bat in strike zone

[Tim C]

"I am calling what I perceive to be an attempt at the pitch. I cannot see any other logical reason for the bat to be in the strike zone other than to be offering at the pitch. (As always I am willing to see other points of view on this.)"

Sadly this is what I thought you meant.

We can't make it anymore simple. In baseball simply holding the bat over the plate does not indicate an attempt. There has to be clear movement of the bat to attempt to hit the ball for it to be called a strike.

Location of the pitch can make it a strike -- simply holding the bat cannot.

Don't make up rules.