With the San Antonio GM Meetings ongoing, it signals the launch of what will be the most important off-season in the 10 years of this Blue Jays front office. In Exit Philosophy, Season 2 Episode 43, Griff and Mal suggest a blueprint GM Ross Atkins might want to follow if this team hopes to add the 14-16 wins to their record, necessary to compete for a wild-card in ’25. The importance of being super-agent Scott Boras and how his list of high-priced clients, led by Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Corbin Burns and others will control the pace and timing of the Hot Stove offseason. How the Jays can build a competitive bullpen, whether to add another starter, what about the low-hanging fruit ... and more.

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Get the video version of Exit Philosophy 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/

Former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons joins Griff and Mal on Exit Philosophy to discuss the ‘24 World Series, his role as bench coach with the Mets, his long and grinding road on and off the field including two stints as Jays skipper, thoughts on all of his GMs in Toronto, plus it’s clear the urge to manage again, is still there, as reflected by his recent interview with the White Sox.

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Get the video version of Exit Philosophy 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/

Exit Philosophy, Episode 41, Griff and Mal discuss the prospect of the Jays making a serious run at free-agent Juan Soto. Pay tribute to the late Fernando Valenzuela on the eve of The ’24 World Series, a rematch between his team, the Dodgers and their nemesis the Yankees. The ’81 season was the dawn of FernandoMania and the closest the Expos came to reaching the World Series, ending with Blue Monday, Game 5 of the NLCS started by Fernando. The Blue Jays rebuild has already begun and the first baby steps include a new hitting coach brought in from outside. The importance of signing Vlad Guerrero here and now could be key to the rebuild, but is it too late for it to happen before his free agency. And more.

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Get the audio version of Exit Philosophy wherever you get your podcasts, including:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Q0MJVS...

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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 in Episode 40 discuss the damaging changes in MLB post-season strategy wherein bullpens dominate and a deep starting rotation is no longer important. At a time when baseball should be offering up its marquee pitching stars to combat the competition — the opening of the NBA and NHL seasons, with the NFL in full swing, 6-7 pitchers in a combined shutout is how teams feel they can win. Exit Philosophy revisits the legacy of Cito Gaston and examines the encouraging trajectory of youth and elite baseball in Canada.  

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Get the audio version of Exit Philosophy wherever you get your podcasts, including:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Q0MJVS...

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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/

After a short hiatus, Exit Philosophy returns with interim co-host, Mal Romanin, who enters with 12 years as the Blue Jays Director of Communications, with that coming off 10 years in the Jays press box as an original analytics guy. Featured in Episode 39 are discussions on the difficulties in a 5-month Blue Jays rebuild, especially with this front-office, a look at the remaining MLB playoff participants, critiquing the Shapiro/Atkins end-of-year availability, plus a series of sure-fire NFL Week 6 winners.

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Get the audio version of Exit Philosophy 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/

Earlier this summer, Griff’s the Pitch caught up with Ernie Whitt for a wide-ranging conversation in which the former Jays’ catcher describes his time in Toronto, many of the highlight moments from his 26 years as manager of Team Canada that includes every WBC event and how his experiences almost make him feel Canadian. 

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Get the audio version of Exit Philosophy 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/

What, if anything, is there left for the Toronto Blue Jays to learn about themselves in the final three games of the regular season? Griff and Scotty Mac discuss the roster machinations which cost Rowdy Tellez a bonus in Pittsburgh and Zach Pop crucial service time in Toronto. Griff takes us back to 1979 to counter those who are upset the Mets and Braves will play an inclement weather-influenced doubleheader the day after the regular season ends. The episode closes with the guys making an announcement.

It was 55 years ago that an entire nation was introduced to the passion of Montreal Expos baseball. Canada's first Major League Baseball team was on TV just once per week, so it was all about re-creating in your mind's eye via Dave Van Horne and his partners on radio. Dave was the voice of summer for many generations. In our latest Griff's Baseball Conversations, Dave and I recall the start of his career, the many Hall-of-Fame partners he worked with, and we go down the list of positive franchise memories that still make us all smile.

Griff and Scotty Mac celebrate Shohei Ohtani's historic 50/50 season (50 home runs, 50 stolen bases), but not before they break down Rogers' takeover of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and what it means for the Toronto Blue Jays and the professional sports landscape in the city. Included in the discussion, the increasingly blurred relationship between the teams and the media which cover them.

After starting off with more love for Toronto Blue Jays breakout Bowden Francis, Griff and Scotty Mac shift their attention to recent comments from shortstop Bo Bichette, whose 2024 season has been one he'd like to forget. What Bo told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi was markedly different than what he told the Toronto Star's Rosie DiManno a couple of months ago; the guys consider Bo's motivations and options in the months and year ahead.