Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

The Toronto Blue Jays are getting healthier, but new questions continue to emerge. Max Scherzer's long-awaited return to the rotation didn't go as planned, raising concerns about what the future Hall of Famer can realistically provide down the stretch. Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s offensive struggles remain a major talking point among Blue Jays fans. Can Vlad rediscover his elite form? And after another inconsistent stretch, should George Springer continue to be an everyday player in Toronto's lineup? On this episode of Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal break down the biggest surprises and disappointments of the Blue Jays season so far. From unexpected contributors to underperforming stars, they examine why Toronto's list of concerns has grown for a team with playoff aspirations. They also discuss: Max Scherzer's return and what it means for the rotation Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s ongoing struggles George Springer's role moving forward The Blue Jays' biggest surprises and disappointments Whether Toronto needs another high-leverage bullpen arm Yimi Garcia's potential return The catching situation between Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, and Brandon Valenzuela What the Blue Jays need to do to stay in the playoff race If you're a Toronto Blue Jays fan looking for in-depth analysis, roster discussion, trade deadline talk, and the latest MLB news, this episode is for you. #BlueJays #TorontoBlueJays #MLB #VladimirGuerreroJr #MaxScherzer #GeorgeSpringer #AlejandroKirk #MLBPodcast #BaseballPodcast #BlueJaysNation #ExitPhilosophy #MLBTradeDeadline #TorontoSports #BaseballAnalysis #JaysTalk ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

The Toronto Blue Jays are chasing World Series success again, but are they putting too much emphasis on recreating the chemistry that fueled their incredible 2025 run? On this episode of Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal break down whether the current roster needs bold changes, using the demotion of Yohendrick Pinango as a key example. Could history repeat itself? The guys look back at how legendary GM Pat Gillick made major roster moves after the 1992 championship that helped deliver another title in 1993 — and whether Toronto should follow that same blueprint. They also preview the massive 4-game showdown against the New York Yankees in the Bronx and ask: do the Yankees still have last October's ALDS on their minds? Plus: Why the Blue Jays' 2024 trade deadline sell-off was about reloading, not rebuilding How restocking the farm system is already paying dividends A tribute to legendary manager Bobby Cox following his passing The biggest questions surrounding Toronto's roster heading into a crucial stretch If you're a Blue Jays fan looking for the latest analysis, roster breakdowns, trade deadline discussion, and MLB insight, this is the episode for you. Subscribe for more Blue Jays coverage, MLB analysis, and weekly Exit Philosophy episodes. Like, comment, and share your thoughts: Should the Jays shake up the roster? #BlueJays #TorontoBlueJays #MLB #Yankees #BaseballPodcast #ExitPhilosophy #MLBAnalysis #BlueJaysNews INDEX: 0:00 Intro 0:29 Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres series update 3:36 Remembering legendary manager Bobby Cox 9:07 Toronto Blue Jays week in review 11:12 Why Addison Barger is becoming crucial for Toronto 15:49 Is Valenzuela the Blue Jays' No. 1 catcher? 17:32 Why MLB is prioritizing athleticism over fundamentals 21:15 Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees preview: huge Bronx series 25:22 Toronto's fifth starter debate & Eric Lauer's role 30:25 Has clubhouse chemistry become more important than performance? 33:20 Pat Gillick and the 1992-93 roster blueprint 37:03 Why the National League is dominating MLB in 2026 43:34 How the Blue Jays' magical 2024 summer rebuilt the farm system 50:08 Blue Jays pending free agents: who stays and who goes? 58:06 Mookie Betts returns to the Los Angeles Dodgers — how impactful is it? 59:17 Ironbacks update 1:00:48 Final thoughts & wrap-up ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

The return of Max Scherzer to the Blue Jays fold leads off the discussion on Exit Philosophy, on a one-year $3M deal, plus incentives, depending on innings pitched. With what is normally a five-man rotation, the Jays are now dealing with seven active starters that deserve to be there, plus injured veteran and former Cy guy, Shane Bieber. Will Jose Berrios have to be traded? Mal and Griff discuss where Mad Max fits in with the Jays on this fury road back to the World Series. Grapefruit League games have begun in earnest and while the bullpen needs to sort itself out, so does the Jays outfield with eight names for five spots. What are the early impressions of the automatic ball-strike system and how it's working in the spring, heading towards regular season use for the first time? INDEX: 0:00 Cold Open & What's Ahead 1:04 Scherzer Is Back — What It Means for the Jays 11:53 Six-Man Rotation: Bold Move or Big Risk? 17:08 The Berríos Dilemma 21:56 Manoah's Head-Scratching Comments 25:56 Entire Infield to the WBC? 27:28 WBC Absences = Opportunity for Youth 29:12 Jake Casey & MLB Bloodlines 31:28 Fast-Tracking the Next Generation 35:44 Early Grapefruit League Takeaways 43:05 Solving the Infield Puzzle 44:56 Bullpen: Is the Ceiling Too Low? 49:33 Outfield Logjam 55:05 ABS Challenge: Fixing the Strike Zone? 1:01:10 Boras on MLB's Asian Expansion 1:04:01 Olympic Hockey & Gold Medal Spotlight 1:07:31 Final Thoughts ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

The first day of spring training is traditionally a joyous time of renewal, but on Blue Jays Day 1, manager John Schneider opened with a trio of injury reports — OF Anthony Santander, RHP Shane Bieber and RHP Bowden Francis — plus a mutual mea culpa surrounding RHP Jose Berrios and his bail out during the World Series. Both sides now say the Berrios situation could have been handled better. Is all forgiven? Already, less than a week into camp, the Jays have made a trade to shore up the outfield for the loss of Santander. Griff and Mal discuss the role of OF Jesus Sanchez, acquired from the Astros for OF Joey Loperfido, returning to his original team. Is there a role for Berrios that would see him make 30+ starts for the Jays or, as the boys discuss, with the club's Top 10 depth of starters, is a trade more likely with three years left on his contract and an opt-out looming. With $20M remaining on his final season in Philly, what happened to prompt the release of volatile OF Nick Castellanos. And more. INDEX: 0:00 Intro 0:29 What's great about Day 1 of spring training 7:21 Doom and gloom of Blue Jays Day 1 2026 7:50 Santander shoulder surgery 12:49 Jesus Sanchez and the revised OF picture 16:52 Bieber's delay and player option revisited 22:49 Berrios admits it was mistake to miss WS 28:07 Does Berrios have an opening to start here 36:08 Top 10 list of Blue Jays starters 44:48 Cautionary tale of Bowden Francis TJ surgery 48:44 A theory on Max Scherzer free-agent strategy 50:34 Thoughts on the ABS challenge system 54:14 Thoughts on Team Canada at the WBC 57:16 Bad Bunny and a Badder Super Bowl 1:01:45 Ironbacks update ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Award-winning journalist and member of the Hockey Hall-of-Fame, Michael Farber, guests on Conversations with Griff. A New Jersey native who paid to see Bruce Springsteen perform for $2.50 at Rutgers University, Farber moved from a Yankees beat in Newark to Montreal to join the Expos beat for The Gazette in 1979. He still lives with his wife Danielle in Montreal and offers up work for TSN television and TSN 690 radio, as well as hockey insights for NBC. Michael and Griff discuss the memorable Expos years from 1979-94, focusing on the special bond those teams had with the city in which they played. Farber recalls the details of his exclusive access and coverage of the Tim Raines drug rehab winter, at age 23, between 1982-83, and the Hall-of-Fame redemption song that followed. Griff and Mike offer their opinions on Expos managers from Dick Williams to Felipe Alou, with personal reflections on all the special moments in those special years of Les Expos, Nos Amours. INDEX: 00:00 – Welcome, Michael Farber! 00:50 – Difference between TV hit and writing a great column? 01:50 – Working the Sochi Olympics 4:00 – Hailing from New Jersey + Duke Snyder Stories 10:45 – Covering the Expos and Moving to Canada 14:50 – The Expos in the late 70s 19:20 – Lost lustre of the All Star Game 23:30 – Randy Johnson, Denis Martinez and Pascual Perez Stories 30:05 – Memories of the 1980 Expos 33:14 – Dick Willims Firing + Jim Fanning 39:50 – Bill Verdon years 43:30 – Advice for young media members 44:40 – Al Oliver Story 48:00 – Bill Lee/Rodney Scott Incident 53:40 – How did you handle the Strike? 57:05 – Covering Tim Raines during his difficult times 1:02:25 – Dave Dombrowski ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Within 24 hours on Thursday and Friday, the two top MLB free-agent hitters linked to the Blue Jays signed and came off the board, but neither one was headed north of the border. First, it was Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, then Bo Bichette to the Mets. On Exit Philosophy we discuss the possible impact to the Jays' hopes of improving their lineup via free agency and where this leaves the AL Champs moving forward. Was Bo to the Mets a panic move by owner Steve Cohen? Was Bo's departure always an inevitability? Mal and Griff discuss the Hall-of-Fame announcement later this week, the looming labour negotiations after the '26 season, Ernie Clement to Team USA and much more. Note** - Bo signed right after recording original episode so the first 25 mins are recorded separately from the rest of the episode. Hope you enjoy! INDEX: 0:00 – Intro 0:35 – Kyle Tucker is an LA Dodger 9:50 – Bo Bichette is a New York Met 21:40 – Realmuto resigns with Phillies + How Will Bo Handle NY Media 25:30 – How to Avoid a Salary Cap and a Lockout 35:15 – Bo Bichette and Mitch Marner Comparisons 43:15 – Hall of Fame Announcement Preview 50:45 – Rob Manfred and Lockout Negotiations 1:00:32 – Ernie Clement on Team USA for WBC 1:04:15 – Red Sox Have Best Rotation in the AL East 1:12:10 – International Signing Period 1:13:45 – NFL Divsional Weekend Preview + Outro ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

In this edition of Conversations with Griff, I chat with iconic Blue Jays television personality, Hazel Mae, recently recognized by the Canadian Hall of Fame with the Jack Graney Award, given to a media member for a lifetime of contribution to baseball. We discuss her stellar career, from the first time she was handed a tape recorder and sent to a Jays game, to her current status as a huge part of the most-watched telecasts in MLB, her role models in sports broadcasting, and her positive influence on young women in Canada. INDEX: 0:00 – Intro 0:25 – Winning the Jack Graney Award and Canadian Baseball HOF 3:25 – Her love of the Kansas City Chiefs 6:45 – The wonderful progression of women in sports media 10:00 – Admiration of Susan Waldman 14:25 – Double standard in Media + Personal anecdote 18:15 – Dealing with self doubt and struggles early on in career 24:30 – Moving and working for NESN in Boston 28:00 – Early days of MLB Network and Hazel's time there 33:38 – Working with Buck and Dan + Sportsnet 37:01 – Relationship building with players + Rowdy Tellez 39:15 – Carlos Delgado + Troy Tulowitzki 43:35 – Spirited conversations with husband and analyst, Kevin Barker 47:50 – Meeting her in-laws for the first time 49:50 – Hazels parents' reactions on her career and becoming an icon 53:10 – The humanity of Hazel's interview style 56:20 – Hazel's important influence on the next generation 59:30 - Outro ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

The Mets and Yankees leave Winter Meetings empty-handed while the Dodgers land Edwin Díaz and the Orioles snag Pete Alonso. The Blue Jays stay quiet after earlier moves, introducing free-agent Dylan Cease and taking a Rule 5 flyer. Is Scott Boras controlling MLB's free-agent market? Do the Jays need rotation changes, bullpen help, or clarity on Bo's future? All this and more on Exit Philosophy. INDEX: 0:00 – Intro 0:17 – Winter Meetings Wrap Up 3:45 – What is Going on with New York? 6:10 – Scott Boras … Master Puppeteer 9:00 – Cease Press Conference 12:00 – John Schneider Media Availability 14:10 – Pete Alonso is an Oriole 17:00 – Kyle Tucker or Bo? 24:40 – Schneider Defends IKF Game 7 Baserunning 27:30 – Jays Add in Rule 5 Draft + Dombrowski Expos Story 33:00 – Changes to Major League Coaching Staff 35:25 – Jeff Kent Elected to Hall of Fame + Bonds, Delgado, Clemens 44:00 - Blue Jays 2026 Rotation Will Look Different 48:10 – Impressions of Cody Ponce 50:30 – Changes from 92 to 93 World Series Teams 53:40 – Love for Jose Berrios + What is his Future? 55:44 – Berrios for Nolan Arenado? Griff Explains 57:44 – Edwin Diaz to LAD and Who is the Jays Closer in 2026? 1:00:00 – Bills Preview + Outro ---- Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy ---- For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/