Stepping Out of the Box W/O Timeout Granted

[MD Longhorn]

Honestly, I do not believe the intent of any of these rules was to create 2 strikes on a single pitch. And I believe the horrifying way that these rules were written is entirely the culprit in all of this confusion.

I believe the intent of the rules makers was:
A) To absolve the pitcher of any balk caused by a batter stepping out;
B) To create a penalty of 1 strike for the batter's actions - regardless of whether the ball was pitched or not, and regardless of whether the ball was pitched well (in or out of the strike zone).

This makes sense, and is coherent.

Then the rule came out.

Then someone else entirely read it strangely and wrote bizarre cases to create this 2-strike on 1 pitch nonsense.