"Question: "When a batter advances to first base on an third strike where the ball is not cleanly caught by the catcher, did the batter 'strike out' or 'strike safe'?"
I would think that it would be charged as strike out and passed ball would it now?
This is a mistake most people make. It's more than likely a strike out and a wild pitch. Generally speaking, if the ball hits the ground before it gets to the catcher, the official scorer will score it a wild pitch.