All of the umpire training that I have been a part of says the freezing is an attempt to avoid a pitched ball...especially if the ball hits the ground. Sometimes that batter never knows where that ball might go after it hits the ground.
Yes...the benefit of the doubt should go to the batter...for the most part, a pitched ball should be around the plate area, not in the batters box.
Yes...the benefit of the doubt should go to the batter...for the most part, a pitched ball should be around the plate area, not in the batters box.