Richard Rosenberg (1:44)

You know, the people who are now grown up who didn't get to know parents who were lost that day. So yeah, 24 years. Can you believe that, Don? That's a crazy. 24 is a crazy number, man.

Peter (1:55)

Just hard to believe it was that long ago. And I think we were having a conversation the other day about like how any footage from 911 kind of feels like the, the 90s. Like it was like that long ago but for it's just right around the corner. But you know, you know, my kids are old enough now to start asking questions like what does it mean? Kind of like whatever, you know, D Day was to us growing up, you know, that the significance of something. But so many people, a lot of our audience either was not alive or too young to rem It So that's why it's always important to acknowledge it guys on a day like this. And then also the role of sports during that period of time too. The nine, was it nine, ten days without it? And then how to a man, people that were at ground zero, people that lost, family members all like were longing to just kind of get back to normal and how sports was a way to usher in the normal the day in, day out of, you know, what are the baseball teams doing, what are the football teams doing and kind of getting back to that normalcy and the place that sports had and how it was appropriate to kind of move away from it for that time. But how was the perfect time to get it back and how people really felt like we were able to make that turnaround once we were able to kind of get back into that normalcy. And sports was a major step forward in that.

Don Hahn (3:14)

Yeah. And New York obviously playing a prominent role certainly in that. And you know, tonight, no different of course is the Yankees. I mean they got to salvage a game out of the series. Now after a loss again last night, they're being outscored 23.3. So you gotta try to find a way to get a win here. And in doing so with on a day like today where there'll be still, even before that game, a lot of remembrance and thoughts. And certainly today's a day of tough traffic in New York. But for those going to the game, I'm sure most have already heard but the President is going to attend the game and that had been already planned. Significance of this, no matter which way, which side you're on, the significance of the President of the United States attending a baseball game in New York is the first time since George W. Did so like that. That is, that is all part of the day, but is also going to be part of those of you who want to go to that game. You're going to need to leave early and you're going to need to have some patience because you know, getting in the building, just getting in the building in today's environment, as you know, is going to be very difficult. So just make sure those that if you're going be aware gates, don't act surprised.

Richard Rosenberg (4:21)

Gates are open for ticketed fans at four.

Don Hahn (4:24)

Yeah.

Richard Rosenberg (4:25)

And first pitch is 7:05. I certainly today would be thinking can you get there as close to five o', clock, fourth, whatever, sooner if possible, whatever you can do.

Don Hahn (4:34)

It's gonna be.

Richard Rosenberg (4:34)

Look, if you saw the US Open lines last week. Yeah, it's, it's it's gonna be a.

Don Hahn (4:38)

Handful, you know, it's gonna be tough. And you know, they made tons of security. There's gonna be checking everything. So it's just one of those days that it's easy to complain, but just understand there's a significance to all of it. And you know, look, we're here with you to take you through it.

Peter (4:52)

The Yankees sent out a release about, as Peter said, the gates are going to open at 4 o'. Clock. Bags will not be allowed in Yankee Stadium with the exception of one clutch bags per person and the maximum size 4.5 to 6.5. Remember this stuff, guys? Because going back, there's nothing worse than going back to your parked car or having to take the train back home, right? Because you, you, you don't, you're not.

Don Hahn (5:16)

Gonna throw something out, just throw it out.

Peter (5:17)

Yeah. All bags, personal items and their contents will be inspected before being permitted into Yankee Stadium. There is no storage area Yankee Stadium for prohibited items. So as Alan said, those things are going to be thrown out. Bottles, cans, liquids, all will not be permitted to Yankee Stadium. Restricted items include empty, unusable water bottles. So the point is, is that even if you get there early, it's going to take an inordinate amount of time to get into the building because of all these security measures and all that. And I remember, you know, being on the air and living through 9, 11, that first world Series game, the one that you're referring to, the last time sitting president was at Yankee Stadium and George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch and just the, the level of security for that. So. And that was a World Series game. It's not a World Series game tonight. But you know, the, the building, you know, beautiful night, last game of the series against the Tigers, that it's going to be packed. So just make, just be aware of all those things. You head to the stadium tonight.

Don Hahn (6:13)

Yeah. And then understand again, as I mentioned, I mean the Yankees have been outscored 23.3 so far in this series. And you've asked me about like the American League and the landscape of the American League, Don. And watching that game and watching Flaherty, I know he has not had a great season, but he was, he was fantastic last night. Mys was the night before. And the Yankees offense, the bullpen's. The bull, like the bullpen is just bad. And it feels like everybody's bullpen is bad in baseball because that seems to be a story everywhere. Not just the Mets and Yankees that everybody's dealing with. I mean, The Astros are dealing with it, but the pitching is what, if you ask me, who is the team in. In. In the American League that you worry about on the path to the World Series? I point first and foremost to Detroit. They have pitching. They have AJ Hinch, who's a very smart, very good manager. They have. They have some good power in their lineup, as we saw. I mean, they, you know, they take advantage of bad pitching. Two innings in this series have blown up because of bad pitching, and they've taken advantage of it. The Tigers are not a team to be messed with or overlooked.

Peter (7:21)

Well, listen, I'm guilty of it as much as anybody else. Well, the American League is wide open because who do you trust can get there? What have the Blue Jays done lately to make you think they can do it? What are the Tigers done lately to make you think they can do it? And so you figure the path. And I heard Buster only on with Michael before our show talking about. He still thinks the Yankees can get the one seed and still be the best team in the American League. As bad, as poorly as that. They've played that. That's still on the table for them. But you could have said the same thing about the Yankees last year, right? When was the last time they went to The World Series? 2009.

Don Hahn (7:54)

Yep.

Peter (7:54)

Right. So at some point, somebody's gonna wake up, and I'll tell you, the team that seems exempt from that because of their recent history is Houston. I think Houston's the worst of all of them. I don't think Houston's all that good. But because it's the Astros and because they seem to have the Yankees number, there seems to be fear there. But I'm kind of with you, Alan, that, you know, maybe we should take a little closer look at this Detroit team. And even though they don't have the history, I've been to the World Series and, you know, in a while, I GUESS it was 2010, and they had. And all those Central Division teams since Kansas City went on that run haven't been very good. And clearly the Yankees were able to run through the Central last year, but maybe Detroit's going to be different. Maybe this is the year the Blue Jays finally figure it out in the postseason. So maybe we shouldn't look at even the recent history of these teams and look at how they're playing now and evaluate who's going to come out of the American League. Because right now, the way the Yankees have played, the way the bullpen has looked, the way they've been completely shut down offensively in big spots in this series, you know that it doesn't look good. And on the other side, you know, the Mets are an abomination right now, an absolute abomination, and have been since mid June.

Don Hahn (9:01)

The wheels again feel like they fell off. But I showed you over and over.

Richard Rosenberg (9:06)

Again, I showed you, find the wheels and then the wheels fall off.

Don Hahn (9:08)

Right? Every time you think they got them back on and they're rolling again, off they fall. And it all feels like the bullpen, it's. It's a lack of starters to give you length, at least the veteran guys. And then a bullpen that just can't handle it. And then the offense, it's all like the perfect storm right now or on the other way. But like, Don, I. Peter, I showed Don this yesterday. This. This crazy stat. Since June 13th, the Mets have the fourth worst record in baseball, the whole sport. Fourth worst record. It's almost. It's. What is it, 79 games now. Like, we're talking about a half of.

Peter (9:43)

A season of baseball, and they have the fourth worst.

Don Hahn (9:47)

They're the fourth worst team in the sport for a half of a season. And that was really jarring to see that that way. And I mean, some people around here are telling me it's the curse. It's the K curse.

Richard Rosenberg (10:01)

Oh, no.

Don Hahn (10:01)

Ever since he went to the door when DP Rothenberg had their soiree. Yeah, they always do. And then they get on the train, they all go, that was June. And K Went. And I remember Don tried to talk him out of it. He's a little concerned. K went to the event and met with Met fans, and it was a whole thing. And they lost that game and they would they lose seven in a row or something like that. And they have not been the same team since.

Peter (10:24)

Wow. Yeah.

Don Hahn (10:25)

I mean, it is just.

Peter (10:28)

No, it's incredible. And Peter, you said it yesterday, is that it's a flip. It's a mirror of last year where they were awful at the beginning and then they got hot. And that's why I'm getting frustrated at all. Look what happened last year. Well, last year they at least went into the playoffs playing much better baseball. But to be the fourth worst team since mid June, which is exactly half the season, and two of those teams, I don't know who the other team is I'm trying to look for, but obviously is all the White Sox and the Rockies. And they're going to those teams. Those guys are going to lose over 100 games. Rockies have already lost 106. The White Sox are on their way to losing 100 games, easily the two worst teams in baseball. That's where you are for half the season. So that becomes who you are. So why is it all of a sudden going to turn around? And I love the young kids and their and that and that pitching and maybe that'll create some sort of a spark. But we've seen them excel during this time and yet still not enough traction has been built for them to be able to feel like they're going to be able to make a run. And I think they'll hold on to the wild card guys, I think. But the Reds now two back and the Reds have the tiebreaker. So the fact that it's up in the air on September 11th is pretty damning. And I don't have any confidence at all that even if they do make it, that this team has the ability to make a run. So that's the state of baseball right now, guys. It's pretty. Yankees at least know they're going and still can have things break their way where they can win this division and give themselves a good chance to make a run. Explain to me how the Mets can do it.

Don Hahn (12:02)

Well, it's all about the young pitchers at this point. So I'll give you the teams. So The Rockies are 27 and 51 since June 13th.

Peter (12:08)

Worst team in baseball.

Don Hahn (12:09)

Yep. The Twins are 28 and 50. The Nationals 30 and 47. The Mets 31 and 46, a one game difference. White Sox 33 and 44. Giants 34 and 43. The Yankees, by the way, have the 12th worst record, 38 and 40. So they're even playing under five. They're still under.500. Baseball. Although these last two games kind of put them there as they look like they were trying to write the ship for a minute. But they're even.38 and 40 since that's. So the Reds have had a better record. It's unreal.

Peter (12:44)

Well, and also not to be repetitive, but all it's going to result in is being the third wild card. Yes, you're a playoff team, but are you really that good?

Don Hahn (12:54)

Come on.500.

Peter (12:56)

But let's be honest, you are six games above.500. And unless it's some kind of wacky year from back in the day, the 73 Mets, I think finished 81 and 80. I think they played one less game. They were like a couple of games above.500. So you do have those wacky years where you won a division being a slightly above average team. But come on guys, you're going to Finish single digits above 500 and sneaking is the third wild card. And I'm supposed to, you know, hip, hip, hooray, we're in the playoffs, we're a great team.

Don Hahn (13:22)

No, the only thing you have, again, the only thing you have is if you get into something and again we get to the calls at 800 now. 193776 today, what you have done is what I keep saying to you from a Met perspective. The thing you have to hold on to, cling to is the three young arms. And could they give you something when you get into a wild card series? Can they give you something? Can you? But, but the problem is they could, they could give you six innings, they could give you seven innings, any of them. And then you go to your bullpen and then what?

Peter (13:57)

Well, that's what, that's what happened. McNeil, the last time he pitched was because of, because of the nail. He only gave you a five and a third and the bullpen was fine. But what happened? You lost the game one nothing. Yeah, that's the other thing. They can't score now all of a sudden at Citizens bank of all places. And now you can't put together any kind of offense. Yeah, like so there's just two wildly inconsistent both of these teams. But you know where we get suckered in guys. It's kind of like the basketball mentality. There are stars on both teams. So it's like, well, how can a Met team struggle when they've got Soto and Lindor and Alonzo. Oh, how can the Yankees struggle when they've got Judge and they've got Freed and. Yeah, no you can't because it's baseball. And if you have holes and if you're an incomplete team, those holes are going to show over a long season. If you can't field, if the bullpen is going to be leaky, if you're not going to do the fundamental things need to be done. If you like the Mets where the bottom of the order has been wildly inconsistent and at times the top of the order like Lindor, very inconsistent, then the names don't matter. If you don't put it together in a nine inning game and put it together over the course of a season and win, you're seven, what are you? 76 and 70. Right. What's their race? 76 and 70. You're slightly above average team, but the 21st century baseball tells you you're a.

Richard Rosenberg (15:19)

Playoff team and you're slightly above average with your overall record. But for the team you currently are and have been for half a season, no, you're among the very.

Don Hahn (15:27)

You are one of the worst in the league.

Peter (15:29)

And that's what's scary about what Alan said, Peter, is that the young kids. Well, during that time is when the young kids came up and contributed and did well, and it still wasn't enough to turn this Titanic around in the cul de sac. Now it tells me I've got a bright future. So, I mean, that'll be a nice little nugget after the season is over to kind of look forward to. But at the same time, is that going to be enough to turn it around here? And is it going to be enough that come playoff time, having to play three in LA or three in San Diego, depending on how that ends up shaking itself out by the time we get to the playoffs? And right now it would be the Dodgers. The Padres are right now just three games back of the Dodgers. So it's probably going to be LA to go to LA and be able to take the two out of three and be able to advance to the divisional round.

Don Hahn (16:20)

Carlos Mendoza See, these are. When you start asking these questions, you know, it's damning. Asked by one of the reporters of have the losses ruin the spirit of the team.

Peter (16:30)

No, I mean, they know where we at. That's one thing with these guys. And they're not going to give up. They're going to keep showing up, they're going to keep preparing, they're going to keep competing and having each other's back. Nobody's happy. We got to keep going.

Don Hahn (16:40)

No. So the spirit's fine. Okay, then what's been the problem?

Peter (16:42)

Some guys from the rotation having a tough stretch here, when you're playing a lot of games on the road and you're not getting decent length or decent outings, you know that it has a trickle effect, you know, on the pitching stuff. They are bats. The game is obviously different when we get, you know, there was times where we get some starting pitching and then the offense seems to cool down. So we just haven't been able to consistently put it together in the whole.

Don Hahn (17:07)

Package, buying any of that because I feel like he's just, he's just giving you some, he's, he's saying something without saying anything. That's what that felt like to me. And he's been pretty good with things that he has said throughout this season that sounded like he was saying something but didn't say anything.

Peter (17:25)

Well, he can't. Even if it's a Fact that it's affecting the players in the room, he can't say that. He can't add to that. So he's got to defend him and say, no, we're good. The spirit's high. You can't admit the spirit's low. But how can it not affect you when you're getting beat up day in, day out? I mean, this is the vision rival a team that you just swept not that long ago, which shows you that it's there somewhere. But now where the rubber hits the road and you've got to go and get the job done, you're getting smoked every night. You just lost two out of three to Cincinnati. And that was a big series where you could have put the Reds to bed and didn't, and that might come back to haunt you. And now, whatever semblance of a chance to win this division, Gwen up in smoke by not being able to get the job done, I mean, how did, how could it not affect you? It should affect you. And then when you see Soto get his 30th stolen base in a blowout game, you know, then, now it almost kind of feels like, well, I'm going to get mine, right? Like we're not winning games now, but I'm going to get mine. I'm going to get my 30 for.

Don Hahn (18:23)

30 play for me.

Peter (18:23)

You know, that's, that's how it starts to show where guys begin to daydream. Guys get. Everybody shows frustration in a different way. But you don't want to have happen is that now. Now I'm going to think about myself, that this team's not going anywhere. So I'm going to start. And I'm not throwing any allegations out about like Soto being a selfish guy. But we didn't bring it up yesterday in a 9 3, whatever the score was. But they get lose a 9 3. Even on the broadcast, Howie Rose was ripping into Soto. Like, how do you, how do you steal third when you're down, you know, late in the game like that? Unless all you're thinking about is, hey, this is an opportunity for me to get my 30th stolen base. You don't want people thinking like that on the field.

Don Hahn (19:03)

No, but that, that does happen.

Peter (19:05)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (19:05)

Speaking of which, you know, you did hit yesterday with your pick of the day. You said Soto would hit a home run. He did. He's got 39, by the way. Nevermind. 30, 30 season. He's still outside shot at 40. 40?

Peter (19:17)

Yeah, 40 40s on the table and crazy. You know, I don't want to see.

Don Hahn (19:21)

I'm not saying it matters, but still.

Peter (19:22)

No, no, it doesn't matter because. Because that's the thing now. Because now the fans are starting to give up. And you know, of course he hits a home run in garbage time and, and that's kind of been like. Some of the theme around the anti Soto people is, is that he's kind of compiled these numbers when it didn't matter. But listen, it's not picking on the team and I want to be positive and we joke about movement and all that. So it wasn't that long ago they, they, they beat up on the Phillies. But it's September now and what did we say coming going into the holiday break, when we come back after Labor Day, it's on. It is on. And the Mets have been completely off since coming out of it and the Yankees have shown their signs, but, you know, not a good couple of days for this bullpen, you know. So now the Yankees are going to have to sweep these last four to get to the eight and four that Allen and a lot of other Yankee fans said they would take in this gauntlet. So that doesn't feel like that.

Don Hahn (20:16)

That's not looking good now because now, now you got to win tonight and then sweep in.

Peter (20:20)

In Fenway and, and Alan, you brought up a great point in our meeting. What is going on with Volpe in. In with, with this injury thing.

Don Hahn (20:28)

We gotta get to that.

Peter (20:28)

It makes you feel like, all right, do you even know what you're doing here?

Don Hahn (20:32)

Well, I got a lot there. I think we're gonna do that next. I think we got calls we'll get to right now at 800. Now we're 93776. But they've done like that. That to me is a whole different conversation. Goes beyond the frustration of what they look like again at the plate yesterday. And getting small. I mean, outscored 19 to 1 from the seventh inning on tells you that Rodon gave you a good start. Like you, you, you're getting good starts. Warren gave you a good start. That bullpen has been garbage. But this Volpe story and what's being said now is a whole other conversation.

Richard Rosenberg (21:06)

Another can of worms.

Don Hahn (21:07)

Oh, my God. Like it's just another one of these moments. We've covered enough teams that we've seen this happen, so it's not isolated to the Yankees, but when it happens, you just wondering like, who the hell thought this was a good idea. But in the meantime, let's grab a couple of calls here. Danny on Long Island Definitely wants to get into the met conversation, so let's let him do it. Hey, Danny.

Caller (21:27)

Yeah. You talk about the Titanic, Don. Right now I feel like I'm on the back of the. I'm like Leonardo DiCaprio riding down the bow as we get sucked into the abyss of the season. And the only question.

Don Hahn (21:38)

Rose doesn't want to put you on the boat.

Peter (21:40)

No.

Caller (21:41)

The only question is, like, the playoffs are the door. Do I want to hang on the door and freeze to death because there's no chance of his winning? Just take me down immediately, or do I want to suffer on the door for an hour before he freeze to death? And the woman just kicks me to the side. That's the. I think I go, just take me down. Because the thought of having to somehow linger in, get into the playoffs. And then you think the Dodgers are laughing. You know, we have to go out and play the Dodgers with this pitching staff. I'm sure they're really scared. But I just wanted to touch on 911 for a second because obviously meant a lot to me at the time. I was in the police department, and a lot of people like to say 911 changed my life. It didn't change my life. I was lucky. I'll tell you whose life had changed. I was coaching a little intramural soccer team at the time. My son would have been about nine or 10. And it was a boy on my team. First couple weeks, we were practicing and the father would be on the sidelines, he'd be in a business attire, very respectful. Thanked me after each practice, thanked me after the first game. Never saw him before. I didn't really know who he was, didn't know the kid. He went to a different elementary school. And then 911 happened, and a couple of weeks later, I think we skipped one week, and we were playing and practices. And then about two weeks later, at the side of the field after the game, I'm thanking everyone. And I said to the mother, oh, I didn't see his dad here today. And she looked at me, she said, his dad was killed on 9 11. And I didn't know what to say. She said, it's okay. She said, it's part of his life now, and this is us. This is what we do going forward. And I met the kid many, many years later. And to say that his life and my son's life, which was the exact same position at that time, have gone in different directions because it's dad was not there. It haunts me every January, every September 11th, when I think about this kid and how his life changed forever because his dad wasn't on the side of the field anymore. And all of us, all we want to do is be on the side of the field or the ice or whatever, and this kid never got that opportunity.

Don Hahn (23:25)

Amen, Danny. Amen. Thank you for sharing that again. It's the reality of the day. It certainly is. And thank you for sharing that, Dave in Westchester. Dave, you're up next.

Peter (23:36)

How you doing?

Caller (23:37)

I'm a big Yankee fan, but I don't hate the Mets. If they played each other, I'd definitely be room for the Yankees. But just on a Met perspective, I mean, they should put Holmes in the bullpen.

Peter (23:47)

And the only shot you got is.

Caller (23:48)

That you never know. Sometimes these guys all have heart. These new arms that are coming up, I mean, Nolan looks like the real deal. Maybe these other two pitchers come out and they look like Sandy Koufax and Dwight. Good. And you just don't know what's going to happen. That's the only chance they have at all. It doesn't look. It looks terrible now.

Peter (24:05)

It doesn't look like it's all David. You're right.

Don Hahn (24:10)

That's it. And that's. And. But the one thing you can say, and that's why I say this to Don, and Don, that's it. Like it's the one thing you can carry into the offseason. It's one thing, but at least you got that.

Peter (24:21)

Yeah. Because carrying it into the postseason would mean these guys are going to have to give you seven plus innings. And that's a lot to ask a bunch of kids to do in the postseason. And McLean's probably got the best chance of the three. But once, you know, once you get to the seventh, eighth inning. All right, is the bullpen going to hold it? Do you have a lead? The McLain pitched his heart out the other night. He had a broken nail, found a way to get through five and a third bullpen actually did the job. Guess what? They got shut out.

Don Hahn (24:48)

Couldn't score.

Peter (24:49)

You know, so it's a great story. And even if they go out there and pitch lights out, it still may not be enough. They've all come up and contributed. Allen during the worst period of time that the Mets have had all season long. Because it might proving to be not enough.

Don Hahn (25:05)

But we'll see what it becomes. But right now, again, the Mets are circling the drain. It is a bad look right now with them.

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Don Hahn (26:31)

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Peter (27:02)

Do list is a great feeling.

Don Hahn (27:04)

And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help.

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Don Hahn (27:18)

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

Peter (27:28)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Don Hahn (27:29)

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Don Han, Rosenberg we have controversy today. Some shots from the morning show. Oh, so this is the that guy Thursday.

Richard Rosenberg (27:49)

That's what he loves, right?

Don Hahn (27:50)

And an hour from now we're gonna reveal what was said about One of us called that guy.

Richard Rosenberg (27:58)

Wait, one of us was named that guy?

Don Hahn (28:00)

One of us was called that guy. On the morning show.

Peter (28:04)

Who could it be?

Don Hahn (28:05)

We're gonna find out an hour from now. And the rebuttal certainly will, will follow for sure. So that's coming up. Your calls at 800-919-3776. Jordan Renan, Lots of Giants to talk about today. Well, he'll join us at 5 and then Damian Woody at 5:30. So all the football's coming at 5 for everybody, but we're talking some baseball now. And Donnie, you brought it up, this Volpe story. The New York Post is reporting that he got a shot in his left shoulder and he didn't play last night. Caballero played short and that's the shoulder. The left shoulder was it back in May is when he made a play and he said he heard a pop in that shoulder. Now I think we've been on the record enough explaining the fact that there was a stretch of 140 games where he missed one game.

Peter (28:56)

Correct. Was like the main, that main ninth game or something like that. Yeah.

Don Hahn (29:00)

And that's the one game he'd missed and he went that long. And they, he, as his struggles continue, he had throwing issues at times. We know his batting has just become a disaster and they just kept sticking with him and throwing him out there. And we kept saying this is not good for the kid. We thought it was mental, Don. They might have mishandled him physically. If he's getting a cortisone shot in September over something that he had that happened to him in May.

Peter (29:24)

Well, the one thing I'll always say about the Yankees is that they're a well run organization. You just might not agree with the way it's run, but it's how they believe it's the best way to win. This is a serious allegation, but it doesn't mean that it's not. It's not one that you're right about. Like, but what's the motivation? Like why would they send him out there at not 100%, especially after they get Caballero at the trade deadline? Why couldn't you say then instead of having this kid take the slings and arrows in New York of not being good, not being able to handle the spotlight of New York being a bum and then finding out that maybe it was because he was hurt, you had an alternative and didn't pivot to it? What was the motivation behind that? What's the end, what's the end game of honestly continuing to trot him out there?

Don Hahn (30:14)

I honestly don't know. Especially when as he's like we're watching him struggle. We're watching the fan base turn on him. We're seeing look in his eyes go from a confident kid to. To a clueless one. We're seeing his at bats. He's a mess. Anybody that knows what they're looking at from. From the guys, I mean, again, o' Neal is, you know, as blunt as they come. When he sees what he's. What he's. What he sees, he calls it. Anybody that's watched is telling you what they're seeing. And the managers keep saying his best baseball's ahead of him, that he's, you know, he's fine. We're working him through it. He. He's going to be there. We believe he's going to be there for us when we need. Like, they keep saying all this stuff that doesn't make sense. If he's hurt or playing hurt or dealing with something that could be affecting his swing, his ability to play defense, whatever it is, my God, why would you cover that up? That doesn't make sense at all. This is one of your young players who you are hoping that becomes one of your young star players. This is somebody that you believe in so much that you passed on Trey Turner, that you wanted to like you. He was your guy at shortstop. And you're telling me now he has been dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the season, and it's bothered him to this point. And now we're going to say, well, you know, this is. This is why he's been playing. You know, no one's going to believe you, right? No, no one's going to believe the fact that you're telling us now after telling us he's fine for three months, now you're going to tell us, well, you know, the shoulder has been causing some issues for him. Really? Now you're telling us in September, two weeks from the playoffs.

Peter (31:56)

But here's the thing, all right, so that's on the table, that this is. This is not true. He's not really hurt, or they're exaggerating the injury as an excuse for why he's playing poorly and taking him out of the lineup. You could have done that a month ago. You know, this injury goes back to May. So why now? Why with 16 games left in the season after, you might have done irreparable damage to his reputation, to his psyche, when you benched him those two games a few weeks ago, why couldn't that have been, hey, he's not. He's not 100%. He's really struggling with this shoulder. So we're, we're going to sit him down. Why September, in the middle of September when the damage has already been done, or the other thing that could kind of maybe get the Yankees up from this? Would they relying on him to give them information on how was feeling. And he was lying about it because he didn't want to come out of the lineup.

Don Hahn (32:47)

Oh, wait a minute.

Peter (32:47)

He didn't want to make an excuse.

Don Hahn (32:48)

Here's a. Here, I'll answer that one for you. Because if, if he, you know about the injury back in May.

Peter (32:56)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (32:57)

And then he's playing poorly. And then you say to him, are you good? And he's, he's high. He's lying to you because he doesn't want to come out of the lineup. I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm going to tough it out. Right. That's what, that's what Boone said last night. He's a tough kid. He's a gamer.

Peter (33:09)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (33:09)

He doesn't want to come out. All right, great. But there comes a point where you're playing so poorly. It's like, I tell you what, now we're going to do this for you. We're going to save you from, from yourself. Because they're never. Athletes are never going to tell you they're hurt. They don't want to do that. They never want to tell you that they're injured because they don't want to miss playing time. Believe it or not, only fans want players to sit. Players want to play.

Peter (33:30)

No, they want to play. Sure.

Don Hahn (33:31)

So there comes a point where I say, okay, well, now I'm taking it out of your hands. I'm making, I'm taking the. I'm making the decision for you. We're going to, we're going to take a picture of that shoulder, see whether or not there's anything going on in there. And if they find inflammation, whatever it is. I tell you what, kid, we're shutting you down. This is what's best for you. That's what you got to do. Did they do that? Apparently not. Until recently, maybe, when they decided, maybe we got to give you another shot. Am I right or wrong, Don?

Peter (33:58)

Like that?

Don Hahn (33:59)

That's the way you handle it. Take it out of his hands because you realize, okay, he's never going to tell us he's hurt. But he doesn't look right. Something's not right with him. Let's. Let's take a look.

Richard Rosenberg (34:07)

And by the way, and how many stories we talk about this A lot over the last few years have there been with just this team and people not being right physically.

Don Hahn (34:15)

Yeah.

Richard Rosenberg (34:16)

Say again?

Peter (34:16)

I don't know what it is.

Richard Rosenberg (34:17)

I hate when you end up being like, I guess it's the juju. I guess it.

Don Hahn (34:20)

But what is it?

Peter (34:21)

They've changed.

Richard Rosenberg (34:22)

They've changed people on the training staff, though.

Don Hahn (34:24)

Yeah.

Richard Rosenberg (34:24)

And yet it seems like over and over again.

Don Hahn (34:27)

They do have a history of having broken players though.

Peter (34:30)

That too.

Don Hahn (34:31)

They do have this history of guys who just get hurt. No, no, not him. I'm just saying. But they have guys. It's just whatever it is. They have had players that they know they're dealing with a guy who's just gonna. He's either chronically injured or he comes in with.

Richard Rosenberg (34:43)

That's funny.

Peter (34:44)

You could almost argue.

Don Hahn (34:45)

Remember Rodon came in with an injury. Oh, yeah. He had to play through that.

Richard Rosenberg (34:47)

Now you could almost argue that Stanton has been surprisingly healthy. Knock on wood, given what you expect of a Stan.

Don Hahn (34:54)

No, you're right.

Peter (34:55)

But you know, there is a history of this guys over the years if you think about it. Right. Didn't Anthony Rizzo play with a concussion way longer than he should have? That was a weird one too. Going back to Teixeira. What was that? The wrist. He was playing with that. But usually that was over a fairly short period of time where they were trying to figure it out. Maybe they didn't have an alternative. They were hoping that it would work itself out and didn't. We're talking about something that has now gone on literally for months. If he has been playing poorly because of that injury and it takes until now to finally do something about it, somebody has to answer to exactly why.

Don Hahn (35:31)

Who is it who answers to him?

Peter (35:32)

Well, Brian Cashman is the guy. Right.

Don Hahn (35:35)

Saying, you got to go to the top. Wouldn't he be the one again? I just keep going back to how your team is being run and what you worry about and focus on versus what you seem to either ignore or sweep under the rug. And it doesn't make sense to me. This is an organization that, it seems to me they're always worried about image.

Peter (35:53)

And yet they never handle it the right way. Guys, even if you wanted to say the selfishness of, hey, he's hurt, he's not playing well, but we don't have an alternative. We don't have anybody to pivot to. Well, they did at the deadline. They get Caballero. That was six weeks ago.

Don Hahn (36:09)

Yep.

Peter (36:10)

Like, so you. And you had it. And he did play a couple of games. In a row. And listen, he's not, he's not a great hitter, but he was fielding better. He was a better alternative. They love this kid. They've gone out of their way to try to make it work with him. They had the built in excuse of, he's hurt, let's take him out of the lineup. Nobody's ever going to question a guy if he's hurt.

Don Hahn (36:31)

No.

Peter (36:32)

Especially if he's playing as poorly as he is. You don't wait this long. It's crazy.

Don Hahn (36:39)

Especially a young player. That's the part that bothers me the most, is this is not a veteran. This is not a disposable player that you're just trying to squeeze everything, whatever's left in them and who cares? This is supposed to be part of your future. Like, that's what I mean. Tell me I'm overreacting, Don, but if I am running a franchise, there's certain priorities I have. One of them is to make sure that I take care of, of the future of my franchise. I do whatever it takes. Like, if I feel like you're the one and I'm really happy with. Okay, we've. We've got shortstop solved for the future. Already has a gold glove in his pocket. We know we can get his offense where it needs to be. Shown us some pop. There has to reach a point where I'm like, making sure I'm over the top, making sure that he's okay. And, and then if, especially when it's mental and when the fans are turning on him, I'm not going to just keep rolling them out there.

Peter (37:30)

Well, that's the thing. And you know, I don't get it. Adrian tweets that he never was great before the injury or gotten to be a star. This is just the front office using the injury as an excuse. They could have done that at the deadline. Right. We got, we just, we traded for a shortstop because Volpe's struggling. He's got an injury. We were trying to. He was trying to fight through it. It's not working. And now we're going to put him on the illness. They could have made the excuse that, like, why wait this long and all. Listen, I don't know. Maybe he would have struggled anyway. Maybe if he was 100%, these stats would have been exactly the same. Maybe he would still lead the league in errors if it wasn't for the injury.

Don Hahn (38:09)

Weren't the errors in August? Wasn't the majority of his errors in August?

Peter (38:12)

You're right. I believe it's because of the injury. But let's just say for sake of argument, it's not the injury. You still had the built in excuse of the injury to save the kid from getting beat up by the media, beat up by the fans, booed at the ballpark. And now you've probably destroyed the kid's psyche that when he does come back healthy, how, what state is he gonna be in to be able to go out there and play like you. You, you cherish this guy. And you might have done. You might be the one that your organization might have been the one that damaged him more than anything else, more than any pitcher, more than any fielding error, that it might have been you, the guy that you protected that tried to keep so sacrosanct as your future shortstop, the next Derek Jeter, the next. They might be the ones that screwed it up.

Don Hahn (38:56)

And he said he's, he is set for three games this season.

Peter (39:01)

Three games. Come on, by the way, in a sport where he could have been perfectly healthy and sit for 10, they don't want you playing every day, right? How many times we talk about these? A kid, day game after a night game, you know, try to try to get his, try to get his legs back, you know, the 18 straight days. Give him a day off.

Don Hahn (39:23)

This organization is too busy fighting the analytics. They're too busy fighting with the people who don't like the way they play. They're too busy coming at you with, with all their, their bots that they put out on social media. They put out there to make the case for them. You know, they have all these defense lawyers that they pose as these accounts that pop up out of nowhere. And then they start making all these different cases about, about why the numbers work and why this is really the way it's supposed to be and how this is, this is the way you win. And it's like they're so worried about that rather than the fact that, like, just think about the different things that they have done, the moves that they've made and how they've failed. And then of course, how you're handling this kid, it's unreal. Like, it doesn't make sense to me that you would do this to a young player that is supposed to be part of your future that you firmly believe in and have your manager. I don't know how much I blame Boone, but he kept saying the same thing over. I don't think it's, I don't think it's affecting anything. I think it's like, okay, then he must really suck, then if the shoulder's not the issue, I'm even more concerned. But like he said yesterday, you know, like when asked if that was, you know, part of the if the shoulder was the issue, he's like, oh, you know, I don't think so, he said. But I guess I shouldn't rule it out. I hope not.

Peter (40:44)

Well, you just answered your own question. Maybe not even realizing that if it's all about the numbers, then maybe the numbers still said that despite the injury, Anthony Volpe at shortstop still gave them a better chance to win.

Don Hahn (41:01)

Really? With 19 errors.

Peter (41:04)

But. But I don't know how that factors in, but whatever metrics they use and usually, Alan, with every decision the Yankees make, it usually skews towards the offense, right?

Don Hahn (41:14)

Yep.

Peter (41:16)

So there must have been some sort of offensive metric that stated having him in over Cabo Garo gave them a better chance to win the game. But does the. Do the metrics, do the numbers, do the analytics factor in his injury? But whatever he was producing Allen offensively, you could, I guess, make the case in a certain analytic world, it was better than what Caballero was going to give you or projected to give you over the long term until. Until today, where the numbers spit out. No, no, not anymore.

Don Hahn (41:46)

Gives us a better chance. So this is their way out now to say that Caballero is the guy going forward. Right. That's their way. All right. This is their way out.

Peter (41:56)

Zoltar, spit it out. Spit out a card today that said not Gabo Yarrow, shortstop.

Don Hahn (42:00)

It' it's just, it's so disingenuous. I don't know how you believe it.

Peter (42:05)

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Don Hahn (43:06)

Race the rudders. Raise the sails. Raise the sails.

Peter (43:09)

Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching.

Don Hahn (43:11)

Over. Roger, wait. Is that an enterprise sales solution?

Peter (43:15)

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Don Hahn (43:36)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Peter (43:40)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Don Hahn (43:41)

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

Richard Rosenberg (43:49)

I know what you're doing, by the.

Peter (43:50)

Way today, Jacob, and I appreciate it.

Richard Rosenberg (43:52)

Playing some instrumentals from the Blueprint, which of course was released on September 11, 2001. In my opinion, it's the best Jay Z album. And it's crazy. That and Fabulous, his debut album, both dropped on Tuesday, September 11th.

Peter (44:06)

And a little bit of a different musical genre, Peter, but System of A Down, I believe Toxicity came out on 9 11. So it was just. Yeah, it was. And it just, it was crazy just how it was just, you know, a lot of things ignored. Just, everything just changed. So those albums, you wonder how much they were affected by just.

Richard Rosenberg (44:28)

Well, I had, I had a friend, and this is obviously small fries when we talk about the ramifications of a day as horrible as 9 11, but just in the other ways that it affected the world. I had a friend who was in a band and they were signed to Atlantic. They had a deal. This is my friend from childhood, got in this band.

Peter (44:45)

I don't.

Richard Rosenberg (44:45)

Listen, I don't know if it ever would have happened for the band, but they were getting the whole promo push and everything. And they were booked for TRL on September 11th. And yeah, never happened. Everything fell apart. Like, you know, the things.

Don Hahn (45:00)

Look, life stopped, life stopped, life stopped.

Richard Rosenberg (45:03)

Whatever plans were going to be happening for you in the coming days and weeks. I saw Spike Lee give an interesting interview the other day. You know, Spike Lee wasn't in New York on September 11th. He was meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger in LA to try to get him to do a movie that he's still working on to this day that he still wants to get Schwarzenegger to do. And they were meeting and they were at a restaurant and looked up at the television. And Spike Lee's 911 was spent sitting at a restaurant with Arnold Schwarzenegger watching tv. And then Spike, just being the New Yorker that he is Was like, I have to go home. And he know he did. He went and got Amtrak, said they could not find any more. He negotiated with the person at the train station and took a three day train ride back to New York.

Peter (45:57)

That's wild.

Richard Rosenberg (45:57)

So he could be back in New York.

Don Hahn (45:59)

I never heard that story from Scott. I didn't even know you could do that. Yeah, so much that was locked up. Like they then shut down. I thought everything at that point, but maybe it was the next day.

Richard Rosenberg (46:10)

Well, land, yeah, was right. But land travel, you could still get in.

Don Hahn (46:13)

I'm talking the next day though. I think there's just a lot of stories about all the sports writers who were scattered around the country who were like renting cars and driving together to get back, try to get home.

Richard Rosenberg (46:24)

If you were out the in, if.

Don Hahn (46:25)

You were covering the team, covering something. Yeah, like you got stuck and it was a lot of that.

Peter (46:28)

So I believe the Mets were in Pittsburgh, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, Kay had a story like that. Al Leiter like hung at his house because he didn't have any way to get home.

Don Hahn (46:38)

It was crazy. Again, it's one of those days that again, if you live through it, you'll certainly never forget the details of it.

Richard Rosenberg (46:47)

I literally, by the way, I'm such a nozzle. I showed up at my college radio station. So it's, it's September 2001. So I'm in my fourth year of, no, I'm in my fifth year. This is my last year in Maryland. So I'm, I'm a, I'm a super senior Van Wilder. And I literally showed up at the college radio station where like a couple of long haired like punk weirdos were playing. They're like, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah. And I literally come in the studio, I'm like, guys, I'm doing a show. Like, even on our college radio station, we're not playing random music. We're going to do a show. We're going to a proper news show and we're going to talk about what's happening in the world. And I have that. I have like this 90 minute mini disc of me as an idiot 21 year old speculating on what's happening. My brother was in New York at the time, so I have my brother on the phone. It was just an indescribable, indescribable moment.

Don Hahn (47:40)

Yeah, yeah. And again, you tell me 24 years. I feel like life's in fast forward. Ever since then, just time has just gone. But, like, the way time has gone by, we got calls to get to 800-919-3776. So let's get to Javier. Javier, my man in Queen. Javi.

Peter (47:57)

Javi, what up?

Caller (47:59)

What's up, guys? What's going on, fellas? Thanks for taking the call. Shout out to the brave ones, those that made that big sacrifice 24 years ago, and also the survivors. My dad, it was a security guard at the World Trade center and he got out of there. And I've had 24 bonus years with my dad. So to all those out there, count your blessings, hug your loved ones. You know, you need to tell somebody. You know, you need to apologize somebody or forgive somebody. Go, go ahead and do that because you never know what could happen, you know?

Peter (48:30)

Yeah, it's true.

Caller (48:33)

So if we can talk about sports, I'm not looking to kill Volpe. What I will say about the situation is it is, at the very least, it's suspect or as. As cool people would say. Maybe it's sus. Right, like the timing of this all. It's. It's just. And I don't think overall Yankee fans have necessarily been killing him. His numbers are bad. Like, he, he warrants, you know, questioning if he should still be playing at this point. And it's just, it's so disappointing to me. This is a sign that they are definitely, they have him in the plans for next year. Like, they do not plan on moving on from him. And this is kind of almost a built in way to allow for that to be way more palatable. Like, for me, I think you can move on from this guy. Like, and almost any other shortstop in the league could play just as bad as him. You know, I mean, like Caviar, like, the concerns about Caviar, like, do you really think Caviar would play worse?

Don Hahn (49:32)

Well, think about it.

Peter (49:33)

Right now.

Don Hahn (49:33)

He's also, by the way, Javi, on the contract next year. Caviar. So, like, what are you gonna. What are you doing there? Right?

Peter (49:39)

But yeah, I really think as I thought about it a lot more during the break, because when I said it to you, Allen and I started like, rattling around in my head. I think it really just comes down to that. The analytics told you that Volpe was still the better option until today. They don't just, they just don't spit in the match. All right? We've figured out the matchups the last 16 games. We're looking at who we might match up in the playoffs. And I'm telling you, it spit out Caballero. That. That. That's the only thing that makes any sense to me on why they would do it. Because even what Javier is saying about it's an excuse. They had to build an excuse six weeks ago when they made the trade for Caballero. Yeah, right. Why? Why today and not a month ago, six weeks ago, last week. Why today? Because today his number came up.

Don Hahn (50:25)

Yeah, and I also think that you're reaching a point of we got to win games here and we got to get a playoff roster and a playoff lineup set. And we've given this kid as much time as we possibly can give him. He's not going to get right. It's time to move forward. And they had to make that decision. But honestly, that might be too late. Yeah, of course it is. And I hate the way they never mind all this stuff about the effect of this year. I just don't like the look. It's a bad look. 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. Here go we for more of Don.

Peter (51:01)

Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at.

Don Hahn (51:03)

3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers before you go.

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