Veteran New York radio host Mike Francesa was forced to miss the Yankees’ playoff elimination on Wednesday night after undergoing emergency surgery.
The news was revealed after the Yankees fell to a 5-2 defeat against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS, in a do-or-die Game 4 that sent them out of the playoffs.
The 71-year-old would typically tape his Bet Rivers podcast after the game but was unable to on Wednesday after falling ill and suffering a health scare.
The Bet Rivers account on X revealed that Francesa was ‘undergoing gallbladder surgery’ before also posting: ‘Thankfully, everything went perfectly. We will hear from Mike tomorrow’.
Though the primary concern among fans was for Francesa’s wellbeing, plenty were upset that the veteran would not be on the microphone and ripping into the Yankees.
Francesa has built a reputation for his brutal rants about New York teams and had recently taken aim at the Yankees during their playoff struggles.
New York radio host Mike Francesa was forced to miss the Yankees’ playoff elimination
The New York Yankees were eliminated from the postseason by the Toronto Blue Jays
After they lost Game 2 of the ALDS, Francesa said: ‘Losing isn’t what the Yankees always do.
‘But let’s be honest, they’ve gotten pretty used to losing in the postseason because they haven’t left the postseason on a high note since 2009 and that’s a long time ago’.
Despite saving face and narrowly avoiding a sweep with a Game 3 comeback win, the Pinstripes were unable to completely salvage the American League Division Series in the Bronx.
The result saw Toronto win the series 3-1 and advance to the ALCS for the first time in nine years, while New York’s season ends in yet another bitter end, just one year removed from their crushing five-game World Series defeat.
The knockout loss, which marks the 16th straight year without a 28th ring for the Yankees, sent New York fans into a meltdown.
Yankees supporters immediately flooded social media with calls for manager Aaron Boone to be fired in what has become somewhat of an annual post-defeat postseason tradition for the Bronx Bombers.
‘Fire Boone,’ one blunt fan pleaded, while another called for a host of Pinstripes to be axed, adding: ‘I hope they get rid of the manager, GM, SS and that big mouth 2nd baseman.’
‘What’s the excuse going to be this year for failing again and still keeping Boone and Cashman…,’ another said.
Francesa underwent emergency gallbladder surgery and had to miss a podcast taping
A fourth chimed in: ‘Wow [Jasson] Dominguez bats 1.000 in the postseason. An extra base hit and run scored… nice move Boone… #moron.’
‘Get Aaron Boone the f*** out of New York,’ another piled on.
Judge hit .500 (13 for 25) with seven RBIs and four walks in seven postseason games, including .600 (9 for 15) with one homer, six RBIs and four walks against the Blue Jays.
But ultimately the six-foot-seven slugger remained without a World Series win yet again as the Yankees’ drought extended to 16 years.
