Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

Griff and Mal discuss Team Canada advancing further than ever in the World Baseball Classic despite a 5–3 loss to United States national baseball team. They break down the pros and cons of the game and why the Americans remain hard to like — from Cal Raleigh refusing to shake hands to manager Mark DeRosa nearly creating a tiebreaker-rule disaster.
Looking ahead, is there hope for Canada and should Ernie Whitt return as manager? Griff and Mal also highlight Canada's best players, the infectious joy of Caribbean teams, and whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant WBC and World Series performance pushes him into MLB's elite hitters.
Finally, the focus shifts back to the Toronto Blue Jays with Opening Day less than two weeks away and injury concerns for José Berríos and Shane Bieber. This and more.

INDEX:
0:00 Intro
0:44 Canada vs USA Quarterfinal
4:30 Why Team USA Is Hard to Like
6:38 Celebrating with Team Dominican
8:55 Mark DeRosa's Costly Mistake
14:56 Team Canada's Top 5 WBC Performers
21:42 Ernie Whitt's Future as Manager
27:08 Should WBC Eligibility Rules Change?
30:39 Caribbean Joy & Showmanship
34:20 New Appreciation for Vlad Jr.
38:20 Mal Picks All 8 WBC Pool Winners
41:20 Berrios Shut Down — What It Means
48:27 The Yesavage Dilemma
53:32 Leo Jimenez's Utility Role in Danger?
56:58 Is Eloy Jimenez in the Jays OF Mix?
59:56 One Bullpen Spot Left
1:01:27 Wrap Up

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy
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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/

Griff and Mal preview the World Baseball Classic, breaking down all four pools and Canada's chances to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. Is this the most talented Team Canada roster ever, and can the bullpen hold up? They also tackle key Toronto Blue Jays spring training questions: fitting eight starters into a five-man rotation, the final bullpen spot, the utility infielder battle, and a crowded outfield featuring Jesús Sánchez and Eloy Jiménez. Plus, young prospects get a chance to shine with the infield away at the WBC.

INDEX:
0:00 Intro
0:43 Max Scherzer and the Influence of Family
7:50 The Michael Jordan Experience
10:01 Canada national baseball team Ranked No. 20
12:35 Early Memories of the World Baseball Classic
13:18 Could There Ever Be a Team Jamaica in the WBC?
14:50 World Baseball Classic Overview: Breaking Down the Pools
24:00 Spotlight: Best Team Canada Roster Ever?
32:26 Should the World Baseball Classic Be Played During the All-Star Break?
34:23 Toronto Blue Jays and the Overcrowded Rotation
42:28 Record Number of Blue Jays on WBC Rosters
45:03 Jurickson Profar & José Rojas Performance-Enhancing Drug Suspensions
47:02 Blue Jays Outfield Logjam
52:24 Who Wins the Blue Jays Utility Infield Job?
56:35 Battle for the Final Blue Jays Bullpen Spot
1:01:14 Will We See Yimi García Again?
1:03:06 Wrap-Up

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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
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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/

Following a significant shakeup at the top of the players' union, with executive director Tony Clark stepping down, what does it mean for the upcoming labour negotiations on the CBA that expires on Dec. 1. Spring training games are underway in Arizona and Florida. How much should fans pay attention to Grapefruit League results. The history of Japanese players in M LB and the seven players from that country who have worn a Blue Jays uniform. A quick review of the Jays crowded bullpen picture and what to do with talented lefty Ricky Tiedemann. The 21st Century history of World Series teams the next year and far more on this edition of Exit Philosophy.
INDEX:
0:00 Intro
0:33 Olympics discussion
3:08 Impact of Tony Clark resigning at the MLBPA  
9:09 Can either side win if there's a stoppage
14:45 Spring games and their lack of importance
20:47 Spring training phenoms and a grain of salt
25:37 Blue Jays six-man rotation discussion
32:06 What to do with a healthy Tiedemann
37:00 Jays bullpen looking at too many bodies
40:21 Okamoto and the history of Japanese Blue Jays
48:31 Importance of Okamoto in '26
49:21 The need for another infielder
52:01 Are there too many lefty hitting OF
56:27 Can Blue Jays return to World Series
1:00:13 Closing and an Ironbacks update
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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
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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/