If B1 attempts to hold back on a pitch but misses, how does the umpire determine the call?

The umpire's determination that the pitch is a strike based on judgment is key in the situation where a batter attempts to hold back on a swing but misses. The decision relies on the umpire’s assessment of whether the hitter's intent was to swing or not, as well as the mechanics of the swing itself.

If the batter clearly committed to a full swing yet missed, the umpire may judge that a strike has occurred. However, if the batter held back but had a subtle motion forward, the umpire may also interpret this as an attempt to swing, resulting in a strike call. This interpretation underscores the importance of the umpire's experience and judgment in determining the outcome of the at-bat scenario.

In contrast, calling it a ball only when the swing is frontward reduces the nuance of judgment involved in swing attempts. Declaring it a foul when the bat is held back doesn't apply since a foul occurs only if the ball contacts the bat. Finally, declaring it a strike regardless of the swing does not account for the subtleties and intentions of the batter's actions, thus neglecting the judgment aspect that is integral to this specific ruling.