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I am going to disagree with those of you who think the ODB being in the ODC behind the batter isn't safer.
I have seen ODB's in safe ODC's get hit by foul balls. One instance was at a University of Michigan game. The batter was late on her swing and hit a screaming line drive into the ODC where her team mate was standing. Thankful it did not her square and only glanced off her arm. Still it hurt her enough that the trainer had to take a look at her.
I'm sure the ODC at Michigan meets all of the distance requirements for being away from the plate.
What I have yet to see is a batter in the ODC behind the batter get hit by anything hit remotely hard towards her.
The league I work rec ball in has the requirement that the ODB be in the ODC behind the batter. The reason? A few years ago we had a girl seriously injured taking a foul ball off the side of the neck while standing in the ODC in front of the batter. Was she paying attention to what was going on? From what I heard no, but we needed to be prepared for worst case situations and the worst case situation is a line drive hit into the ODC while the ODB isn't paying attention.
Now as for the stealing signs or talking trash issue. Our rule is simple. If there is anything witnessed by the umpire (s) the team loses the ODC for the remainder of the game. We have yet to enforce this since I've been working that league.
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