Mike & The Mad Dog: The DH Fight (2008)

After Yankees pitcher Chien Ming-Wang suffered a devastating ankle injury against the Houston Astros in 2008, Mike and Chris (just two months before they parted ways) passionately debate whether or not the National League should adopt the DH. From June 2008.

[@antr7493]

i wish all the shows were available. I miss them soo much

[@jangjahnh1654]

Why? I ask honestly, I don’t understand why you’d like hearing two random guys talk so much.

[@sillygoose635]

@@jangjahnh1654 they're not random, both are well versed in sports talk and radio

[@e2go]

@@jangjahnh1654 Yes, a show that was insanely popular and #1 in a massive market for almost two decades... so "random".

[@johnnywishbone.]

@@jangjahnh1654 these guys are superstars, far from random

[@Tyweezy84]

@@jangjahnh1654random? lol

[@hoopsheavenpa]

Awesome upload! So miss this show.

[@Corp-iv8cv]

These are great. Thanks for uploading!

[@MCsAudio]

Corp1024 no problem!

[@jamesericksen3018]

The Japanese Central League doesn't use the DH either.

[@craigcavaliere6744]

"I'm not asking him to hit." Russo loses right there.

[@ericmcgrath9472]

They were always better together but Chris chose to leave because Sirius offered him a substantially better financial offer. That's just the business side of it.

[@anthonyjones7848]

I’m anti-DH but Mike destroyed Dog’s arguments here. As there are no more true National and American Leagues anymore, it makes sense to make it uniform MLB by putting the DH in the NL.

[@liberteysfinest]

i agree with Chris about running the bases

[@skenyon013]

Even for talk radio, these guys repeated themselves an extraordinary amount of times haha

[@winser21]

Watch any Francesa clip, with or without Dog, and he will repeat his same point at least 4 or 5 times before moving on.

[@andyhobaugh3104]

I hate that in 2022 the whole majors are going to the DH. One of the best parts of the world series is watching how teams manage the DH/no DH.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

It's also excruciating watching pitchers hit.

[@WolvesBaseballNine]

No it isn't. It's part of baseball and has been for 150 years. You just don't like or understand baseball much if you think pitchers hitting "is excruciating". There's a huge element of strategy evolved with the pitcher batting 9th. Your bench matters way more, and pitchers know to try and get the 8th hitter out because they don't want the pitcher to bunt him over for the top of the lineup. Also late in games it adds drama, because now the manager needs to make a call whether to leave in a pitcher that's dealing or use his bench and pinch hit for him to try and get a run or two and win the game. All that is lost with the brainless DH because fans like you who don't understand baseball trying to change a 150 year old game to your liking because you don't understand it.

[@Kgio-2112]

​@@WolvesBaseballNineplus there were some decent hitting pitchers. Some were actually 8 in the lineup.

[@WolvesBaseballNine]

@@Kgio-2112 That's not really the point tho. Most pitchers can't hit a lick, but are solid at bunting and just putting the ball in play which is all you really need from the 9 hole. Also, like I said your bench matters so much more when there's no DH, and the game is much more strategic late and close which adds a lot to the game. The DH is just for fairweather fans who think HR or nothing, but the HR is not all there is to baseball....

[@blakebarone1809]

Amazing. The soundtrack of my formative years.

[@timetowakeup6302]

It's a shame these two can't put their egos aside and get the band back together again. On their own neither one is all that entertaining.

[@rickwpaperworkmakeschildsu4655]

I miss these guys

[@FatPigInTheHouse]

These are classic. The afternoon guys now never even talk sports

[@williammassey8939]

I listened to these guy's from the beginning. Even when Mike went on vacation and Chris did SF Giants and tennis. LOL. LOVED these guy's.....

[@jangjahnh1654]

Why?

[@williammassey8939]

@@jangjahnh1654 They entertained me.

[@jangjahnh1654]

@@williammassey8939 How, literally two guys talking same as any.

[@williammassey8939]

@@jangjahnh1654 These two men were not like any other. Two distinct personalities that quite often clashed into shouting matches. They talked sports and like I said, they entertained me.

[@rick063092]

Don’t forget Springsteen setlists ..

[@prosandconsfilms6933]

The fact that these 2 maniacs let a fight about the DH, the bathrooms at Yankee Stadium, and Carlos Delgado be the final cherries on top to end their run is so utterly ridiculous and absurdly hilarious

[@scottpauciello8731]

It’d be like the NFC has pass interference and AFC doesn’t. Never made sense and I am happy universal DH is here to stay.

[@chrislevine6965]

It’s funny in 2008 Chris had an argument, which he explained poorly. As a Mets fan who loves no DH in the NL because of the strategy, that argument is gone now with the exception of like 5 pitchers they’re all automatic outs. Pitcher can’t even bunt anymore that skill is gone. Also with the exception of the elite pitchers most guys go 5 or 6 innings now unless there having a dominant performance so having to pinch it for a pitcher late in the game doesn’t even come into play. So in 2022 the DH in the NL makes all the sense in the world. I’ve finally caved lol.

[@andrewfusco8580]

Korea uses both, it's a 10-man lineup though, which would make heads explode over here.

[@matts.3017]

Dog was always the more likable personality but let’s be honest, Mike usually always won the arguments. Frankly he’s smarter than dog is. He’s just boring

[@analogkid4957]

As Dog said the NL was the first league so it has more prestige than the AL. It was like 30 years before the AL even existed.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

But the AL is more exciting baseball and right now has better players.

[@analogkid4957]

@@notoriouseagle1074 True point but I always thought somehow the NL still is considered more prestigious? I don’t know not maybe anymore but I always thought the NL is considered the more classic baseball league

[@cjr1881]

These NL guys would praise their league not having the DH and how much better it was and now that they put it in the NL to there hasn't been a peep from them.

[@SeamHead33]

DH is not baseball. The very first sentence in the MLB rulebook is "baseball is a game of nine on nine". Not ten on ten

[@brendan3297]

I’ve always been pro DH and always thought having the pitcher hit was a waste and boring. But this comment kind of changed my perspective on it lol

[@tylerrandall5119]

And here we are. Enjoy the last of real baseball while we've got the chance. Gonna miss you NL baseball.

[@sillygoose635]

"real" my ass. Mike was right.

[@gizka6816]

I heard they're going to let them hit off a tee next season

[@DeDona1]

Russo's argument does not have to be logical. The best argument is that it makes THE NL distinctive and makes MLB unique.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

DH should be in the NL.

[@MIKIEEYEZ1975]

David Dolan You’re a JERKOFF for even saying that!! DH should be abolished!!

[@slapshot01j]

What is Mike asking at 10:18?? Why did we go to ________ in football?

[@steverose3157]

Hate the DH. My favorite part of baseball is the strategy, and there's just a lot more nuance when the pitcher is in the lineup.

[@michaelgallone7409]

Why

[@hereef1]

2023 DH in both leagues. Let’s moves on.

[@shakedownnnable]

What is the point of this comment? How do you tell the past to move on?

[@gizka6816]

I did. haven't watched in years

[@LoDDEMOCIDE]

Mike is right again. Dawg is sniveling as usual.

[@michaelcrockette8694]

baseball should never have allowed there to be 2 sets of rules for each league from the beginning. they should have gotten rid of it or made the NL adopt the rule.(and Chris trying to make it sound like a pitcher running in the outfield is the same as running the bases is asinine).

[@jackwoods9604]

Russo Made a Great Point About Late Innings and The Pressure to Decide to Take Your Pitcher Out For a Hitter...The DH is Lame

[@lawrencesoltowski]

Yeah it’s about jimmy roberts This that and the other

[@sxhbk]

ask chen ming wang about running the bases... basically ended his career in an interleague game

[@username-zj9id]

That's who they're talking about

[@SeamHead33]

Yeah because he never did it due to the DH rule. If he did it every 5 days, then his legs would be conditioned for base running, and he would be a more complete "baseball player"

[@dfcintron]

If a pitcher can't hit or run the bases that's to his detriment. It's not the game's fault.

[@patrickgray5633]

I'm pro NL I don't like the DH but the NL people as Russo & Francesca snob it at people who are AL city team fans. Ok I like the NL style but NL city people are asses about it.

[@TL2354]

How did Francesa snob it? He was the opposite you dolt

[@chrisgentile8275]

And 14 YEARS later .....Francesca wins the "argument "

[@wolfwilliams]

According to Russo's memory, this was just another in a string of bad moments for them that year. Something happened between the Super Bowl and MLB Opening Day, something during March Madness, and their relationship was unrecoverable at that point. To my knowledge, Russo has never been explicit about the details of what happened after the Super Bowl.

[@paulpatane2439]

What year is this? 2007

[@SteaksauceandRob]

@@paulpatane2439 2008. It’s funny Bc the OP brings up a good point. One of my last memories of them before the break up was Mike bringing Chris onto the field after The Giants beat the Pats in the SP. They looked so happy. Another thing that contributed to their rockiness was in late 06 they got into an argument with Yankees pitcher Corey Lidle and then two days later Lidle died in a plane crash.

[@diademerouge]

@wolfwilliams Listen to their day after the Superbowl show (on YT somewhere), where they dissect the Giants win. Mike, who had predicted the Patriots would blow the Giants off the field (35-17) starts the show with how much he was able to 'just enjoy the game like a fan, sitting next to Mara, and management, etc..' NEVER owns up to how bad his prediciton was... Russo looked a little disgusted. Russo's prediction was even worse (45-7?), but he talked about it. Could've started a chain reaction in Russo's mind. He didn't seem to care anymore what Mike thought. Edit: Meaning it maybe hit him that 1) Mike could be wrong on stuff, and 2) not own up to it. Prior to that, there was a little of the big brother-little brother vibe to the show, with Russo sort of 'looking up at Mike'. This could've changed that in Russo's mind.

[@wolfwilliams]

@@diademerouge Good stuff... and I think Russo was already being pursued by satellite radio people. He denies that the satellite idea occurred as early as spring of '08, but I doubt it happened as late as July, when he went on vacation and knew then that he wasn't coming back. He grew more balls with Mike, because he knew there was a lucrative offer elsewhere; he just had to pull the trigger on it. And let's be honest about the big/little brother stuff: Mike took the chair facing the producer, which they both admit is the 'power' chair in any studio. Russo admits that he 'let' Mike take it because it wasn't worth a fight, since they were both already tense about teaming up, and an issue over that seat would have derailed the show before it ever got down the track. Having that seat gave Mike implied authority, and he used it now and then to bully Dog a little bit. It's amazing the show lasted 19 years.

[@John_Notmylastname]

Well now the national league has the DH. Congrats Mike lol

[@redchili6927]

The whole "There is more strategy in the NL because of no DH" is complete and utter bullshit lol.

[@username-zj9id]

Honestly I think there is more strategy without the DH because it is harder to decide when to take the pitcher out....pitcher pitching great but his spot in order comes up with a RISP in a tie game. Do you pinch hit and then have to change pitchers? BUT...there is no fun in watching a pitcher stand there and take 3 strikes down the middle and not give a crap. I say if pitchers are going to hit they should learn to hit, just like every other player has to learn 2 aspects of the game, hitting and defense. Pitching is the pitchers defensive position. Either learn both sides like everyone else or use the DH

[@analogkid4957]

There has always been good hitting pitchers such as Doc Golden, Steve Carlton, Degrom

[@username-zj9id]

@@analogkid4957 there are always exceptions, but 99% of pitchers can't hit because they don't work on it

[@Stacey_-bf2mb]

Shohei ohtani

[@blakebarone1809]

This must have been after Chien Ming Wang. 19 game winner to total crap. Very sad.

[@ADM-nx8gn]

Dog gets obliterated, literally has no argument only that its the way its been done. As Elon said "old people don't change their mind they just die." Most people as they age are incapable of changing their mind on anything.

[@kh7955]

I prefer the NL way honestly. Pitchers are part of the team...they should have to hit

[@username-zj9id]

They should have to work on thier hitting, just like other positions have to work on thier defense. There is no point to the pitcher just standing there and taking 3 strikes

[@dfcintron]

The second half of an NL game is way more interesting, when u have to juggle your lineup, ur bullpen, and ur pinch-hitters all at the same time.

[@michaelgallone7409]

It's a different time bucktooth

[@redchili6927]

Mad Dog is one of those dorks who likes watching pitchers make automatic outs...so much more exciting than watching someone hit a HR, double, or triple >>.>>

[@clachapelle]

I am with Russo, I HATE THE DH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jonathancaretsky6439]

I know what Chris means and I agree with him but unfortunately the Pope won this one

[@ramfreak1902]

Dog is completely wrong about its not a craft running the bases.

[@ramfreak1902]

Ask Dog about Timo Perez in game 1 of the Subway Series. What a fraud

[@yoitsvic1126]

Love these two knuckleheads. They are the GOAT but only because they were the first. As sports change, times change and sports radio changes. The current WFAN now is GREAT, don’t get it twisted. Boomer and Gio, BT and Sal, Evan, Tiki, Morash, Lugey, KMac to CMac. And all the other contributors to WFAN that make it the GOAT radio station in any genre.

[@philtaylor2387]

Current fan stinks Mike and doggy were the best

[@yoitsvic1126]

@@philtaylor2387 so don’t listen and don’t come in these comments, boy.

[@joeguh3839]

Just run around the GD bases your 25 years old! Hahahahahahha

[@brianfarkas8172]

No DH is a gimmick.

[@agoodpitch9]

i hate the DH. Worst part about baseball is pitchers beaning batters. If the batters don't have to face pitching, it's just a bunch of cowards. And there's another 100 reasons. Hurts strategy. And with football, the whole team is platoon. With baseball it's one guy. and it's stupid.

[@jessepaiz6356]

When your playing little league, their is no DH position. No one dreams of being a DH.

[@smale7523]

I had a DH in every little league season I've ever played. 10 batters*

[@TL2354]

You’re

[@username-zj9id]

But people dream of being in the big leagues. If theres a guy who can hit well but can't pitch or play defense and you offered him a DH job in the AL instead of being out of the game I bet he'd take it

[@buddyboye4203]

Notice that Francesa kept saying everywhere else on the planet, yet refuses to acknowledge Japanese baseball as an example while mentioning little league college, minors etc etc ....he always does that, Russo also. Everything they say is racially motivated. He would never bring up Ichiro his entire career. They could be talking about best outfielders, best leadoff hitters, fastest players, best throwing arms, and he would bring up everyone except Ichiro. Racists need not respond.

[@54321FUCKYOU2]

Mike won this