I may be wrong but according to PBUC;
Quote:
Accidental batted ball; out of the box
A batter is obviously trying desperately to avoid being hit by a pitch. His foot lands completely out of the batter's box and the pitch hits his bat. He is not attempting to hit the ball. Is he out? Is it a foul if it goes foul? Is it a fair ball if it goes fair?
PBUC answer: Don't call batter-runner out (He did not deliberately step out of batter's box to hit pitch). Result of batted would stand (fair or foul)
Same situation as above but as he is ducking the pitch he drops the bat and the pitch hits the bat while it is not in the batter's hands. What is the call?
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It would stand to reason that if PBUC demands an umpire be aware of intent for this case, they would want an umpire to be aware of a batter who deliberately steps out in order to contact the ball. Right?
Jim preaches to watch the ball into the mitt. That means that an umpire is looking forward and most often, down.