Bunting

 
 
Everyone knows a bunt when they see one, so how could there be any questions on bunting?
 
We all know that a ball bunted foul with two strikes is an out. If a 2-strike bunt was just another foul ball, a batter could attempt 20 bunts until he finally got one fair.

a. With runner on third and a 2-2 count on the batter, the batter bunts the ball down slowly down the first base line. The runner on third easily scores, but the first baseman picks up the bunted ball just as it goes foul near first base. Place the batter and runner.

Call

The ball is foul and a bunted foul ball is a strike, except if there are two strikes, the batter is out: 2-8 and 7-4-1e. Runners can not advance on a foul ball -- so the batter is out and the runner returns to 3rd.

b. With the 2-2 count, the batter squares to bunt, but the surprised pitcher throws right at the batter. The batter ducks to avoid a ball that is well inside (the pitch cut the batter's box in half). As the batter is ducking, the pitch hits his bat and dribbles up the first base line (looking alot like the results of a bunt) but the ball eventually rolls foul.
 
What does the umpire do with the batter?

Call

To be a bunt, the batter must intentionally strike the ball as a bunt. This is a foul ball and the batter stays at the plate with a 2-2 count.
 
c. With the 2-2 count, the batter half swings (looking a bit like a check-swing). He taps the ball up the first base line (looking alot like the results of a bunt), but the ball eventually rolls foul. What does the umpire do with the batter?

Call

To be a bunt, the batter must not swing the bat, but strike it as a bunt. This is a foul ball and the batter stays at the plate with a 2-2 count. There is no such thing as a "swinging bunt".

d. With the 2-2 count, the batter squares to bunt, with one hand on the traditional knob area of the bat and the other hand up toward the barrel of the bat (where a batter traditionally holds one of his hands on the bat to bunt). The pitch is in the strike zone and hits the batters fingers on the hand near the barrel of the bat. The ball rolls fair down the third base line, and the batter is safe at first. What is the call?

Call

The hand is not a part of the bat. This is an HBP. However, an HBP in the strike zone is a strike. The ball is dead on an HBP and since this is the third strike, the batter is out.