National Baseball League

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Mike Francesa:
“Dog, listen, this is as tough a loss as Cleveland has had in years. You’re the two-time defending champs, you’re up 7–6, two outs in the ninth, and Jose Castillo rips a base hit to win the game. That’s a backbreaker. Yankees now up 3–0 in the series, and Dog, this thing is just about over.”

Mad Dog Russo:
“MIKEY! MIKEY! You can’t lose that game if you’re Cleveland! YOU CAN’T! You came all the way back from trailing 5-1. Up 7–6, two outs in the ninth, the bullpen melts down, Jason Covert gives up the walk-off — TERRIBLE! TERRIBLE! And how about Castillo? The guy’s been unbelievable! Three more hits, drives in three, and he wins the ballgame! You can’t stop him, MIKEY!”

Francesa:
“Yeah, Castillo’s been the difference in this series. I mean, every time the Yankees need a big hit, he’s there. And Cleveland, give ‘em credit, they fought back, they put up four in the sixth, two more in the ninth, but you can’t blow that lead. That’s the series right there.”

Harry Doyle:
“Well folks, if you’re just tuning in from Cleveland, don’t adjust your radio dial — yes, the Indians are down three games to none. And unless they can borrow a miracle from the good Lord himself, this baby’s going, goin’, GONE… for the Yankees! Castillo is hotter than a two-dollar pistol, and the Tribe bullpen… let’s just say they’re serving up more meatballs than an Italian wedding.”

Russo:
“HA! Harry, you’re right, MEATBALLS! That’s exactly what it was! And Mikey, you mentioned it, the Indians, they battled, they clawed back, but you can’t have the champs’ bullpen just completely implode like that! You’re DONE if that happens!”

Francesa:
“Dog, this series is over. The Yankees are going to the World Series. Cleveland’s not coming back from 3–0. They’re not built for that. Yankees are swinging the bats, their bullpen’s doing just enough, and Castillo is the best player on the field. Simple as that.”

Doyle:
“And somewhere in the Bronx, there’s probably about 43,000 fans still screaming their heads off and spilling beer on each other. Yankees take it 8–7, sweep’s on the line tomorrow, and for Cleveland — grab some Pepto-Bismol, ‘cause that one hurt.”

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Mad Dog Russo (opening the show, yelling right out of the gate):
“GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY! HOW ARE YA TODAY?! Mets fans — start booking your tickets, BABY, because the Amazins’ are ONE WIN away from the WORLD SERIES! They DESTROYED the Pirates last night, ELEVEN TO ONE, and Mikey — THEY MADE IT LOOK EASY! Navarro was terrific, the lineup is crushing the ball, Sloan with the homer, Huerta with the bomb, Alicea with another one — Mikey, the Mets are rolling!”

Mike Francesa (calm, measured):
“Yeah, Dog, listen, the Mets have completely taken control of this series. It’s 3–1, they’re hitting the ball all over the place, and Navarro gave ‘em seven very solid innings. Dog, they’ve outclassed Pittsburgh in every way. The Pirates are finished. The Mets are going to the World Series.”

Russo (cutting in, voice rising):
“FINISHED, MIKey! You said it — FINISHED! The Pirates didn’t even SHOW UP last night! Winters, the starter, was TERRIBLE. TERRIBLE! Two innings, five runs, then Compton comes in, gives up another three, the game’s over by the THIRD INNING! OVER! And Mikey, the Mets lineup is relentless. They’re not relying on just one guy — EVERYBODY is hitting. Sloan, Porche, Alicea — up and down the order, it’s a MURDERER’S ROW!”

Francesa:
“Dog, it’s been a balanced attack, no doubt. And when you combine that with strong starting pitching, and a bullpen that has been very good so far, that’s how you get a team on the verge of a World Series. The Mets are a complete team right now.”

Russo (laughing, slapping the desk):
“AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, MIKey, you’ve got the Yankees just CRUSHING Cleveland! They’re up three games to none, they walk it off last night, Castillo’s unstoppable — so Mikey, WE’RE GETTING CLOSE! WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE SUBWAY SERIES, MIKey!! METS! YANKEES! THIS CITY IS GONNA GO BANANAS!”

Francesa (leaning in, serious):
“Dog, barring something extraordinary, that’s what it looks like. The Yankees are going to finish Cleveland. The Mets are going to finish Pittsburgh. And then, for the first time in the history of this fictional MLB, you’ll have the Mets and Yankees in the World Series. That’s where we’re headed.”

Russo (exploding, standing out of his chair):
“MIKEY! YOU CAN’T SCRIPT IT BETTER! Mets, Yankees, BOTH rolling, BOTH beating up their opponents — SUBWAY SERIES, BABY, SUBWAY SERIES!”

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New York Yankees: 4th AL Pennant
1909 1910 1912 1921

Mad Dog Russo (exploding out of the gate):
“GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, HOW ARE YA TODAY?! THE INDIANS’ REIGN IS OVAH, MIKEY! DONE! FINISHED! STICK A FORK IN ‘EM! THE YANKEES, BABY, THEY DESTROY CLEVELAND, TWELVE TO SEVEN, THEY SWEEP THE SERIES, AND THEY’RE GOING BACK TO THE WORLD SERIES! FOURTH PENNANT IN FRANCHISE HISTORY, FIRST IN NINE YEARS, AND MIKEY, THEY ARE GOING FOR TITLE NUMBER THREE! SUBWAY SERIES IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!”

Mike Francesa (measured, almost smug):
“Dog, the Yankees handled business. They were the better team, and they proved it over four games. Cleveland had a great run, two-time defending champs, but their time is up. The Yankees are deeper, they’re younger, and Kim was outstanding — eleven RBIs in the series, that’s dominance. Now they wait to see if the Mets can close out the Pirates, and Dog, it certainly looks like we are headed for a Subway Series.”

Mad Dog (interrupting, high-pitched):
“KIM WAS UNBELIEVABLE! MVP! HITTING .562, DRIVING IN EVERYBODY IN SIGHT! MO-SER WITH FOUR WALKS YESTERDAY! THIS LINEUP IS RELENTLESS, MIKEY! RELENTLESS! AND DON’T GIVE ME THIS ‘ERA OVER TEN’ WITH SAL CANTU, WHO CARES, THEY SCORED ENOUGH RUNS TO WIN THREE GAMES LAST NIGHT!”

Mike (cutting in, calmly):
“Dog, they put up twelve runs on just eight hits. They drew twelve walks. That’s how you bury a team. Cleveland’s pitchers couldn’t throw a strike, and when they did, the Yankees punished them. That’s why Cleveland is going home.”

Harry Doyle (Major League-style, wry and deadpan):
“Well folks, that’s it. Cleveland’s two-year grip on the crown has been pried loose. The Yankees take it, twelve to seven, and they’re packing for the Fall Classic. Cleveland? They’ll be watching from the couch. The Bombers get their first pennant in nearly a decade… and wouldn’t you know it, half of New York is already polishing up for a Subway Series. Grab your hot dogs, boys and girls — October just got fun.”

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New York Mets: 1st NL Pennant
1921

Mad Dog Russo (voice up an octave, rapid fire):
“MIKEY! THE METS HAVE DONE IT! FINALLY! FIRST PENNANT IN FRANCHISE HISTORY! THEY TAKE CARE OF THE PIRATES IN FIVE, THREE TO ONE TODAY, AND PETE-RO ALICEA — FIVE HOMERS IN THE SERIES, TEN RBIS — HE’S THE MVP, HE’S THE HERO, HE’S THE FACE OF THIS BALLCLUB! AND MIKEY, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE GOT IT — THE SUBWAY SERIES, YANKEES AND METS, RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE CITY’S GOIN’ BANANAS!”

Mike Francesa (measured, steady):
“Dog, it’s long overdue. The Mets were clearly the better team in this series. They pitched better, they hit the long ball, they got timely outs. Bobby Colon gave them seven strong innings today, Alicea with the big two-run homer in the fourth inning, that was the difference. The Mets are a legitimate team, and now they’re on the biggest stage of all.”

Mad Dog (interrupting, fast):
“AND THINK ABOUT THIS, MIKEY! IN 1904 WE ALMOST HAD IT — BOTH TEAMS UP 3-2 IN THE LCS AND THEY BOTH CHOKED IT AWAY! SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER, IT’S REAL! THE METS AND THE YANKEES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE BASEBALL WORLD! THIS CITY WILL NOT SLEEP, MIKEY!”

Mike Francesa (calmly):
“Dog, listen, it’s going to be the most electric World Series we’ve ever seen. Yankees have the pedigree, four pennants now, going for a third championship. Mets, the newcomers, finally break through with their first. This is history. You can’t ask for more.”

Mad Dog (cackling, high-pitched):
“ALICEA AGAINST KIM! COLON AGAINST THE YANKEE LINEUP! THE BRONX AGAINST QUEENS! OH, MIKEY, SIGN ME UP! THIS IS WHAT BASEBALL’S ALL ABOUT!”

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1921 World Series "Subway Series"

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Mad Dog Russo (loud, rapid fire, almost shouting):
“MIKEY! THE YANKEES TAKE GAME ONE! THEY WIN IT EIGHT TO FOUR AT CITI FIELD — SUNG-HYO KIM, REMEMBER THE NAME, THREE HITS, TWO HOMERS, SIX RBIS! HE KILLED THE METS! ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED ‘EM! THE METS HAD A LEAD, FOUR TO THREE IN THE EIGHTH, AND KIM JUST BLEW THE DOORS OFF WITH THAT TWO-RUN SHOT! AND THEN HE COMES BACK IN THE NINTH, THREE-RUN JOB, SEE YA LATER! THAT’S THE BALLGAME!”

Mike Francesa (calm, steady, matter-of-fact):
“Dog, listen, this is what the Yankees do. They’re seasoned, they’ve been here before, and they have the best players in the league. Kim showed you today why he’s the most dangerous hitter in this Series. He single-handedly turned this game around. The Mets got production early — Porche with the homer, Richards with the blast — but you’ve got to close it out. You can’t give this Yankee lineup extra chances. You do that, they bury you.”

Mad Dog (cutting in, high pitch, fast):
“AND DON’T FORGET, MIKEY, THE METS HAD IT! THEY WERE UP FOUR-THREE, THE CROWD’S GOIN’ CRAZY IN QUEENS, IT FELT LIKE THEIR MOMENT! AND THEN, BANG! RODRIGO GONZALEZ OUTTA THE BULLPEN, CAN’T GET ANYONE OUT, HE GIVES UP FIVE RUNS, AND THE WHOLE PLACE GOES SILENT! SILENT, MIKEY! FROM A ROAR TO A FUNERAL!”

Mike Francesa (measured, slow):
“Dog, this is the difference between the Mets and the Yankees. Yankees expect to win. They’ve got the pedigree, they’ve got the stars. The Mets, they’re still learning how to finish these games. This is a seven-game series, you can’t afford to give one away. Now the Mets are already playing uphill.”

Mad Dog (laughing, shouting):
“GAME TWO TOMORROW, MIKEY! SAME BALLPARK, SAME ENERGY! THE METS GOTTA FIND A WAY TO BOUNCE BACK OR THIS SERIES COULD BE OVER BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS! THE YANKEES ARE A MACHINE!”

Mike Francesa (deadpan closer):
“Dog, Yankees lead one-nothing. Mets need Game Two, badly. Otherwise, this thing could get very short, very quickly.”

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Mad Dog Russo (shouting, almost vibrating with excitement):
“MIKEY! MIKEY! PEDRO ALICEA! PEDRO ALICEA! THE METS WIN GAME TWO, ELEVEN TO THREE! METS AND YANKEES NOW TIED ONE-ONE IN THIS HISTORIC SUBWAY SERIES! ALICEA GOES THREE-FOR-FOUR, SIXTEEN RBIS IN THE SERIES, AND HE JUST BLASTED A THREE-RUN HOMER IN THE FIRST INNING! THEY WERE DOWN THREE-ONE, AND ALICEA SAYS ‘NOT TODAY, PAL’!”

Mike Francesa (calm, analytical, nodding):
“Dog, listen, this is exactly what we expected — the Mets hitting their stride. Alicea is the difference-maker here. Yankees jump out early, they’re up three-one, but Mets respond immediately. You’ve got Porche, Rosa, Sloan, and Alicea doing damage. Citi Field is rocking, Mets fans are alive — the momentum has swung.”

Mad Dog (screaming, over-the-top):
“AND DON’T FORGET MIKEY! THEY DIDN’T STOP THERE! FOURTH INNING, Alica double, then Rosa double… FIFTH INNING, Sloan HOMERS… FIFTH AGAIN, Rosa WITH ANOTHER TWO-RUN DOUBLE! IT’S A SHOOTOUT, MIKEY! ELEVEN RUNS, THIRTEEN HITS! THIS IS METS BASEBALL!”

Mike Francesa (measured, shaking his head):
“Dog, Yankees’ pitching — Hall, Gehrke, Aguilera — they just got roughed up. Mets took advantage of every mistake. Peters on the mound for the Mets, he did his job, shut down the Yankees after the first inning. This is huge psychologically. Now the series is even, and it goes back to Yankee Stadium for Game Three. The pressure flips.”

Mad Dog (laughing, voice cracking from excitement):
“GAME THREE, MIKEY! YANKEES AT CITI FIELD — WAIT, NO, BACK AT YANKEE STADIUM! AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS SERIES IS OFFICIALLY A WAR! METS SHOWED THEY CAN SCORE, AND THEY CAN TAKE IT TO THE YANKEES! ALICEA IS THE HERO, METS FANS ARE LOSING THEIR MINDS, AND NEW YORK CITY… OH BOY, NEW YORK CITY IS LIT!”

Mike Francesa (closing, calm but intense):
“Dog, one-one. Series tied. Game Three at Yankee Stadium is going to be brutal. Pitching matchups will decide it. But one thing’s for sure — you can’t sleep on the Mets anymore. They’re a real team now.”

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Mad Dog Russo (screaming, near hysteria):
“MIKEY! MIKEY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THE YANKEES WIN GAME THREE, TWELVE SEVEN! CASTILLO, JOSE CASTILLO, 3-FOR-4, FOUR RBIS, SCORES THREE RUNS — HE IS EVERYWHERE, MIKEY! THE YANKEES TAKE THE SERIES LEAD, TWO-ONE, AND THE SUBWAY SERIES IS OFFICIALLY EXPLODING!”

Mike Francesa (calm, analytical, nodding):
“Dog, this is exactly why the Yankees are the Yankees. Castillo was phenomenal, timely hitting all over the place. Bottom of the fifth, game tied five-five, runners on first and second, Castillo with a clutch single, Yankees up six-five. That’s a playoff at-bat right there. That’s experience, composure, timing.”

Mad Dog (voice cracking, pacing):
“AND MIKEY! THE MOMS, THE DADS, THE FANS, THEY’RE LOSING THEIR MINDS! SEVENTH INNING, EIGHTH INNING — YANKEES JUST KEEP PILING ON! Moser, Rivera, Pirelli, Shackford — HITS EVERYWHERE! SEVENTEEN HITS TOTAL, TWELVE RUNS! METS CAN’T CATCH A BREAK!”

Mike Francesa (shaking head, serious):
“Dog, Mets pitching got hammered. Bobby Colon had no command. Four-and-a-third, ten hits, eight runs. That’s a nightmare for any pitcher in the World Series. Deming and Nevarez come in, they shut them down, but by then, the Yankees have all the momentum. Castillo is the story here, but the offense as a unit — it’s a machine.”

Mad Dog (yelling into the microphone):
“AND DON’T FORGET THE SUBWAY SERIES CONTEXT, MIKEY! THE METS WEREN’T JUST ANY TEAM! THEY HAD THEIR MOMENT, GAME TWO, ELECTRIC, AND NOW YANKEES ANSWER BACK! THIS IS WHAT BASEBALL IS ALL ABOUT! TWO-ONE, YANKEES LEAD, AND CITI FIELD AND YANKEE STADIUM? THEY’RE BOTH READY TO EXPLODE!”

Mike Francesa (closing, calm but intense):
“Dog, series isn’t over. Game Four at Yankee Stadium — Mets need to respond or they’re in real trouble. Yankees are humming, Castillo’s locked in, but this is a long series. One game can flip everything, but right now, the advantage? All Bronx, all Yankees.”

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Mad Dog Russo (yelling, almost out of breath):
“MIKEY! MIKEY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THE METS JUST BLEW THE YANKEES OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS! DOWN TO THE LAST OUT, TWO STRIKES, BASES LOADED — ALAN SLOAN, THE TRIPLE CROWN SLUGGER, WITH A GRAND SLAM! GRAND SLAM! LEFT FIELD SEATS, NINE SEVEN METS, MIKEY! NINE SEVEN! THIS SERIES IS NOW EVEN! TWO GAMES TO TWO!”

Mike Francesa (grabbing mic, trying to stay composed):
“Dog, calm down for a second. Listen to me — this is huge. The Yankees were about to take a 3-1 lead in the series, all the momentum, and Sloan just changes everything in one swing. BASES LOADED, ninth inning, two outs — that’s the kind of at-bat legends are made of.”

Mad Dog (screaming, pacing the booth):
“MIKEY, YOU TALK LEGENDS? SLOAN HAD FIVE RBIS TODAY! FIVE! HE’S 3-FOR-5, CRUSHES THE GRAND SLAM! I’VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS IN BASEBALL, MIKEY, BUT THIS? DOWN TO THE FINAL OUT, METS COME BACK AND BEAT THE YANKEES AT YANKEE STADIUM! THIS IS PURE, UNADULTERATED DRAMA!”

Mike Francesa (calm, analyzing):
“Dog, look at the box score — Mets had ten hits, nine runs, Alicea, Sloan, Rosa — everybody contributing. Yankees’ Nevarez gives up the slam, and suddenly, the road team has tied the series. This changes the entire complexion. The Yankees aren’t in control anymore, the Mets have life, confidence, momentum. This is a series-changer.”

Mad Dog (yelling at the top of his lungs):
“MIKEY, THE CROWD, FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND PLUS, THEY’RE GOING NUTS! THE YANKEES GO DOWN QUIETLY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, NOTHING! METS CELEBRATE! TWO-TWO! THIS SERIES IS A WAR, MIKEY, A WAR!”

Mike Francesa (closing, serious):
“Dog, you can’t understate it. Game 5 at Yankee Stadium tomorrow — it’s all tied up. Whoever wins that game takes the series momentum, and Sloan just made it clear: don’t count the Mets out. This is playoff baseball at its finest.”

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Mike (booming): “Dog, the Mets… ANOTHER COME-FROM-BEHIND JOB! Can you believe it?! This team, down in the ninth AGAIN, and Ricardo Contreras — five hits, FIVE! — and then the big blast, the two-run shot in the ninth, and all of a sudden the Mets are up 3-2 in the Series. Unbelievable!”

Mad Dog (laughing, yelling over): “MIKEY! Historic, HISTORIC! I mean listen, Yankee Stadium, the house is rocking, they’re up all game, they got the lead, they got the bullpen, AND THE METS DO IT AGAIN! You can’t kill this team! Sloan yesterday, Contreras today — who’s it gonna be tomorrow?!”

Mike: “It’s one of the great back-to-back gut punches you will ever see in postseason history, Dog. Last night Sloan with the slam, tonight Contreras with five hits, the go-ahead bomb. I mean, the Yankees were THIS CLOSE to being up 3-1… now they’re going to Queens down 3-2.”

Mad Dog: “Down 3-2! And Citi Field is gonna be BONKERS, Mikey. Absolutely BONKERS. The Mets got the hammer, they got the momentum, and the Yankees… oh they’re reeling, baby! They are reeling!”

Mike (calmer, but sharp): “Listen, the Yankees aren’t dead, they’re too good. But right now, the Mets are writing one of the great comeback scripts you’re ever gonna see. Two games in a row, ninth-inning heroics, and they’re one win away from a championship.”

Mad Dog: “ONE WIN AWAY! Can you imagine? The Yankees thought they had this wrapped up, and now it’s the Mets on the doorstep of glory. Oh boy, Mikey, this is gonna be fun!”