Hour 1: Bad Series or Bad Sign?

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary
Episode: Hour 1: Bad Series or Bad Sign?
Release Date: June 16, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the recent performance of the New York Yankees, analyzing whether their losing streak in recent series is merely a temporary setback or an indicator of more significant underlying issues.

Yankees’ Recent Performance Overview

The discussion kicks off with Don La Greca expressing frustration over the Yankees' recent losses. He highlights the team's struggles, particularly in their bullpen and starting pitching, which led to consecutive series sweeps by rival teams.

Don La Greca [01:35]: "It's over. The Phillies could overtake them. Typical Mets."

Analyzing the Series Losses

Alan Hahn shares his observations on the Yankees' performance, noting that while the bullpen has been a persistent issue, the recent series against the Red Sox and Dodgers showcased not just poor pitching but also offensive shortcomings.

Alan Hahn [03:29]: "I'm just, I asked the question. I'll ask it here today to everybody listening 800-919-3776 because, you know, again, I don't want to pretend like I am the be all end all when it comes to the Yankee opinion."

Offensive Dependencies and Aaron Judge’s Slump

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the Yankees' heavy reliance on Aaron Judge. Hahn expresses concern over the team's offensive performance when Judge is struggling at the plate.

Alan Hahn [08:10]: "What's with some of these approaches at bat? What's with the baserunning? What's with the fricking fielding?"

Don counters by suggesting that the team is still fundamentally sound and that the recent poor performances might just be a "bad weekend."

Don La Greca [06:48]: "I'm willing to just say, hey, just a bad weekend, just tough weekend."

Management, Accountability, and Team Dynamics

The hosts debate the role of management and coaching in the team's performance. Hahn questions whether the current regime is effectively addressing the team's recurring issues, while Don believes that management likely views the team’s performance favorably given their standings and attendance.

Alan Hahn [19:28]: "But think about it. When even with some of the players you've changed like it used to be, well, Glaber's lazy or Gary's lazy or you know, like you think, oh, maybe it's just those guys, but it just seems to still be there."

Don remains skeptical about the team's championship prospects, emphasizing that despite some recent improvements, foundational issues remain.

Don La Greca [35:21]: "Now you just wonder, is this team going to be able to win the World Series? That's what Yankee fans want when you play like that."

Guest Segment: Conversation with Jeff Passan

The episode features an impromptu interview with renowned sportswriter Jeff Passan. Don discovers that Jeff's father, Rich Passen, was the longtime journalist covering the Cleveland Barons, adding a personal touch to the discussion.

Don La Greca [44:14]: "I've been dying to talk to you about this. I've actually tried to get you while you were on hold to go on with Michael, but the timing just wasn't right."

Jeff shares his insights on the Yankees, acknowledging that while they have moments of brilliance, the team still grapples with inconsiderate errors and dependence on key players.

Jeff Passan [45:00]: "I think once Luke Weaver comes back, their bullpen is going to be problems. So, yeah, there are little things to improve upon here and there, but I don't think this team needs a huge deadline facelift necessarily to go back to the World Series."

Fan Perspectives and Caller Interactions

Listeners call in expressing their frustrations and concerns about the Yankees' management and player performances. One caller, Rodney from the Bronx, criticizes the lack of accountability within the team’s leadership, pointing out the high payroll contrasted with underwhelming performance.

Rodney [30:25]: "Don, shout out to Hawthorne. I'm from Bergen County. Love it. ... Aaron Boone is gonna sit there. Oh, don't even."

Don and the hosts address these concerns, reiterating the need for accountability and questioning whether the current management truly believes in the team's potential.

Don La Greca [33:35]: "Don’t blame Boone for that? Brian Cashman for that? A lot of people to blame, but at the end of the day, to answer the call with accountability. I don't know if the Yankees are sitting in their ivory tower going, things are that bad?"

Closing Remarks and Future Discussions

As the episode wraps up, Don reflects on the conversation with Jeff Passan, expressing admiration for the insights shared and the personal connection established through Jeff's father's legacy in sports journalism. The hosts hint at future discussions addressing team dynamics and potential changes within the Yankees' roster.

Don La Greca [53:10]: "And I love the fact that it is true. Why didn't you break the Devers deal?"

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a consensus that while the Yankees have demonstrated vulnerability in recent series, it may be too early to declare it a bad sign for their season. The hosts agree that ongoing analysis and accountability within the team's management will be crucial in determining their championship aspirations.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Don La Greca [06:48]: "I'm willing to just say, hey, just a bad weekend, just tough weekend."
• Alan Hahn [08:10]: "What's with some of these approaches at bat? What's with the baserunning? What's with the fricking fielding?"
• Jeff Passan [45:00]: "I think once Luke Weaver comes back, their bullpen is going to be problems."
• Rodney [30:25]: "Aaron Boone is gonna sit there. Oh, don't even."
• Don La Greca [33:35]: "Don’t blame Boone for that? Brian Cashman for that?"

This comprehensive discussion provides listeners with an in-depth analysis of the Yankees' current standing, the effectiveness of their management, and the team's potential trajectory for the rest of the season.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don La Greca]

Because the Giant game's on.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don La Greca]

Otherwise I'm not a real fan.

[Alan Hahn]

What kind of fan are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a good one.

[Alan Hahn]

And Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Peter haters who call stupid. The Peter fans who call very bright.

[Don La Greca]

This is in North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Han and Rosenberg.

[Don La Greca]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Alan Hahn]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Don La Greca]

App, 3 o' clock in the big city. Don on Rosenberg. Starting a brand new week in New York. And everybody is on edge. Everybody is in a panic, an absolute panic. Overwatch why My baseball team's got swept. It's over, Peter. It's over. The Mets underbelly was exposed. Their bullpen, their lack of starting pitching. Everybody's figured it out now. The race came in, wiped the floor of the Mets. They can't hit with runners in scoring position. Throw away all the games before they got swept. It's over. The Phillies could overtake them. Typical Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, man.

[Don La Greca]

And then you got the Yankees swept by the Red Sox.

[Alan Hahn]

Careful.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, my God. The sky's falling. It's all over. It's June. This is baseball, Susan. This happens, okay? I'm not saying you can't dissect it. I'm not saying you can't break it down. That's what we're doing. You got a four hour show. Can't talk about the NBA or Stanley cup finals. They don't play.

[Alan Hahn]

Ever.

[Don La Greca]

They don't play. And even if they do, Father's Day.

[Alan Hahn]

How weird was that?

[Don La Greca]

No game. Father's Day. Sit back, relax, watch some championship caliber basketball or hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don La Greca]

You know what I get? Wet golf and June baseball.

[Alan Hahn]

Wet golf, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on. Let's not be unfair to the. Let's not be unfair to the NHL. The NHL at least played Saturday.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, so they gave us a week, you know. But NBA, you played Friday. You could have given us Sunday. No, you can't. Gotta be Monday.

[Don La Greca]

But they treat it. But they made the schedule, Peter. The NBA makes their schedule. The NHL adjusts to it because neither one want to play on the same day, but especially hockey, doesn't want to play the same day as basketball. But they treated Father's Day like the kid that throws up in elementary school. Like, who's going to clean it? I don't want it. You want to clean it. Who's going to throw that sand on it to absorb it up and then clean it up? What janitor is like, not me. Not my turn. You did it last time. So they don't play. NHL hasn't played since Saturday. They're playing Tuesday. The NBA hasn't played since Friday. They're finally playing tonight. So we've got the baseball to break down. I'm not overly concerned. I'm willing to dissect what happened with the Mets, what happened with the Yankees. There's negative of both. Mets can't hit with runners in scoring position. It does look like this starting pitching, which was out of its mind at the beginning of the year, starting to come down to earth just a little bit. And the Yankees. Allen, there were some things that at least raised an eyebrow, but you seem to be flat out concerned.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just, I asked the question. I'll ask it here today to everybody listening 800-919-3776 because, you know, again, I don't want to pretend like I am the be all end all when it comes to the Yankee opinion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're my be all end all.

[Alan Hahn]

But I, I have to admit I have been distracted for the most part because of the Knicks run. I think a lot of fans in New York have been right caught up on in that stuff. But when the Knicks season ended and you're, you're keeping one eye still on the playoffs, but now it's like, okay, let me, let me settle in now to this fantastic Yankee season that I've been able to just follow along with, but not necessarily catch every pitch, every inning. Listen, and once I got, I got settled in, what have I seen? I've seen them lose five straight to the Red Sox who aren't supposed to be any good.

[Don La Greca]

And I got more of those two series.

[Alan Hahn]

The Denver still happens the next day. But I'm just saying to myself what I see when they played the Red Sox, Alex Core and his mind games and you know, all the little things that are the Yankees versus Red Sox that I felt like there was no juice there. And then I realized there's no juice because the Yankees are showing us the ugly side of them. This is the, this is that side of them that we saw in the World Series. It's the same as the series they play with the Dodgers. And it's. It's concerning because that team we saw at the end of last season, especially in the playoffs, but we saw a lot last year. Bad base running, bad approach in at bats. And if judge who is allowed to have a slump, God forbid. I know he's 1 for 12. I know he had nine strikeouts. I know the nine strikeouts is something historic because all the guy does is he makes historic happen regardless whether it's good or bad. But he's allowed to have a slump. He's allowed to have one series where you know what he just didn't have. That's fine. Where's everybody else? And that's my concern. What's with some of these approaches at bat? What's with some of the baserunning? What's with the fricking fielding? Why is that still a problem with this team? Why does that keep coming back? The Dodgers series, you saw it. And in these two games with the Red Sox, you saw it. And, and that's the part that bothers me is why do I have to. I don't want any more evidence of that team that they have to get far away from, but they still reveal it. And that's all I need to know. All I need to know. It might not be their normal, but the fact that, you know, it's still there under, like you call it the underbelly, as. Because I know it's still there, I can't be comfortable because it'll show itself in the worst of times and the teams that are smart enough to expose it will. That's what concerns me. I know they're going to make the playoffs. I know they're probably going to win the division. The American League is not strong. But it doesn't mean that when you get to October and this stuff starts to get exposed again, that it's going to be that same feeling all over again. That's the part that worries me. Is that ugly part of the Yankees that you don't like that showed itself again, and I am not comfortable with that. So I ask, is that a bad sign or. Or was it just a bad series? I say it's a bad sign because that means they have not completely gotten rid of that reputation yet.

[Don La Greca]

I'm going to tell you why I think why I disagree is that it hasn't reared its ugly head that often. I mean, this is the ugliest series that they've Had. All right. You know, the Dodgers, you don't have to worry about the Dodgers till you get to the World Series and we'll see if the Dodgers even make it there. But for the most part, they haven't been the brain dead team that they were this weekend. So I'm willing, maybe you're not, but I'm willing to just say, hey, just a bad weekend, just tough weekend. All right. You know, Dominguez got to do better. He's still a kid, so he forgets to count, misjudges the situation. Okay, that's going to happen. You know, the Rice with his mistake still, you know, a kid.

[Alan Hahn]

Gresham's not a kid. No, but bunting out.

[Don La Greca]

No, I get that. And Volpe getting thrown out at third, although you can argue whether that's just being overly aggressive, dumb. I mean, that's an argument we can have another time. But I could see if it was happening a lot. But really, I think it's really only been this series where I really think it kind of got out of hand. And as far as the Red Sox exposing, okay, the Red Sox are a game above.500, but they just traded away their best player and the Yankee killer to the National League, which makes the National League even stronger, which I'm concerned about as a Met fan. Could just add the Giants to another team that if the Mets don't win the division, you know, you're going to really have a battle to be one of the top three teams that didn't win their division to make the playoffs. Certainly to be the best wild card to get home field advantage could also be a bit of an issue.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don La Greca]

But my, the thing that I will say about the Yankees that I think is more concerning than the boneheaded plays over the weekend is when Judge doesn't hit, they don't hit, they don't score. Well, that, to me, that, that is.

[Alan Hahn]

But wait, isn't that part of it though? That again now Stanton is, he's been activated, so he's coming back. So you got him back. And then we'll see what, what kind of impact he can have with still more than a half a season to go. But that's kind of my point though, Don, is he's allowed to have a bad game or a bad weekend, whatever.

[Don La Greca]

It is, you can say, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S a bad weekend, he's been red hot, you know, it's all going to catch up. So you have a couple of games where it's just not right. His head's not Right. They're pitching him a different way that he hasn't seen. Whatever it is you want to say, that's fine, but that's my point is that it can't be all or nothing. You can't have it where if he's not on the whole offense just goes to crap.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But this is.

[Alan Hahn]

But the pitching wasn't awful. It's just the offense was.

[Don La Greca]

They got outscored eight, four.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Giving up eight runs in three games. Not bad. But when you score four runs in three games and that's why all those mistakes you were talking about were accentuated by the pain they didn't hit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, but this is, this is the problem with talking baseball. What else? It's 162 game season. You see three games where over the course of three games they look like one thing. If you're someone who follows it every.

[Don La Greca]

Day, that's something to talk about.

[Alan Hahn]

But Peter, it's different. You're going to lose games. We know this. 160. We know this. But if you are doing it in consecutive games, not in any other way, but the one way that last year and in past years has been that big concern of when they play like that, like they got to get that out of their game. They've got to stop being that team that does that. And for. Yes, Don, I know for the most part they have.

[Don La Greca]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

But when it shows as a fan, you know what it looks like, you recognize it.

[Jeff Passan]

I hear you.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's how I felt. I recognized right away, like, oh my God, why do they do dumb things? It frustrates me.

[Don La Greca]

I hear you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not saying that for you.

[Alan Hahn]

You can just have a bad night at the plate. You can have a bad series at the plate, you could just be outclassed fundamentally. But when you're doing things like that that are self inflicted and it's part of you hurting yourself in the past and most embarrassingly on the biggest stage in the World Series and it's hard for a fan to just go, eh, it's only like three games out of 162. No big deal. I say you got to nip that in the bud right now. Don't ever let that team reappear again. That's how I feel. That's why I'm saying this is more than just a one off series.

[Don La Greca]

Now. Last year was. This happened a lot more often. So when they had the fifth inning of game five, I said that there's, there's what Alan's talking about. That's the example of it reared its ugly head again at the worst time. But I do believe for the most part, all year long, it has not been an issue. They have gotten better. So I'm kind of willing to say that it was just a bad weekend. Teams have bad weekends. Fundamentally sound teams will have brain fart weekends. You hate to have it against the Red Sox. You hate to have it when two, when there was a game on national television on Saturday. They've lost five of six to the Red Sox. But I'm looking at the long game all season long hasn't been an issue. Yankees are still clearly better than anybody in their division. The Red Sox just took five out of six against you. They just traded their best player away. All right. The Blue Jays just got knocked around by the Phillies. The Blue Jays were the flavor of the month. Yes. The Mets got swept by the Rays. So the Rays picked up three games.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

But I don't. I go back to that conversation last week with Michael. Like, who are you afraid of? Well, there's a flavor of the month, right? It's, oh, Toronto's hot and then Toronto's cold. Oh, Tampa's hot, then they cold, Red Sox. I don't, I don't fear them.

[Alan Hahn]

So it's not the division.

[Don La Greca]

The Orioles are out of it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not the division.

[Don La Greca]

No, but it is. Because if you win your division, you're in good shape. Now, once we get. You're right, when we get to October, we'll see. And if this continues to pop up, Alan, I'll say, you know what? It's an issue. But right now, that's the first time I've seen it in a series all year. Now, the Mets, they haven't hit with runners in scoring position all year. It's been a problem all year. OPS with, with runners in scoring position is, is, is 20th in the league. That's been an issue all year. So, so that's something I worry about going forward because they only have a two and a half game lead on the Phillies, who just won four in a row. They're hot again after losing eight of nine. So the division is not a fait accompli. The Giants just got better. You know, the Padres are good. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in baseball. The Phillies are one of the best teams in baseball. They're in a much different, harder league. And they have something that's been a bugaboo all year long. So if all of a sudden the Mets get to a big game and they leave the bases loaded or don't get a big two out, hit with runners in scoring position. I could say, well, that's kind of what the Mets have been. You can't say that about the Yankees this year and playing with their heads up their butts. They have been better. Fundamentally they've been better.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of it has been judged offensively. A lot of it has centered around that man.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's where I want to focus my concentration on the Yankees. At 1, 800 now, 193776 is what do you do if Judge does go south? Because come postseason time, judging by the back of his baseball card, he's probably going to go south. I worry about is Volpe ever going to be what you expected him to be? I'm worried Goldschmidt, who September is going to turn 38 years old, is not going to have as good a second half as he had a good first first half. All right. Is Stan going to stay healthy? Because Stan was pre disastered by being on the IL when the season started. But you know he'll end up there again before he's back tonight. So that'd be great. And they'll probably wipe the floor with the Angels like they always do. But you worry about Stanton and you worry about, you know, Bellinger, who's far removed from his mvp. That to me the focus offensively is what maybe concerns me because they are carried by a singular talent in Aaron Judge and it's no coincidence he goes 1 for 12 at a three game series and they get swept. Somebody's going to have to be able to supply a little more offense. Is it going to be Stanton? Is, is Goldschmidt going to find some pop? I think he only has six home runs, right. He's been kind of a Punch and Judy hitter basically and he's kind of slowed down a little bit in recent vintage. To me, I think that's probably the bigger concern than the base running errors and all the things that kind of happened over the weekend is what are they if I shut Judge down, what is this Yankee team offensive?

[Alan Hahn]

I understand that and that's that adds to the worry. But I continue to go back to what you keep saying and I understand it, it's a different perspective. But no one here is saying, well the good news is they could win the division. It's almost like the expectation they got to the World Series last year. Like you are the best team in the division. You should win the division. So okay, that's that then it's get into the playoffs we're already watching the Detroit Tigers. They've got starting pitching. They're playing great now. Do you say you don't trust them? Fine. Doesn't matter. The point is that there's the team you worry about that could stop you from getting to the World Series. Then it's also what else can stop you? The fact that those fundamental errors, those mistakes, those bad at bats, all those little issues always creep up at the worst time. And the good teams know how to expose them. And you think Alex Cora probably did that. Like, it's all those things that. Like how the Raisin Astros used to almost laugh at the Yankees and the Dodgers last year laughed at the Yankees. Why? Because we know exactly what you want to do, and we're not going to let you do it. And we're going to let you boot the ball over the field and we're going to make a mockery of this system that you believe is always going to work. Certain teams do it. The smart ones do. And that's what bothers me. If that never showed and they just. They just didn't hit. Whatever you want to say, you just move on. But because of those little moments where you just say to yourself, like, that's low IQ baseball. Why. Why does that still creep up? That's what makes me worry about, will this team ever win a World Series? Will they ever have a World Series? It's not about just getting there. They got there last year with Aaron Judge. You want to see them win one, but can they? If this is the style of baseball they're going to play and that underbelly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is still there, and do you understand.

[Alan Hahn]

That and can be exposed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not that you didn't understand this before, but, Don, it allows you to understand why fans then lose their mind when, if it were to happen, say again this year. And I hate to say this because, you know, I personally like him. Hal Boone's head doesn't roll. Because at some point, if you repeat things over and over again, right, and you're telling us it's not the players, we're looking at the numbers, don't you. In every other sport, that means you move out something, you're not wrong to say it.

[Alan Hahn]

And also, you know, Michael always says they're just going to bring in a guy who's just like. Maybe just like him, but maybe somebody that won't tolerate that or just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe it's just.

[Alan Hahn]

Or coach it hard. Look, you either either coaching it or allowing it to happen. That's the. That's the phrase they Always say about undisciplined teams, that's the thing. You go to the. You're either coaching it or allowing it to happen. One of the two is true here, which is it.

[Don La Greca]

But also not to play into the hands of a lot of Yankee fans. More so than do they have the right manager. It then becomes, all right, what about the gm?

[Alan Hahn]

Don't get me started because let's be fair.

[Don La Greca]

You know, this is the team that they reimagined after losing Soto.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

All right, they pivoted and we compliment.

[Alan Hahn]

It has been roses. Yep.

[Don La Greca]

Going out and getting Bellinger, going out and getting Goldschmidt. Jazz was a great acquisition. I think he's going to be great at third base.

[Alan Hahn]

D.J.

[Don La Greca]

Lemay, who's hit since he came off the IL and you've got, you know, guys like Wells and Rice and Dominguez, young kids that otherwise would be landlocked, getting a chance to play.

[Alan Hahn]

What's going to happen to Rice now? Does he become a catcher? Like what? You know, like there's a lot of little things too with the stand edition not to go off track, but I'm just saying there's no. There's some roster stuff here. Not also keep an eye on.

[Don La Greca]

But when you look at the roster and you say, all right, this team doesn't seem to hit unless Judge is hitting. Well, you just lost Soto. You replaced it with Bellinger and Goldschmidt. Like I said, Goldschmidt's been good, you know, but he's the guy that. He's got seven home runs. All right, Bellinger's got, you know, nine home runs. That's good. But you're being carried by judge, who's got 26, Grisham's got 13. But a lot of that happened earlier in the year. Grisham's going to come back down to earth. So then it just becomes, all right, how good is this team supposed to be? Alan, you know, when they don't hit, but are they loaded with offensive players? You know, when you've got guys like, you know, Peraza playing, you know, Vivas was good when he got called up, was doing some things. Cabrera, you know, DJ LeMay, who I think is cooked, but at least he came back from the ILS giving you something. But you could also look at this roster and say, all right, well, how much are they supposed to hit? What's Wells back of his baseball card? What's Rice's back of the baseball card? Volpe's only in his third year, like, so I think there's a lot of things to hand out. Peter, to answer your question about when does Boone's head roll?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't want.

[Don La Greca]

It's like I don't want it to roll. Where are they?

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't say I wanted it to roll. But it does get frustrating that year in and year out, this sort of thing just continues to linger within the, within the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And there's nothing you can change.

[Alan Hahn]

But think about it. When even with some of the players you've changed like it used to be, well, Glaber's lazy or Gary's lazy or you know, like you think, oh, maybe it's just those guys, but it just seems to still be there. And that's when I come back to that old phrase, you're either coaching or allowing it to happen. It's a real question.

[Don La Greca]

But you just wonder, is this team going to be able to win the World Series? That's your wit. Every Yankee fan wants when you play like that.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know at any moment you could play like that. And a team knows how to expose that. I think that's a fair question to.

[Don La Greca]

Ask at the roster. Do you see a championship caliber team?

[Alan Hahn]

Now you just told me the east is easy and they should roll through.

[Don La Greca]

I think that's why they got to the American League last year. But I still believe a lot of Yankee fans kill me. They lost to a better team. The Dodgers were a better team. Did the Yankees play poorly? Yes, it's how they gave it away in the fifth inning. I understand that. But still they didn't just give it.

[Alan Hahn]

Away in the fifth inning, they gave it away in game one. They gave it away like it wasn't just one game that they gave it away. You felt like in the series it should have been a better series.

[Don La Greca]

You talk about managers and teams that can expose that. Well, sometimes just having a better team is like, listen, when you're going up against a team that's better than you, you better play perfect baseball. And they didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

And they all be just overthinking and bringing Nestor Cortez.

[Don La Greca]

Well, right.

[Alan Hahn]

Like it's little things like that.

[Don La Greca]

Little things like that. But you know, it wasn't, it wasn't self inflicted. You know, it wasn't just anybody who hit the home run, it was Freddie Freeman. Because the Dodgers gonna expose you. Yes, because they're gonna have big hitters. So whenever you make a mistake, it's gonna be catastrophic. So that's the problem is, is the team good enough? I know you hold them To a different standard because it's the New York Yankees. But when you look at this roster, do you say this is a championship club? Rodan's come back down to earth. Freeman's been out of his mind. No question. And obviously not having Cole is gonna hurt.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Louis heel, by the way. Still not back. Probably won't see him till. What do you think?

[Don La Greca]

That's part of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Injuries are part of it, but they haven't. Starting pitching has been fine. Like they. That has not been a major issue.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Has Will Warren had a couple of, you know, hiccups? Yes. You know, you expect it the bottom of the rotation, but the top rotation's been fine. I know Freed had one bad outing. You know, ever since I've. By the way, I mean, how about that? Ever since. Ever since I said, Radon has, like, been fantastic this year. He's been garbage. The last.

[Don La Greca]

Something about it. And again, we had Jeff Crasson on a month ago, and I swear to God.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Anthony can look it up. That Holmes has given up a home run in every single outing since Jeff passed. No, he had to give out a home run. The brother. Literally every out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Literally.

[Alan Hahn]

It's true.

[Don La Greca]

Literal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, yes. Look it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have we brought that up with Jeff?

[Alan Hahn]

We haven't had him.

[Don La Greca]

We haven't had him yet. No. I got a lot. I got a lot to bring up with Jeff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, what. What else going on?

[Don La Greca]

Nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don La Greca]

The bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, baseball. No, because I think that problem.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I'm a yo yo when it comes to books, right? So I read the history of the Cleveland Barons, which was all of two years big. The California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland. It was a disaster for two years. And then they folded. And after the 78 season. So I'm reading the book.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Alan Hahn]

Stay with it. Stay with it.

[Don La Greca]

So they keep referring to one of the two beat guys that covered the Barons for the Cleveland. I believe it was Dealer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's the one.

[Don La Greca]

His name was Rich Passen.

[Alan Hahn]

Rich Passen.

[Don La Greca]

So I looked. I just decided to Google Jeff Passon. Jeff was born in Cleveland.

[Alan Hahn]

And then I started.

[Don La Greca]

That has to be his dad. Absolutely has to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not his dad.

[Don La Greca]

No, I want to just confirm. I believe it is his dad, but I want to get it from the horse's mouth. I want to find out if it really is from him. But how cool is that? I know. It's like sometimes my yo yo Reading Bears some. Some interesting facts.

[Alan Hahn]

Usually yo Reading does that that Jeff passes.

[Don La Greca]

Dad covered the Cleveland barons in the mid-70s.

[Alan Hahn]

Tremendous. I told you that. I told you it was worth it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Would the timeline work? The timeline.

[Don La Greca]

Timeline works. It absolutely works.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

So I want to bring that up. Can we get you.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's get Jeff on.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, let's get Jeff on at some point.

[Alan Hahn]

Quick hotline, Jeff Passion. Five minutes, 10 minutes tops.

[Don La Greca]

I'll get him on today. I'm not scared of him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm texting him right now. Don has a question for you.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go.

[Don La Greca]

You do this on the air.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm not gonna give it away.

[Don La Greca]

I could have. I could have text him. I could have went, but will you. He was.

[Alan Hahn]

Why don't you just get him on?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He just wrote.

[Don La Greca]

Shoot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said he wants. I'll say he wants to ask him.

[Alan Hahn]

Say, call in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I know what the hell I'm doing. They don't give these jobs to Chip.

[Don La Greca]

Get him on at 345.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He wants to ask you.

[Don La Greca]

Well, no, he was on with Barton Carlin two hours ago. I'm not scared of that. I'm not. You know what? Let's. Let's find out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't care?

[Don La Greca]

No. Because it's going to be a better interview. No, Carlin's a great. Because it's three against one. Because Bart didn't ask a question. You don't know that. I don't know, but I feel good about my answer. Is that all right?

[Alan Hahn]

If he did, Was it about Dom Smith?

[Don La Greca]

Dom Smith's a giant now. I mean, the guy's charging around all.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a ramp. But that Bart's. Bart's Bart. Baseball questions usually involve Dom Smith.

[Don La Greca]

Does he know that he's now a giant?

[Alan Hahn]

Probably now he does. If he asked Jeff Passen, he knows.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't know passen was on two hours ago.

[Alan Hahn]

That's okay. He can call in for 10 minutes.

[Don La Greca]

I just want to talk to him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

McCrispy strips are now at McDonald's. I hope you're ready for the most dippable chicken in McDonald's history. Dip it in all the sauces. Dip it in that hot sauce in your bag. Dip it in your McFlurry. Your dip is your business. McCrispy strips at McDonald's. Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down.

[Alan Hahn]

So to help us, we brought in.

[Don La Greca]

A reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a.

[Alan Hahn]

Thing Mint Mobile unlimited premium wireless. 30, 30. Better get 30. Better get 20. 20, 20 get 20. 20 get 15. 15, 15, 15. Just 15 bucks a month.

[Don La Greca]

So give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of 45 for three months. Plan equivalent to 15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy, taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com thanks for listening to.

[Alan Hahn]

The Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tupac's birthday, as I interrupt you, he died. He died at 25. And he died in 97.

[Don La Greca]

97. So it was 48.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. No, 53. Right. 28 years ago. Is that right? 53.

[Don La Greca]

That's right. Born in 71. So he'd be 54. Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He'll be 53 on Saturday.

[Alan Hahn]

We're the same age. You and Pac with birthdays very near each other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very near each other. I think of you as very Pac, like very Pac. A revolutionary in many ways.

[Alan Hahn]

White Pac.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I've heard you get that nickname before. White PAC.

[Don La Greca]

Let's go to the phones. 1, 800, 9.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His PAC, your PAC.

[Don La Greca]

Steven's out in California. You get us started here at Don on Rosenberg. What's up, man? How are you, buddy?

[E]

Good. First on caller. Thanks for taking my call.

[Don La Greca]

Always.

[E]

Hey, question for you. I'm a big. I'm just in a suburb of San Francisco, so I'm a big San Francisco Giants fan. So just curious to see how this trade to get Rafi Devers positions. The Giants moving forward, can they compete with LA? Is it still LA's to lose for the division, but seems like this is a big win for the Giants, given what they gave up. And then my second question was, what is Boston's angle on this? You're half a game out of the wild card. It seems like you had some momentum sweeping the Yankees. You just call up all these big prospects, you trade. Now your best player. Was this a move by Boston just to kind of clear the books?

[Don La Greca]

Well, apparently he didn't want to play for them.

[Alan Hahn]

Clear the headache.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, he was a headache because he hated the fact that Bregman was playing third. Now my question to you is, well, what's Chapman going to do? He's playing third with San Francisco. So is it just going to be a change of scenery or is he going to end up being a pain in the butt for San Francisco down the road?

[E]

Yeah, that's a good question. Well, Chapman's out for a month. I think he'll come back. He'll still play third. He's your. He's a fiver. But I think Flores, who's their DH or kind of a hybrid, either he sits on the bench and then Beverage plays first or he dhs.

[Don La Greca]

Well, as long as he's happy. But it just came down to San Francisco was able to add the salary and they could be competitive. I mean, the Dodgers, Ohtani is going to pitch tonight, so that's going to certainly help their rotation. Padres have had a tough start. Giants are good. I don't think they're as good as the Dodgers. But you want to try to make the playoffs, Stephen. And I think Devers is going to help do that. Now, my question is, a month from now when Chapman comes back, is this going to be an issue? But I guess the Giants feel like it doesn't matter. They're going to make it work. I don't think Chapman's going to move off a third just like Bregman was going to move off a third. We'll talk to Passing about this at some point because Peter is actually producing the show. It's pretty interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm working.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm working on hard.

[Don La Greca]

I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got you.

[Alan Hahn]

But wasn't interesting when you heard the trade, though, Don. It's got to be a part of you that was not surprised.

[Don La Greca]

No, not surprised. Just because I knew how he was.

[Alan Hahn]

Not only they were sick of his act.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, done.

[Alan Hahn]

Which is amazing because he's actually a really popular Guy, like, it's a nice. I know, but they, The Red Sox as an organization were just, like, fed up with, like, we just gave you a ton of money, but we showed a commitment to you. Why are you showing a commitment to us?

[Don La Greca]

And he's like, well, because he wanted to play third. Like, now. That's why. San Francisco might be different because Chapman's already the incumbent third baseman. So maybe Devers doesn't have a kick coming, but he felt like, hey, I want to be the third baseman. Why'd you go to get him? And I blame the Red Sox in a sense of, well, he's a really good player. I'm not saying you got to run things by him, but if you knew he was going to be that unhappy to the point where in June you have to trade him away, right? You got to be happy. As a Yankee fan, he's gone. Oh, my God. Like, the balls are. Seeing him plays the Yankees, it's crazy, maddening. Nick in Emerson. You're on ESPN New York. Hi, Nick.

[E]

Hey, boys. How you guys doing today?

[Alan Hahn]

Great, buddy.

[E]

Good. Good. Don, shout out to Hawthorne. I'm from Bergen County. Love it.

[Don La Greca]

Right? What are you, like Kinderkamack Road? That's my Emerson information.

[E]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

You close today.

[E]

Literally, kinder, come back right off it. Right off it. I. I live down in Freehold now, but I always shout out my hometown, so I say I'm from Emerson. And nobody knows where Emerson is, so I always.

[Don La Greca]

I know where it is on Kinderkamak Road. As my. I was. I was heading to Fritz Dietzel's over in Westwood.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Don La Greca]

And it used to be there. So that's how I got my dad in the snack stand back there. Probably way before you were born, but so that. So I know exactly where it is now.

[E]

How young do you think I am, Don?

[Don La Greca]

Come on. I would guess you're 43.

[E]

I'm 32. So I appreciate it.

[Don La Greca]

So you don't have any knowledge of what I'm saying. Believe me, I hear you.

[E]

I hear you loud and clear. So I just want to get to a point. I'll let you guys go. And you're on a great role today. Great, Great start to a Monday.

[Don La Greca]

I.

[E]

When. Don, you and Peter were always very vocal about us Yankee fans wanting this regime. This regime they've been here for. For how long? To be accountable. Why is it that we have a 320 million dollar payroll and we still have all these holes in a roster? We are getting embarrassed in Fenway and letting them. Letting the Boston Red Sox, our biggest rivalry back into their season.

[Don La Greca]

Literally.

[E]

Let him walk right back into it. I don't care. They traded Deborahs. We got. We went to Boston, got embarrassed. Alan Boone is gonna sit there. Oh, don't even. You know what, guys? I'm gonna be calm, cool, collected when I talk about Aaron Boone because let me tell you, that guy, everything he says in a post game press conference makes me sick. Oh, he's right there. He's doing this. Anthony Vulping, an embarrassment. He's three years in. Don, you were talking about. Oh, Yankee fans think he's going to be good. No, I already. I've seen enough. He's 400 plus games in. He is nothing. This team is going nowhere. No accountability. Cashman's been there how long? Does nothing with this much of a payroll boom. Sorry, Don. Go ahead.

[Don La Greca]

No, I was going to say that. What Peter and I would always tell Michael when this conversation would happen, is that held accountable for what? Like, why do you think this organization believes things are bad? They're in first place. The building is full every single night. I just think. And I'm all, I don't know any information. I don't have any inside dope. I mean, all I go by is what I see. And when I see a general manager and a manager keep their jobs forever, I have to assume that management or ownership believes they're doing a good job. So you're talking championships. You're talking about championship or bust. I'm sure if we had Al Steinbrenner on, he would probably agree with you because he's not disrespectful. But at the end of the day, he look and go, we're in first place. We just went to the World Series last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so annoying.

[Don La Greca]

Why? Why is everybody freaking out?

[Alan Hahn]

You know what?

[Don La Greca]

Freaking out. Because, Hal, your dad said second place was first loser. And this team continues to fall short and these guys keep their jobs. So I can only assume that Hal believes they're doing their job.

[Alan Hahn]

And here's where I push back on that. Because they're in first place. They just went to the World Series. They have the best player in the sport, and they're in a division where they're not challenged like they used to be.

[Don La Greca]

Right? And the league. I don't think the league really.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't you think that's the bigger issue? Why? Why did I say there's really no sizzle with the Red Sox? Series is. No, there wasn't great anticipation. Now, that series is more annoying than Anything else because of the way the Red Sox can't beat anybody, but yet they make the Yankee. They pound the Yankees like it's 2004. I'm just. What I'm saying is, is I don't think they have a rival in the American League like that we've seen in the past, whether it's the Astros, the Rays or the. Especially the Red Sox. A team that could spend at their level, that had stars at their level that you knew. You always were checking box scores, you were always checking the scoreboard. How the Red Sox do, how the Red Sox do. You don't do that anymore because they don't win. So it makes it easier and it takes the pressure off. So, yeah, it's great. You're dominating, but you're dominating without competition. That's the problem. And I think that's what a lot of Yankee fans recognize, is that it's. It feels superficial, doesn't it?

[Don La Greca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

It feels superficial.

[Don La Greca]

Now General Maniac says Yankees aren't good. Dude, I know you want to be nice to your Yankee co host and Michael K listeners, but come on, bro.

[Alan Hahn]

That's that. I mean, that's two different things. Now we're saying, you know, to say they're not good is also.

[Don La Greca]

That's the thing that I don't think they're good enough, but let's just say they're not good enough. Is that when you look at this roster, is it good enough to win a championship?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I thought maybe they had enough. I thought maybe they had enough with Cole and, you know, and Max Freed and even a redone, like, maybe there's an heel, there's enough there as starters to win. That's what it felt like. And then judge if they can get stand if Volpe can grow a year. Like, it's little ifs that you wanted to see this year. They are a good baseball team, but are they a championship level baseball team? And my answer is, I don't know. But series like the Red Sox where. All right, I know they're not good, but it's the Red Sox. You want to see guys who are wearing pinstripes go, let's kick their ass. Like, we know the whole. We know everybody's watching. We know the bigger audiences this weekend. Let's go up to Fenway and knock them around.

[Don La Greca]

But that's not. They don't play like that. I understand that, but that's still.

[Alan Hahn]

The Dodgers series was the same thing. Send a freaking message. They were mocking.

[Don La Greca]

Now the thing is the Dodgers are better I'm sorry. The Dodgers are better than the Yankees are. The Red Sox are not. See, that's why I have to kind of calm down off the weekend. Because when it's all said and done, I don't care how you feel about the Yankees. They're better than the Red Sox.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand, but things like do happen. No, but, Don, that's. The point is that's what you wanted to see from this team after last year. Getting as close as they got where you could taste it and then being mocked, embarrassed, laughed at, all that stuff. You became the butt of jokes coming into this season. And, okay, you could have a bad series against the White Sox, right? It just happens. But when you're playing these teams. No, no. These teams are statement series.

[Don La Greca]

It's funny, Peter. I don't let it bother me because these people are just trying to get my goat. With all the information that you have about me, this radio station and Mike.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know everything you need to know.

[Don La Greca]

How much did it ultimately benefit me if I kissed Michael's ass and did everything Michael said? Like, all these people are like, oh, you're just saying this stuff because you know your buddy Michael. You don't want Michael to be mad. Like, Michael on my side does exactly what for me, Help me out. When I agree with Michael, when I agree with him, I disagree with him. I disagree with him. I don't. But like, all the people that think that whenever I defend the Yankees, it's to curry favor with Michael. I'm curious to know what's the end game for currying favor, at what point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'D think it would have happened prior to your show with him ending. At this point, it seems like I.

[Don La Greca]

Need My Name got on the show once he left. So you're talking about, like, an abusive relationship. Not that it was. It's just like, if I did a lot of fanny kissing to get Curry, Favreau, Michael, to help my career, it didn't do enough. I mean, my career has been fine, don't get me wrong, but very good. I don't think it worked. I wouldn't say that it worked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I don't.

[Don La Greca]

I think doing a good show helped. Like me actually being on the Michael Kay Show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What would they be mad at you?

[Don La Greca]

Because anytime I defend Michael for something or I defend the. It's like, oh, he's just kissing up them. I don't know why I would do that. Otherwise, I'd kiss up to anybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen.

[Don La Greca]

Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People also sometimes misconstrue because they're not very bright. The difference between kissing up to and supporting a friend.

[Don La Greca]

Supporting a friend or just happening to agree with him?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no. Don't you think both probably happen with Michael? Like there are times when you outright agree with him and there are probably other times when you feel like he's getting misconstrued and he's your friend and you go, no, I know the man. You're not seeing it.

[Don La Greca]

Right, Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But I, as a P1 listener before I came into this situation with you guys, is that I recall many times Don having it out with Michael.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Over stuff like this all the time. So I don't find this to be just a typical behavior of Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. And Don's not always on that side.

[Alan Hahn]

And by the way, just so whoever. That Yankee fan ones that tweeted you, you doing this pisses me off. It doesn't make me better. It doesn't make me feel better. Oh, thanks, Don. Thanks for patting me on that. No, because I think you're dead wrong.

[Don La Greca]

Right. Well, that's we're arguing about. That's good radio. I just. It comes to me as it comes to me. And that's what I'm gonna say.

[Alan Hahn]

Like you're being nice because you don't want to upset me. No, you're upsetting me. Cause you're saying something. I feel, but I do.

[Don La Greca]

Going into the season, I don't think this team is going to be able to win a World Series, but they could go to a World Series. Hey, I said it last year and Yankee fans jumped me. I said, if you ranked the best teams in baseball, the Yankees might have been fifth last year. Yeah. But they were lucky that they were still good enough to get to the World Series because the American League wasn't very good. So do you blame for that? You blame Boone for that? Brian Cashman for that? A lot of people to blame, but at the end of the day, to answer the call with accountability. I don't know if the Yankees are sitting in their ivory tower going, things are that bad? I really don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Otherwise that job.

[Don La Greca]

Producer Peter. Producer Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Where do we stand with Jeff Passon?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't have.

[Don La Greca]

It's on the phone with his sister.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think he's still talking to his sister.

[Don La Greca]

All right, so we'll get more of your calls eventually. Passing's gonna join us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We'll hear him, we'll hear from him.

[Don La Greca]

You're okay with this? You're okay with this? Anthony, Right? Someone's got a picture. Your job has been hijacked by one of your co hosts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

With a Venmo debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show? You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated Card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. This episode is brought to you by Polestar. There's only one true way to experience the all electric luxury SUV Polestar 3, and that's to take a test drive. It can go from 0 to 60 in as little as 4.8 seconds with the dynamic handling of a sports car. But to truly understand how it commands the road, you need to be behind the wheel up to 350 miles of range. The 3D surround sound system by Bowers and Wilkins. It's all something you have to experience to believe. So book your Test Drive for Polestar 3 [e-mail].

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don La Greca]

Back to the calls. 1-800-919-3776. Jeff Passon will join us hopefully momentarily.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't. I wouldn't say. Oh, you're good. You got his number. Anthony, he's ready for you.

[Don La Greca]

All right. As we call him. I really want to wait till 4 so we can get a nice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he said he told us he's available though, now.

[Don La Greca]

All right. Yeah, let's do it. Let's not give him 10 minutes.

[Alan Hahn]

Just 10 minutes.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, listen. You got it. You're right. Rodney in the Bronx. In the meantime, you're on ESPN New York.

[E]

Gentlemen, I love your show as always. You guys are my big brothers. I Love y' all.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[E]

You're the man. Freddie Kitchens and SNL has to happen. You guys are awesome. Of course, for Freddie. Freddie Kitchen. Listen, guys, I, I, I agree with you 100 on this. I personally think the most comfortable, two most comfortable people in baseball are Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman. There's nobody more comfortable. I could be in a suite with Juan Soto's family and not be as comfortable as those two guys. Those two guys are, you know, they're cruising right now because you guys said it. Buildings full. As long as Yankees have a winning record, it's all good. Oh, you know how it is every year, guys. Although the playoffs is a crapshoot, or the Brian Cashman special, as I call it. Every trade deadline, getting said player off the deadline is like trade making a big trade. I can literally script out the Yankee season every year. And Allen Hahn is 100% right. We've seen this movie play out over and over again, and we as Yankee fans are tired.

[Don La Greca]

It is.

[E]

And I'm almost numb to it.

[Don La Greca]

I'm almost, you know, Tom Thibodeau get fired losing in the conference final. Pete DeBoer getting fired after going to six of the last seven conference finals in the NHL and the same thing. Well, we just weren't good enough. But in Yankee land, it's more than good enough. Jeff Passon joins us, of course, our very own. And this is a Peter production, so we do appreciate it, Jeff. Thank you. How's your sister doing?

[Jeff Passan]

It's her birthday today.

[Don La Greca]

Okay. Seems to agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know, it's funny. The reason that we're actually talking to you, it relates to family, your family. Jeff.

[Jeff Passan]

I have no idea where.

[Don La Greca]

I've been dying to talk to you about this. I've actually tried to get you while you were on hold to go on with Michael, but the timing just wasn't right. I just got done because I'm a sick hockey fan reading a book about the history of the Cleveland Barons which lasted for exactly two years. And it did not go well. Either of the too but referenced throughout the book. Somebody that covered the Cleveland Barons during their entire tenure in Cleveland was an individual by the name of Rich Passen. And we have learned that that was your dad. And I think that is the coolest thing. Can you confirm this?

[Jeff Passan]

Confirmed. My father started working, started working at the Cleveland Plain dealer back in 19, I think November of 1963 and didn't retire until 2004. So he worked at the newspaper for 41 years covering a multitude of things. But Chief among them was hockey and it was Crusaders. It was Barons. He went shopping with Bjorn Borg at a local mall and he knew Gordie Howe and Stan Makita and just that like he covered pretty much everything.

[Don La Greca]

Well, listen, I just, I wanted to just confirm it because it seemed like he was a wonderful guy and really knew the sport. And I didn't know if you ever followed hockey or cared about hockey at all, but the fact that he seemed to cover it as well as he did, I just, I thought it was pretty awesome and coincidental knowing you.

[Jeff Passan]

Yeah, it, you know, because the Barons moved away and because the only hockey we had in Cleveland was like not even good minor league hockey was like the Cleveland Lumberjacks, I think they were called. And they didn't come around until I believe like 1994 or so. I just was not raised in a hockey rich culture and the advent of, you know, nationalized or national nationally televised games being available all the time. You know, the most hockey I could see was like when it was on espn, like the, the glow puck. That was sort of, that was kind of my introduction to hockey. I, I love playoff hockey. I like, I treat hockey and soccer very similarly. Like regular season games, they're fine. Like I'll watch them if they're on. And if there's nothing else on postseason though, I am all over it.

[Don La Greca]

That's so funny.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's exactly how I treat baseball. Jeff.

[Jeff Passan]

That's okay. Hey, listen, we get to write our, our own script for sports fandom. And I do not begrudge anybody his or her choice on what he or she watches. Because we all have lives, we all have family, we all have things that constrain our time. And if you, if you're going to go out of your way to watch.

[Alan Hahn]

Something, I applaud you while we have you, Jeff. You know how we play this game on shows like get up and First Take where it's like bad sign or just a bad game. Right? We have those like little. Which is it? I want to ask you then about the Yankees weekend in Boston and what it looked like and how we saw some evidence of that team from last year and really years past, the, you know, the self inflicted wounds, mistakes, bad at bats, stuff like that. Never mind the judge stuff. He's allowed to have a bad weekend. But because it's five straight losses to a Boston team that wasn't really supposed to be good, then they just traded Devers. They did not look good against the Dodgers either. Are we looking at this as a bad sign? Or is this weekend just kind of a bad series?

[Jeff Passan]

I think we're looking at this as just the rhythms of a baseball season and when you play good teams. And I think the Red Sox are a good team. I don't think they're a great team. I don't think they're as good as the Yankees. I especially don't think they're as good as the Yankees without Rafael Devers. But I think the Yankees are allowed to have a few off games without us panicking. And perhaps this is like, it's interesting. As a sports writer, I avoid trying to make picks as much as I can because I know for all the knowledge I might have from talking with players, talking with coaches, executives, people around the game, having done this for, you know, 23 years now, like, I know a good bit about baseball, but I don't know enough to know how a season is going to turn out. And this year I did not pick the Yankees to, to make the postseason. And the Yankees were in, in town here in Kansas City last week. And Aaron Boone let me know from across the room, by the way, so everyone could hear, just in case. I think I was just walking back from Aaron Judge's locker and I locked eyes with, with Boonie, who I've, I've known for a while now. And yeah, he let me have it and I wore it because I, I deserve to. You know, part, part of the job is making picks and when you get them wrong, you're gonna hear it from people. So I am not going to be smirched. The Yankees, at this point, I think their lineup is too deep. I think their starting pitching has performed far better than I anticipated. I think they're a sounder team fundamentally than they were last year. And I think once Luke Weaver comes back, their bullpen is going to be problems. Problem in a good way. So, yeah, there are little things to improve upon here and there, but I don't think this team needs a huge deadline facelift necessarily to go back to the World Series. And once you're there, guys, it's really just a crapshoot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, before we let you go, we appreciate you jumping on with us. Impromptu. Jeff, I'm told that this is not the first time that my name has come up in your orbit today. Apparently something was said during our midday program with Chris Carlin and Bart. Let's hear what this sounded like.

[Don La Greca]

They don't have the 247 championship anymore, do they?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Jeff Passan]

They have retired that.

[Don La Greca]

I think they probably decided to retire.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When Peter Rosenberg won it for 24 hours.

[Don La Greca]

It's like, all right, we've jumped the shark. It's time to go.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow. Shots fired.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You didn't attempt to defend me or anything, did you, Jeff? You just laid out.

[Jeff Passan]

No, because you're a jobber, bro. You didn't deserve to wear a belt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. Talk about. Hold on. First of all, it just shows your fundamental lack of understanding of the business. Jobbers don't hold championships, Jeff. I'm not a jobber.

[Jeff Passan]

That's my point, Peter.

[Don La Greca]

That's why you didn't deserve.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's your fundamental misunderstanding of the biz. I'm a champion. You're misunderstanding. I've had one match. Well, two matches. I'm one for two.

[Don La Greca]

And your move is. Hey, there's John Cena.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Followed by a nutshot. But it got the job done.

[Don La Greca]

Bart's all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, Chris is always looking for a shot at me. It's unbelievable.

[Don La Greca]

Well, you've taken your fair share shots of him as well, usually in response. Cholesterol Carlin, I think you called him. We love Cholesterol Carlin.

[Alan Hahn]

What I love here is that Jeff stayed true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

He. And did not try to just appeal to you. No.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. You didn't deserve it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, he's wrong. I earned it. Calorie Carlin.

[Don La Greca]

This wasn't a formal. So many calories in a day. I just needed to get answers. Thank you for taking the time to give us a couple of minutes, and we'll do a more formal interview down the road with you. Thank you so much.

[Jeff Passan]

You know what? Since you brought up my father, who passed last May, I'm gonna make a very quick request. There's something coming up in his honor that I would like to come back on the show and talk about at some point.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, please. Definitely.

[Jeff Passan]

I hope you will allow me to do that.

[Don La Greca]

Definitely. And again, my condolences. I did not know it as recently as that, so I'm sure yesterday being Father's Day Day was tough. So my condolences. And it sounded like he was an amazing man, and he certainly was able to produce an amazing person in yourself. So anything you need from us, let us know.

[Jeff Passan]

Thank you, boys. If you were around yesterday, he would have said, why didn't you break the Devers trade?

[Don La Greca]

That's why you're as great as you are. Thanks, Jeff. Thanks, Jeff. Have a good one. That's Jeff passing. I just had to get that. That's pretty cool, man. And listen, I know you guys make fun of me for the, the books that I read. But that was a, that was a cool thing to just see. I had no idea that his dad was, was a right and in here he, we worked the work the beat forever.

[Alan Hahn]

40, 40 plus years. Years. That's pretty fantastic.

[Don La Greca]

That's pretty amazing.

[Alan Hahn]

And I love the fact that it is true. Why didn't you break the Devers deal?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That's literally like if there was one thing he would say if you got to meet him on Father's Day, that's what we say. Which is difficult, right? Typical.

[Don La Greca]

1-800-919-3776 got an NFL binge coming up at 4:36. You're on Don Hunter Rosenberg on ESPN New York. And I got to tell you about Mazda. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers Choose Ramsey Mazda. Lisa 2025 Mazda CX30 All Wheel Drive Only 239 for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com. choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title and registration. Zero security deposit. Fin SM 823053 MSRP 27,130 and 63025.

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN WHSQ and WCBS FM HD2 New York A good karma Brands radio station. Thanks for listening to Madan, Han and Rosen podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.