News: SpaceX is reportedly planning NOT to catch Booster 14-1 on Starship Flight 9. The booster will perform a water landing in the Gulf of America.
Booster 14 previously flew on Flight 7, making Flight 9 its second mission and the first time a booster is being reused.
They will skip the catch, but not for the reasons you think. They can catch it, but they want to test a higher angle of attack*, and the safest way to do that is with a water landing.
[* more horizontal re-entry to lose more speed and need less fuel for landing so more available during ascent. Means the grid flaps will be less effective and may need cold reaction jets for control]