Is this catcher interference?

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

If the catcher gets in the way of the bat it's CI.

The rule is 6.08(c) and there is nothing about the strike zone. The strike zone is explicitly not mentioned at all in the rule or the comments. What there is is:

The catcher or any fielder interferes with him.

If the catcher hinders the batter's ability to hit the ball it's CI. Period.

Rich, I entirely agree (for what it's worth coming from a non-umpire). But if the batter is not swinging, there is nothing to interfere with ONCE the pitch has reached a certain point. I have proposed that "point" to be the leading edge of the plate be it ball or strike.