[AtlUmpSteve]

I don't do PONY, so I have no idea what that rule intends. But, I do think that some people are mixing apples and oranges on this topic.

It seems to me the "entirely within the batter's box" is intended to eliminate free bases for batters toeing the line and hanging over the river and the plate, when the rationale has always been described that pitchers shouldn't be throwing the ball in the batter's box, and batters shouldn't be required to be distracted from their purpose, to hit good pitches.

Others seem to be extrapolating this to include slappers out the front of the box. And, admittedly, the language doesn't really differentiate, except that it doesn't address the batter, it addresses the ball. But, if slaphitting IS an acceptable and recognized way of hitting, AND, knowing slappers are often out front of the box (even if the foot IS still in the air); so, I ask, is it then ok that pitchers are missing the zone and throwing the ball in an area that WOULD result in being in the batter's box, why do we not want to use the same decision process of "is the ball where the pitcher should be throwing it (plate and rivers)", or "is the ball where (or headed to where) the batter is supposed to be"??

If NO RULE in these rulesets (not ASA, obviously) requires batters to show an attempt to avoid ANY pitch, no matter where it is, then where is this requirement coming from. Note that the rules don't address attempting to avoid in any other location, they only address NO NEED to attempt to avoid if the BALL is completely in the batter's box. I see no rule (aside from NCAA) that addresses where the batter is, just the ball.

And that, again, leads back to the mindset of where the pitcher is supposed to be throwing the ball, NOT any legislation on where the batter is.