Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo is screaming. Again. It is a Tuesday in July, the "dog days" of summer, and he is currently litigating a Hall of Fame vote from 1954 as if his life depends on it. This is High Heat MLB Network, and if you aren't prepared for the sheer volume of the broadcast, you might want to check your audio settings. It's loud. It’s frantic. It’s arguably the most authentic hour of baseball talk you’ll find anywhere on cable.
Most sports shows feel sanitized. They have these sleek, over-produced graphics and hosts who look like they’ve been focus-grouped into oblivion. Not here. Russo brings a brand of "Old School" energy that feels like a throwback to a New York City sports bar in the 80s, back when people actually argued over batting averages and "clutch genes."
The Mad Dog Persona: Love Him or Hate Him
You can't talk about the show without talking about the man. Russo, a legend from the Mike and the Mad Dog era on WFAN, hasn't lost a mph on his metaphorical fastball. He’s polarizing. Some fans find the screeching voice and the constant hand-waving exhausting. Others? They find it refreshing. In a world of "advanced analytics" and "expected weighted on-base average," Russo is the guy who just wants to know why the shortstop didn’t dive for that ball in the fourth inning.
The show isn't just a monologue, though. Alanna Rizzo often plays the role of the "adult in the room." Her job is part-journalist, part-lion tamer. She provides the necessary guardrails, bringing actual reporting and a modern perspective to counter Russo’s more... let’s call them "passionate" takes. It’s a dynamic that shouldn't work on paper. You have a stat-focused, professional broadcaster paired with a guy who once famously went on a ten-minute rant about the San Francisco Giants that became legendary for its sheer intensity. And yet, it works.
Why High Heat MLB Network Dominates the Afternoon Slot
The timing is perfect. Usually airing at 1:00 PM ET, it serves as the bridge between the morning's news and the evening's actual games. It’s the appetizer. The show benefits from the massive resources of MLB Network, meaning they have access to every highlight, every angle, and every Statcast metric available.
But they don't lead with the data. They lead with the argument.
People watch because they want to see if Russo is going to lose his mind over a managerial decision. There’s a specific segment called "The Brushback" where he just lets loose. It’s pure, unadulterated opinion. Whether he’s complaining about the length of the games or the "wimpy" nature of modern starting pitchers who can't go nine innings, he touches a nerve with a specific subset of baseball fans. Those fans are tired of "the shift" and they miss the days when players stayed with one team for twenty years.
The "A-List" Guest List
One thing people get wrong about the show is thinking it's just two people yelling. It’s not. Because of Russo’s stature in the industry, he pulls in heavy hitters. You’ll see Bob Costas dropping by to provide historical context that few others can. You’ll see Brian Cashman or other MLB GMs calling in to defend their trade deadline moves.
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When Costas is on, the tone shifts. It becomes a masterclass in baseball history. You realize that beneath the "Mad Dog" exterior, Russo actually knows his stuff. He’s a historian. He can recall the box score of a random Mets game from 1972 without looking at a sheet of paper. That’s the "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that Google loves, but more importantly, it's what keeps the viewers from turning the channel. It’s not just noise; it’s informed noise.
The Evolution of the "Hot Take"
We live in the era of the "Hot Take." Most of it is fake. You can tell when a TV personality is saying something controversial just to get clicks on X (formerly Twitter) or to go viral on TikTok.
Russo is different.
When he says he hates the "Ghost Runner" in extra innings, you believe him. You believe him because he sounds like he’s about to have a physical breakdown over it. That’s the secret sauce of High Heat MLB Network. It’s the authenticity of the annoyance. He isn't playing a character; he is the character. This honesty is why the show has survived while so many other "shouty" sports programs have been canceled or retooled.
Does the Analytics Crowd Hate It?
Basically, yes and no. The "Sabermetrics" community often uses Russo as a punching bag. When he dismisses a player’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in favor of "the eye test," the analytics Twitter crowd goes wild. But here’s the thing: baseball needs that tension. The sport is currently in a tug-of-war between the "numbers people" and the "feel people."
High Heat is the headquarters for the "feel people."
If you want a deep dive into launch angles and spin rates, you go to MLB Tonight. If you want to argue about whether a player has "the guts" to perform in October, you watch Russo. It’s a necessary balance. Without the emotional side of the game, baseball just becomes a math equation. And nobody goes to the ballpark to watch a calculator.
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Navigating the 162-Game Grind
Baseball is a long season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keeping a daily show interesting in the middle of May is a brutal task for any production team. High Heat manages it by leaning into the drama of the league. They focus on the "feuds."
- Is there a beef between a pitcher and a batter? They’re all over it.
- Did a manager get ejected for a hilarious reason? Russo will reenact it.
- Is a superstar in a slump? They’ll analyze every swing.
The show feels alive because it mirrors the daily rhythm of the sport. It’s chaotic, repetitive, occasionally frustrating, but always compelling.
The Alanna Rizzo Factor
It’s worth doubling down on why Alanna Rizzo is the secret weapon here. Before joining MLB Network, she was a staple of the Dodgers' broadcasts. She has rings. She’s been in the locker rooms. When Russo starts spinning a narrative that is clearly detached from the reality of a modern clubhouse, she checks him.
"Chris, that’s not how it works anymore," she’ll say, calmly.
That interaction is vital. Without her, the show might spin off into an unwatchable fever dream of nostalgia. With her, it stays grounded in the 2026 reality of Major League Baseball. She brings the "News" to the "High Heat."
Why You Should Care (Even if You Aren't a "Mad Dog" Fan)
Look, baseball is struggling to capture the attention of younger fans. We know this. The pitch clock helped. The bigger bases helped. But the sport also needs personalities. It needs people who care deeply enough to get angry.
High Heat MLB Network provides a platform for that passion. It treats baseball like it’s the most important thing in the world for sixty minutes every day. In an era where sports media is becoming increasingly fragmented and "corporate," there is something deeply human about a man screaming into a camera because a relief pitcher walked the leadoff hitter.
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It’s raw. It’s messy. It’s baseball.
How to Get the Most Out of High Heat
If you're a new viewer, don't try to watch it like a standard news program. You don't watch High Heat to find out the scores; you have an iPhone for that.
- Watch the Opening Monologue: This is where the magic happens. Russo usually starts with a "rant" that sets the tone for the rest of the hour.
- Look for the Historical Deep Dives: Pay attention when they bring on guests like Bill Ripken or Dan Plesac. The technical breakdowns of why a play happened are top-tier.
- Engage on Social Media: The show is very active in responding to fan sentiment. If Russo says something that drives you crazy, join the fray on X. Half the fun is the community of people complaining about Russo’s complaints.
- Use it as a "Vibe Check": If you’ve been away from the game for a week, one episode of High Heat will catch you up on the three most important storylines and the five most controversial moments in about fifteen minutes.
What’s Next for the Show?
As we move further into the 2026 season, the pressure is on. With the expansion of streaming services and the changing landscape of regional sports networks (RSNs), MLB Network is one of the few places where national baseball fans can congregate. High Heat is their "town square."
Expect more integration with betting lines, as that’s the direction the entire industry is heading, but don't expect Russo to become a "gambling expert." He’ll likely complain about that too. And honestly? We wouldn't have it any other way.
The show’s longevity is a testament to the fact that people still value human connection over AI-generated highlights. We want to hear a guy from the Bronx tell us why the Yankees are "disgraceful" after a three-game losing streak. It’s cathartic. It’s entertainment.
To stay truly updated on the latest episodes and segments, the best move is to follow the MLB Network official YouTube channel or use the MLB app. They cut the best "Mad Dog" rants into bite-sized clips that are perfect for when you need a jolt of energy but don't have a full hour to commit to the chaos.
Check the daily schedule on the MLB Network website to see if there are time shifts due to live afternoon games—High Heat is often moved or shortened during the postseason or special events like the World Baseball Classic. If you miss a live airing, the network usually replays it in the late-night block, which, frankly, is a great way to wind down (or get wound up) before bed.
Keep an eye on the trade deadline in July. That is peak High Heat season. There is nothing quite like Russo reacting to a "blockbuster" trade in real-time. It is the closest thing sports television has to a high-wire act.