Man on 2nd 2 outs

A very common occuring situation. What should each manager be thinking?

Offensively, you're thinking if I can get a hit to the outfield I should be able to score the runner from second base. Many innings end at the professional level with a runner getting thrown out at home plate. Why? Because they are thinking the same thing. 90% of the time the runner should be sent home becuase you're moving on contact and getting a second consecutive hit just isn't that likely. Also, becuase the runner is likely being sent home the batter should be "running into an out" to score that run. This means that the batter heads to second to entice a cut to guarantee the run. At the big league level, this happens almost every evening in a game. More things to consider. Is the bunt an option? Absolutely. With a weak hitting player up it becomes more of an option. The school of thought at the high levels is don't ask someone else to drive that runner in. However, if the infield is back a bunt can create a 1st and 3rd situation which is a very creative opportunity at lower levels(this includes high school).

Two more points of emphasis offensively. The runner at 2nd should not allow a 3B to tag him out. Therefore, if the ball is hit to the 3B and the runner is off at the crack of the bat, he should stop short of the 3B and allow him to throw to 1B or draw a rundown. Secondly, many times in this scenario the runner at 2B will be sent home on routine groundballs. The idea is that if the runner at 1st is safe, something must have gone terribly wrong(errant throw or dropped ball) so I might as well take advantage and send the runner.

Defensively there are many things that you must consider. First, you know that the offense is trying to score a run so most teams put their defense in a "best range" position where they are as deep as they can be and yet still throw the runner out at 1st. This makes you very vulnerable to the bunt but most teams concede that. Outfielders should be thinking hit your cutoff on basehits. Some higher order thinking has the 3B be the cutoff man on singles in this situation because of how often the runner at 3B is sent home. It allows the 1B to stay home and be involved in a rundown if the batter is running into an out.

One last thing to consider. This "best range" situation should evoke thoughts of the arm fake. If a ground ball is slowly hit and you were deep to start, you might want to consider an arm fake if you can't throw the batter out. Why? The runner at 2nd is moving on contact and might be sent home as mentioned above.