Contrary to popular belief, the batter has no say as to where any pitch is going to be located. Sure, the batter can lay off any pitch out of the strike zone, and foul off any pitch, but how is the batter—-the batter, mind you—-going to “work the count” to 3-2, or 2-2, or even 1-2, if EVERY pitch is the strike zone? No can do, it’s impossible. It is therefore the pitcher, not the batter, who works the count.
Careful what you wish for: Sting must have had phones in mind with this line of his from the mid-1980s, “It’s hard to tell the poison from the cure.”