batter interference?

[Guest guest]

So, R3 has a lead, pitcher delivers home, low ball 1.  RHB stepps out of box, restraps batting gloves, R3 goes back to bag.  

Next pitch, low ball 2, R3 retreats back to bag, RHB steps out again, at which point catcher throws and without any real chance of successfully completing the back pick to 3rd, makes contact with the batter who is out of the box, but was pretty clear that the catchers goal was to get the interference. 

Is this batters interference, or should the catcher be warned for initiating contact while hoping for interference call?

[Senor Azul]

OBR has a Batter’s Box Rule, 5.04(b)(4A), which states the batter shall keep at least one foot in the box unless certain acts occur. He cannot leave the box after each pitch. Both FED and NCAA have pretty much the same batter’s box rule. Here’s the applicable OBR interference rule:

6.03 Batter Illegal Action

(a) (6.06) A batter is out for illegal action when:

He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base.

Federation and NCAA rules are essentially the same. The FED case book play 7.3.5E explains the rule best:

…The batter is entitled to his position in the batter’s box and is not subject to being penalized for interference unless he moves or re-establishes his position after the catcher has received the pitch, which then prevents the catcher from attempting to play on a runner. Failing to move so the catcher can make a throw is not batter interference.

[WilsonFlyer]

The catcher knows the rules. Maybe it's time to teach it to your batter. 

[maven]

If the batter's violating the rule (actually 2 rules), what's wrong with the catcher (or his coach) hoping to catch him at it?

Umpires should enforce the batter's box rule. It's the second best way to improve pace of play.

[noumpere]

This is from some old version of MLBUM, but it still applies (emphasis added):

6.10 BATTER INTERFERES WITH CATCHER'S THROW BACK TO PITCHER
If the batter interferes with the catcher's throw back to the pitcher by stepping out of the batter's
box while at bat (no runners attempting to advance), it shall not be considered interference under
Official Baseball Rule 6.06(c). In such cases, the umpire shall call "Time" only (no interference).
The ball is dead and no runner shall advance on the play.

This interpretation does not, of course, give the batter license to interfere intentionally with the
catcher's throw back to the pitcher, and in such cases the batter shall be called out. If the batter
becomes a runner on ball four and the catcher's throw strikes him or his bat, the ball remains
alive and in play (provided no intentional interference by the batter-runner).

If the batter interferes with the catcher's throw to retire a runner by stepping out of the batter's
box, interference shall be called on the batter under Official Baseball Rule 6.06(c). (See Section
6.8.)

However, if the batter is standing in the batter's box and he or his bat is struck by the catcher's
throw back to the pitcher (or throw in attempting to retire a runner) and, in the umpire's
judgment, there is no intent on the part of the batter to interfere with the throw, the ball is alive
and in play.