Former Blue Jays Communications Director and current Niagara Ironbacks owner, Mal Romanin.
As spring training games get underway, many Blue Jays fans are still frustrated after a difficult offseason. The team’s failure to secure Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term and the Roki Sasaki saga have been major storylines, further fueling a fanbase that appears to be reaching a breaking point.
Mal Romanin, who served on the Blue Jays’ communications team from the J.P. Ricciardi era through the club’s 2015 resurgence and into the early days of the Mark Shapiro-Ross Atkins regime, joins us to discuss how baseball PR teams handle crises—whether sparked by the front office or players. He also shares insights into some of the fires he helped manage during his time with the organization.
With spring training in full swing, Blue Jays fans are still reeling from a frustrating offseason. The team’s inability to secure a long-term deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the fallout from the failed pursuit of Roki Sasaki have only intensified the anger within a fanbase already on edge. Many feel the team’s front office has mishandled key opportunities, leaving expectations for the season in limbo.
To shed light on how teams handle public perception and internal crises, we turn to Mal Romanin, who was part of the Blue Jays’ communications team from the J.P. Ricciardi era through the club’s resurgence in 2015 and into the early years of the Mark Shapiro-Ross Atkins leadership. Romanin offers a behind-the-scenes look at how baseball PR teams navigate controversies—whether they stem from the front office or the players—and shares stories of the challenges he faced while working with the organization.
With spring training games underway, frustration still lingers among Blue Jays fans after a tumultuous offseason. The team’s failure to secure a long-term extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the fallout from the Roki Sasaki saga have only fueled growing discontent. Many believe the front office has mishandled key opportunities, and the fanbase’s frustration appears to be reaching a boiling point.
To gain insight into how teams manage public perception during difficult times, we turn to Mal Romanin, a longtime member of the Blue Jays’ communications team. Romanin served from the J.P. Ricciardi era through the team’s resurgence in 2015 and into the early years of the Mark Shapiro-Ross Atkins regime. He joins us to discuss how baseball PR teams handle crises—whether they originate from the front office or the players—and to share behind-the-scenes stories of the challenges he faced while navigating turbulent moments with the organization.
As spring training gets underway, many Blue Jays fans are still struggling to shake off the disappointment of a frustrating offseason. The failure to secure a long-term deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the fallout from the Roki Sasaki debacle remain sore spots, adding to the growing frustration of a fanbase that feels increasingly let down by the front office. With expectations for the season uncertain, tensions are rising, and some believe the frustration has already reached a boiling point.
To explore how teams manage public perception and internal turmoil, we turn to Mal Romanin, a seasoned communications professional who spent years working behind the scenes with the Blue Jays. Romanin was part of the team’s PR department from the J.P. Ricciardi era through the franchise’s thrilling 2015 postseason run and into the early tenure of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. He offers a rare inside look at how baseball PR teams navigate crises—whether they stem from the front office or the players—while sharing firsthand stories of the challenges and high-pressure moments he encountered during his time with the organization.
