Start spreading the news: Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo plans on sending Chris “Mad Dog” Russo into early retirement.
The former WFAN star and current SiriusXM host has said he will retire from the satellite radio service if Arizona advances to the World Series, which can happen Tuesday night when the Diamondbacks face the Phillies in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Upon hearing about Russo’s promise, the D-backs skipper said, “I’m looking forward to that,” according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“There’s nothing better than a wise guy New Yorker saying something and then having to chomp on those words. That’s how I’m processing it. It will be great,” Lovullo said.
His Diamondbacks forced a win-or-go-home game with a stunning 5-1 win in Game 6 on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
As for Russo, here’s the backstory on his pledge: On Monday, before Game 6, he said if the Diamondbacks, who trailed 3-2 in the best-of-7 series, won the final two games of the NLCS, he would retire.
“To make a long story short, I’ve been wrong on Arizona from Day 1,” Russo, 64, said on his SiriusXM radio show. “I’m stunned they beat Milwaukee, I thought they’d get swept by the Dodgers, I never thought they’d even go back to Philly for a Game 6.
“I’ll try it one more time: I would not be stunned if they won [Monday night], I would be floored. … If they win the next two days, they win the next two games and win this series in seven games, if they win, I will retire on the spot.”
On Tuesday, Russo clarified that his pledge applied only to his radio work for SiriusXM.
He would continue his television work, including MLB Network’s “High Heat” and ESPN’s “First Take.”
The winner of Tuesday’s Game 7 will advance to the World Series to face the Rangers, who won Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday, pounding the Astros, 11-4.
Regardless of who wins the NLCS, the Rangers will have home-field advantage for the World Series, which starts on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
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