Typically best range positioning is used as a defense with the lead runner at 2B. But, could it also be employed in a 2B and 3B scenario? Yes, but it is certainly more of a coaches prerogative than a traditional way of thinking.
Let's investigate a scenario where one might consider going into a best range situation.
Bottom of the seventh. We are the home team and we have a 5-3 lead. The visiting team has runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.
What do you do?
If you stay in normal depth, you give yourself a better chance at recording the game winning out on a routine ground ball. However, you also put your defense at a slightly greater risk of having a ground ball find a hole.
You could also go to best range and try and prevent the ball from getting to the outfield. However, in doing so you put the infield in a deeper position making the routine out a little more difficult.
I suggest the other variables be considered when making this choice. What is the speed of the runner hitting? What is the on deck hitter like? Many options come into play when making such a critical decision with infield depth.
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