When it comes to criticizing the New York Yankees’ leadership, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo rarely holds back. The longtime sports radio firebrand—now splitting his time between SiriusXM and ESPN—took his latest swing at the Yankees’ decision-making, blasting the organization for sticking with Aaron Boone instead of going after three-time Manager of the Year Terry Francona this past offseason.
Russo’s Francona Obsession
Speaking on The Show podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Russo wondered aloud how the Yankees could possibly pass on Francona, who came out of a brief retirement to manage the Cincinnati Reds.
“You’re telling me that Boone is a better manager than Terry Francona? Are you freaking crazy?” Russo said, his voice rising into the familiar “Mad Dog” pitch. “How did Francona end up with the Reds? Did the Yankees put a call in? ‘Hey Terry, we had a bad World Series, our manager killed us in Game 1.’ He killed them in Game 1, guys! And Francona ends up in Cincinnati?”
Russo wasn’t content to stop there. He rattled off a list of managers he believes are better than Boone: Francona, Alex Cora, Bruce Bochy, Dave Roberts, Torey Lovullo, A.J. Hinch, and possibly Craig Counsell. “These are the New York Yankees,” Russo said. “How do they have a manager who’s barely in the top 10?”
While Russo’s argument resonates with frustrated fans, the timeline for such a move wasn’t straightforward. Cincinnati hired Francona on October 7, 2024, weeks before the Yankees’ season ended in a Game 5 World Series loss to the Dodgers. Boone still had a year left on his deal, and the Yankees didn’t finalize his two-year extension until February.
Still, Russo’s point taps into a growing sentiment among Yankee fans: that Boone’s tenure—now in its eighth season—has produced just one pennant, one World Series game win, and a string of summers where early success gives way to late-season slumps.
Boone’s Support—For Now
For Russo, the optics are brutal. Francona, at 66, has a résumé that includes two World Series titles with Boston, an AL pennant with Cleveland, and a knack for getting the most out of limited rosters. This season, his Reds are in the thick of the NL wild-card race despite modest payroll resources.
Boone, meanwhile, is managing a Yankees team that has slipped six games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East and is clinging to the final wild-card spot by a single game. Poor fundamentals, streaky offense, and bullpen misfires have all been under his watch.
Despite the criticism, Boone still has the backing of Yankees brass and team captain Aaron Judge. Judge praised Boone’s “care and passion” for every player in the clubhouse, saying it fosters a comfortable environment that leads to wins.
But as Russo made clear, goodwill only goes so far when the ultimate goal is championships. “He’s been there a long time without a World Series win,” Russo said. “In my opinion, seven or eight managers are better than he is.”
If the Yankees miss the playoffs for the second time in three years—despite 40% of MLB teams making the postseason — that support could crumble quickly. For Russo, the mistake has already been made. For Boone, the only way to silence critics like him is to win.
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