[Falconspeed]

With all due respect, the rule is this: If the catcher drops the ball on a called third strike, then the batter may run to first and try to beat out the throw.

The Angel catcher did not drop the ball. Thus, the batter was not allowed to run to first. But the runner did run to first and was called "safe". This goes against the above rule. And the person upholding the rules is the person who broke a rule. Inconsistent. Sad. Something we all do several times a day: break a rule.

I detect a desire for advertising dollars in the mlb officials. Suspicious.

[Charles Henrickson]

With all due respect, the rule is this: If the catcher drops the ball on a called third strike, then the batter may run to first and try to beat out the throw. The Angel catcher did not drop the ball.

If the ball is trapped against the ground or has made contact with the ground (even if then caught cleanly), that too falls in the same category as a DROPPED THIRD STRIKE.

[Al Simmons]

You're mistaken. If the ball hits the dirt BEFORE it winds up in the catcher's mitt, the ball is in play.