Interference

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by carldog
If the batter's follow through hits the catcher's mitt and there are runners on base...do the runners have to be attempting to steal for Interfernce to be called?

thanks!

Let me start with agreeing with Rich Ives reply
If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire's judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.

Now if I may ask - assuming we have a normal swing and the catcher still in his receiving position - how in the hell does a follow-through swing by a batter hit the catcher's mitt? (hint - if anything, it usually hits the catcher in the back of the head or the back)