Mike and the Mad Dog React to the Yankees’ 0-2 Hole Against Tampa Bay

“I don’t think asking for a regime change is unfair in any way,” Mike Francesa said. “It would placate many Yankee fans who feel that both Cash and Boone, and I think you want both, not one, have outlived their usefulness. I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Francesa was answering a listener’s question about general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone on The Mike Francesa Podcast. In a separate broadcast on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Unleashed, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo discussed Boone’s future and the Yankees’ play against Tampa Bay.

The Yankees trailed the Rays 2-0 in the ALDS after Monday’s 5-2 loss at Tropicana Field.

“I don’t think that ownership or the powers that be feel in any way that those guys should not continue in their jobs,” Francesa said.

“They are content. And I hate to tell you that they are content to have the business they have now, to create the revenue streams they have now, and to get into the postseason and hopefully make a deep run. They don’t make a deep run. They play badly. They move on as long as they continue to sell tickets, have everything they need.”

“They have signage. They have sponsors. They have luxury boxes sold. They get huge crowds. As long as that continues, they feel the business is healthy. And that includes going to the postseason on a yearly basis,” he said.

“It will take, I think, that to stop. The revenues to stop or the wins to stop in the regular season for them to make a change.”

Russo’s comments addressed Boone’s record since taking over in 2018.

“He does a nice job in a regular season. He establishes a nice, easy clubhouse. He doesn’t knock anybody. They like him. They play hard for him. They won 93 games this year with a lot of injuries,” Russo said.

“But the bottom line is, if you’re the Yankee manager with this kind of payroll and you’ve been here for this long, and he’s been here a long time now, you’ve got to win more than one World Series game in your eight- or nine-year period. I mean, Girardi, for crying out loud, won a World Series. I mean, geez. I mean, you know, Torre won four of them. I mean, I don’t expect to win every year. But if you’re a Yankee fan since 2018, I mean, I would think that maybe somehow, some way you can squeeze one out.”

“Tampa has won more World Series games in the last nine years than Aaron Boone has. I mean, that’s all you need to know,” he said. “Lovullo in Arizona has won as many World Series games as Aaron’s won as the Yankee manager.”

Russo said he would support removing Boone if the Yankees lost another series to a team with a better regular-season record.

“And you want to say, despite the fact he’s got a contract, you’ve got to jettison Boone, I’d have no problem with it. None. Zero,” he said.

“And I like Boone. But the bottom line is he has not won these big games. I mean, it’s as simple as that.”

Russo cited Austin Wells’ baserunning in the series.

“And the Yankees make the same stupid mistakes left and right. They don’t put the ball in play. They strike out too much. Their base running is terrible. Wells the other night, perfect example,” Russo said. “That’s just an unforgivable play that he made. I don’t think it cost them the game per se, but it’s unforgivable.”

“Their defense is sloppy. They were sloppy against the Dodgers,” he said. “I mean, this at times can be a very, very sloppy team.”

“I don’t know what the ramifications are going to be because it’s very difficult right now to see the Yankees win three games in a row,” he said.

“One of them is going to be against Rasmussen and the third one is going to be down in Tampa,” Russo said.

He also discussed Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.

“Rasmussen’s not Christy Mathewson. I mean, it’s ridiculous. I know Rasmussen’s a good pitcher. Don’t get me wrong. But geez, you gotta do something.”

Francesa also answered a listener who questioned whether the praise for Cam Schlittler had gone too far.

“I think that’s directed at me because I have been a big, big proponent of what I’ve seen from Cam,” Francesa said. “And I love his makeup. I love how he stood there after the game and the things he said. I love how he battles on the mound. I love the guts that he has. I love that he likes to take the ball in the big spot. I like everything about his makeup.”

“He had 33 starts. He danced every dance. He didn’t tire. He threw a lot of innings. He struck out a lot of batters. He had 25 starts this year where he allowed one or no earned runs. Twenty-five. He only allowed four or more runs three times in 33 starts,” he said.

“Otherwise, he was one run or zip in 25 out of 33 starts. You can’t get more consistency in this day and age from a starting pitcher than that.”

Schlittler finished the regular season with a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 193⅔ innings.

“Add in how many hitless innings he has. Add in how many guys he strikes out. Add in his strikeout-to-walk numbers. Add in his WHIP numbers. And you’re looking at a bona fide superstar pitcher,” Francesa said.

“Add his youth. Add what he’s done already in the postseason. Add his makeup. And to me, you have the guy you want to call an ace. And that’s why I’m that high on him.”