Steve Phillips

I mean, he is a bulldog.

I mean, I think he pitched in every playoff game last year, just about, and he's got a belly full of guts.

And he is really, you know, he doesn't back down.

He attacks.

He's passionate.

He's got the fire that you want in a closer.

And so, you know, it was one that it probably took a little longer to get Hoffman out of that role that I would have liked.

But I give them credit for making that tough decision and having the hard conversation.

It's made Hoffman better, too.

And it's taken some of that burden off of him where he'd go out there and pitch and

in a still high leverage but less intense role where he doesn't have to be perfect.

And for Varlin, I remember the first game he came in to close.

Got a couple runners on, got a little dicey, but he got out of it.

And from that point, he seems like, you know what, I can do this.

I'm comfortable.

Because being a closer, yes, you have to have strength.

swing and miss stuff.

You have to have a stomach to be able to handle a situation, but you also have to have that ability to bounce back when something goes wrong.

Now, not a lot's gone wrong for Barlett yet.

It will at some point.