dropped third strike definition

Question
If the pitched ball passes the batter who swings and misses on a third strike and the ball touches the ground prior to the catcher muffing the ball, do you have a passed ball due to the ball touching the ground prior to the catcher muffing the ball, or is this a dropped third strike regardless of whether the ball touches the ground or not prior to the catcher muffing the ball?

Answer
Ron

The dropped third strike is often misunderstood.  This likely due to the name of rule "dropped third strike" just doesn't properly describe the rule.

The rule should be called something more like "the ball touched the ground on the third strike prior to the catcher gaining control of the ball".

So if the ball hits the ground prior to the catcher gaining control and there is a strike, either swinging or called, you have a "dropped 3rd strike.  

What you have if the ball touches the ground prior to reaching the catcher and the catcher can't get control you have a wild pitch and a dropped 3rd strike.

If the ball should have been played by the catcher with normal effort, you have a passed ball and dropped third strike.  Of course, this all assumes that either swinging or called there is a 3rd strike.

Tom