again and again

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Yes.

Look at it this way.

Anytime the ball touches the batter's body or uniform it is a dead ball.

Now you identify any action by the batter and apply any rule which may apply. If there was an attempt to hit the ball, it is a strike. If there was no attempt to hit the ball, it wasn't a strike unless......

If the ball was in the strike zone, it is a strike. If not, it was a HBP.

No matter what else happens, there can be no play on the BR (since there isn't one), nor any runners (since the ball was dead). Other than what is posted above, there are no other "what ifs" to address.

"If no attempt is made to avoid being hit or there is an obvious attempt to get hit by the pitch, the batter will not be awarded first base unless it is ball four." FED 8-1-2-b, Penalty 1; ASA 8-1-F(?). See also FED 7-3-2 ("A batter shall not permit a pitched ball to touch her. . . . The batter remains at bat (pitch is a ball or strike)".

The "no attempt" is pretty unusual, especially with a high-velocity pitcher with movement on the ball, but it happens sometimes with a lobber and a batter who acts like she was coached to take one for the team. And sometimes you'll see a batter turn a bit and stick a hip into the path of an inside pitch. But if you call it, be ready to defend it.