Man bites dog!
Reds stalwart Joey Votto joined Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on MLB Network’s “High Heat” on Wednesday and delivered an epic riff to Russo, who had apparently given him a backhanded compliment recently by saying he belonged in the “Hall of Very Good” as opposed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“A couple of months ago you said that Zack Greinke and I are ‘Hall of Very Good’ ballplayers. I think Zack and I would agree. You may be right,” began Votto, who’s been with the Reds since 2007.
Votto then started to insinuate that Russo had a bias against himself and Greinke for playing out their careers in small markets, and painted the “Mad Dog” as a cosmopolitan.
“But I get the gist of what’s going on here. I know what you’re doing. You’re looking down on us — a couple of small-market, midwest ballplayers. Just because we’re not big city, just like you, Mr. New York City!
“SiriusXM radio star. Mr. National Television, ESPN, star. With your Fifth Avenue ties, your crisp pocket squares, your tailored suits and your polished shoes and your hair — your perfectly coiffed Broadway HAIR!”
Longtime observers of Russo have recognized that his styled hair and tailored suits are a relatively new element of his repertoire since joining “First Take”.
Nevertheless, those fashion elements are how he is now known to Votto.
“Must be nice to sit on top of that Madison Avenue ivory tower looking down on us with those luscious locks,” Votto continued.
“Not everyone can be the next Roger Peckinpaugh, Mad Dog!”
Throughout the spiel, Russo was a good sport, smiling along with the jokes and even giving Votto an attaboy for the Peckinpaugh reference.