Claims extracted
28
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
4%
1 of 28 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Toronto Star's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
4
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
It wasn't very long ago that Louis Varland was considered little more than an afterthought.
asserted
Varland → consider → afterthought
Varland transformed from an ineffective starting pitcher to one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant late-inning arms within a year.
asserted
Varland → transform → year
The transition began with the Minnesota Twins and was then taken to another level when he joined the Blue Jays at last year’s trade deadline.
asserted
he → begin → deadline
On Wednesday night, the 28-year-old was rewarded for his efforts by being named the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
asserted
old → reward → America
“It’s easier to get three outs than 21, so that right there is a big difference in the roles,” Varland said.
asserted
Varland → ’ → roles
“Instead of playing the cat-and-mouse game, and saving a pitch for later in an outing, as a reliever you just throw your best stuff right away and challenge up.
asserted
you → play → stuff
Over time, I guess, I learned how to do that better and better.”
asserted
I → guess → that
Varland finished with 16 first-place votes and a total of 146 points.
asserted
Varland → finish → points
Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith, who was born in British Columbia, finished second with seven first-place votes and 133 points.
asserted
who → bear → votes
Toronto is meeting next week with the most coveted pitcher on the market, but given the club’s
The final vote tally came as a slight surprise considering Smith finished with more saves (41 vs. 35), more strikeouts (107 vs. 97) and fewer walks/hits per inning pitched (0.96 vs. 1.00).
asserted
Smith → meet → 1.00
Varland had the edge in ERA (1.27 vs. 1.95) and innings (78 vs. 74).
asserted
Varland → have → 74
“I’m very proud of trying to be the best teammate I can be and helping the team to win in any way possible,” said Varland, who started the year in a set-up role before taking over the closer duties from Jeff Hoffman in May.
uncertain
who → ’m → May
“It just happened to be the closer after the first month.
asserted
It → happen → month
I’m proud of that.”
asserted
I → ’m → that
Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran finished second in the NL voting and Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill was third.
asserted
Megill → finish → voting
The Blue Jays’ front office deserves credit for taking a shot on Varland last July.
asserted
office → deserve → Varland
He was a relative unknown to most fans at the time, but he had started generating interest from around the league because of his upper-90s fastball.
asserted
he → start → fastball
General manager Ross Atkins and the rest of his team felt they had seen enough to believe that he would not only become an asset for last year’s playoff run, but also for many years to come.
asserted
he → feel → years
Varland remains under club control through at least 2030.
asserted
Varland → remain → 2030
Even though the Jays had to part with promising left-hander Kendry Rojas, the move has been an overwhelming success.
asserted
move → have → Rojas
After putting up a 5.18 ERA in 23 career starts, Varland has a 2.83 ERA as a reliever, including 2.12 with the Jays.
asserted
Varland → put → Jays
“We couldn’t be happier for Louis,” Atkins said.
asserted
Atkins → say → Louis
“The growth we’ve seen since we acquired him has been so impressive.
asserted
we → see → him
He continues to take on more responsibility and thrive in any situation, including stepping up in a big way as our closer this year.
asserted
He → continue → closer
“The impact he had on our bullpen was significant, but just as important was the teammate, competitiveness, preparation and selflessness he brought to our team every day.
asserted
he → have → team
The Jays have a lot of items on their to-do list this off-season.
asserted
Jays → have → list
They need to add at least a couple of bats and one reliable starter.
asserted
They → need → bats
Adding a closer would have been on that list too, but after Varland’s emergence the Jays have the luxury of being able to focus on other areas instead.
asserted
Jays → add → areas
The Aporia
