Votto's post-retirement gig: impersonating Mad Dog

Last year, Joey Votto unleashed a hilarious rant on MLB Network’s “High Heat” directed toward host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo. You’ve likely seen the clip, but it never gets old.

What begins as Votto jokingly admonishing Russo for overlooking “a couple of small-market, Midwest ballplayers” such as himself and then-Royals pitcher Zack Greinke leads into a diatribe on Russo’s appearance -- his “crisp pocket squares,” “tailored suits” and his “perfectly coiffed, Broadway hair -- all delivered by Votto in the over-the-top style that Russo has perfected over 35 years as a sports media personality.

Well, about 13 months after that unforgettable appearance, Votto was back on “High Heat” on Friday. And he one-upped himself.

This time, not only did he sound like Russo. He looked like him, too.

You knew something strange was afoot early on in the interview once Russo asked the Reds legend how difficult it was to announce his retirement. Votto responded by recalling what this season was like for him while with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A club in Buffalo.

But as Votto answered the question, every viewer at home must have had the same thought: "Why is Joey Votto changing clothes right now?"

He replaced his zip-up sweater with a white dress shirt. Then came the suit jacket with the -- gasp! -- crisp pocket square.

As Votto began to talk about what was next for him after baseball, he mentioned Russo and his wide reach across the sports media landscape, from MLB Network to SiriusXM Radio to ESPN.

“I was thinking,” Votto continued, “I want a little taste of that. So without further ado …”

The six-time All-Star then dipped out of frame for just a second, but only so he could pop back up wearing a big, bushy, brown-hair wig and deliver Russo’s trademark catchphrase:

“Ahhhhhhhhh good afternoon, everybody!”

Russo and co-host Alanna Rizzo almost couldn’t believe what they were seeing as they were taken over by laughter.

“You gotta play Broadway!” Russo exclaimed. “Why are you doing this on MLB?!”

Votto, still in full get-up, went on to describe just how long this impression has been in the works.

“Chris, I've been watching you for years now, so this is second nature to me,” he said. “... Every single day during my physical therapy, I'm staring at Chris Russo. I'm watching him do his thing. I'm taking notes, mental notes. And I'm thinking to myself, ‘I can do that.’ Maybe not quite as good, but I can bring the same ‘Ahhhhhhhhh good afternoon, everybody!’

“The Major League career is done, and now I'm getting this itch. I'm getting this itch, and I think that only you can scratch it, Chris.”

Votto then proposed that he and The Mad Dog do a show together. Talk about sports media gold.

“You are something,” Russo said. “I don’t even know how you did this for an encore.”

After 23 years in pro ball, perhaps Votto has found his next career as an impersonator. Or at least as a “Mad Dog” impersonator. He’s got the look down.