I'm not talking about a swing that occurs after the ball hits. We know that's to be called a ball.

I'm talking about a pitch that is swung at. The batter swings in an obvious attempt to hit it in the air. He does not see it bounce and then swing. If the batter misses it everyone would see it as a strike. That's a different story. 7-5-A says, "[A ball is called by the umpire] for each legally pitched ball which . . . touches the ground before reaching home plate, or touches home plate, and the batter does not swing. [My emphasis.]

So obviously the batter can legally swing at such a pitch, but he cannot swing after the pitch hits the ground or plate (7-5-B).

I'm still confused.