Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

Griff and Mal discuss the World Baseball Classic and if Team Canada is at last strong enough to escape the first round. It somehow seems that MLB should have been better prepared for the insurance issues that have mostly had an effect on Caribbean Nations. The Blue Jays will replace the Ted Rogers statue at the stadium with one honouring Joe Carter and his walk-off home run in the 1993 World Series. They discuss what other moments in Jays history worthy of a statue? The CDN Baseball Hall-of-Fame announced the list of six inductees for a June ceremony in St. Marys, including Stubby Clapp, Devon White and Bill Stoneman. Will the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal? How about top picks for '26 over/under win totals and much more?
INDEX:
00:00 – Intro
00:55 – WBC Player Insurance Problems
09:30 – Team Canada WBC Roster + Tournament Outlook
18:28 – Joe Carter Statue Announcement + Top 5 Statue Moments
26:05 – Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees
33:20 – Projected 2026 Team Win Totals
45:35 – Buck Martinez Retires + Lasting Impact
54:30 – Tigers Sign Framber Valdez
59:20 – Chaim Bloom Dismantling the St. Louis Cardinals
1:03:32 – Super Bowl Preview and Predictions + Outro
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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/

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
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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/

After missing out on Kyle Tucker, Mets owner Steve Cohen pivoted quickly to Bo Bichette, triggering a ripple effect across MLB free agency. On Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal break down Bo's awkward Mets introduction, questions about leaving the Blue Jays, opt-outs, and the Phillies deal that fell apart. The episode also covers the 2026 Hall of Fame results, a weak first-year ballot, a look ahead to Buster Posey and the 2027 class, plus MLB Network's Top 100 list—highlighting the Blue Jays, Dodgers, and a debate over John Schneider vs. Dave Roberts.
INDEX:
0:00 Intro
0:43 Bo leaves for Mets and his presser at CitiField
4:38 How will Bo handle New York
7:36 Bichette and his opt-outs
12:15 Bo at 3rd base and the new Mets defence
16:42 Phils thought they had a deal with Bo
18:24 Signs Bo was not coming back to T-O
23:13 What about Cody Bellinger
25:48 Jays still could use a bullpen arm
29:16 Bo says goodbye to fans via Hazel Mae
34:57 Beltan and Andruw Jones to Cooperstown
41:39 Dave Stieb and the Hall's Veteran Committee
43:17 Buster Posey leads new candidates in '27
47:46 MLB Network Top 100 players
51:46 Re-Ranking 2026 AL East
55:08 Jays non-roster invitees to watch
58:34 Salary Cap and the new CBA
1:06:04 NFL Championship Weekend
1:10:49 Niagara Ironbacks update
1:12:07 Bob Elliott's CBN's Top 100 influential CDNs.
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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/

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
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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 Blue Jays made a significant addition from the Japanese pool signing free-agent 3B Kazuma Okamoto -- four years, $60M. On this Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal explain how much the Jays' dramatic World Series run impacted the club's international profile and what this latest addition may mean to the team's pursuit of Bo Bichette and/or Kyle Tucker. Which AL teams have had the best off-season, a month to spring training. Detailing the dramatic change in the Jays starting rotation and the bullpen from opening Day 2025 to now. Should Ross Atkins wait until March to attempt a trade for Jose Berrios or is that too much a distraction? All this and more, including handicapping NFL wildcard weekend.
INDEX:
0:00 Intro
0:38 Kazuma Okamoto discussion
5:16 Okamoto presser with Scott Boras
10:49 Are Tucker and Bo still on the table
16:44 Rogers figures out spend money make money
19:16 Who's going to bat middle of the order
27:49 Jays and Luxury Tax with Jose Berrios
33:32 Jays will miss influence of departed pitchers
36:28 Comparing 2025 pitching to '26
46:20 AL Teams with best off-season  
55:21 NFL Playoff Preview
1:02:56 Wrapup
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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/