Foul ball/batter squared

[akalsey]

A bunt requires intent, and intent requires the judgement of an umpire. If a batter holds his bat still over the plate, in the zone and a ball makes contact with it, I've got intent. If the batter has two strikes and that ball ends up foul, I've got an out.

If the pitch was at a batter and the ball makes contact with the bat, I don't generally have intent and this sounds like a plain old foul ball.

Now, you have to dig deep and pull out some judgement here. I have seen a batter, with a pitch straight at him, still try and bunt it. You've got to decide if he intentionally put his bat into the path of that ball.