Why Louis Varland isn't Blue Jays closer instead of Jeff Hoffman

Why Louis Varland isn't Blue Jays closer instead of Jeff Hoffman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Toronto Blue Jays fans are getting tired of closer Jeff Hoffman.

They want Louis Varland to get that ninth-inning role.

That hasn't happened yet, though, and it very well may not happen at all.

The reason? It has to do with the closer role, and how the rest of the bullpen operates.

Hoffman has his defined role. He almost always will come into an empty ninth inning to start the frame.

Varland, on the other hand, puts out the fires. He can come in at any time.

This post on X sums it up:

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There are a few ways of looking at this, of course.

The Blue Jays obviously want to win games. They have to decide the best way to do that. Presently, they seem to think this usage of Hoffman and Varland is the answer.

On the flip side, don't you want the absolute best chance of preserving a ninth-inning lead? And would Varland be the guy for that?

It's an impossible question to answer. You need to get 27 outs, one way or the other.

But if Hoffman keeps struggling, the questions will keep being asked. Varland is fantastic, and he's making a case for himself.

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