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What is the baseball rule for this...
Situation:
pitch, swinging strike for count 1-2, runner on 2nd steals 3rd, right handed batter stand still in his batters box and the catcher has to move to the side to make a throw to 3rd, runner safe.
Defensive coach argued batter interference, that the batter should have gotten out of the way to allow his catcher a clean throw. Offensive coach argued this would only be true if the play was at home.
Young ump was confussed and called it safe at 3rd.

What is correct?

No. It's interference by a retired batter and the runner at third (the runner closest to home) should've been called out. The batter only has the right to the box during an at bat and because the batter struck out, he no longer has that right.

Sorry I read that wrong, I thought the batter struck out. Yes that was the correct call. The batter has the right to the box, provided the batter does not move into the way of the catcher.

Reference: LL rule book

6.06 - "A batter is out for illegal action when..."
(c) Interfereing with the catcher's fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter's box or making any movement that hinder's the catcher's play at home base.

What about your first thought...if the batter was out on 3rd strike and a bang-bang play doesn't allow time for the batter to exit the batter's box, is this a judgement call by the ump?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlTG5G6jdvM

Runner on 1st going on the pitch, which turned out to be ball 4. Catcher throws to 2nd anyway and batter (who just walked) gets called out for interference. Crazy.

mhiestand5 wrote:What about your first thought...if the batter was out on 3rd strike and a bang-bang play doesn't allow time for the batter to exit the batter's box, is this a judgement call by the ump?

Yes, it is a judgement call, however by the rule book, it is interference by a retired runner (batter) and the runner closest to third is out.

very similar situation but when catcher makes throw to third ball hits bat (batter still in the box) the deflection causes the ball to roll toward third base dugout. Runner starts to advance to home but umpire stops play. After much discussion ump rules no interference (same as above) and awards runner home. Is the award of home correct since he stopped play after the runner had rounded third.

That is also a judgement call. The umpire would award what he thought would've happened had he not stopped play.