Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

• Blue Jays Shake Up Rotation: Cease Upside, Ponce Risk & Bo vs. Kyle Tucker Debate | Exit Philosophy

  In this week's Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal discuss the revamped Blue Jays rotation and how different the starting five is from the one that opened the 2024 season. The upside of Dylan Cease coming off a down season in San Diego and the potential downside of Cody Ponce coming off a career year in Korea. With the narrowing of position player needs, the discussion centres on Bo or Kyle Tucker and how the versatility of Clement and Barger allows the Jays to pivot in any direction. Do they truly need a bona fide closer? How much do they have left in payroll to finish close to last year's $254-million. All this and much more. INDEX: 0:00 – Intro 0:25 – Winter Meetings Preview 6:00 – ERAs committee HOF Vote 10:40 – Dylan Cease Contract 21:00 – Cody Ponce Signs with the Blue Jays + Jose Berrios 35:00 – Thoughts on the 2026 Rotation 41:00 – What are the remaining additions? 48:30 – Breaking down 2026 Payroll and Options 55:00 – Internal Options + Ricky Tiedemann 59:35 – Rule 5 Players 1:01:00 – Expansion back alive in Montreal? 1:02:40 – Outro + Conversation with Hazel Mae ---- 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/

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• Ellis Valentine: The Cannon Arm, Montreal Expos Glory & Overcoming Life's Toughest Battles

  Conversations With Griff Presents Ellis Valentine Griff welcomes former Expos outfielder Ellis Valentine, discussing his career as a blossoming young Montreal baseball star in the '70s, derailed in the early '80s by injury and immaturity, from what once was a Hall-of-Fame career path, to finding himself out of MLB prematurely due to injury and a self-destructive lifestyle. The L.A. native talks about his journey from high school star, to second round draft pick in 1972, mentored by Mel Didier and Karl Kuehl in the Expos organization. He talks about similarities with the Jays' homegrown duo of Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette, as he was linked in his early career with Hall-of-Fame catcher Gary Carter, advancing to the majors year by year from the same draft class and with similar potential. Valentine's big personality shines through as he talks about what it was like being young and an Expo, surrounded by a roster of like-minded friends, winning games in 1979-80, all in their early 20's all single and coming into their own together, with a fanbase that had a chance to get to know them in downtown srettings after almost every game. Ellis offers an opinion on what has happened to the African-American presence in the majors, his dislike of Gene Mauch, how he lost his peripheral vision for three full years after being hit in the face by Roy Thomas of the Cardinals, his trade to the Mets in 1981, his retirement, realizing he needed help and facing the problems head-on. A true Redemption Song of freedom.  INDEX: 0:00 – Intro 1:31 – 1972 Draft and Being Selected alongside Gary Carter and Bobby Goodman 3:15 – Great Throwing Arms of his Era + Addison Barger 6:50 – Remembering Mel Didier 8:17 – Power Outage Throwing Contest at Olympic Stadium 10:31 – Love of Montreal 12:00 – Being at Athlete in Montreal in the 1970's 15:10 – Growing up in LA and Love of Crenshaw High School 20:45 – MLB Moving Back Towards Contact Over Homeruns? 25:35 – Gene Mauch 32:25 – 1977 All-Star Game 35:30 – Unfortunate Decrease in African American Ball Players and How to Address it 44:10 – Gary Carter 51:10 – Outfielder Development 53:54 – Winter Meetings and Larry Doby 55:45 – Lack of Mentors for Young Players 57:05 – The Redemption of Ellis Valentine + Life After Baseball 1:08:00 - Outro ---- Get the audio version of "Griff's Conversations" and the "Exit Philosophy Podcast" wherever you get your podcasts, including: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Q0MJVS... ---- 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/ #MontrealExpos #MLB   ---- 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/

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• Dylan Cease Signs with the Toronto Blue Jays - Bonus Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

  BONUS EPISODE Shortly after the latest episode of Exit Philosophy, the Blue Jays made a BIG move and signed Dylan Cease to a massive seven-year, $210 million contract. Griff provides instant reaction to the major move. Please check out previous episodes of  @ExitPhilosophy  on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. #torontobluejays #mlb

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• Are The Blue Jays Extending Their Window? Bullpen Names + Hot Stove Rumours and Rule 5 Roster Moves

  Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal The MLB Hot Stove is heating up early with several significant trades and with important free agent tires being kicked in earnest. Griff and Mal discuss where the Blue Jays stand with regard to '26 team payroll and what it allows them to do in their attempt to repeat a trip to the World Series. What should be the key free agents they should pursue. Does that include a new closer too slot in ahead of Jeff Hoffman. What about their own free agent, Bo Bichette? Are they in danger of making the same mistake the Leafs did with Mitch Marner, letting him go and feeling they can replace him, no problem. Could a Jays rumoured Diamondbacks trade for 2B Ketel Marte be the solution? Have the GM Meetings in early November replaced the traditional Winter Meetings in importance? All this and more.  Index: 0:00 – Intro 0: 29 -The Hot Stove is Cooking 5:47 – Rule 5 Draft + Blue Jays Outlook 12:35 – Blue Jays 2025 Payroll Issues 17:13 – Relief Pitcher Market + Closer Needs 23:24 – Max Scherzer Wants Back in T.O. 25:29 – Blue Jays vs Maple Leaf Comps 28:10 – Run Prevention Trumps All 30:17 -  Blue Jays Extended Window with Contracts 35:00 – Jays Marketing in Japan + Manfred Comments 36:46 – Blue Jays Rumour Mill + Free Agent Fits 49:30 – Final Managerial Spot Filled 51:10 – NFL Thanksgiving Preview 56:25 – Ellis Valentine Conversation 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/

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• John Gibbons Talks Blue Jays, Baseball Stories and Canada | Full Interview

  On Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal welcome former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons for his  view on the just-completed World Series, his new gig as bench coach with the Angels, and more. The former skipper, who took his Jays to consecutive ALCS in 2015-16, explains the similarities of his first playoff team that lost to the Royals and the difficulties of repeating the next year. He explains the phenomenon of playing for an entire country and hosting Jays fans compared to others around baseball. He describes his favourite memories from Winter Tours, including driving tanks in Edmonton with his head sticking out the turret and the icicles that formed. Gibby shares his thoughts on clubhouse chemistry, winning, and how talent is the overriding factor. He talks about his first stint as Jays manager in New York when he was appointed while eating a post-game sandwich, his famous dustup with Ted Lilly, and his clubhouse clash with Shea Hillenbrand. He talks about his relationship with the late Davey Johnson. It's all vintage Gibby.     Index: 0:00 – Intro 0:35 – John Gibbons Joins the Show! 1:30 – How Has Gibby Been? 5:40 – Going from Manager to Bench Coach 7:25 – Relationship with Perry Minasian 11:25 – Transitioning from Player to Coaching 16:45 – Managerial Surprises 21:14 – Winning with Good Chemistry 24:00 – Ted Lily 26:00- Changes from 2015 to 2016 with the Blue Jays 29:05 – Young players on 2015 Club 31:10 – The Blue Jays Terrific Fan Base 36:40 – Blue Jays Fans in Seattle 39:00 – Clubhouse Meetings 44:22 – Boston Red Sox Attitude 45:32 – Shea Hillenbrand 47:09 – Thoughts on Starters Innings + Scherzer's Intensity 56:01 – Hitters Strike Zone Awareness and Umpires 58:50 – Thoughts on ABS Challenges 1:00:52 – Mapping out Relief Pitchers + Game Strategy 1:03:50 – Gibby's Hall of Fame Ballot Thoughts 1:10:25 – Remembering Davey Johnson ---- 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/

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