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OBR 6.06 is not the applicable rule in this situation. Once the pitch gets past the catcher, the batter is no longer a batter, and is simply an "other teammate" as defined in the rules. He is obliged to avoid intentionally interfering with a thrown ball, and he is obliged to vacate any space necessary for a defensive player to field a ball.
I generally consider a batter who has backed out of the box to have met his burden in plays like you've described. If the defense doesn't want this situation to happen, maybe they'd be better off with a catcher who can catch pitches, or a pitcher who can avoid throwing wild pitches with R3's.
Finally, consider the ramifications of calling this BI "all day long and twice on Sunday." You've created an incentive for a catcher to forget about making the difficult play to the pitcher covering the plate, and merely "soaking" the hapless batter who may still be in the vicinity. "Hit the batter, win a prize!"
It shouldn't, and doesn't, work that way.
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Thu May 19, 2005, 08:19am
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