I think the crucial point about it being a passed ball is that we cannot reasonably expect the batter to have known where the ball was. And in that case, we cannot reasonably expect the batter to have been able to avoid stepping on the ball.
Thus, if we judge that the batter was neither intentionally nor negligently stepping on the ball, and if we subscribe to the view that the batter should not have to disappear, it seems correct NOT to call batter interference on this play.
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Cheers,
mb
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