aojr03 wrote:The ridiculous part of the rule is when the catcher catches the ball cleanly from a pitch in the dirt. The batter still has to the opportunity to run to 1st and the catcher has to throw her out. In that case the pitcher made a good pitch to get the the K, the catcher fielded the ball, and the batter failed.
Think about what you are saying. If any fielder "catches" a batted ball "cleanly ... from the dirt", is it a "catch"? I will assume (and hope; otherwise I am wasting the effort) your response is "no".
If that is not a "catch", why would you think that a pitched ball that hits the ground before being controlled by the catcher is a "catch"??