Final Answer:
A defensive statistic that shows how good players are at getting to the ball would likely be "Fielding Percentage," which is the ratio of successful defensive plays to total chances.
Step-by-step explanation:
In baseball, "Fielding Percentage" is a key defensive statistic that quantifies a player's ability to handle defensive plays effectively. It is calculated by dividing the total number of successful defensive plays (assists and putouts) by the sum of successful plays and errors. The formula is expressed as:
![\[ \text{Fielding Percentage} = \frac{\text{Putouts} + \text{Assists}}{\text{Putouts} + \text{Assists} + \text{Errors}} \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/english/college/jk7mtyeqrkjg5pr1ge84izofgm8jiyn9kq.png)
This statistic provides insights into a player's defensive reliability and skill in preventing opponents from advancing or scoring. A higher fielding percentage indicates a more proficient defender, as it reflects a greater proportion of successful plays relative to errors.
Understanding defensive statistics is crucial for evaluating a player's overall contribution to the team, and fielding percentage, in particular, offers a quantitative measure of defensive prowess. It provides coaches, analysts, and fans with valuable information about a player's defensive reliability and the likelihood of successfully preventing opponents from reaching base or scoring.