SiriusXM "Mad Dog Radio" host Chris Russo may take "a credibility hit" if he cannot "clear the air" with Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi prior to the show making a stop at the Yankees' Spring Training home in Port Charlotte, Fla., on March 21, according to Bob Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Cashman was upset after Russo "hammered" Girardi last spring for refusing to appear on his show. Russo said at the time that Girardi "wanted to be paid for that appearance." On every stop of his Spring Training tour, which begins in Arizona next week, Russo "wants to talk to a GM and manager to get their take on their club’s future." The prospect of "not getting either Cashman or Girardi on his upcoming Florida show has suddenly dawned on Russo," but so far he "has not made that call." If he "cannot deliver the goods, 'MDR' takes a credibility hit." Still, Russo "goes back and forth on whether he will call Cashman." Russo said Thursday, "I probably will call him, but the Yankees were wrong that day. They did a terrible job -- case closed. I’m not going to back down from it, but I might try to clear the air with Cashman." Meanwhile, Raissman cites MLB sources as saying that the Mets are "'uneasy' over the prospect of working with Steve Phillips, their former GM, who is bringing his 'MDR' morning show to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday." A source said, "They don’t know if players are going to exactly be running to the microphone to talk with him. It’s not exactly like there’s a bubbly relationship between (Fred and Jeff Wilpon) and Steve” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/2).
