Mike'd Up: The Mike Francesa Show

[Drew7]

Francezzzzzzzzzzza .

bitching and moaning that not one person in the media has asked him his view on the whole break-up.
sounds like someone is getting a little nervous now that dogs show has started?

 

[Clears Cleaver]

i understand his point, he is finally defending himself against the media. and his numbers are good. LEt's see what theya re post the breakup

 

[Drew7]

i understand his point, he is finally defending himself against the media. and his numbers are good. LEt's see what theya re post the breakup

i too understand, but his "timing" to choose to talk about this i find a little odd, and quite frankly, boring. maybe i dont speak for everyone, but im over the fact that they broke up, and dont really care about the details anymore. im interested in them moving on with their shows and finding their own identities again.
sure he's got great rating, but aren't two of his shows about football? isnt that the most popular sport in the country. its naturally going to have high rating especially after he established himself with M&MD. people who are from NY, who like either the Gaints or the Jets, who do you think they'll tune into to hear about their teams, or even about the week in football. the guy they've been listening to for the last 18 + (or whatever) years.

doing a show about why you are doing a new show, or planning to do a new show, isnt my idea of a good show. if he's so comfortable about his rating and pay, why should he worry? carry a big stick...

 

[JimMonaghan]

bitching and moaning that not one person in the media has asked him his view on the whole break-up.

Richard Sandomir has a quote from Mike in this morning's New York Times.

From the article - "(Francessa) was not listening to Russo. 'He was on against me!' he said. But I figured he'd do what he used to do on his Saturday show, but base it more on national stuff.'"

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

I'm already a bit bored with Mike. I think my tune-inage will be limited to

a) Yankee misery schadenfreude
b) Occasional Met misery shadenfreude
c) Football discussion Fridays and Mondays

Hmmm...that's about it. I will still listen in the car, and I still think he's better than pretty much anything else on sports radio, but I'm more inclined to listen to Dog where possible, or do music or something else on the radio than I would have a few months ago.

 

[JimMonaghan]

Neil Best has a transcript of Mike's opening this afternoon here - http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog...uite_a_few.html

 

[ifmanis5]

Neil Best has a transcript of Mike's opening this afternoon here - http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog...uite_a_few.html

WOW! I missed that, thank you for the link and to Neil for typing! Allow me to make some observations...

not one person, not one person, and this has kind of amazed us, not one person has asked my opinion or has asked to do an interview with me about any part of what happened, not one. No one has asked me a question.

Mike sounds like a bitter, jilted lover here and demands attention, so he's going to vent.

Now I understand that I have never been a media darling when it comes to getting great treatment

Roughly means- 'You media people always liked Dog better than me, so screw you.'

"You learn a lesson, folks. I hope you don’t get your information from the newspapers, because the stuff that has been written during this time about me has been so wrong. It has never been even remotely accurate, I mean not even in the ballpark accurate.

In other words, I didn't leak anything to the papers, Dog did.

And I came here all summer and as always, came in, did a show and told you the truth. I told you things weren’t good. I told you we were at a crossroads, and anything I uttered to you all summer was 100 percent accurate and honest. I didn’t know where it was going.

In other words- Dog kept me out of the loop. You got a problem with the breakup? Take it up with Russo.

Chris is always the guy who played the fan, the guy who was more lovable because I played the tough guy. I understand that. That’s fine. What’s great about the audience is the audience sees through and knows what the truth is. And they know if you’re telling them the truth, and I’ve always tried to tell them the truth.

In other words- You idiots, you lap up Dog's stupid fanboy shtick and since I'm above that kind of thing, it's only natural that my ratings might fall because the great unwashed masses are low brow.

He (Raissmann) wrote that ‘Mike’d Up’ would be a colossal failure the first time I did the show and that there was no room on Sunday night for that kind of show. And I just finished my 250th show at NBC and you can go check and ask NBC about it. That show has record ratings thanks to you the public. For 250 shows it’s been No. 1. It has driven CBS’s show off the air, by their own admission

In other words- See, I'm the real star here, and a powerful tv star to boot, so suck on that, Raissmann.

I’m going to add some voices to this show. You know why? Because I’m here for the next 5½ years and I think that’s the best show.

In other words- I know my act is shrill and annoying so I better get somebody to help me out.

We have not lost a sponsor, we have not lost a listener, we have not lost anything.

I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS! PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF ME!

 

[cheekydave]

Y-a-w-n.

Fat Mike trying to inject some emotion into his show starting off by ragging on the Mets which will follow with

- Mets fans calling screaming at him that why doesnt he rag on the Yankees for choking...
- Mikes retort that " I have certainly done alot of that"...
- Yankees fans calling to say the Mets suck hahaha....
- Mets fans calling to retort Yankees fans.....

Mike appears to be nakedly formuliac today, he is really struggling to create some buzz, but I think this puppy is dead.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Everyone wants to kill Mike right now...I'm listening and giving it a chance. the opening today was good

I expect that he will be hirng a couple people that will add value

 

[cheekydave]

Everyone wants to kill Mike right now...I'm listening and giving it a chance. the opening today was good

I expect that he will be hirng a couple people that will add value

Is that true? Where are people trying to kill him?
I want to like the show, its what I do at 1:00 for years but I just find its flat and dead.

To be fair if people are trying to kill him, it might be a Belichick situation, as soon as Brady is gone and they think the Pats will suck, they have so much built up hate for Belichick, they rise up and start anticipating the fall. So maybe the arrogant Mike has turned people off over the years and now they are prepared to take their full measure?

 

[jodyreeddudley78]

Y-a-w-n.

Fat Mike trying to inject some emotion into his show starting off by ragging on the Mets which will follow with

- Mets fans calling screaming at him that why doesnt he rag on the Yankees for choking...
- Mikes retort that " I have certainly done alot of that"...
- Yankees fans calling to say the Mets suck hahaha....
- Mets fans calling to retort Yankees fans.....

Mike appears to be nakedly formuliac today, he is really struggling to create some buzz, but I think this puppy is dead.

Is it just me, or did he try to channel Dog today? The yelling seemed a little Dog-like. Except that it came off as Eeyore trying to be emotive.

I really miss them as a duo. It just doesn't have the same entertainment value. If they both went to XMSirius they would have had a great show. I will still listen because it is the best show on the radio in NY at 1PM. But I can't wait for him to get a partner- someone to bounce stuff off of. It should improve the show.

 

[ifmanis5]

To be fair if people are trying to kill him, it might be a Belichick situation, as soon as Brady is gone and they think the Pats will suck, they have so much built up hate for Belichick, they rise up and start anticipating the fall.

It's not like that at all.

 

[RedOctober3829]

TV version of Mike'd Up tonight:

He is just blasting the core of the Mets. He thinks they will bring back Manuel but have to do 1 of 2 things: 1)bring in a prominent veteran leader or 2) trade one of Wright or Reyes.

How about this stat? The Mets' big 4 of Wright, Reyes, Delgado, and Beltran all played 159 games or more AND Santana made every start. It is the first time in 40 years that a team's top 4 hitters and their best pitchers did such a thing according to Mike.

 

[ifmanis5]

TV version of Mike'd Up tonight:

He is just blasting the core of the Mets. He thinks they will bring back Manuel but have to do 1 of 2 things: 1)bring in a prominent veteran leader or 2) trade one of Wright or Reyes.

Mike has zero credibility when it comes to the Mets. He's totally in the tank for his buddy Omar and has totally lost his objective perspective at this point.
Before the trade deadline, he repeatedly stated that the Mets bullpen was "fine" and that they didn't need to make any moves to shore it up. Well, the pen cost them a playoff spot, certainly not Wright or Reyes.
Furthermore, why in the world would you trade Wright or Reyes, two of the best young talents in the game that they already have under workable contracts? That would be insane. Mets would be significantly worse without those players.
Although, if the Mets are willing to move those guys, I really hope Theo gives Omar a call or 100 in the offseason. And we know how much Bill James covets Wright.

 

[ifmanis5]

Mike started the show by screaming at the top of his lungs at those in the media who have praised the mets for "over achieving" this year. Erm, exactly who are those people, Mike? He didn't mention any names or examples.
Then he railed against Jerry Manuel for not getting the team over the hump, wants him fired.
And now he's beating the drum for a Reyes or Wright trade. He wants to trade Wright for Youkilis straight up.
Mike ever mentioned the bullpen or Wagner's injury. The real reason the Mets are done today.
Now some red-headed kid from the newsroom is playing the Russo role and saying Manuel shouldn't be fired.
This show is completely ridiculous now. I'm washing my hands of it.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

John Heyman on now talking about Manny- says that Manny never really fit in during his 7-8 years in Boston and that he never really liked it or felt comfortable there. Based on what, John? Care to cite a source or a specific issue? He never did and Mike never pressed him.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Mike started the show by screaming at the top of his lungs at those in the media who have praised the mets for "over achieving" this year. Erm, exactly who are those people, Mike? He didn't mention any names or examples.
Then he railed against Jerry Manuel for not getting the team over the hump, wants him fired.
And now he's beating the drum for a Reyes or Wright trade. He wants to trade Wright for Youkilis straight up.
Mike ever mentioned the bullpen or Wagner's injury. The real reason the Mets are done today.
Now some red-headed kid from the newsroom is playing the Russo role and saying Manuel shouldn't be fired.
This show is completely ridiculous now. I'm washing my hands of it.

this am, jeff wilpon was quoted as saying the team overachieved. that is what he was referring to. the give and take with evan roberts was excellent, btw

 

[Plantiers Wart]

What kills me is that Mike says Omar should come back, but they should break up the "core" because they have failed two years in a row.....Didn't Omar put this crap sandwich together? Jeez....

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Tuned in a bit today for the Mets schedenfreude. It was underwhelming to say the least. A bit boring even. Some typical factual errors (blaming hitting on last year's collapse when the Mets scored 6 runs a game during the horrible stretch), dismissing callers who blamed it on the bullpen. It just wasn't that interesting.

 

[ifmanis5]

Tuned in a bit today for the Mets schedenfreude. It was underwhelming to say the least. A bit boring even. Some typical factual errors (blaming hitting on last year's collapse when the Mets scored 6 runs a game during the horrible stretch), dismissing callers who blamed it on the bullpen. It just wasn't that interesting.

Agreed, it was an embarrassment. It wasn't fun, or funny, or entertaining. Just a vortex of misplaced rancor.
If Russo was there at least it would have been funny.

Anybody listen to Joe B? Did he make it through the night?

 

[FungosWithJimy]

Actually I kind of enjoyed Mike's little rant today. Especially the part about the Mets offense not being able to score this past weekend. And since when do I listen to his rants to be enlightened by facts?

That said, it certainly would have been more entertaining with Dog. But that goes without saying.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

He wants to trade Wright for Youkilis straight up.

Yes please.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

No offense at all to Kevin Youkilis who had a terrific 9.5 wins above replacement player (WARP) season this year according to baseball prospectus. But he's 29. Wright is 25 and has already had four seasons better than that in his career.

As an aside, is David Wright the most low pitch loving righthanded hitter ever or what?

 

[InsideTheParker]

Yes please.

And yet, Mike appears to be right about close and late, especially late in the season. Wright had the worst at-bats with RISP this week I have ever seen by a front-line hitter, except for Arod. I have so much more faith in Youks in such spots.

At the same time, it seems hard to believe Wright couldn't be coached out of his reluctance to do anything but swing for the fences when almost any kind of hit would score a run from third. Heck, even Alec Cora could have done what was required, IMHO. Why won't Wright take a walk? He had plenty of chances.

I don't quite understand why Mike wants to trade Reyes, however. He has too many tools and has shown a lot of growth in patience and in variety of hits since he came up to the bigs. I was trying to listen in the car through massive static, so I couldn't hear his reasoning on Reyes.

 

[ifmanis5]

No offense at all to Kevin Youkilis who had a terrific 9.5 wins above replacement player (WARP) season this year according to baseball prospectus. But he's 29. Wright is 25 and has already had four seasons better than that in his career.

As an aside, is David Wright the most low pitch loving righthanded hitter ever or what?

He justified it by saying that Youk was "a winning player." He sounded as crazy as a the crazy Mets callers.

Can you imagine the numbers Wright would put up in Fenway? Wow.

 

[NYCSox]

Can you imagine the numbers Wright would put up in Fenway? Wow.

He has a career OPS of .922 at age 25 while playing half his games at Shea (a pitchers' park). I don't think it's crazy to say that he would produce at close to Manny level if he played for the Sox.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

I was going to propose Wright for Youks and Masterson.

I think I even do that deal. As much as I like Youks and Masterson.

 

[ifmanis5]

He has a career OPS of .922 at age 25 while playing half his games at Shea (a pitchers' park). I don't think it's crazy to say that he would produce at close to Manny level if he played for the Sox.

It's not crazy at all. 7 more years in his prime in a RS uniform has my mouth watering.
Wright-Papi-Bay 3-4-5 could score some serious runs. Uh, healthy Papi, that is.


(If you were wondering dept, Wright at Fenway is a small sample- 3 games played: 1-for-11, 1BB, 4K, 0R, 0RBI)

 

[DieHardSoxFan1]

I was going to propose Wright for Youks and Masterson.

I think I even do that deal. As much as I like Youks and Masterson.

Youks, Masterson and Buchholz might be enough.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Youks, Masterson and Buchholz might be enough.

I was proposing a deal to the Mets if Mr. Miked Up replaced Omar as the GM, but your point is well taken. :angry:

 

[ifmanis5]

Mike again banging the drum for trading one of the Wright/Reyes/Beltran trio.
I can't help but think that the "let's fix the Mets" angle is a nice little cover for the pile of suck that is his beloved Yankees. I think he'd rather talk hockey than look in that particular mirror right now.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

Mike again banging the drum for trading one of the Wright/Reyes/Beltran trio.
I can't help but think that the "let's fix the Mets" angle is a nice little cover for the pile of suck that is his beloved Yankees. I think he'd rather talk hockey than look in that particular mirror right now.

Well to be fair the Mets collapsing, AGAIN, is a pretty big story right now. He''ll get to the Yankees eventually and unless he's changed from his years with Dog (completely possible) he'll be fairly level headed about it.

 

[Zupcic Fan]

Mike again banging the drum for trading one of the Wright/Reyes/Beltran trio.
I can't help but think that the "let's fix the Mets" angle is a nice little cover for the pile of suck that is his beloved Yankees. I think he'd rather talk hockey than look in that particular mirror right now.

Boy do I disagree with this. Francesca loves to give it to the Yankees when he's pissed at them. They're just not the story right now. Just look again at that 2004 tape. He was as tough on the Yankees as Dog was the day after the Sox came back.

 

[Worst Trade Evah]

Youks, Masterson and Buchholz might be enough.

As a Sox fan, I would make that deal in a heart-beat. Wright is a fantastic player, and has had excellent numbers in the past with RISP.

 

[Lukiewerle]

If only Francessa was the GM of the Mets. :angry:

He's pushing Youk for Wright again today. Sign me up please.

 

[pedroia'sboys]

He is now bashing Bill James and his followers. He said some of his stuff is good, but if you listen to all of it you're an idiot. Don't look at stats watch with you're eyes. What a joke. Is there any other profession where people are as lost, as the traditional baseball media? If I hear watch the games and ignore the stats one more time i'm going to freak out.

 

[ifmanis5]

Boy do I disagree with this. Francesca loves to give it to the Yankees when he's pissed at them. They're just not the story right now. Just look again at that 2004 tape. He was as tough on the Yankees as Dog was the day after the Sox came back.

He lashes out at them when he's emotionally frustrated after a tough loss but the rest of the time he's usually making excuses for them.
However, and this is a big however, since the time they fired his bromance-pal Joe Torre, he has been consistently much tougher on the FO who he feels has crossed the line of common sense and loyalty.
Honestly though, I'm sure he's glad to dodge anti-Yankee calls about them missing the playoffs despite the huge payroll and focus on the Mets problems.

CHB will be on later this afternoon to talk Sox/Angels.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

I agree with Zup--I think that he'll be critical of the Yankees in due time, as well as the Mets. Both team's offseasons will be big stories throughout the fall/winter, and will provide plenty of opportunities for good radio. Whether we'll get that or not is another story.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

If only Francessa was the GM of the Mets.

He's pushing Youk for Wright again today. Sign me up please.

Un-believable how down Mike is on Wright. Absolutely killing Wright, especially his throws.

The Bill James stuff was good, too.

And FWIW, Omar is a hu-uge Youk fan.......

 

[soxfaninyankeeland]

And FWIW, Omar is a hu-uge Youk fan.......

Billy Beane begs to differ.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Billy Beane begs to differ.

Yeah, I give O shit about that too.......

 

[ifmanis5]

Un-believable how down Mike is on Wright. Absolutely killing Wright, especially his throws.

The Bill James stuff was good, too.

And FWIW, Omar is a hu-uge Youk fan.......

That's pronounced Ohhhh-Maw.

John Heyman came one later in the day to totally shoot down Mike and his trade Wright/Reyes or Beltran plan. He said he'd be shocked if any of those three got moved. Mike had little to say in his defense about it other then mentioning the fact that Hanley Ramirez came into town 2 years in row with swagger and shut up the Mets, esp. Wright/Reyes/Beltran.
Heyman also said that the Mets will be all over Manny in the off-season and should sign there. Not exactly breaking news, but still.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

"I've got to say, and I hate to admit it, Yankee Fans, but the Red Sox play like the Yankees used to play."

Not verbatim, but close. I enjoyed the opening today, to his credit.


Beating up on the Cubs and Cub fans, actually stating he loves to watch the Cubs lose and the fans suffer. A

 

[templeUsox]

"The model franchise continues to win..."

"The Yankees need to find a way to compete with the model franchise. They need to get back to the fact that they are a mile behind the Red Sox."

"Red Sox have gone from being big names (Manny, Pedro, Schilling) into more of a Team and they are starting to resemble the 96-00 Yankees."

 

[NYCSox]

"They're like the Patriots, except without Dr. Evil and Gisele."

 

[templeUsox]

"Francona is the dominant manager in the sport."

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

One of the more schadenfreude-filled openings in a while. Carlin and Jones with FF, and topic, all piling on, was dumping on the Yanks in light of the playoff results so far, including all the above quotes.

I'll be curious to see how having the other two in the booth for a full show works. But the opening was quite enjoyable. Not sure it was good radio from a non-biased standpoint, but good stuff.

 

[inzanesmith]

"They are leaving the Yankees organization in their dust"

 

[Zupcic Fan]

I'm really sorry about this, but I'm horrible at it.
Can one of you (probably for about the 5th time) tell me where I can get the link to Mike and Dog the day after the Sox finished off the Yankees in 2004. I need to send it to a friend of mine. I can't find it, once again.
(I don't think this makes it into my top 100 posts)

 

[templeUsox]

Francesa: Do you chug Patron?

"..In my day I've been hit by more than one champagne cork"