dropped third strike

[rwest]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dakota
[B]

Originally posted by rwest

If the ball goes "indirectly" to the catcher's glove and is caught, it is a catch for an out. That is the distinction being made - does it first go directly to the glove/hands or not? Makes no difference if it rebounds up into the air after going directly to the hands; if it is caught, it is a foul tip. Otherwise, it is a foul ball.

Would it be an out if it goes "indirectly" to the catcher's glove? I don't think so. By "indirectly" this means it must have touched something else, such as the batter or the umpire. In both of these cases we have a foul ball and a strike if these than 2 strikes.