Hbp

[Andy]

My feeling is that people are making this way too hard.

Why should the batter have to compensate for the pitcher throwing the ball where it shouldn't be?

The intent of the rule change was just that, but adding the verbiage about "entirely in the batter's box" caused some people to nitpick this to death.

The rule should simply read: If the batter is hit by a pitch NOT IN THE STRIKE ZONE, the batter is awarded first base.

As far as the batters crowding the plate...if the pitched ball doesn't hit her, there is very little room left for it NOT to be a strike......