ALDS roster projection

[Vogelbomb]

I'd be surprised if Mastro makes it over Ben Williamson. Williamson is a better hitter, has more speed and a much better defender who you can turn to late in 1-run games. My projection left Williamson off because I clean forgot about him.

My bench would also go Rivas, Samad Taylor, Luke Raley and Mitch Garver. Gives you plenty of speed and defense with Taylor, Raley and even Rivas able to go get you a bag late and sub in defensively. Williamson obviously, too. Frankly I'd carry just 11 pitchers and add Ford to the roster, but that's me. You're never going to go 7 relievers deep in a 5-game series with 2 off days. Probably won't even go 6 relievers deep.

[D-train]

I'd be surprised if Mastro makes it over Ben Williamson. Williamson is a better hitter, has more speed and a much better defender who you can turn to late in 1-run games. My projection left Williamson off because I clean forgot about him.

My bench would also go Rivas, Samad Taylor, Luke Raley and Mitch Garver. Gives you plenty of speed and defense with Taylor, Raley and even Rivas able to go get you a bag late and sub in defensively. Williamson obviously, too. Frankly I'd carry just 11 pitchers and add Ford to the roster, but that's me. You're never going to go 7 relievers deep in a 5-game series with 2 off days. Probably won't even go 6 relievers deep.

You need versatility out of your Bench Williamson doesn't have any. Being a defensive replacement for Geno who is still good has close to zero value.

[D-train]

I'd be surprised if Mastro makes it over Ben Williamson. Williamson is a better hitter, has more speed and a much better defender who you can turn to late in 1-run games. My projection left Williamson off because I clean forgot about him.

My bench would also go Rivas, Samad Taylor, Luke Raley and Mitch Garver. Gives you plenty of speed and defense with Taylor, Raley and even Rivas able to go get you a bag late and sub in defensively. Williamson obviously, too. Frankly I'd carry just 11 pitchers and add Ford to the roster, but that's me. You're never going to go 7 relievers deep in a 5-game series with 2 off days. Probably won't even go 6 relievers deep.

Agree on that Bench.

[Donn Beach]

they seem to like Mastrobuoni as a pinch hitter, his reputation might not be reflected by his numbers. I could see them trusting his bat over Williamson's at this point.

But credit also belongs to Mastrobuoni for making the most out of the situations he’s given. Despite coming in in high-leverage situations, “Mastro” makes a productive out two-thirds of the time, the second-best mark among pinch-hitters with more than 10 pinch-hit PAs (trailing Jose Iglesias), and he advances the runner about three-quarters of the time, third best among those hitters (trailing again Iglesias and former Mariner Justin Turner). He’s also a perfect 3-for-3 in getting down the sacrifice bunt.

It’s not flashy, but being a successful pinch-hitter is undeniably a skill. In a game where failing 70% of the time is considered successful, pinch-hitters face an even tougher challenge, coming in cold off the bench in a high-pressure situation. When facing a tough reliever, they often don’t have the option to wait out an at-bat or try again next time up. It’s do or die, every time.

“I think [Mastro] really thrives in those situations,” said Dan Wilson. “He has a really good concept of the strike zone. And the other thing you have to balance, as a pinch hitter, you want to be a little bit more aggressive, because that first strike you see might be the only strike you see, so you need to be aggressive, but you also have to not chase. And he’s been able to develop a nice balance in that.”