Man on 1st (0 outs) A 1B series of options

This is a classic bunt situation. Yet, so many teams never do anything different. They have the 1B hold the runner and then record the out at 2B if the ball is bunted where it should be. However, is there something else that could done that isn't too dramatic?

I believe the 1B can do one of 4 things that would definitely make life harder for the offense.

1) The 1B can remain status quo and simply leave his position when the ball gets bunted.

2) The 1B can start in about 15 feet angled so he can see the runner at 1st as well. If the pitcher is lefthanded, the 1B can retreat to the bag asking for the ball when the pitcher lifts his leg. If the pitcher is righthaded, the 1B would initiate the play by retreating. In this manner, we are trying to get the runner to retreat to 1B when the ball is delivered home. Rather than simply holding the runner on in a very customary manner, this essentially is holding the runner on by disguise. The 1B ends up in the same position that he would have been if option #1 was used. The incentive here is that the runner is driven back to the bag rather than his normal secondary.

3) The 1B starts in and then attacks home plate. It is very much like the wheel defense with runners on 1st and 2nd. I believe it would be a great defense if the offense had already seen the "retreat" option by the 1B. This is a very aggressive defense.

4) The 1B starts in and retreats for a pickoff. This play is executed exactly like otion 2 with the exception being that the ball is actually thrown to 1st than to the batter.

The plays have merit when they are worked in conjunction. Option 3 would not be a great play if the runner hadn't already seen play #2.

For that matter, it makes sense to always show play #2 as a first play if you are choosing to employ the 1B package.

I don't know of anyone that runs this package but if it were to be run I would suspect that it would show up in the college game and not the professional game.