Exit Philosophy with Griff and Scotty Mac

Scotty Mac returns and the guys discuss the heat on the Blue Jays to get this season turned around. Scotty isn't up for the criticism of the hitting coaches for the offensive struggles and demands a moratorium on firings until one particular individual is let go. How does Griff feel about Alek Manoah's first big league start of the season? And the guys offer quick thoughts on the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With RH Yariel Rodriguez forced onto the IL on Tuesday with back issues, the opening is there for RH Alek Manoah, coming off a great start at AAA-Buffalo, to re-enter the Blue Jays rotation as early as Sunday at the Nationals. Plus, Rich Griffin talks the return of C Danny Jansen, the struggles of the big three at the top of the Jays order, the future of GM Ross Atkins and more.

At the time of recording, the Toronto Blue Jays have won four consecutive series so Griff and Scotty Mac do a vibe check. There's a lot to like, sure, but there are still some consequential questions that need to be answered. Jose Berrios is the early front-runner for the American League Cy Young Award; and why, exactly, is George Springer still leading off?

The guys record on April 15th, which is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball; Griff traces Jackie's roots to the Montreal Royals, which leads to a discussion about how far the sport has come ... AND how far it still has to go. How weird a period of time is this for the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Scotty Mac offers a thought on how to manage Yariel Rodriguez's availability.

Griff and Scotty Mac give their early-season assessment of the Toronto Blue Jays, including the 4-6 season-starting road trip and the tempered hoopla of what was an otherwise successful home opener. Fans showed a definite hesitance to embrace the team. Did manager John Schneider deserve to be booed? The guys give their thoughts on the centre field camera vantage point and discuss the run of pitching injuries around baseball.

Griff and Scotty Mac record a day later than usual and the Toronto Blue Jays gift them a no-hitter for sure content. The guys try to separate the dismal result in one game from the bigger picture while also wondering if some concerning trends from 2023 are re-appearing early this season. The guys have early-season thoughts on the offence, defence and pitching ... and Scotty Mac doesn't want anyone giving up on a particular pitcher just yet.

Kevin Gausman impresses in Grapefruit League play, increasing the likelihood that he'll be able to make his first start of the season on time. Griff and Scotty Mac take a look at the Blue Jays' opening day bench and wonder if there could be at least one relatively quick change. Plus, the guys weigh in on the gambling scandal in Shohei Ohtani's orbit.

Danny Jansen is injured again and Scotty Mac says if Jansen can't stay consistently healthy this season, it'll put the Blue Jays in a tough spot when Jansen hits free agency in November. Griff and Scotty Mac relive the rollercoaster ride of Joey Votto's first Grapefruit League at-bat with the Blue Jays. And in honour of St. Patrick's Day, the guys go through a list of all-time Blue Jays named ... Patrick.

It's cool to see Joey Votto wearing Toronto Blue Jays gear ... but will there be any more to the Votto signing? Griff's theory will intrigue you. Plus, Griff and Scotty Mac breakdown the American League East including playoff predictions for each team in the division.

Griff and Scotty Mac are pretty confident this wasn't the offseason baseball's most powerful agent, Scott Boras, was envisioning for his clients. Why didn't the Toronto Blue Jays jump back into the Matt Chapman market once it was clear he was going to come cheap? Shoulder soreness plaguing two key Blue Jays' pitchers leads to a conversation about the team's depth.

Cody Bellinger returns to the Chicago Cubs on a contract much shorter in term, and much lesser in dollars, than anyone anticipated. Griff and Scotty Mac wonder if the parameters of Bellinger's contract pave the way for Matt Chapman's return to the Toronto Blue Jays on a similar deal. See through pants are the big issue at spring training; how does this happen? Who would you want closing for the Blue Jays if Jordan Romano got hurt?

Bo Bichette is taking the next step in his front-facing leadership role with the Toronto Blue Jays, calling for a higher level of internal accountability and greater expectation. Griff and Scotty Mac address Bichette's comments. Baseball's off-season problems, there remain high-profile free agents without contracts, continue ... at whose feet should the blame be laid? And did we hear Anthony Rendon correctly?

Filling in for Scotty Mac, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson joins Griff in a discussion of the powerful AL East. Not every team is going to be better so which fan bases are likely to be disappointed. Did MLB.com err in leaving Jordan Romano off the list of baseball’s Top 10 relievers. Should the Jays consider a six-man rotation in 2024 and the boys discuss the health and talent of the Jays starting five. Is it luck or by design. ---- 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/

Comparing the Toronto Blue Jays and defending American League East winners the Baltimore Orioles, Griff and Scotty Mac go position-by-position to determine which player, from which team, they'd rather have at each spot. The guys pay tribute to the 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s arbitration hearing and end with giving their Super Bowl pick against the spread.

The Toronto Blue Jays make news! Real news! Griff and Scotty Mac chat just hours after reports of the team reaching a one-year contract agreement with free agent Justin Turner. How much third base will Turner play this season? The guys pay tribute to former Blue Jays manager Jimy Williams, who passed away this week. And a little post-Championship weekend NFL talk to wrap up the show.

Do the Blue Jays have time to salvage the off-season? Griff and Scotty Mac discuss. Also, Major League Baseball seems to struggle to remember that, in part, it's an entertainment industry. Griff reviews his Hall of Fame ballot and the guys make their NFL Championship Games picks.

Griff and Scotty Mac agree: The Blue Jays' front office needs an off-season "win." Also, players and their agents are realizing the market has shifted as a number of American-based MLB teams deal with the financial decline of their Regional Sports Networks. Therefore, now is the time to get Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. locked up to long-term contracts. Plus, the guys revisit their NFL wild card round picks against the spread and pick the divisional round winners.

It's early January, opening day isn't yet around the corner so there's plenty of time, but this current Blue Jays' roster isn't a .500 squad. The moves made, the decisions made, in the coming weeks will be crucial to the 2024 season. The guys discuss Bo Bichette's and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s incentives to sign long-term. Plus, Griff and Scotty Mac make their NFL playoff picks against the spread.

Any Toronto Blue Jays fan and Exit Philosophy listener knows what this episode's about: Shohei Ohtani, the Jays' pursuit, and the wild final week before Ohtani signed with the Dodgers.

Griff and Scotty Mac are pumped for Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings; well, pumped for what the Winter Meetings really mean, which is the hot stove talk starts to turn into actual, significant transactions. The Toronto Blue Jays are linked in reports to both Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. How realistic is it either player lands in Toronto? Cito Gaston got snubbed. And a tribute to Ben Wagner.