Baseball Rule Book Language Quagmire

•   Any base runner is out when hit by a batted ball before the ball touches, or after it passes any infielder except the pitcher, and the umpire is convinced that another infielder has a play (5-1-1f, 6-1-5). Rule 8-4-2k, Pg. 54 
• ·      Ball becomes dead immediately when a fair batted ball, Rule 5-1-1f, Pg. 34 

1. touches a runner or an umpire before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder other than the pitcher,

2. touches a runner after passing through or by an infielder and another infielder could have made a play on the ball,

•  Pitching, Rule 6-1-5, Pg. 40

When a pitcher is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball or is throwing to a base while his pivot foot is clearly off his plate, his status is that of an infielder except that if a batted ball passes but does not touch him and then strikes an umpire or a runner the ball may become dead because of interference.

Could this be any more arbitrary and convoluted?