Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

Rich Griffin and Mal Romanin
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Exit Philosophy with Griff and Mal

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.

  1. The Road to Blue Jays Relevancy

    24 MAY

    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/

    1h 10m
  2. The Rose Hall Bid Revived

    15 MAY

    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/

    1h 4m
  3. The Shaken Belief in Jays Relief

    9 MAY

    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/

    1h 6m

  4. 3 MAY

    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/

    1h 5m
  5. The Blue Jays April Showers

    25 APR

    The Blue Jays April Showers

    The Blue Jays arrive at the end of April after a rollercoaster ride of fan optimism and despair. The shooting star that was LH Easton Lucas has departed leaving questions of where to go next. What about the batting order after a dismal performance in Houston? Is bringing Daulton Varsho back a stabilizing answer for what ails the Jays, and should George Springer be reintroduced to leadoff? Mal and Griff discuss the Top 5 teams in the latest power rankings and the AL’s rookie class in 2025. All this and far more is in this week’s Exit Philosophy. INDEX   0:00 Intro    0:52 Great time of year for Pro Sports  7:16 Solving the Jays April woes  11:40 Bo and the batting order  16:59 Rotation possibilities  26:23 Fall behind and feels like its over    27:52 When should we see Varsho     32:41 Organization OF depth  35:59 Oh what a relief it is   42:25 MLB Top 5 Teams   48:35 Ranking AL Rookies    58:58 Solutions for Jays current crisis  48:13 Top 5 List Jays strikeout games   1:02:37 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/

    1h 5m

  6. 19 APR

    The Vlad Legacy Being Written

    Should Blue Jays fans be encouraged by the solid start to the ’25 season, even though there have been obvious flaws and an offence not clicking on all cylinders. Mal and Griff discuss that, plus what to make of the Vlad extension press conference, Max Scherzer’s relationship with his replacement Easton Lucas and what it means to a new-look rotation, how high leverage bullpen pieces have come together and more. They talk about unusual injuries through the years, plus a Top 5 list of Jays strikeouts in a game, a list dominated by Roger Clemens. Finally, there’s the disappointing way Jackie Robinson Day handled by the Dodgers and by MLB. INDEX: 0:00 Intro    1:26 Attendance Concerns  3:45 Jays early success in AL despite flaws  5:24 Easton Lucas and Max Scherzer  6:57 Team concept and Lineup Construct  11:46 In praise of NL West   14:59 Hoffman and the bullpen     19:42 Clues from the Vlad Presser  24:43 Roster Moves and Springer   33:55 Rotation and Leverage   37:53 Jackie Robinson    42:45 Freak Injuries  48:13 Top 5 List Jays strikeout games   1:01:05 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/

    1h 3m
  7. The Vlad Factor

    12 APR

    The Vlad Factor

    The biggest news of the Blue Jays week, of course, was the monstrous 14-year extension offered up to Vlad Guerrero Jr. In addition to outlining the dollar details, Mal and Griff explain the possible ripple effect of the third-largest total value contract in MLB history and what having Vlad, the face of the franchise, on board through 2039 could mean for Bo Bichette, to Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, for attendance at Rogers Centre and the trickle-down benefitting future free agents like Kyle Tucker. Should the Jays trade Bo if they think they can’t afford both young stars. What about the Jays rotation and the improved length they are giving, compared to a year ago. Is Easton Lucas this year’s Bowden Francis and who are the Top 5 homegrown Blue Jays starting pitchers, signed and developed since 2000. Plus, another week in which EP offers apologies to backup catcher Tyler Heineman, who has started the season like an all-star.     INDEX 0:00 Intro   0:31 Jackie Robinson Day and Clemente disrespect  4:00 Vlad tribute to victims of the DR disaster  9:22 Vlad’s Contract and its ripple effect  12:34 What about Bo Bichette  17:10 Vlad deal impact on Mark and Ross   20:34 Does Vlad make Jays destination of choice     22:41 The Stadium renos and no roster rebuild  26:59 Vlad’s contract details   34:30 Rotation impact without Scherzer  38:33 Internal surprises Roden and Lucas   41:37 Top 5 List Jays homegrown starters   1:00:41 Varsho update Heineman apology   ---- 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/

    1h 6m
  8. The Fans Need More

    6 APR

    The Fans Need More

    The Blue Jays opening homestand was undeniably less than satisfying, even though the team finished up a successful 5-2 set at Rogers Centre before heading to New York for the Mets home opener. Maybe it’s because the attendance was disappointing. Maybe it was that the front end of the bullpen was abysmal in three of the games, led by the failures of secondary southpaws Richard Lovelady and his replacement Mason Fluharty. On this edition of Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal discuss MGR John Schneider’s learning process with a team relying on its rotation and some spectacular defence to get by, evidenced by the warning signs of a negative team run differential. With rumours of an imminent Vlad extension floating around, mostly from Vlad’s own people, where do they think the situation stands with optimism tempered by the reality that the Jays could have and should have handled the Vlad and Bo issues long ago. They talk “torpedo bats”, a 10-game road trip, the suggested revision of the Jays lineup and much 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/

    47 min
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About

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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