What is defensive indifference in baseball?

Defensive indifference in baseball refers to a situation in which a catcher does not attempt to throw out a base runner attempting to steal a base because the run is not considered meaningful in the context of the game. This typically occurs when a team has a comfortable lead late in the game, and the run being scored or the base being stolen will not impact the outcome of the game.

Defensive indifference is usually recorded as a stolen base for the player attempting to steal, but it does not count against the catcher's statistics as an error. Instead, it is a way to acknowledge that the defense made a conscious decision to not try to prevent the base from being stolen.

Overall, defensive indifference is a strategic maneuver used by teams to focus on maintaining their lead and preserving their resources rather than trying to prevent a minor defensive play.