Batter wants a free pass

[DownTownTonyBrown]

How serious do you get about requiring the batter's compliance with

"If he makes no effort to avoid being hit..." FED 8-1-1d, exception.

"Batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball..." OBR 6.08 (B)(2)?

I tend to feel there is an area within approximately a foot of the plate that belongs to the pitcher. In that area the batter definitely must make effort to not get hit. However, I also feel that there is an area well away from the plate that belongs to the batter and that the batter could stand in that area and reasonably expect to not get hit.

A batter that gets hit in the half of the batter's box that is away from the plate and that has made no physical movement gets first base in my games. The pitcher has invaded his area. Perhaps the batter's only effort was to overcome the urge to jump out of the box and by staying in the box has shown his confidence that the pitcher's delivery is going to break over the plate.

By the book, I feel wrong in this. But in the spirit of the game, I feel awarding first for an out of control pitch is something I necessarily need to do.

Who has thoughts on this?