Infield in or double play depth(1 out)?

This is one of the harder coaching decisions that a manager must encounter. It is so difficult because the decision comes late in the game when the game is on the line.

Runner on 3rd base with a runner on 1st as well. Do you bring your infield in to cut the runner down at the plate or do you stay back in double play depth and hope you can get the inning ender? One of the key things that helps you decide is the speed of the batter. If he is simply too fast then the decision is quite simple you bring the infield in.

Now, if the bases are loaded it actually makes the decision quite simple. You can bring the infield in and still get a double play. It doesn't mean that bringing the infield in is always the right choice but you can get the out at home and also turn two to end the inning. Therefore, the bases loaded one out scenario has an easier feel to it than a 1st and 3rd scenario with 1 out.

If runners are at 1st and 3rd and the manager is debating whether to bring the infield in or stay back in double play depth he must also consider the positioning of the 2B. If you bring the 2B straight in there is no way he can cover the bag if the runner breaks. Now, you can align him near the bag if you think that might be a deterrence to steal 2B. However, you again have to weigh whether or not moving him closer to the bag is worth taking him out of his normal 2B positioning.

If you do leave him in and not closer to the bag you have for all intents and purposes conceded a 2nd and 3rd situation. There is simply no way to truly defend the steal if the runner goes. But, you knew that when you decided to bring your infield in and attend to the lead runner.

Sometimes you can't defend two things at the same time. Here is a classic example. Come in and concede another runner in scoring position. Stay back and risk a very important run scoring at the expense of turning a double play. Quite the conundrum.