[greymule]

For those confused about this, one general rule to remember is that any pitch that hits the batter is dead. It can be HBP, strike (if the batter offered at it or interfered with its becoming a strike, or if it is in the strike zone), or ball (if the batter intentionally let himself be hit). But it's always a dead ball.

There's some question about what to call if the batter runs up toward the pitcher, does not offer, and is hit while out of the box, and I admit I don't yet know the ruling, but whatever it is, the ball is still dead.

So if a pitch hits a batter, you can call "dead ball" every time and then decide how to rule.

A tougher call might arise if the batter swings at a pitch in on the hands and you hear the sound of ball hitting metal, the ball goes over F6 for a hit, and the batter, now standing on 1B, needs medical attention to his hand.

Incidentally, did "the hands are part of the bat" perhaps stem from basketball? Is there something in basketball about the hand being part of the ball?