PROGRAMMING NOTE: A longer, unedited version of this episode can be found, no later than Wednesday, on youtube.com/@exitphilosophy. In this episode, Griff and Scotty Mac discuss the recent 16-game run against lesser teams and whether the Toronto Blue Jays 10-6 record was a mirage. Joey Votto retires - did the Blue Jays handle it properly? And as Bo…

As promised, we are back on routine, dropping this episode on our regular Sunday schedule. The off season is quickly coming to a close and training camps are around the corner. With all that excitement, we give you another dose of the Two Man Forecheck. Here is the breakdown… Twitter Poll Question re: Jeremy Swayman: 0:00 – 22:17 Rivals for Utah: 2…

Chris is back! Holiday is over for him and very soon for the rest of the NHL. We have a full slate of topics for his return show, and here is the breakdown… Swayman Still Unsigned: 0:00 – 13:28 Askarov Requests Trade: 13:28 – 32:18 St. Louis & The Offer Sheets: 32:18 – 54:48 LATAM Cup Growing the Game: 54:48 – 1:09:39 NCAA Lawsuit: 1:09:39 – 1:21:5…

Following the Toronto Blue Jays' weekend visit to Wrigley Field, Griff and Scotty Mac, both of whom have been to the fabled stadium on many different occasions, share their favourite memories. The conversation then turns to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s and Bo Bichette's long-term situations, how and why the situations are so different and what, if anyth…

It's the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Major League Baseball players' strike, a sadly pivotal moment in Montreal Expos history and a moment which literally changed the course of Griff's life, as he details in this episode. Then, the guys get into Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro's media availability from last week and it leads to a l…

It's been almost a week since the MLB Trade Deadline and Scotty Mac wants to know, has the dopamine rush ended yet? Getting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed long term needs to be the top priority. The guys discuss who of the Toronto Blue Jays' young players should have a guaranteed spot on the 2025 opening day roster. Has the mood changed with regard t…

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Griff and Scotty Mac will be LIVE on YouTube at 8pmET on Tuesday, July 30, recapping the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Join in the conversation at www.youtube.com/@exitphilosophy As of this recording the Toronto Blue Jays have traded Yimi Garcia, Nate Pearson, and Danny Jansen. There's more to come, surely, headlined by Yu…

Griff and this week's co-host, Dave Perkins, discuss their mutual history at the Toronto Star, with Dave as sports editor hiring Griff away from the Montreal Expos. They discuss how fans and the media have evolved through the years from the early 1990s to now. They talk the Hall-of-Fame and memories of Jim Leyland, plus a recent father-son road tri…

Here we are in the throes of summer, the sun warming us, and everyone is enjoying a little vacation time for now. But soon we will be back in colder arenas watching our favorite sport again, so enjoy the warm and the next rendition of the Forecheck. Here is the breakdown… Lindy Ruff, Sabres Head Coach: 0:00 – 20:37 PWHL Team Names & Logos: 20:37 – …

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez wins the Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star Game. And who was that wearing his jersey? And should those two be reunited in 2025? Griff wonders why a 5-4 western road trip felt worse than the winning record suggests. Scotty Mac ranks MLB franchises from 2001, Rogers first full season as owners of…

The second week of free agency has not brought many signings, as most have been snatched up in the first week, but the restricted players are still out there. The biggest one, arguably, is Jeremy Swayman, who we talk about in this show. Here is the breakdown… Brooks on NHL Compressed Schedule: 0:00 – 23:37 Vegas Blueline “Issues”: 23:37 – 33:41 Mik…

Off a mostly successful weekend in Seattle for the Toronto Blue Jays, Griff and Scotty Mac share memories of the annual trip to the Jays' western "home away from home." Do we owe George Springer an apology? With Kevin Pillar reaching the coveted 10 years of Major League service time, the guys celebrate Pillar's unlikely career. Plus, a debate over …

So here we are, first week of post on-ice activities, but we still have a packed show due to the end of year festivities that took place over the last week! The Draft and Free Agency give us lots to talk about, so here is the breakdown… Free Agency is Open: 0:00 – 12:57 Nashville & the Central Division: 12:57 – 49:27 The Vancouver Canucks: 49:27 – …

Griff and Scotty Mac record on Tuesday, July 2, fresh off the Toronto Blue Jays' Canada Day loss to the Houston Astros, Toronto's 10th defeat in 13 games. Griff thinks a major piece of the Jays' core could be dealt at the trade deadline; Scotty Mac isn't so sure because of what it would mean for the front office. What was with the empty seats at Ro…

the 2023-2024 season is almost at an end as the Stanley Cup Final and the Entry Draft have concluded. With Free Agency set to begin at noon on July 1, we will see stars on the move! In the show, we discuss a couple free agents and other timely topics. Here is the breakdown… Stanley Cup Final Recap: 0:00 – 23:08 All Things NHL Draft: 23:08 – 52:56 F…

The Toronto Blue Jays are experiencing "a season in crisis," as Scotty Mac now puts it. Griff and Scotty Mac discuss who in the Blue Jays organization needs to speak to this mess and their answer may surprise you. Is there even the posssibility of accountability from on high? How close is the team to be sure-fire sellers at the trade deadline? Who,…

We still haven’t identified a Stanley Cup Champion as of yet due to the Edmonton Oilers playing stalwart in the Final. We will have a game 7 Monday and then we head west to Vegas for the draft. Mike and Chris discuss multiple prospects available in this draft, as well as some moves that have already been completed. Here is the complete breakdown… S…

The Toronto Blue Jays have made changes to the roster; it's apparent the club's philosophy also has changed in its pursuit of more offence. Griff and Scotty Mac wonder: is the new philosophy sustainable? The Blue Jays are dealing with another worrying injury in the bullpen. And the 30th anniversary of the OJ Simpson Bronco chase brings up where-wer…

Rumors of the Edmonton Oilers demise have greatly been exaggerated! After falling into an 0-3 crater in the Stanley Cup Final, the Orange & Blue have fought there way back (somewhat) with an 8-1 drubbing of the Florida Panthers. We go into greater detail in the words to follow, so here is the breakdown… Finals Recap, Foegele Hit, Panthers Absence: …

Cavan Biggio's time with the Toronto Blue Jays is over. Were Griff and Scotty Mac surprised? What's the rationale? The guys try to figure out the fifth spot in the starting rotation now that Alek Manoah's season is over. And off of the series victory in Oakland, the guys share memories of the Coliseum now that the Blue Jays have paid their last vis…

Here we are, the Stanley Cup Final! Game one in the books with the home team notching a 2-0 shutout over the Edmonton Oilers. We continue with a look at this game and other topics on this week’s show. Here are the details… Stanley Cup Game One: 0:00 – 30:06 PWHL Minnesota GM Dismissed: 30:06 – 42:04 PWHL Draft: 42:04 – 50:20 Nylander Deserves a Cha…

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Griff and Scotty Mac will be LIVE on YouTube after the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles game on the evening of Wednesday, June 5; check it out at youtube.com/@exitphilosophy. In this episode: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plays third base; the guys discuss the "why" behind the move. As the Blue Jays hope for the best with injured p…

And then there were three. Yes, the Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final and now we await a Western Conference opponent. In the meantime, here is the breakdown of this week’s show to tide you over… PWHL Walter Trophy: 0:00 – 11:15 Rangers Ousted/Panthers Advance: 11:15 – 26:59 Changes Coming for the Leafs: 26:59 – 34:19 Allan Walsh Po…

Griff and Scotty Mac record after the Toronto Blue Jays win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday, May 27, which improved the Jays to 24-29. All is not well, however, and the guys each give three moves they would make right now to try to right the ship. One of Scotty Mac's suggestions leads to an intense back and forth. Plus, the Blue Jays are about…

Here we are another week deeper in the playoffs. This week we have an XL sized show what with all the current and future events to talk about. Following is the breakdown of the show… PWHL Walter Cup Final: 0:00 – 7:51 JFresh Hockey 5v5 Scoring Chance Assists: 7:51 – 32:31 Bruins Free Agent Options: 32:31 – 45:00 Blue Jackets GM Search Nears an End:…

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Griff and Scotty Mac will go LIVE on their YouTube page, at youtube.com/exitphilosophy, after the Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit Tigers game on Thursday evening, May 23rd. Meanwhile, in this episode, the guys pay tribute to Canadian broadcasting legend Darren Dutchyshen before breaking down Ross Atkins' holiday weekend press availab…

The Eastern Conference finalists have been determined however the West still has a game seven to contend with before they can begin. Will it be Vancouver or Edmonton? We will have the answer by the end of the weekend. Here are the stories for this week… Berube Named Head Coach: 0:00 – 24:02 Sullivan Hired by USA Hockey: 24:02 – 33:08 Bruins Out & t…

As we are now deep into the second round of the playoffs, we have a better look at who will be pushing further and which teams will be playing golf by the upcoming weekend. Here are the stories that we have covered this week… Sheldon Keefe & the Coaching Carousel: 0:00 – 24:47 B’s Get Hosed & Lose Game 4: 24:47 – 39:40 Bruins Poll Questions re: Who…

The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into a crucial stretch and the results will dictate the path forward. Griff and Scotty Mac agree that continued underwhelming results will lead to at least one significant shake up in the organization. Alek Manoah looked good in his Mother's Day start against Minnesota, didn't he. Part of the Blue Jays' problems th…

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 …

With the exception of tonight’s game 7 between Dallas and Las Vegas, we already know the other matchups for the second round. As they have completed the first round, we give you an XL sized show this week. Here is the breakdown… Bruins/Toronto, Players & Wrap-up: 0:00 – 46:40 Sheldon Keefe Presser & Players: 46:40 – 1:01:46 B’s Needing to Go, 1st R…

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 fut…

With all the first round series well under way, we are getting a clearer picture of the teams that will most likely be moving on to the second round. Three or possibly four series could be swept at this point, and we discuss this as well as many other topics this week. Here is the breakdown… Utah Fans Welcome The Team: 0:00 – 20:34 Potential Round …

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 le…

Well hockey fans, we have arrived! The playoffs have begun with two games being played yesterday (April 20th) and more on the slate for today. We start by breaking down the local team’s first foray into the exciting world we call the second season. Here is the breakdown of the rest of the show… Bruins/Leafs Game 1: 0:00 – 35:01 The Arizona Coyotes …

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 …

After missing a week due to unforeseen circumstances, the Two Man Forecheck has returned in force just in time for the playoffs. Most teams have two games left, but the West is cemented (although it’s still wet) and the East still has one open slot. We talk playoffs, franchises, and a few other topics. Here is the breakdown… The NCAA Frozen Four & …

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 …

As the NHL season fast approaches it’s end, we have the second season to look forward to for entertainment. But with 9 or so games remaining, we still have multiple playoff spots still up for grabs. That and this week’s episode! Here is the breakdown… Jamie Benn Still Relevant: 0:00 – 19:41 Who Is in The Playoffs Now: 19:41 – 40:37 Drake Berehowsky…

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 a…

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 orbi…

We are closing in on the end of the regular season, then the fun really begins. Most teams have between 10 and 13 games left to cement their spots in the post season tourney for ownership of Lord Stanley’s Chalice (for one year). Here is the breakdown of this week’s show… BU/BC and the Sharks Connection: 0:00 – 15:53 Moneypuck Odds: 15:53 – 21:44 B…

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 …

With about 5 weeks left in the regular season, we are streaking toward the finish line and what is shaping up to be a very interesting potential list of first round matchups. It is also time for Frozen Four and PWHL hockey. Here is the breakdown of the show… NCAA Womens’ Frozen Four Matchups: 0:00 – 18:27 PWHL to Reconfigure the back of their Sweat…

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.By Rich Griffin and Scott MacArthur

The Trade Deadline has come and gone. A Head Coach has come and one has gone. We at the Two Man Forecheck, however, are here to stay! Here is the breakdown of the latest show… Will He/Won’t He: Noah Hanifin: 0:00 – 14:22 Coyotes’ Home Situation: 14:22 – 25:51 NHL Playoff Odds (Thanks Moneypuck!): 25:51 – 51:13 Penguins’ Future/Travis Green to NJ: 5…

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 t…

The excitement is building! We are 5 days away from the trade deadline and there have been no earth-shattering deals struck to this point (except maybe Elias Lindholm…and Sean Monahan…but we digress…). We look forward to what is coming and what has been said as we lead up to it. Here’s the breakdown… The Jori Jones Award: 0:00 – 8:41 The Tucker Tyn…

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 …

The Trade Deadline is approaching fast, and the second half has started with a bang. Hope everyone is enjoying the hockey. Here at the Forecheck, we are talking not only about deals, but the players, movers and shakers who construct them. Here is the breakdown of the show… Will He or Won’t He Rick Nash (Bob Essensa & Mathieu Darche): 0:00 – 29:50 A…