No pitch or interference?

[mcrowder]

I was trying to get her there on her own... but the relevant rules have been mentioned. This can't be ANYthing on the batter unless you rule intent. Barring intent, this is obstruction on the catcher.

Chuck - the pitch starts when the hands separate. I agree that if all this fake-bunt-pull-back-hit-glove stuff happened before the hands even separated, you have no pitch... but that's not how it happened in the post.

The catcher has 100% responsibility for avoiding the bat here. To avoid contacting the bat is simple --- you can't move up into the batter's way until after the ball has passed. Catcher is moving up too quickly here - and has obstructed the batter's chance to hit the ball.