does "hinderance" require "intent"?
for example, if each batter steps out of the box on every pitch throughought the game would you automatically call interference on a pickoff attempt at 3B?
Almost every reference to intent has been removed from the rulebook. There are very very few instances that require the umpire to determine intent. Such as a thrown ball, the book says a runner must intentionally interfere with it to be called. Almost every other situation it doesnt matter, if a runner or batter does something that hinders or impedes with defense it is interference.