Right. Except that in this case, he was not going to be next. That's the point of this discussion, which is admittedly based on many hypotheticals. But that can be fun sometimes.

Because he's a Yogi Berra fan: It ain't over till it's over.

Rita

Sometimes more than others.

Some times there isn't any deeper reason than, "I'm supposed to be here." Why was he swinging the bat? Probably because that's what you do in the on deck circle.

By rule SOMEONE has to get in the circle. Why would anyone else get in there but the pitcher, considering that they, too, were not actually going to bat.

Why was he swinging the bat? like Adam said, that's what you do there.

And, baseball players are notoriously supersticious.

And they probably didn't even think that it was not needed given the game situation -- it's just habit that when #8 bats, #9 goes to the on-deck circle.

The real question is: was there any reason for Alvarez NOT to be in the on-deck circle?

Aside from the rule requirement, Yes. It made no sense for him to be there, which is the point of this discussion. The purpose of the circle is to allow the next batter a place to prepare to bat, but since that was never going to happen under the circumstances, why bother?