Coming off a break from the Exit Philosophy podcast, Griff and Mal return with plenty to talk about as the Blue Jays complete a four-game sweep of the Yankees to take over top spot in the resurgent AL East. How have the Jays gone from two games below .500 on May 28 to the current status of battling for first with the Yanks and Rays? What have been the biggest surprises for this Jays team over the first 88 games? Who are the most important players? What about the injuries? Did injuries to Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and Daulton Varsho, in fact, allow the team to discover some diamonds in the rough that have made this lineup deeper and stronger? Griff and Mal discuss the Blue Jays' major need at the trade deadline and the state of the starting rotation, given the iffy status of Max Scherzer and the likelihood Eric Lauer will suffer some sort of lull later in the year. Will they add an arm? The ’25 All-Star Game is almost at hand, and Vlad Guerrero Jr. has earned the starting nod at first base with Alejandro Kirk as the AL’s second catcher. Does Vlad’s season thus far warrant him being deserving starter? What should be the criteria for being an all-star? They discuss the MLB’s biggest trade of the year and the lingering anger in Boston over Rafael Devers being dealt to the Giants. Was Devers being selfish, or did the Red Sox front office mishandle the situation of Alex Bregman taking Raffy’s position with no discussion. Finally, there’s an Ironbacks report and update, after half a season at historic George Taylor Field in St. Catharines. Mal and Griff give their impressions on the newest team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. INDEX: 0:00 Intro  2:36 Other sports clear the way as Raptors fire Ujiri + Shai Gilgeous Alexander and growing the sport 8:29 Florida Panthers repeat Stanley Cup. How close were the Leafs? 10:23 The Blue Jays historic run of 33 games and reading into current slim run differential 17:36 Blue Jays four biggest surprise players 29:25 Analyzing the starting rotation in the age of Lauer and Scherzer 36:00 Biggest Potential Buzz Kills for the Jays hopes  42:50 Analysis of Rafael Devers deal to Giants. Selfish?  47:33 Vlad is the AL all-star starting first baseman. Should he be? 51:42 Niagara Ironbacks Update. Learning to love long bus rides and tallboys. ---- 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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58:00
The Road to Blue Jays Relevancy
 The Blue Jays leave home having swept the powerful Padres in three games to complete a 5-4 homestand and now play six, in Tampa (3) and Texas (3). This week’s Exit Philosophy has Griff and Mal weighing in on the big sports story of the moment in Toronto, the Maple Leafs and their parting of ways with president Brendan Shanahan. Are there comparisons with the Jays organization and should Shanahan have been given a media platform on the way out the door. Griff describes a similar situation in the ‘90s with fired manager Buck Rodgers. Is this the moment for the Jays with six primary outfielders, to give a banged-up Anthony Santander 10 IL days to get healthy and regroup? The Jays bullpen has stepped up and is as deep as anyone can remember…except for some blips on the Jeff Hoffman radar. Do they keep him in the closer role? A look at how good MLB teams with slow starts have bounced back and how that reflects on the Jays. The Top 5 List of position players born in the ‘80s is amazingly thin and how is that a caveat for Vlad in the final five seasons of his mega contract. Plus, a Niagara Ironbacks inaugural season (St. Catharines) is looming in the PGCBL.  INDEX: 0:00 Intro   0:22 Maple Leafs decision to let president Shanahan go  2:47 The Jays and the future of their president Shapiro 5:15 Vlad and Bo and the factor of no salary cap 10:13 Shanahan’s no presser exit compared to Buck Rodgers  16:37 Homestand ends with sweep of Padres 22:29 Jays struggles in Tampa through the years   27:33 Santander, Springer and the crowded OF mix    31:40 What happens when Andres Gimenez returns 36:35 State of the Jays Bullpen   43:51 Jays Rotation and the looming crisis of 4-5 starters 50:18 Good teams rebounding from slow starts 55:36 Phillies emerge as Jordan Romano heats up 1:02:05 Top 5 List … MLB position players born in the ‘80s 1:08:13 Niagara 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/
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1:10:24
The Rose Hall Bid Revived
Very quietly, the Blue Jays have been playing winning ball, since April 30, sabotaged far too often by inexplicable bullpen failures blowing leads in the 8th and 9th innings. In this week’s Exit Philosophy, Mal and Griff discuss those woes that have left the Jays playing pickleball with.500. On Tuesday Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that all-time hits leader Pete Rose has had his ban lifted and he is no longer ineligible for the Hall-of-Fame. Why did baseball do this out of the blue and what does it do to Griff’s respect and perception of MLB and the Hall. How much of this lifting of the ban was due to influence from the White House? The boys discuss the Rafael Devers situation and whether he is a proud superstar or bad teammate and could all this drama have been avoided. A Jays back-end of the rotation review, an update on the Niagara Ironbacks and more. Hit the subscribe button, like and leave a review wherever you listen!  INDEX: 0:00 Intro   0:38 Blue Jays bullpen steps up vs Rays  3:30 Leafs Playoff talk 6:32 Jays since April 30 could be far better 10:50 Up and down bullpen over 13 games 14:48 Back end of Jays rotation forecast 28:24 Jays injury update and Clement-Barger fill-in   30:49 Jays who’s hot and who’s not    33:51 Mal’s Niagara Ironbacks update home opener June 7 37:44 Pete Rose eligibility restored. What about politics?   49:11 Red Sox and Rafael Devers position change. Who screwed up? 61:38 Remaining homestand doesn’t get any easier  ---- 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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1:03:38
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1:03:38
The Shaken Belief in Jays Relief
The Blue Jays bullpen alarmingly turned three leads into losses on the way to a devastating four-game losing streak vs. the Guardians and Angels. Griff and Mal discuss how rare it is for a team’s two highest leverage relievers to slump at the same time and are there any possible solutions. Recent roster changes include RH Spencer Turnbull and RH Jose Urena  aimed to solve the crisis that has emerged at the back-end of the rotation, filling in for Max Scherzer and after Easton Lucas and his brief two-start time as the answer. Discussing Alan Roden and if it was the right move to send him back to Triple-A in favour of the speedy OF Jonatan Clase. Plus, the Top 5 list of most disappointing teams in baseball andn should that include the Jays…and more. ---- 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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1:05:48
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1:05:48
The Need For Big Boy Bats
The Blue Jays somehow have arrived at the end of April just two games below .500 despite zero in the way of significant offence. Griff and Mal discuss the individual performances of the season’s first month for Blue Jays hitters and what needs to happen to create a best possible batting order. The Exit Philosophy co-hosts discuss an all-of-a-sudden shaky back end of the rotation and what may have to become an answer. Away from baseball, there was the rogue father issues of Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) and Shedeur Sanders (NFL), plus a look back at a great fund-raising event, a 1,000 person Gala, in Montreal at ExposFest, retiring the uniform numbers of nine former stars, raising over $300K with the major vehicle being a team that left town for Washington D.C. 20 years ago.  INDEX   0:00 Intro   0:59 Hockey Playoff comments 3:18 In praise of the Blue Jays heart 5:42 Haliburton and Sanders and dealing with sports parents 15:20 ExposFest in Montreal was a great show 19:15 April player-by-player review and how Jays are not buried  42:00 Best batting order vs. RHP    46:12 Revisiting the Kikuchi trade and what’s at Buffalo  49:57 The back end of Rotation looking shaky  53:57 The Bullpen discussion  55:45 Top 5 April MVPs for Jays   58:58 Solutions for Jays current crisis 59:00 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/
Richard Griffin and Mal Romanin talk baseball, sports and life. They discuss their mutual love of baseball and how it is they arrived at the point in their lives, teaming up for Exit Philosophy. A large dose of Blue Jays talk, where nothing is off limits with honest opinions and smart suggestions for making things better in sports and life.
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