Hour 1: Baseball Parity

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Baseball Parity Release Date: July 14, 2025

Hosts:

• Don Hahn – ESPN New York and New Jersey legend
• Peter Rosenberg – Highly opinionated Hip Hop veteran and WWE personality

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Introduction to Baseball Parity

In the inaugural hour of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg delve into the current landscape of Major League Baseball, focusing on the increasing parity within the league. Released mid-season on July 14, 2025, this episode provides insightful analysis into the shifting dynamics that make the postseason anyone's game.

All-Star Weekend Overview

The discussion kicks off with reflections on the ongoing All-Star Weekend, emphasizing the appeal of the Home Run Derby over other major sports' All-Star events.

Peter Rosenberg (01:24):
"Tonight is the only watchable All Star event that we have of our four major sports."

Don Hahn (02:38):
"It is, but it still doesn't make it ultra watchable."

The hosts critique the lackluster nature of other sports' All-Star games, highlighting the Home Run Derby's relative excitement due to its straightforward showcase of talent.

The Rise of Parity in Baseball

Moving beyond the All-Star festivities, Don and Peter examine how parity is reshaping baseball. They argue that the absence of dominant teams leads to a more unpredictable and competitive environment.

Peter Rosenberg (11:50):
"This is parody. I think it lowers the bar."

Don Hahn (13:12):
"No, but it is funny."

They discuss how parity allows more teams to vie for playoff spots, making the league more engaging but also potentially diluting the competitive edge traditionally seen with powerhouse teams.

Team Analysis: Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Tigers

A significant portion of the conversation centers on New York's iconic franchises—the Yankees and the Mets—alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers.

Yankees: The Yankees are scrutinized for their inconsistencies, particularly their struggles against top-tier pitching.

Peter Rosenberg (04:35):
"As a Yankees fan, I need a break because they have just continued to be that team that I get drawn in on some nights."

Don Hahn (05:57):
"The last three Yankee series wins have come against Baltimore, the A's, and most recently the Mariners. The Mariners are above .500 barely."

Mets: The Mets are portrayed as a team on the rise, bolstered by a strengthening rotation and improved bullpen.

Peter Rosenberg (09:50):
"But I think they're just catching baseball right now. That no shade towards Detroit, but I'll believe it when I see it."

Dodgers: Even the Dodgers, reigning World Series champions, are not immune to scrutiny, particularly regarding their bullpen's reliability.

Don Hahn (14:46):
"There are no team outside of Detroit that's 21 games above .500."

Tigers: The Detroit Tigers emerge as the standout team, leading the league with an impressive 21-game advantage, though recent losses cast a shadow of doubt over their postseason potential.

Don Hahn (31:21):
"And the Tigers are the favorite of +250 at least according to ESPN BET."

Betting Odds and Implications

The hosts explore the betting odds for various divisions and the World Series, using them as a barometer for team confidence and expected performance.

Peter Rosenberg (26:37):
"The Phillies are at minus 140, do not believe in the Mets that much."

Don Hahn (32:24):
"The Phillies are at plus 475 and then the Mets and the Cubs are both plus 550."

They highlight the disparity between public perception and actual team performance, suggesting that many franchises are vying for postseason relevance without clear frontrunners.

Trade Deadline Strategies

A critical segment addresses potential strategies moving towards the trade deadline, particularly focusing on the Yankees' approach to balancing current success with future prospects.

Peter Rosenberg (19:03):
"Am I crazy to say that? I don't want to see them mortgage some of the future for a piece that is a plug and play."

Don Hahn (20:35):
"Remember, you're already going through. When you talk about the future, the Yankees are always gonna be a contender."

The conversation underscores the tension between acquiring veteran talent to secure immediate wins and preserving young prospects for sustained success.

Listener Calls and Perspectives

Midway through the hour, Don and Peter engage with listener calls, offering diverse viewpoints on the season's unpredictability and team performances.

Listener Mike (42:06):
"Baseball is so unpredictable this year because... you never know what Derek School had a bad performance, but never know what is going to happen."

Peter Rosenberg (44:11):
"Some fans are a little too emotional and don't view the growing pains of young players."

These interactions reinforce the theme of a league in flux, where fan expectations often clash with the evolving realities of team dynamics.

Conclusion: Embracing the Unpredictability

As the episode wraps up, Don and Peter reflect on the beauty of baseball's unpredictability, embracing the notion that a more balanced league leads to more exciting and unforeseen outcomes.

Don Hahn (37:09):
"They’re both in the top seven odds of winning the whole damn game."

Peter Rosenberg (37:12):
"This is what everybody wants."

The hosts conclude that while parity presents challenges in identifying clear favorites, it ultimately enriches the sport by leveling the playing field and keeping fans engaged throughout the season.

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Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg (01:24):
  "Tonight is the only watchable All Star event that we have of our four major sports."

• Don Hahn (05:57):
  "The last three Yankee series wins have come against Baltimore, the A's, and most recently the Mariners."

• Peter Rosenberg (11:50):
  "This is parody. I think it lowers the bar."

• Don Hahn (32:24):
  "The Phillies are at plus 475 and then the Mets and the Cubs are both plus 550."

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Final Thoughts:

"Hour 1: Baseball Parity" offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of MLB, highlighting the shift towards a more balanced and unpredictable league. Through expert commentary and engaging discussions, Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the factors driving this transformation, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the baseball season.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Richard Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Richard Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Richard Rosenberg]

Visit BrooksRunning.com today to learn more.

[Don Hahn]

Don, I was fighting with obesity. I wore.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You were losing. Don. Don.

[Peter]

Peter. Thank you, Alan. I hope you make the team.

[Don Hahn]

And Rosenberg, Richard, have you ever heard of brazzers?

[Richard Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota.

[Richard Rosenberg]

This is New York. This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

App 300 one of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you until 7 o'. Clock. So that's full front week later on tonight, the Home Run Derby tomorrow, the All Star game. So we will not see any official baseball until Friday, but we hit the unofficial second half of the baseball season coming up. How are you, sir?

[Richard Rosenberg]

I'm good. As I've said, tonight is the only watchable All Star event that we have of our four major sports.

[Don Hahn]

That's it.

[Richard Rosenberg]

It's the only watchable Home Run Derby is compelling because of the fact that it's just, it's, you know, it's bombs, it's home runs. It's like, it's just something fun about it. Does it get redundant? It does, but as we get closer to a champion, you get pay more attention to it. The slam dunk contest sucks. We all know hockey, they cannot figure it out. Whatever it is that's going on with hockey, they can't figure it out. And football, God help you if you even watch that. Whatever that's supposed to be. Pro bowl, but I don't. I know, but I don't know why. So when you put it all together and the games aren't fun to watch anymore either. Even, even the All Star baseball game, I had some people trying to tell me on social media that the baseball game, the game itself is better. Is it? It's, it's, it's a showcase. Yes, it's fun. It used to be fun because there wasn't as much movement and there wasn't American League, National League, crossover. So a lot of times it was kind of fun to see stars aligning and playing together. What that would look like double play combination of superstars that will never be teammates and then facing other pitchers or batters from the other league. That's the fun part, that's all gone now. So I'm just saying that if there's anything watchable out of the four major sports for All Star Weekend tonight. Is it?

[Don Hahn]

It is, but it still doesn't make it ultra watchable. Now, the baseball All Star Game works because it's the closest facsimile of the game. You might see the game end 4, 3, and it'll be played in the fashion that a regular season game will be played. NBA All Star Game. The final score is, you know, like 180 to 175. It's ridiculous. Nobody's playing any defense whatsoever.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Right. That's true hockey.

[Don Hahn]

Same thing when they. I like the format that they went to now with the. With the three on three and all that, but back in the day, well, it's better than a 10, nine final. And nobody's hitting, nobody's checking, nobody cares.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I get that. But I also just. I. I don't. I do not find that watch.

[Don Hahn]

And the Pro bowl was a joke. You allowed the blitz and it just.

[Richard Rosenberg]

It.

[Don Hahn]

You're not getting the sport.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Don Hahn]

And now it's. Now I don't even know why anybody would watch it. But still, as somebody that consumes as much baseball as we do, it's nice sometimes having a break and watching the game will probably be just because. What else are you going to watch? Yeah, most of the networks are giving you, you know, celebrity Family Feud or it's going to be, you know, match game 25. It's going to be something like that or reruns or whatever. So, you know, that's why I think that the ratings are better than the other summer league is because you got no competition, it's the middle of the summer. Whatever, you got to have something on. And I like the idea that everybody gets to play on Friday and then we restart. But for me, especially a fan of the Mets and you a fan of the Yankees, I'm anxious to get the second half going here because there's going to be a lot of fun baseball to be played. So I'm kind of like, it's nice to have the break, but at the same time, I'm having fun watching games that are meaningful. I can't get all pumped up to watch an exhibition. And tonight, all right, the Home Run Derby, maybe the kids like it. It's fun compared to the slam dunk or as you said, whatever skills competition the NHL wants to put up. But it's still not compelling to me.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't care. Yeah. All right. Well, it's not drawing yet. So you said you can't wait for the second half. I. I say what you said at the very beginning. As a Yankees fan, I need a break because they have just continued to be that team that I get drawn in on some nights. And then other nights I keep saying, seat. There it is. There it is again. Can't hit good pitching. This whole lineup gets shut down when they face good pitching.

[Don Hahn]

They struggle against teams.

[Richard Rosenberg]

There's something about them in the getaway game as well. You see that stat. Anthony had that stat. Again, we got into so many fun conversations. Yeah, yeah. But we got into so many fun conversations that before the show that I did not get a chance to bring this up to you. And Anthony just said it in my ear while I was trying to look for it, because he did text it to me and he just said it in my ear. But there was bigger context on this, and now I can't find it. Say it again in my ear. Well, they were. They're one in seven over the last eight years. In the last game before the All Star.

[Don Hahn]

Before the All Star break. Yeah, I did see that stat.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Does that bother you?

[Don Hahn]

Well, just that last day of school kind of mentality. Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't like that.

[Don Hahn]

Or is it just kind of coincidence?

[Richard Rosenberg]

That's what I'm trying to ask. I don't know if it is or.

[Don Hahn]

Isn'T, because they'd also have it. I don't have the stat in front of me. You know, as a Yankee fan, like, if they win the first two games of a series, it's almost the fate of complete. They're going to lose the last game of the series. Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Since that's the one that got me. That's what I was trying to find since 2017. Because obviously last year, Gerardi. And you're missing. You're missing a year there because there was no All Star.

[Don Hahn]

Brian.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Because I wanted to make sure I had that all correct because my math wasn't math and nobody wants to do math. What does that tell you, though? But look, I'm not trying to make a lot of it, but it is. It is that. Are guys just like, all right, get me out of here. Checked out. It's just coincidence.

[Don Hahn]

It just could be. It's not that great. A sample size and some great Yankee team.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Eight years.

[Don Hahn]

Eight years.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Eight years. A lot.

[Don Hahn]

Especially with the same manager losing seven of them. You know, I think is what's more disturbing, honestly. Forget about the past, because who cares about what happened in the past? It's about the present is that the Yankee. The last three Yankee series wins have come against Baltimore, the A's, and most recently the Mariners. The Mariners are above.500 barely. All right, and then. But I don't think a great team by any stretch. And the other two teams aren't good. You know, Baltimore's not good, Sacramento's not good. And when the Yankees have played a tough opponent like the Mets, they lost the series this weekend against the Cubs. Cubs, one of the best teams in baseball, lost the series despite winning the first game. 11 nothing. Bellinger goes off. It's three home runs and then the offense completely disappears. Why? Because the pitching was good, much better. And that's the thing that worries you is that when you get to good pitching and this is what happens in the postseason, this is not a great offensive team. And then the flaws come out because then, you know, Volpe makes some decisions at shortstop that cost you. Why? Because you're in a one run game, you're in a tight game and then every mistake becomes magnified. 1, 1 game bang, 2 run home run games over because your offense isn't doing, giving you anything.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Don't you think it's too easy though, to just do that, to leave that game and the first thing you want to talk about is Volpe. That's like, that's what bothers me here. So we're going to, we're going to pick on the kid who obviously he, he's still struggling. He's trying to get himself right and we're going to go there and like put it all on his shoulders. When the offense was not good, holes in the swings are found by good pitchers. And I just like, that's why a month ago when I was being told to just chill out, it's too long a season. I kept saying, it's not how they got here. I'm sorry. It's not how they. It's not where they are, it's how they got here. And I don't like a lot of times what it looks like. It does look like a team that in a playoff series when you are facing great pitch pitching, that they're going to survive it.

[Don Hahn]

And the Mets are in a similar boat. All right, The Mets, bottom of the order is not great. They seem to find a groove. Like Friday, they got that big eighth inning or they look like they're on their way to losing that game. Three one, they have the big eighth inning, they win, they get the pitching, they win Saturday and then that was tough yesterday, they won the series against Kansas City. Nice bounce back. After losing the series against Baltimore, they get the big two run triple for McNeil in the ninth inning. Tie the game again. Another, you know, great closer that can't close out. Same thing with Scott with the, with the Dodgers, right? One of the better closers on a team that's supposed to win a championship. Has blown seven saves going into the All Star break. Crazy, right? But the Mets, you know, they give up the run. But mania looked great. Seven strikeouts over seven and a third. He took the loss, but I think he showed you that coming out of the second half. Now healthy mania, healthy Montas, healthy Senga. That this rotation is going to look like the way it was supposed to when we went into the off season. So there's a lot good there, but there's also, you know, they seem to lack some offensive punch for a while. This bullpen leaves a little bit to be desired.

[Richard Rosenberg]

A lot.

[Don Hahn]

So. But we focus, we're hyper focused on our local teams because those are the teams that we watch. And again, I don't want to pigeonhole everybody into this, but I do think because it's a regional sport, we get captivated with our own teams. We pay attention to a couple of other teams. Mets are looking at what the Phillies are doing. Yankees are looking at what Toronto and Boston's doing. Boston goes into the break, 10 straight wins. All that. Brewers are red hot, too. They won seven in a row. But Allen, I'm not trying to talk you off the ledge. I think there are concerns for the Yankees, but outside of the Detroit Tigers, who right now are 21 games above.500, best team in baseball. But by the way they go into the break, they've lost four in a row. The Dodgers, they're the gold standard in the National League, right? Defending World Series champions won a World Series in 2020. They won the last two against San Francisco, but when they lost on Friday, seven straight losses for the Dodgers. All right? There's no team outside of Detroit that's 21 games above.500. That's more than 16 games above.500. All right? All these teams are flawed in some way, shape or form. Red Sox red hot, right? They've won 10 in a row. Would you be shocked coming out of the break if they dropped 9 of 10? Toronto, they missed the boat, right? Toronto was in really good shape. They lost their last two games, same as the Yankees. So they could have, they could have had a much bigger lead than the two games they have. They could be up four and a half Instead they're only up two because of the fact that they couldn't take advantage as they lose a couple of games down the stretch. Right. Philadelphia has been very up and down. Philadelphia was 55 over the last 10 games. The Mets had gained one game because they were 64 and lost the series to Baltimore. I'm saying we're catching baseball right now. That no shade towards Detroit, but I'll believe it when I see it. Name me the great team. Name me the team that doesn't have any flaws. I think everybody is in the same boat. The Yankees and the Mets are ways to improve. Great. Very good. But not great. That's kind of what baseball is right now.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Is this what parody looks like?

[Don Hahn]

This is parody.

[Richard Rosenberg]

This is parody. So that's the problem I have with parody and everybody that loves it is the problem with parity is I think it lowers the bar. Would you agree?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Like it. That's what it feels like to me. So yes, you're right. I think we're just. We're used to seeing at a certain level. But I still will say that Detroit has the pitching and I would trust Detroit's pissing. Of course they still gotta be there and get it done. I understand. But that's the team that scares me. The Red Sox. What they're doing, I don't know if they. They scare me more than you know. They're like that annoying team that when you're. Look when a rival of yours. It's probably how you feel about the Phillies. It's just they're. They're annoying and you're just watching that. But you don't trust it. I don't trust Toronto. And I said just stay within two. I'm not watching scoreboards. I'm worried about just staying within. Within distance. Get yourself right and then by the end of August or by September, that's when you're all right. Now we're. Right now we're going to get. Now let's get. Get the job done. Win the division. So all that stuff is. I'm not panicking. I just don't like the way it looks right now. But I'm talking about the entire league. What you're saying. Which changes your perspective. Of course. Parity looks like this. Which tells you that parody might not be the best thing. It lowers the bar. It's no one looks the part. Everybody has flaws. Which is probably will be great when we get to October. But during the regular season, who are you gunning for? Who you shooting for? Think about it. Who is a team that you're like, they're the standard. We got to live up to it. No. 1, the standard is 15 to 20 games over.500, which is the best. But even that, you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But this is parody, everybody. This is what everybody wants.

[Don Hahn]

But it is funny.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I'd rather have one evil empire that everybody's trying to kill. Right.

[Don Hahn]

But we don't have that right now, so. But I find it kind of funny you're talking about who's the gold standard and all that around. Major League Baseball in the American League. Again, Detroit's the best team in baseball right now. 21 games above.500. But again, they stumbled to the break, losing four straight. All right, the Yankees are probably the team that's the measuring stick around because they went to the World Series last year as much as the Mets are flawed. And the Mets are a wild card team right now and the second wild card. So if the season ended today, they'd have to play on the road. Mm. I'm sure a lot of teams look at them because they tested the Dodgers last year and played in game six of the League Championship Series. It could be worse. Like I mentioned, the Dodgers are the defending World Series champions. Tanner Scott blew a 2 nothing lead against the Giants on last night or yesterday afternoon. It's his seventh blown save. He's the closer of a championship team. He's got seven blown saves.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And so already, if you're a Dodgers fan, you're worried about, do you have the right closer to win another championship?

[Don Hahn]

Munoz is a closer for Seattle going to the All Star Game. The Yankees battered him.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah, he was terrible.

[Don Hahn]

There's no really great teams now. Somebody is going to emerge. So, yeah, they're flawed. But I think if you really pay attention to baseball and you're watching what's happening around the league and how streaky everybody is and catching teams at the right time. No pitchers are giving you length. Everybody's bullpen is spent. It is going to be a crazy trade deadline because there's going to be a lot of teams who think that they could. They can run after it. So I'm wondering, are the Mets and Yankees flawed or is just baseball flawed? And again, the brewers win seven straight going into the All Star break. All right, I'll believe it when the brewers actually win a series in the postseason. Same with the Tigers. Are the Tigers ready? Are they going to be handling or let me ask you this. Yankees. Tigers play in the playoffs. Yankees will be the favorite because Nobody's going to believe in this Tigers team until they go out there and they do it. So if right now those are the teams we're chasing after based on how they're playing right now and they have no real history of winning, tell me it isn't wide open.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And that's what you want to think. The experienced team just has the benefit. But again, I've seen the Yankee lineup get shut down. It seems like it's an annual thing by a, by a good pitching staff. And that's what Detroit has. Now the weird thing is this Detroit leading the league with 59 wins, right? 59 and 38. Their, their run differentials plus 87. The Yankee run differentials plus 111. So when they beat bad teams, they beat the hell out of them.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So when they get shut down, they.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Get shut down and then they get shut down. So you mentioned the, the trade deadline, right? Because that's gonna be all the talk now coming out of the break, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You'll have 10 days and you get right to it. I gotta be honest with you, because of the parody and everything you're saying, I don't feel any fan can correct me if I'm wrong or if you disagree, but I'm telling you how I feel. I don't think this is a chips to the middle of the table, all in kind of deadline. We heard Cashman say that they're gonna look at everything. He talked about being aggressive, which I think they do every year. We heard him tell the story of how Steinmer and tell him, don't say no. Come to me first. Let me be the one to say no about a price. What does it cost, all that stuff. So it definitely sounds like the Yankees. The standard for the Yankees is find a way to win a championship and do whatever it takes as long as it makes sense. But I saw Bill Madden say this over the weekend so because again, Arizona is going nowhere. Suarez is probably. He's going to walk here. They need a third baseman. He's that guy. He's available. He could be available. He said that the, that Arizona let it be known the price for Suarez and remember it's rental because he's going to be a free agent. He's going to walk will still be high. In the Yankees case, it would probably be a top prospect the caliber of Spencer Jones. Now if you've been paying attention to Spencer Jones, who people have physically compared to Aaron Judge, same type of body type, the swing, the whole thing. But he has holes in his swing. It's been found, but he was tearing up AA so much they moved him to aaa. In aaa, he's still hitting home runs. Now he strikes out. A lot of that is true. But he's an outfielder. This is somebody that I feel like I'm not giving up for a rental. That see, I'm telling you, I think they do have a plan for some of these guys that are making a lot of noise in the minors that they'll eventually be able to elevate them up and fill different holes with what they're they're piecemealing right now. So am I crazy to say that? Am I crazy to say I know they need some relief pitching. I know they probably will look for a starter. I know they will definitely look for a third baseman or infield help. I don't, I don't want as a fan to see them mortgage some of the future for a piece that is a plug and play and then say goodbye type of player. Am I wrong?

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Because with parody you would think, oh well, anybody can win it this year. So if you can get yourself that edge to put you over the top, shouldn't you go for it this year? I'm saying no. Do you agree or disagree?

[Don Hahn]

I agree.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Now Jones could be a bust. Jones could be end up being a bust. He does have holes in his swings. They do have some concerns about his, his swing. Like could he be judge Very difficult to get to that level, of course, but anything close to that would still be special. But you could end up trading him for a piece that puts you over the top and he could end up not being a great prospect. But I don't know if I'm ready to take that chance in a year like this. For a player that you're not going to have beyond this half season. I'm not into that.

[Don Hahn]

I think.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't want to.

[Don Hahn]

I think Cashman agrees with you, so I wouldn't worry about it because again, Cashman I don't think is going to mortgage anything.

[Richard Rosenberg]

But if that's what teams are going to start asking because they know you're.

[Don Hahn]

Desperate, I know they're going to be asking for the stars, but again, you're chasing after the Blue Jays. I'll believe it when I see it. I still think the betting public is going to say the Yankees are going to win this division and they're still the favorites to go to the World Series. So what does Suarez do? The Suarez just improve our chances but we can probably get there anyway.

[Richard Rosenberg]

It calms down your infield issues you have. I mean, although you do have a good defensive third baseman right now. But at least there's a little bit of a bat.

[Don Hahn]

But I think if they believe that the cream is going to flow to the top and they're still going to win this division without making that deal, I don't think Cashman does good because they believe in the analytic world that the postseason's crapshoot anyway. But what we want to do over 62 is be better. And we think we could probably catch the Blue Jays without having to mortgage Jones. Now the question is, does Jones fit in their future judge isn't going anywhere, right?

[Richard Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

I would think if Bellinger continues to hit the way that he's hitting, he could be a long term answer for you.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Can't you put Bellinger. First of all, Dominguez is a full time center fielder.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You can put Bellinger at first and then Dominguez goes to his natural position. And then you look for. You have. You need a left fielder. And if you have another guy who's a big power hitting left fielder, it's literally what the Yankees want to build a lineup with, isn't it?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You know Lombard, look, that kid had a. He was the talk of the, the Futures Game. And you. I feel like it might not even be till he's still so young, but they say the way he carries his dad played. So his dad's in a coach still. The way he carries himself is as a guy who's already in the majors just knows how to. Knows how to be around pros. Right. Because he grew up in. Would not surprise me if he's not. If he's part of the deal next year at the age of 20. And you know that they're going to try. They've got to be working on how do we make this guy a third baseman. He plays all three positions. Second base, Shortstop, third base. So if you could solve problems by putting plugging in guys like that, couldn't you? Yeah. So I'm not giving up. I'm not doing it. Not this year. There is no star that we get. Like there's no Juan Soto. There's no player that you could bring in that's under contract for the next two years. That's a like if Arnotto was still in his prime. Right. Like I'm talking about like if you were able to get somebody like that and bring them in and is it gonna cost you the future? Yes. But this guy's gonna be here for a couple of years, which Puts a ceiling on whoever that kid is you were trading anyway.

[Don Hahn]

Remember, you're already going through. When you talk about the future, the Yankees are always gonna be a contender, right? But how many young kids do you want on the team at the same time? Because you're talking about that. There's gonna be a world where Lombard's gonna play on the same team as Dominguez, and Dominguez is gonna be there, Jones is gonna be there. It's like a lot of young kids. They can be thrown into the fire, though.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Don, when I'm playing young players.

[Don Hahn]

What time?

[Richard Rosenberg]

No, no. It gives me financial flexibility, of course.

[Don Hahn]

But they gotta have some place to.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Play my pitch and pitching.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, well, there's always that.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't see if you're trying to win a championship. I don't believe in the prospect pitcher, like the doc Gooden of 84. Like, those are rare stories, right? Those don't happen all the time. So you get vets that can help you win on the mound. That's what I would do. You spend your money on that and you. And you fill in with athletic, talented, young players. And again, Lombard's. That's a guy that might be young in age, but what they say about him, he's not young in mind.

[Don Hahn]

Like, we were saying that about Volpe, too, And he had the great start, and now pressure comes and maybe he will, maybe he won't. I think he's going to be fine. But you wonder sometimes, the fielding, There's a lot going on there that isn't exactly living up to the expectations that Yankee fans felt going in. Mets need help out of the bullpen, I think that's clear. But they're getting their rotation back, so we're taking the temperature as we've hit the unofficial first half of the season. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health, with 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal, normal levels of stress. To battle stress, most of us can't wave goodbye to work. But we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. As largest online therapy provider in the world. BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Unwind from work with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first [e-mail] timeout. That's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back.

[Don Hahn]

So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Turns out that's very illegal.

[Don Hahn]

So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. New customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com on WhatsApp. No one can see or hear your personal messages.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Whether it's a voice call message or.

[Don Hahn]

Sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So whether you're sharing the streaming password.

[Don Hahn]

In the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us.

[Richard Rosenberg]

WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Richard Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Don Han and Rosenberg with you till 7:00' clock here on ESPN New York. Well, we've dug up the odds.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. Let's go to this. So ESPN bet because they always update this and you had said Yankee's still the favorite and all that stuff. So start small, work our way up.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Okay. So to win a division, there's only two, really to bet on in the National League east because everybody else is pretty much out of it. Right. So the two teams to bet on are the Phillies and the Mets. The Mets are plus 110 to win their division. What are they at? I just had it on.

[Don Hahn]

Mets are a half game back of Philly.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. So they're one plus 110. The Phillies are minus 140. Now would you, would you throw, throw some change on the Mets?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, why not? Plus money.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's. I find that interesting though, right? The Phillies at minus 140, do not believe in the Mets that much.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Richard Rosenberg]

All right. In the American League east, there's still three teams in contention. The Red Sox, who on a 10 game winning streak are at plus 700.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So zero right now. Faith in the Red Sox. But if you really think you saw something in Boston over these last 10 games, you can, you could, you could score pretty big here.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Good.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Toronto, which is leading the division and has been for a while is plus 190. The Yankees minus 130.

[Don Hahn]

So, so think about that for a second.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Minus 130.

[Don Hahn]

It's not the end all be all.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So not as much as the Phillies. But.

[Don Hahn]

But the betting public is telling you significantly though, the Yankees are the favorite to win the American League East.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Despite all their obvious flaws and their two games back at Toronto and just got swept in a four game series against the Blue Jays, they're still the odds on favor to win the division.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. So it just shows you right now, again, this is all betting in Vegas and all that stuff. It's not analytics. It's telling us who's going to win. It's not win probability. This is more or less just the feeling.

[Don Hahn]

It's a nice barometer.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And so the feeling is. All right, so if I told you Yankees 130 for the division, you're not wasting your time on that.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Right. If I told you Mets plus 110. Sprinkle.

[Don Hahn]

Good.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Right. You sprinkle. Okay. National League to win the NLCS. The Dodgers are the favorite. They're plus 140.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So favor. But not like runaway.

[Don Hahn]

No. But compared to everybody else, who do.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You think is second? Were you looking at it?

[Don Hahn]

I'm looking at it. Well, Philadelphia would have to be. It would either be Philadelphia or the Cubs. Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Cubs. It should be. Right.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you would think.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Phillies are. This is why I don't get. This is met disrespect if you ask me. This is not a belief in the Mets because to put the Phillies at plus 475 and then the Mets and the Cubs are both plus 550, you're not recognizing a. What the Cubs have been doing. Right, right. The pitching that they have. And you're also not acknowledging the Mets as somebody who's closer to the Phillies than you would think.

[Don Hahn]

But clearly the Cub. It's more of a disrespect to the Cubs because the Cubs are leading their division.

[Richard Rosenberg]

That's what I mean.

[Don Hahn]

You know, the Mets are going to have to take go through the wild card and yet they still have the same odds to go through the Cubs.

[Richard Rosenberg]

The Nets don't have to go through the wild card. They can win this division.

[Don Hahn]

But according to the betting.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah, I get it.

[Don Hahn]

If the odds are Philadelphia is winning the division Vegas is saying is. Is that the Mets going through the wild card.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Have the same odds to win the National League as the Cubs, who right now are up in their division.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Gotcha.

[Don Hahn]

Now, where the. Because.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So it goes. Chalk. Then that's what we're doing.

[Don Hahn]

Because the brewers, who are in second place, winners of seven consecutive games are a plus 1200 to make it out of the National.

[Richard Rosenberg]

That's wild.

[Don Hahn]

Significantly behind the Cubs. And brewers also have a history. But the brewers also have a history of not winning in the postseason, where the Cubs did win a World Series not that long ago, but it's a different team, believe it or not.

[Richard Rosenberg]

That was.

[Don Hahn]

I know. It's nine years ago, Believe it or not.

[Richard Rosenberg]

All right, so that's.

[Don Hahn]

So think about that.

[Richard Rosenberg]

So would you put something on the Mets at + 550 to get to the World Series?

[Don Hahn]

Because I think the Mets are in a better position in the second half than they were in the first half because their starting rotation is going to be better.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Maniah's back. They miss Senga.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You're going to have Senga, Maniah, Montos, Holmes and Peterson. Peterson, that's going to be your run right there.

[Don Hahn]

That's better than Griffin can.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You're not even going to realize you missed him.

[Don Hahn]

I don't have to worry about it.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Right. So. All right. So. So plus 550 for the Mets is pretty good value.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Richard Rosenberg]

All right, now we go to the American League. Toronto, who's leading the division, plus 800 just to win the American League. Now, remember, Toronto was plus 190 to win the division. They're leading it right now. Plus 190 versus the Yankees. Minus 130.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Houston plus 400. Now Houston, first place as well. Yeah. They're leaving their division and they've had a good. Yeah, they've had a really good first half. The Yankees are not favored to win the ALCS right now.

[Don Hahn]

It's Detroit plus 250 at least according to ESPN BET.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Right. But it's. That's how it's setting up.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Richard Rosenberg]

The Yankees are plus 300, which is. They might as well be even. Right. Plus 300 plus 250 is pretty close. So again, plus now 300. You're all in on the Yankees. Yes. You're throwing a paycheck down on the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

More so than the Tigers.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And the Tigers are the favorite of + 250. So it's negligible. The difference. Tigers have the best record in baseball, are in first place. Yankees are. Only because the Tigers are. Think about this. The Tigers are 21 games above.500.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

In first place. Best record in baseball. The Yankees are 10 games above.500. In second place in their division. And yet the odds are almost the same that they'll make it out of the American League as the Detroit Tigers. That just tells you they got a history. They navigated through it last year. Nobody respects the Central Division. Right. Where they play predominantly. That's true against the Royals and the White Sox. White Sox are awful. Guardians are average. Right. Twins below.500. So that. That all factors in. So now you get to the World Series. The Dodgers are a significant favor over everyone.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Plus 240. 240.

[Don Hahn]

Then it's the tigers at plus 700, Yankees at plus 700. So the Yankees have the same odds.

[Richard Rosenberg]

To win the World Series, to win the whole thing.

[Don Hahn]

So the team that you're concerned about is tied for the second best odds to win the whole thing.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's why I'm concerned about them.

[Don Hahn]

And the Mets. Phillies are at plus 800.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Then it drops Cubs plus 1000. Astros plus 1000. So the Mets have the seventh best chance and the third best chance in the National League at plus 1200. Then it dips to Toronto, plus 18.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. That's when you can tell that nobody really believes in it.

[Don Hahn]

So here we are, worried and legitimately so. I'm not going to knock it about the Mets and the Yankees.

[Richard Rosenberg]

They are both.

[Don Hahn]

And they both are in the top seven odds of winning the whole damn game.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. Significant. They're among the favorites to win their divisions, to win their leagues, and to even win a World Series.

[Don Hahn]

So. So what does that tell you? That tells.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Parody.

[Don Hahn]

Parody.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't know. Again. And Don, you know this better than I do when it comes to baseball. I know what I'm looking at. But you. You know it much deeper than I do. I just see. I want. I'm dialing every night. I'm watching every game, and I just keep going. Like. Like, the flaws are there. Like, you see them. Like there's something missing. Right. And that's why I just keep coming away with. I don't know if this team can win a World Series. Can I trust them in a. Can I trust them in a big spot? Who can't have guys who come in, the guys that come in out of the bullpen. You got to feel real confident, like. Like Hill Will come in. And as goofy as he is, I kind of feel like this guy's a really good matchup kind of relief pitch to bring in. So they got one of those guys, but who do they have that comes in like Weaver? They got to get right in the worst way, don't they? Because he was. If he's not a closer, boy, he's, he is a hell of a setup, right? If you're really going to believe in Devin Williams, who. One of the good stories of the first half was how bad he was early. He's gotten it figured out now, right? He's kind of found his way. That's important, that's good. Maybe he's getting more comfortable. Whatever it is, it does feel like, okay, he can close. Clearly, if you have him and Weaver, I mean that, that eight, you know, eighth inning, ninth inning situation, that's. You got to feel good about that.

[Don Hahn]

Have to.

[Richard Rosenberg]

But you need more lighter's got the fracture you got to deal with. You got to get him healthy because he can be a bulldog at times. But I'm looking at bullpen and then you look at the way they play and sometimes defensively and yes, everybody got on Volpe, but you know what? He's not the only culprit. We have seen this team make terrible plays on defense and those are the things. And then the at bats, those are the things that will make you crazy. So while the odds tell me all this stuff, my eyes tell me I don't know if I can have full confidence in this Yankee team in a playoff series, especially against a team like Detroit. They don't score a lot, but boy, they don't give up anything. That Detroit team, they don't give up anything.

[Don Hahn]

No, they've been fantastic. But again, is there the pedigree there that tells you that they're going to be able to get the job done? Every team's got flaws. I just, I'm just looking at the Dodgers statistically pitching wise, I might believe.

[Richard Rosenberg]

More in the Mets. Am I crazy?

[Don Hahn]

No. Because I think they're going to get healthier and they're going to add they had one of the best earn run averages as a team when everybody was banged up. But I'm just looking at the Dodgers. The Dodgers team whip pitching is ranked 21st. Opponent batting average ranked 17th. They are as far as hits allowed, 18th. Like so I could be doing a talk show in Los Angeles and the Dodgers won the World Series last year, so maybe there's less of a concern. But I could be looking at it and go. I got a closer that's blown seven saves. I got a banged up rotation that hasn't been statistically very good. Every team is flawed. The only team that looks like they have no flaws right now are the Detroit Tigers and they just closed out the second half losing four straight games. And would anybody be shocked if they come kind of back down to earth and we'll believe it when I see in the postseason. So I'm not telling you not to be concerned, but if you broaden out the lens and look at baseball in totality, this is kind of what it is. It's a flawed league. There's no great teams anymore. And so I think you kind of get a great beyond there. And I know that Vegas isn't the end all be all.

[Richard Rosenberg]

No, but it's an indication of confidence.

[Don Hahn]

That are in the top seven that the odds are that this team is going to make the playoffs and this team can put themselves in a position to make a run. You got, you got to ultimately feel good.

[Richard Rosenberg]

You understand why I bring it up. I only bring up the odds because it's an example of confidence. Because you use that word confidence in the open and that, that's that one thing that I can't confirm.

[Don Hahn]

No, the only time, the only team that can confirm it are the Dodgers because they won it last year and they won it last year with a banged up rotation.

[Richard Rosenberg]

They knew how to do it.

[Don Hahn]

Pretty much bring the same team back. Right. But again, they just lost seven straight games. Like how many championship teams do you see drop seven straight games were killing the Yankees, they had two separate six game losing streaks to the Dodgers just lost seven in a row.

[Richard Rosenberg]

How many teams this season in the, in Major League Baseball both leagues have lost and won five in a row?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I don't know.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Or five or more in a row. Both have lost probably a lot and won five or more in a row.

[Don Hahn]

Because you're also at least five, six.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Teams that have done this.

[Don Hahn]

You're also talking about a sport that each league, the White Sox and the Rockies are going to be among the two of the worst teams in the history of baseball. The Rockies might lose 130.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's crazy, right?

[Don Hahn]

I mean, so yeah, there's parody, but there's also a lot of bad baseball being played that these guys can take advantage of. Right. So that's why I got frustrated that the Mets dropped two out of three to Baltimore. Those are teams. But you know what? But, but again, wide angle lens, they went on the road and they played 500. You play 500 baseball in the road, you gotta live with that, right?

[Richard Rosenberg]

So that's what you're supposed to do. The second half is what it is. When you start saying you can't lose that game. You can't. That's when you start to say you gotta win these series against these bad teams. The first half is figuring everything out. But the second half, I'm with you.

[Don Hahn]

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] youm've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Mike]

Some say the three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Has the three pointer ruined basketball?

[Don Hahn]

And how did we get here?

[Richard Rosenberg]

The rise of the three point shot.

[Don Hahn]

Can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Mark Manley whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history and I think I will be successful.

[Don Hahn]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series Chasing basketball heaven.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Richard Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Don on it. Rosenberg, let's get to your calls. 1-800-919-3776 Ton of people want to chime in on the unofficial first half of the baseball season. Home run derby tonight, all star game tomorrow, ESPY's on Wednesday. Then everything gets back to normal on Friday. I'll tell you, it was like a death sentence back in the day during the All Star game like weekend. Like there's nothing going on. But sports has changed so dramatically and I think talk radio has changed dramatically where there's still plenty to get into. We're going to have an NFL binge coming up at 4:30. The NHL just announced their triple header to start the season on October 7th. Rangers are involved. They're going to be taking on the Penguins at the garden for an 8 o' clock start. But you know, basketball stuff. Like there's other things happening that make it less.

[Richard Rosenberg]

There's always something going on now with athletes as podcasts. There's always somebody that says something to react to and what did I tell you, Don? What I tell you pre. Pre show. It's football season.

[Don Hahn]

I was gonna say it's football. You said a lot was discussed before the show. That was one of the less. Yeah. One of the more benign things.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah. One of the things we can bring to the air. Yes. There were a few other conversations.

[Don Hahn]

The show take a completely different direction. If we could take our meetings on the air.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I don't even know if. I don't even know if we were on serious, I would bring. I gotta tell you, one of those conversations.

[Don Hahn]

We made it like a pay per view. I think we'd make money because I'm telling you, there's a lot. I said something to Anthony. I got a legitimate laugh from Jacob. Jacob. Jacob's a lot like Buttle. Jacob's that's funny guy. Like if you stole a really good joke to buddle, you're gonna get. Now that's funny.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But if you got Greg to laugh, if you got me really said something like Jacob. I said something so filthy and so accurate.

[Richard Rosenberg]

He's laughing now. He's laughing now. See, that's what I love about Jake, is that he is an observer.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And I, I respect people who are observers because you say nothing, they just sit back and they listen and their reaction will let you know something's good or not. They don't have to be over the top about it. Just watch them react. You're like, okay, that's good.

[Don Hahn]

Another great thing about Jacob is then when he does contribute, it always has value.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Value.

[Don Hahn]

He just picks his spots. All right, let's start it all off with Mike and Hawthorne. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Mike?

[Peter]

Hey, Don. How are you?

[Richard Rosenberg]

How are you, Alan?

[Peter]

Good. Good talk to you guys. You guys, you guys are great together. Alan, I met you and Clifton at the, at the last show for the Michael K. Stuff and. Oh, yeah, you and I spoke for a few. You and I spoke for a few minutes and you pulled me off to the side and you said legrack is going to be a star. And I never forget you said that. And I agreed with you because I've been talking about Don.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I did.

[Peter]

Yeah, yeah. And I would be talking about it with Don for years and years. And first things first. Don't. Congratulations. And everybody. And everybody in the borough is, is very excited about, about your opportunity. And we know you're going to, you're going to kick butt. And on another note, I want to thank you for calling in with our little thing we had yesterday at Short Ways. It meant the world to, to Flavio and Willie and I that you called into our little fun thing that we do once every couple of months. It was really great that you called in. It was a lot of fun. With regards to the Yanks and the Mets, it's a lot of fun. And for the classic line, that's baseball, Susan. Everything you guys talked about is exactly right. You never know where it's going to go. It's such a great long season and baseball is my favorite just because of the ebbs and flows of it. I really hope that Volti, you know, gets his act together because I think he's a good kid. I think he's got a lot of upside. And we forget how young these guys are, you know, Alan, these guys, they're kids.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I'm trying to tell fans that, you know, I'm glad you said it, Mike. Some of these fans that they, they're a little too emotional and they don't view sometimes like all these fans love young players. But then the first thing they do in the young player is showing some signs that he needs more seasoning or he just needs more experience. Like, you gotta understand with some of these players, they are learning on the job right in front of you. And the only way to figure things out is to make mistakes. And a lot of, a lot of times at that age, you're doing it at the Triple A level. You're not doing it at the major league level in New York at Yankee Stadium. So he's got to get. He's got a foundation to be a good player. There's no time to give up on him right now.

[Peter]

And shortstop at Yankees for the New York Yankees, that there's not too much pressure to be the shortstop of New York Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Jeter set the gold standard. If you remember, Mike, you go back to when DD took over for him and, and how difficult a transition that was when he got off to the slow start. Listen, we were sold a bill of goods. You can't landlock Volpe. We can't go after these superstars at short because Volpe's coming. And so far there's been some holes in his game. But I'm with Mike, I'm with Alan. You don't give up on this Kid, you just can't keep throwing away young players. You're going to have to go through.

[Richard Rosenberg]

The growing pains and you got to experience it with him. I'm glad Mike said that. So you know I'm not full of crap. I was saying, I was saying that about you all that whole time. When people ask me about the show and you know all the stuff and I just, you watch. Don's gonna be a star.

[Don Hahn]

That was nice. That makes me feel good. Man, you're the best, Mike. In Connecticut. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Mike?

[Mike]

Hey, guys, thanks for taking my call.

[Don Hahn]

Always.

[Mike]

So the first thing I wanted to.

[Don Hahn]

Weigh in on was that the reason.

[Mike]

The baseball game, the baseball all star game is better than any other All Star game is just because the amount of effort that exists in the major league All Star game is just everyone's still trying 100%.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I guess you have not going to.

[Mike]

See teams out there today and throw a 65 mile an hour ethis to judge if he comes up with a runner on second. And you're going to see judge trying to get an RBI in the All Star game. Unlike the NBA where everyone's just throwing them up from everywhere.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And the Pro Bowl. I don't even know. Mike, Mike, think about this, Mike. Is there any other sport where it's almost like if you aren't trying, it'll be more exposed than ever, right? Because you can, you can cruise control in the NBA. You can cruise control in the NHL on the ice. You can't do that here because if you do, it's going to look so horrible because it's, it's, you have to try.

[Don Hahn]

It's an individual sport within a team game, right? Like nobody wants to strike out. You're sitting there at home plate. Everybody's watching, right? So you want to get a hit.

[Richard Rosenberg]

And the pitcher doesn't want you to get it, right?

[Don Hahn]

You don't want a not catch the ball when it's hit to you or.

[Richard Rosenberg]

If it's gonna run and catch it.

[Don Hahn]

However, I don't think, and rightly so, I don't think you can see a headlong dive for Judge Wall. Nobody's stealing bases, nobody's stealing base like so there. But it's still comparable to, I'm not gonna play defense, I'm not gonna break my butt to try to stop that goal or stop that shot, right? But in baseball, I want to get a hit. I want to catch what's hit to me. If I'm a pitcher, I don't want to get hit.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So it's just natural that it's going to be better. Let's go to. Let's see Griffin in Connecticut. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Griff?

[Mike]

Hey. Hey, guys. By the way, baseball is so unpredictable this year because you're. Alan, you raid the Tigers, all this and that. Well, they got outscored 35 to 14 by the team who choked in the light innings when they were up five nothing at Yankee Stadium, the Seattle Mariners. So they went into Detroit, played Derek School and they ended up beating them up. So you never know what school had a bad.

[Richard Rosenberg]

His bad last Friday performance was not great for him. Not great. But never know. You're right, you're right.

[Mike]

That's why. That's what I'm saying. You just never know what is going to happen. But the one thing that I would feel when you threw up those odds.

[Richard Rosenberg]

I was going to talk about how.

[Mike]

How I want the second half to start now because there's really nothing on right now. But I'm going to talk about when you pull up those odds. If I'm a Cup fan, I'll be very. I'll be very. I wouldn't like the way that they're treating me because this is a pretty good Cups team. I thought they were going to be good before the beginning of this year, but they can score for anybody.

[Richard Rosenberg]

They're good.

[Mike]

Matthew Boyd and Ignami is going to be this for them. Then they really could be a threat in the National League. I think everybody talks about the Dodgers and the Mets and the Phillies, but I don't think we need. I think we can't sleep on the Cubs when it comes to the National League.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not saying they're going to go.

[Mike]

All the way to the World Series, but they're a team that they can score for anybody. And when you said you got to be careful with the trade, the Mets giving up PCA for Javi Bias for just a few years, that one's going to really hurt. Was that you got to be careful.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Was that Brody trades Don. Was that Brody or was that. Wasn't that wasn't Stearns right. That was too long ago.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Is that Brody?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it was Brody. Not all former agents become great general managers.

[Richard Rosenberg]

But why I ask is because. And it's, you know, at Griffin it's a, it's a really good parallel. That's a good example of why I don't want to see the Yankees make a dramatic move and give up one of their top prospects with this effort of, hey, it's wide open this year and we want to get a championship. I you know what I mean? Like, I think there's, I think there's better days ahead if you hang on to some of these younger guys.

[Don Hahn]

My opinion certainly worth discussing.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg 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.