Another OBR contradiction? Bouncing HBP

[DDonnelly19]

Had this question on a test for the local association:

2-1 Pitch bounces and hits batter as it enters the strike zone. Batter did not swing, but he did not attempt to avoid the pitch. What is the correct ruling?

a.) Dead ball, batter awarded 1B
b.) Dead ball, pitch ruled a ball
c.) Live ball, pitch ruled a strike
d.) Re-do the play

I chose the obvious answer, "b". The trainer, however, felt that the language in 2.00 BALL would infer that a bounced pitch touching a batter would always result in a one-base award.

2.00 BALL -- If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a "ball." If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base.

6.08(b) The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when: he is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball; If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched. APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may advance.

I'm fairly confident on the correct ruling, but in cases like these how is one to determine what the rulesmakers actually intended -- that ALL bounced pitches touching the batter will be a HBP (according to 2.00 BALL), or that the batter is required to avoid the pitch regardless (according to 6.08(b))?

Thanx,
Dennis Donnelly

[Edited by DDonnelly19 on Mar 21st, 2001 at 08:31 AM]