Bunt attempt turns into HBP

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Correct.. however, thats not what was being discussed by the OP.

The description which was ".. brought the handle of the bat up immediately to block the ball."

That is described as an attempt to hit the ball with the bat.

I would venture that SAUmp was trying to say that the batter was acting instinctively to protect his face, not necessarily with the bat, but his hand. Either way, it was not a bunt attempt, or an attempted swing, or I'm sure SAUmp would have called it a strike.