.@MadDogUnleashed explains why he doesn't rank the Giants in the top 5 of teams with the best chance at the World Series pic.twitter.com/p7XD4BQvYm
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 25, 2021
Despite being one of the most legendary sports broadcasters in the East Coast media scene, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a lifelong Giants fan. You might think that because of this, the outspoken Russo would be using his platform to gloat as much as possible about this San Francisco team, especially in the wake of them laying waste to the New York Mets.
But Russo is zigging when everyone is expecting him to zag. He told Greg Papa on Giants Pregame Live Thursday that he doesn’t even have San Francisco on his list of top five teams most likely to make the World Series.
“I think the Giants are a better regular season team than a postseason team,” Russo explained. “That remains to be seen down the road. You’re right if you ranked the teams right now, the Giants would be number one, they have the best record. I did that with thinking of who has the best chance of winning a World Series. That’s why I did not put the Giants in the top five.”
Here’s Russo’s list:
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- New York Yankees
- Houston Astros
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Milwaukee Brewers
So, why did he pick five teams with a worse record than the Giants as more likely to win it all? Russo sort of explained his decision, but mostly just talked about what he likes about the other teams, not why he thinks it makes them better candidates than the Giants.
“Five was Milwaukee because I like the two starters and I love the closer. Tampa last year got there, great bullpen. Yankees are so hot right now it’s hard not to think them. The Dodgers are the Dodgers and Houston’s been there and won so many playoff games in the last eight years. Whether they cheated or not, they’ve won a million playoff games, eight last year, I’d put them at No. 3.”
Russo has actually set up a brilliant emotional hedge here. If the Giants don’t win the World Series, his take will be vindicated. If they do, his favorite team just took home their fourth title in 11 years.
