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"As an associated question I also asked the same people about what happens when the plate umpire directs the pitcher to pitch (such as when a batter is slow to enter the batter's box) and if it is a "Live Ball" and can the batter jump in and hit the pitch?
After several go arounds where there was a large disagreement amoung the umpires listed Roder stated that MLB policy is that the action is actually a "directed strike" and that the batter may not, under any circumstances, re-enter the box and hit the pitch."
I can see there are disagreements. I can remember when Angel Hernandez told the pitcher to pitch when Bobby Higginson didn't enter the box. Bobby came running in and connected for a base-hit. Nothing said.
And Roder does clearly state that it's illegal to enter the box once the pitcher is instructed to pitch without the batter.
-Jeremiah
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