[GarthB]

I'm sorry. There is no one specific rule that informs us that the hand is attached to the arm, not that bat. For those who cannot understand the logic of that statement, some pulling together of information from a couple of rules is necessary.

Let's start with Rule 2.00 Strike:

A strike is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire which (e) touches the batter when he swings at it. (and) (f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone.

(Note there is no mention of a bat in either of these statements)

Now, let's take a look at 6.08...The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out....when (b)He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or the batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball.

See anything about the unnatural fusion of a bat and hand here?

For extra measure, let's add in 5.09 The ball becomes dead...when (a) Apitched ball touches a batter or his clothing while in legal batting position.

Again, no mention of a bat being attached to the hands, or any other part of the body.

So, where are we? We now know that if the batter is swinging at a pitch and is hit in the hands, it is a deadball strike and not the foul ball or the batted ball it might be if the ball struck the bat. We also know that if the pitch hits the batter in the hands when he is not swinging at the pitch and the contact did not occur in the strike zone, it is a deadball and batter is entitled to first base.

Good enough?