Batter wants a free pass

[GarthB]

Depends on the level and the pitch.

In big boy ball, batters, at least those well coached, know that they have to stand in on the breaking ball or they'd be bailing on hittable pitches. I give much more leeway on breaking pitches.

If a change up is coming in, and to some degree, a fastball, I want to see some indication that the batter did not intentionally "take the hit", even if he did. Give me SOMETHING, a twitch, a turn, a move, some acknowledgment that the player knows he should attempt to avoid.

And please, let us remember that he is not required to avoid the pitch, he is required to attempt to avoid...

To some degree, the batter has a reasonable expectation that the pitch will not be in the batter's box. So again, I believe in tempering the rule to the occasion. At little boy ball, this is a prime consideration. Nothing more silly sounding than parents at a game between 9 year olds yelling..."He has to get out of the way!"