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Originally posted by oregonjack
Questions: 1. If a batter steps out of the batter's box when the catcher is attempting a throw on an attempted stolen base, is the runner AUTOMATICALLY out, regardless of whether the batter impeded the catcher's throw?
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No. According to ASA POE 32, the batter must intentionally interfere with the catcher's throw on an attempted steal. In the case you present, there wasn't even any interference. You stated the throw was unimpeded.
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2. Assuming that "stepping out" is an automatic out, does it matter "which way" a batter steps out, ie, into fair or foul territory? Said differently, is any attempted throw by a catcher at a stealing runner an automatic out if the batter has a foot outside the batter's box.
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No. There must be an attempt to interfere. Just as the batter's box is not a haven for the batter, neither is stepping out of the batter's box an automatic "interference."
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3. Is there any discretion by the umpire? 3. If an umpire reverses his initial decision (calling the runner safe), then reverses and calls the runner out, under ASA rules, is there an appeal process?
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Batter interference is totally at the discretion and judgement of the umpire. As to the second part of the your question here, apparently it was the appeal that got the umpire to, errantly by your reporting, reverse his call. If you are now asking if this is a protestable situation, it would only be protestable if the umpire failed to apply the rule correctly. You cannot protest an umpire's judgement.
I hope this helps.