[frogjerk]

EVERY catcher worth his salt tags the batter after a third strike anywhere NEAR the dirt

You are correct. I see Posada do it instinctively even when it is clear that he caught the ball cleanly 2in. off the ground.

[nikos1121]

And how about the runner? I see plenty of major league players rarely running to first on a drop third strike. The worst is Cory Patterson of the wayward Cubs.