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Don LaGreca
McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one.
Peter Rosenberg
Of six collectibles and your choice of.
Don LaGreca
A Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets.
Peter Rosenberg
With spicy nether flame sauce. Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.
Don LaGreca
At participating McDonald's for a limited time. A Minecraft movie only in theaters. Todd, give me a piece of wood, I'll eat it.
Alan Hahn
Han, Peter, the most used sweat is at a buffet. And Rosenberg.
Peter Rosenberg
I'll be honest, the one thing I miss about having an office is the taste of Steve Hart's nuts.
Don LaGreca
This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.
Alan Hahn
This is Don Han at Rosenberg.
Peter Rosenberg
The best threesome I've ever heard on.
Alan Hahn
880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app. All right, here we go on a Tuesday in New York city with Don Legreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn, 800-919-3776. Of course the number be part of the conversation here with you and we have a lot to get to in a short amount of time to get to it. Mets baseball begins at 6 pregame, of course. So we've got you for the next three hours, fellas. We've got rules changes and we've also got one one rule in football that everybody wants to stop. And then of course we still have the torpedo bat situation that I guess add to the story that Dela Cruz had himself an unbelievable night with the bat and this story just won't go away in baseball. So Anthony asked this question that I thought was a good one. Which rule or which situation do we think their particular league will get rid of first, the tush push or the torpedo bat?
Don LaGreca
Well, it doesn't sound like the NFL really has an appetite for it. It's a matter of how you can change it. But if why would Major League baseball want to change the torpedo bat? Why isn't it every sport? Why did they institute the 3 point play in the NBA? Why are they now talking about if you kick it out of the end zone of the NFL, the line of scrimmage is going to be the 35 yard line. You want to talk about a rule change? That's a rule change I can sink my teeth into. Because you can start at the 35 yard line unless you can strategically find a way to be able to kick it before the goal line. So you're going to punish kickers for kicking it out of the end zone with their big legs and putting the ball at the 35 yard line. Why? Because they want more points to be scored. That's why we went with The K ball, the kickball in the NFL. Stop these long field goals. We want to be able to get guys to go for it on fourth down. We want more points. Hockey changed all of their rules coming out of the lockout. 20 year goes Allen.
Peter Rosenberg
What?
Don LaGreca
To try to increase offense. No clutching and grabbing. Instituted the trapezoid. All for more offense. So Major League Baseball has been handed a gift. A legal gift. Nobody's injecting their behinds with PDS to create home runs. Baseball didn't have to go, jimmy, switch the baseball and juice it behind everybody's back to be able to increase home runs. They found a legal form to increase the offense. Why in God's name would baseball want to change it? You know why? Cuz they don't know what they're doing. They're a poorly run organization, that's why. They'll probably screw it up. Because if they know what they're doing, they leave it alone. They'd promote it. They would issue a press release. Good news, fans. We're now entertaining, where you have a baseball bat that people are going to hit home runs. Enjoy. Thank you. You're welcome. But instead it's controversy. What do we do? These little writers that sit there that couldn't pick up a baseball bat because they're not strong enough are gonna write, the integrity of the game is being destroyed. Babe Ruth didn't have a bat like this. The big home run hitters back in my day didn't have a bat like this. They're ruining. They're ruining the sport. My God, you made the sport interesting. How dare you? I swear to God, it happens all the time with this sport. The second somebody wants to inject some fun. Oh, my God. He threw the bat, he hit a home run to win a playoff series.
Peter Rosenberg
And he tossed the bat in the air.
Don LaGreca
You wouldn't see Lou Garrett do that. He's rolling over in his grave. I swear to God, the second there's fun like an alarm goes off in Manfred's office. We gotta do something about this. We need to be boring. My God. This is a controversy because nobody wants to have any fun. Did anybody ever think of that? Oh, with the integrity. They're cheating memes of like bam, bam bats and bowling ball pins. How about somebody putting out a tweet? Wow, this is entertaining. I'm happy. I'm watching the sport.
Peter Rosenberg
Now hear me out for a second. Dear God in heaven, what if over the next. It's very early, as Alan said yesterday, but what if over the next few weeks, don't it goes beyond entertaining to, like, borderline ludicrous. Like, where would you draw the line that you go, okay, this is now an unfair competitive advantage for the batter. There's something. The game is fundamentally changed. Is there a line for that?
Alan Hahn
Every game, home runs are up dramatically again. Somebody get Raphael Devers one of these bats, because he's having all kinds of trouble just hitting a fastball. But if home runs are up astronomically in the first month, then yes. Month, guys, you can't be a weekend. It can't even be a week. It's got at least be a month of the sport before anybody overreacts. Now, Don, now, I'm always going to sit back and relax and be entertained by a wonderful rant, especially this early in the show, but I don't think anybody is trying to put a stop to this thing or be ban the bat. Baseball did approve its use. What's bizarre is that when they did, which apparently was as much as two years ago, no one really said anything. That's the most bizarre thing, because as you and I were talking about before the show, when the NHL, when the NHL agreed to that, you know, because there was a time, and I believe it was like 1999, 2000, was. It might be the last season, everybody was using wooden sticks. That was just the thing. Then came along composite, and at first it was composite with, like, blades that you. That were wood. Then it was full composite sticks, one piece sticks. And these were different. The whip was different. Now you got a lot more snap. The puck exploded off these sticks. And that was something that you're like, hold on a second. This changes the game. And the league put out a statement to let everybody know these are legal and allowed to be used in our sport. Baseball never did that. That's why this is the only reason why this is a controversy is because baseball just was like, oh, yeah, by the way, these are okay. Yeah.
Don LaGreca
And that's what I don't understand about it, is that I was telling off the air to Peter before we opened the show that if Sidney Crosby went to the league and said, listen, I got an analytic guy that developed the stick that is going to have me score like 20 more goals a season. Is it legal? And they look at it and go, yeah, it's legal. As soon as Sidney Crosby left the office, they'd issue a press release saying, there is now a new stick being allowed in the NHL that Sidney Crosby is going to use because they don't want there to be imbalance when it comes to competitiveness so, and this isn't even like all the Yankees get away with everything. Whoever came up with the idea, because if this was happening in 23, that if Lindor was using it, if Stanton was using it last year, if this was used as early as 2023, at some point somebody went to Major League Baseball, whether it was the Yankees or somebody else and said is this bat legal? And the second they said yes, they gotta let the world know about it, man, because it's in baseball's best interest to make sure everybody is on the same page. So if. And it was right for whoever went to baseball, the Yankees or whoever, to make sure that it was legal because nobody wants any impropriety but to be culpable in keeping this away from the general public for it to be stumbled upon because Michael K or whoever before the game the other day mentioned it on the telecast. That's, that's not how you get in front of a story if you're a professional league. So Major League Baseball did drop the ball in not making this going out to the public. And it's not even about making it available to everybody, cuz it was available to everybody. But just let the world know, including your fans, that hey, there's something that changed here. And just to let you know, we're on it. We've seen it. Not to have it exposed in this way where everybody gets caught with their pants down. And then there are articles and there's tweets and there's opinions thrown out there that are uneducated cuz everybody's learning on the fly. Major League Baseball should have got way out in front of this maybe though.
Alan Hahn
Look, I can't imagine they did this on purpose because a couple of people have said this. I think Jeff Passon has said this. I think Verducci said it with Kay earlier and I do think there is. For baseball this is a good thing because we are talking about it. Second show in a row, we're leading with it. It has been a topic of conversation. People are curious enough to now want to tune in and watch and see it and what's going to happen and follow it. And for baseball this is exactly what you want. You want people talking about your sport and this is the way to do it. Now I don't think it would have been any different if they did put out a press release two years ago that we all forgot about it. And then suddenly the Yankees, you know, hit 15 home runs in a weekend and a couple of guys that are using it also hit some Home runs. And now all of a sudden it becomes a bigger deal. Because I am of the belief that the only reason why this is the major story it's become is because it's the Yankees. If, if Ellie De La Cruz did what he did last night, four or five, two home runs, if he did what he did last night in a vacuum that at the start of the season, no one is saying a word, this is not a big deal. It's a. It's a controversy in those words, because it's the Yankees. That's why. That's why this is a bigger story than it maybe needs to be. And maybe even baseball is going like, what do you mean? We've had this for three years. Why is it a big deal? Oh, because the Yankees came out of the gate mashing and people don't like that because they're using a bat. And it must be elite.
Don LaGreca
Everything's bigger if it happens in New York or if it happened in LA or some that. Listen, Profar, the Atlanta Braves, who's a pretty good player. Very good player.
Alan Hahn
Yes.
Don LaGreca
All right. And. But he came up in San Diego and he's just, he's not a well known player. Just got busted for ped. He's gonna be suspended for half the year.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Don LaGreca
All right. So I don't know what the Yankee equivalent is to Profar, but if it was any other Yankee, this would be a national story. Right. But not that the Braves aren't important, but he hasn't even played for the Braves yet, really. You know, and he came from San Diego. He's kind of bounced around a little bit. But, you know, the fact is, the bigger the name, the bigger the team, the bigger the story. Right. So, yeah, if Kansas City, who belted, you know, what, five home runs yesterday or three, whatever it was in that 111 destruction of the Brewers. Yeah. In Kansas City. It's not that big of a story because people pay attention to what happens with the Yankees. They pay attention what's happening with the Dodgers or the Red Sox. You think if Devers played for the Milwaukee brewers, his 0:19 start would be a story? No, he's a Red Sox. So it's a story because people pay attention what the Red Sox do. And there's a handful of teams where people pay attention. And the Yankees are definitely one of them. So it became as. But it didn't have to. It didn't have to be this way. If everybody knew that this bat existed and was educated on the bat, we'd see these home runs and we'd be able to celebrate the actual accomplishment of ending home run. But because it felt like it was hid from us, that there was some sort of impropriety, that made it a controversy, that it didn't have to be right. Somebody used the analogy yesterday about the stolen bases. Ohtani broke the record for home runs and stolen bases became. What did he end up becoming? A 5050 guy. Because they changed the rules of stealing the bases. We all knew going into the season that the bases were going to be bigger and that the way you could steal is easier. So it became kind of a non story about the rule change because we all knew about it. But if nobody knew about it, then we found out like a week in, hey, the bases are bigger. You don't think it would have exploded and be like, hey, holy stolen bases. What's going on? It was the lack of not educating your audience is why this became even a bigger story.
Alan Hahn
Well, let's hear from the inventor of this bat. Who?
Don LaGreca
Wow.
Alan Hahn
The Batman.
Don LaGreca
Literally.
Alan Hahn
He's the Dana Nana.
Don LaGreca
Well done with all the great Batman. We always go back to Adam west. Isn't it?
Peter Rosenberg
Musically, yes, Musically, it's.
Alan Hahn
It's. It's when we think Batman. Isn't that Batman?
Peter Rosenberg
No, not for me. I'm too young. You guys are old dirt.
Alan Hahn
Who's your Michael Keaton?
Peter Rosenberg
Not even a question. Michael Keaton. No hesitation. It's Michael.
Alan Hahn
Maybe this is our list for tomorrow. I'm curious, Don. How do you feel about it?
Don LaGreca
Listen, you beat me up on age. It came out two years before I was born. Okay, so I'm. I'm bigger. I'm on the Adam West Batman in syndication the way everybody else is.
Alan Hahn
All right?
Don LaGreca
I didn't watch it in real time, but that's the Batman I want it to be.
Peter Rosenberg
What do you mean?
Alan Hahn
Burt Ward?
Don LaGreca
When I think about man, that's what I said. I think of a hokey. That's.
Peter Rosenberg
That's really more so than Batman. See, here's. But here's why the age thing is a huge difference.
Don LaGreca
Let me just say I love what's happened here.
Peter Rosenberg
Here's why it's a huge difference. O'Don. I was 10 when the Michael Keaton one came out. It was like an earth shack. If you were between the ages of like 10 and 15. When the Keaton one dropped. Dude, the toys, the G. It was just as much as Adam west had been on in reruns. And when I was home sick, it was like, oh, Andy Griffith's on the Adam West. Batman is on it wasn't part of my life. You know what I'm saying, Alan? Like that Keaton one.
Alan Hahn
I get you. And with Jack between both. But I'm in between both of you because I. I did grow up watching the Adam west one and the same thing. A lot of times you saw it either on like, if you were homesick and that was on the, like, tv or if it was just later in the afternoon. But I loved watching it. But when that. When the Michael Keaton Batman, like that really, that movie and how we got on this, I apologize.
Peter Rosenberg
It changed. It changed the franchise.
Alan Hahn
Not just that franchise. It became what Marvel and everybody else is just turned into something different. DC and Marvel suddenly were making movies about every superhero because it did so well. It was great. Jack was great. Like, the Prince soundtrack was great. There was so much. Now I think we do have to do then a list of the best. The best.
Peter Rosenberg
Don made a face. Dom made a face. When you said the soundtrack was great.
Don LaGreca
That Prince song was not good.
Peter Rosenberg
He.
Don LaGreca
Don wasn't feeling bad. I never felt bad. Dance.
Peter Rosenberg
Yo, Jacob. We need that coming back. Next segment, we need to hear Pat dance. I haven't heard that in a minute. All right, keep going, though. I'm with.
Alan Hahn
Soundtrack itself was good, but I'm just saying. So there's been several versions of Batman now in the movies, and I'm curious if Don, who is a movie connoisseur, might want to power rank them versus Adam West.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I just.
Alan Hahn
I.
Don LaGreca
But that's who I want it to.
Peter Rosenberg
Be in your brain because.
Don LaGreca
Because. Because Batman is the only superhero without a superpower. So it makes sense for him to be hokey.
Alan Hahn
He's got a belt, though.
Peter Rosenberg
Hell of a belt, really.
Don LaGreca
Is there another superhero that doesn't have a power?
Alan Hahn
No, I don't think he does have a power.
Don LaGreca
No. I think he's the only one that doesn't have a power.
Peter Rosenberg
But by the way, he had power at Jace, though. He had something like his ability to.
Don LaGreca
Fight was like, there's like a big market baseball team. He just had more money than everybody else.
Peter Rosenberg
By the way, you brought it around. You brought it around.
Alan Hahn
Way to go. Well, the newest Batman is Aaron Leonard. And Aaron Leonard did work for the Yankees, but he now works for the Marlins. And everybody, of course, now wants to get to this guy who, by the way, might be really smart. But was he so smart he didn't patent his bat? Maybe that. Then we would have been. He would have been really smart. He might not even work for the Marlins. He might Own the Marlins if he was so smart. But anyways, so he was asked several questions with a scrum with the media yesterday, and one of them was basically, why did it take so long to come up with this idea with the bat?
Aaron Leonard
All I can say is I was one of those smart guys for so long that they grew up swinging those old weird looking bats as well. Right. And it's not until now that maybe, you know, anyone really thought about this, myself included. So you show up every day, you put the glove on, you're giving, you swing the bat that you're giving, you put the spikes on, you're giving, and you go about your day as best you can. And every now and then it takes a little bit of time to question what you're doing. So a couple years ago, some of the hitters started questioning what they were doing and I just kind of responded to their question.
Alan Hahn
So what was the eureka moment?
Aaron Leonard
I think the eureka moment really was when players pointed to where they were trying to hit the ball and they noticed themselves that that was not the fattest part of the bat. They noticed themselves that the tip was the fattest part of the B. Just looks at each other like, well, let's flip it around. It's going to look, it's going to look silly, but are we willing to go with it? And at the end of the day, you want guys who are willing to go with it. So I would say that was really the moment. And I don't know the bad ends.
Alan Hahn
Three is a free for all.
Aaron Leonard
They all copy each other. So in terms of, in terms of legal details, you know.
Alan Hahn
All right, so we're all talking about it now. We're only noticing it now, but when did players start using this bat?
Aaron Leonard
There were definitely some major league players that swung it in the big leagues in 2023, as well as some minor league players that swung it in real BAS games in 2023. And then it just kind of built up throughout 2024 and until what it is today.
Alan Hahn
So he brought it up to let you know, this has been years, several of them, but. And it's, it's a, it's a very. Almost feels like an obvious concept, but it took some thinking and then they finally gave it a try and some players tried it, liked it. And here we are today where now all of a sudden every single team is ordering tons of these bats. And you think about this and we all know it's copycat, right? How does this trickle down, fellas? This now will become a multimillion Dollar business for a lot of these bat manufacturers. Why? Because not only will you have a major league baseball you'll start having in the minors, you'll start having them in college. Well, not college. Right. They still use aluminum.
Don LaGreca
Aluminum.
Alan Hahn
But like you'll start seeing in wood bat leagues all over the place. Everybody now will want to have a piece of these. They're going to sell like crazy.
Don LaGreca
Yeah. And it's going to become. And then it'll be interesting to see. You're right. If it does become obnoxious, will there have to be something that will be done about it? But give the pitchers credit. They'll figure out a loophole in this. Right. They'll figure out an area of the bat that they can pitch to still. The idea is to pitch away from the barrel of the bat. Right. Get them to hit off the end of the bat, try to jam them. That is the objective of every pitcher, is to just not let it end up in the middle of the play. And if it does, now even more than ever, you're going to get punished for it. I don't know if we've got the actuality, but Anthony was telling me that people were asking him what players were using and he wouldn't give them up. Well, if it's not, he said who.
Alan Hahn
Started to use it. I think that's what he was saying the first couple. Because he did say Stanton used it last year.
Don LaGreca
Right.
Alan Hahn
And it's pretty obvious everybody that's using it this year because everybody's watching. I think he. What he meant was like the very first player to try it in a major league.
Don LaGreca
This is the cut that I was talking about.
Aaron Leonard
I'll let the players always talk about their own experiences. I'm not going to drag anyone into this. It doesn't necessarily want to be dragged into it, but there were definitely guys in the major league side and on the minor league side in 2023 that were definitely asking me questions and offering design advice and demoing them. And then it's a feedback loop. Right. There's many different makes and models that have gone through this process, some of which never saw the field of play and some of which are obviously hitting a lot of home runs right now.
Alan Hahn
And Bellinger said that in Chicago they had them.
Don LaGreca
Yeah. But obviously I don't want to drag anybody into wat. There is no controversy, there is no impropriety. But it just does have the air of impropriety because it felt like it was being kept somewhat of a secret. Right. And so now you've made it out to be bigger than it actually is. If I come into the office with a bottle of Pepsi and I'm sneaking around and I'm sipping the Pepsi and. And Alan, you want some Pepsi and you go behind a door and sip the Pepsi, everybody's gonna be thinking, oh, they must be. They must be drinking something illegal. No, no, we're just drinking Pepsi. Right, but yet we keep drinking it behind the door. Like something's going on here. Well, wait, is it legal or not? Is it okay or not? And apparently there was no rule violation whatsoever. There was no cheating, nothing illegally done, no impropriety whatsoever. Yet it still has that air of it. Because for whatever reason, Major League Baseball decided to sit on this. And that's. And they're the blame for this. They are.
Peter Rosenberg
It's what they do. This is baseball.
Alan Hahn
Well, it's something we're talking about. And for baseball, that's always something that they must love. 800-93776. David and Elizabeth agree certainly with that. Right, David? This is exactly what baseball wants.
Caller
This is exactly what basically baseball needs. And before I jump into all the baseball. Oh, man. Batman, that first Batman.
Don LaGreca
Michael Keaton.
Caller
Jack Nicholson. Super classic. Super classic. You want to get nuts?
Alan Hahn
Let's get nuts.
Caller
Oh, yeah.
Alan Hahn
Pause.
Don LaGreca
But yeah, baseball. Baseball needs this.
Caller
Like you guys said like every, like, not for nothing, I'm huge on basketball.
Don LaGreca
Football, and I'm going to be honest.
Caller
Because of Don, Peter and Michael K. I'm invested heavily in my Mets this season and you know, on going forward. But yeah, baseball is starting to become big. If you go on my timeline, that's all they're talking about, is baseball. MLB should be eating this up and they should be happy with the results. One last thing I want to say real quick is. Ah, you know what?
Don LaGreca
I forgot my point. That's all right. You know what, Your first point. Go ahead. Nah, nah. I appreciate it, gentlemen.
Caller
Just having your time is more than enough for me. Thank you, fellow.
Don LaGreca
Thank you, buddy. The first point was so good that it's all right that you punted on third down. Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
Richard of Manhattan.
Don LaGreca
Hi, Richard. That was. That was a good call.
Alan Hahn
What was that from yesterday?
Peter Rosenberg
I don't know when this last.
Alan Hahn
Could have been yesterday.
Peter Rosenberg
A couple weeks ago. Richard.
Alan Hahn
Manhattan.
Don LaGreca
Richard.
Peter Rosenberg
What could have been happening?
Alan Hahn
Well, we'll have to get him on later.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, don't worry and find out. I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a.
Don LaGreca
Gift, especially when you have stage four cancer.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon. Presented by bank of America.
Don LaGreca
I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Peter Rosenberg
To give people like me a chance.
Alan Hahn
To thrive in life even with cancer.
Don LaGreca
Join bank of America in helping Ann's cause.
Peter Rosenberg
Give if you can@b of a.com supportann what would you like to power to do? References to charitable organizations is not endorsement by bank of America Corporation.
Alan Hahn
Copyright 2025 Spring Fest and Ego Days are here at Lowe's right now. Get a free select EGO 56 volt battery with purchase of a select trimmer, blower or mower kit. Plus shop today for new and exclusive items you need for your lawn. So get ready for spring with the latest in innovation from Ego, the number one rated brand in cordless outdoor power. Only at Lowe's we help you Save offer value through 42 selection varies by location while supplies last. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you.
Don LaGreca
To Mint Mobile today.
Alan Hahn
I'm told it's super easy to do@mintmobile.com.
Don LaGreca
Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to 15 DOL dollars per month required Intro rate first 3.
Alan Hahn
Months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees, extra default terms@mintmobile.com thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Don LaGreca
It is so 80s. But this is not Prince's best work. I'm sorry. No, no, no.
Alan Hahn
It's not his best work. But it's just something the sound is.
Don LaGreca
Thanks.
Alan Hahn
Part of the movie. Throughout the whole movie, it's all you're getting. So it's.
Peter Rosenberg
I totally. I had not thought about that.
Don LaGreca
Thank you.
Peter Rosenberg
In a long time. The Bat Dance, it was a straight for my.
Alan Hahn
Did you have the T shirt?
Peter Rosenberg
The Batman shirt? Absolutely.
Alan Hahn
Everybody had the shirt, right?
Peter Rosenberg
My brother had the traditional one, which I'm jealous of. He had the black traditional. I had one that like, I had a white one that was like a picture of him like standing like staring straight ahead or something.
Don LaGreca
So a lot of people are telling me Daredevil did not have a superpower.
Peter Rosenberg
Okay.
Don LaGreca
Green Arrow did not have a super. Thank you. And Iron man did not have a superpower. That's all the suit.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Don LaGreca
Iron man was also Filthy rich. So there are a few.
Alan Hahn
That helps. So Iron man was like the Dodgers and Batman was the Yankees.
Peter Rosenberg
Wait, say it again.
Alan Hahn
Just buying. Buying yourself.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, that's right. The Dodgers and the Yankees of. Of superheroes, for sure.
Alan Hahn
That's how I would put it. Yeah.
Don LaGreca
But of the traditional superheroes. And I don't mean to disrespect any of the new ones, but when I think about, like, what was the. The Hulk, Super Thor have superpowers?
Alan Hahn
He had. Well, he was a God.
Peter Rosenberg
He was.
Alan Hahn
He wasn't even human.
Don LaGreca
He was a Greek God.
Peter Rosenberg
He was actually not human.
Don LaGreca
And in Captain America, he threw the mighty shield. All those who chose to oppose his shield must yield. But was there a power?
Alan Hahn
Yes, he was. He didn't age.
Don LaGreca
What? Well, I mean, technically, he was. What, the super serum, which is like steroids, I guess.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, yeah, he didn't age.
Don LaGreca
That helps.
Alan Hahn
That's a power.
Don LaGreca
That's a power I think we can all sign up for, right?
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Don LaGreca
But the Justice League of the superheroes. Batman was the only one without a superpower. Right?
Alan Hahn
Left out.
Peter Rosenberg
I get it.
Alan Hahn
Well, I mean, and then. I mean, really, if you think about it, because Robin was in that cartoon, there was no one more pathetic than Robin. Right?
Don LaGreca
It's a mess. That's why he was so pathetic.
Alan Hahn
Bring to the table. Really. He's the show. Like he should have been, Albert.
Don LaGreca
That's why people didn't realize. Maybe they did. But when. When you were talking about a Batman and Robin in the NBA. Like, how pejorative calling somebody a Robin is, right? Like Scott. Like Scottie Pippen's the Robin to.
Peter Rosenberg
No, it's bad. It's bad.
Alan Hahn
What am I doing? Right?
Peter Rosenberg
It's so.
Alan Hahn
It's like, I'm all set. I don't need to be.
Peter Rosenberg
And in the movie series, by the time they got to Batman and Robin, nobody even cared. It was like, oh, nobody. They had to reset again with the Joker. Like, this isn't even. Let's do another Batman again.
Alan Hahn
No. Yeah, let's let. But where's Robin in this one? Now? We're all good.
Peter Rosenberg
We're all good. We're all set.
Alan Hahn
Thanks, Robin. We do need calls, though. At 800 now, 193776. So let's talk to the people. Peter and Whiteboard Pete in White Plains, you're up next.
Caller
Hey, guys. Don, you're usually spot on, but I have to disagree with you here. There is no onus on MLB or the Yankees or anyone else to advertise this. If this has Been going on for years. Let's say two years. I was a catcher in high school. Say I could see everybody's bat that was being used. It sits right there in front of you. People could have seen it on national TV if Stan was using it. And so to get rid of the competitive advantage, I think that's like saying, oh, you know, the Eagles can use the tush push, but no one else can. Until NFL.
Don LaGreca
But the day that somebody had to go, whether it was in 2023, whenever, to major League Baseball and say, is this okay? The second you say, yeah, it's okay, then you let everybody know that it's there.
Caller
But what's the competitive advantage there? Why, why does that have to be done? Other people can see that it's being.
Don LaGreca
Why wait for them to see it? So, but there's the competitive advantage. Maybe nobody will catch on to this and we'll have a leg up on everybody else. Major League Baseball is trying to stop anybody getting a leg up. Yes, it's legal, but we're gonna let everybody else know that this is happening and let the general public know. Why does it have to be discovered? Cuz now here's, here's the problem. Now two years go by, nobody notices. Now five Yankees decide to use it in a game where the home run record's broken and instead of celebrating the home run record, we think there's impropriety. Where there is no impropriety. If you had announced that the second that you made it okay to use, then there would be no issues.
Caller
But Don, I think. Yes, but that's part of my point is I think that this is really good for baseball. I can't tell you the last time that I saw baseball being discussed on get up. And now it's everywhere. Everyone is talking about baseball. And maybe, no, they didn't intend to it because I think they trip over themselves. But maybe MLB did something for good and they are getting talked about.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, but they're getting talked about in a negative light because it's the right.
Alan Hahn
Thing for the wrong reason.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, because now the Yankees are getting beat up for being cheaters. And now the players that used it instead of being celebrated for a moment now De La Cruz, while he, he had a big night because he was using the bat. I think that's wrong. Like so baseball stepped in it. You're right, they're being talked about. No such thing as bad publicity. But there are victims here. And the victim is. Instead of talking about the great start for the Yankees or the great game that this player had or that player had. We now are thinking, hmm, now we know why they had a big game. Because they're using that bat.
Alan Hahn
Don, think about it like this. Let's just say there was a game. Let's just say even last year. First of all, Stanton was using it last year, mashing home runs against Cleveland, and nobody batted an eye or even looked at the bat. Why? Because we're just so used to him hitting the ball a mile. Right? We're just.
Don LaGreca
Nobody noticed it.
Alan Hahn
So no one. But how do you not notice that bat? Because it is odd looking. And what if in that moment, Cleveland decides, whoa, whoa, whoa, check that bat. That's not a normal bat. Like, check that bat. And have the umpires now have to figure out, wait, is this a legal bat? Do we. Like, that's the point. It's that it that could have happened. And then what does baseball do? Or did the umpires know? Did everybody know and just no one talked about it? Was everyone aware that that's a normal thing? Because if they were, then I guess everybody knew about it and no one's surprised other than people in the media and fans who weren't in on it.
Don LaGreca
And when is there ever an innovation in anything that's kept a secret? And by keeping, by keeping it a secret, you're now creating a controversy where there shouldn't be a controversy. So, yeah, all right. Baseball's being talked about. I know. Listen, I go through with hockey. I love that my favorite sport gets talked about. So I'm sure there's a lot of baseball fans that are just excited that we're opening shows and we're not talking about the Knicks. We're not talking about the jets or Giants or talking about the Rangers. We're talking about baseball. But is that how you want it to be talked about? Around a controversy that really, honestly, when you break it down, is not a controversy at all. It's a fugazi controversy because people were uneducated on it. And the reason they were uneducated on it is because some reason baseball decided to keep it a secret. Who keeps things that are legal a secret? Only baseball, man. And I wish I could give them credit for this being some grand scheme to get talked about.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, they're not that Bronco. They stumbled into it completely. They stepped right into it.
Alan Hahn
Let's take Andre in the Bronx, who has a very interesting take for pitchers on this whole thing. Andrew.
Don LaGreca
Hey, guys. Good afternoon. What's up?
Alan Hahn
How are you? Andre?
Caller
So I think I'm a pedestrian Baseball fan, by the way.
Don LaGreca
I'm not like really into the sport.
Caller
But from what I can see outside looking in, it's a really good thing for the sport. For the simple reason that a lot of pitchers are on one year off one year because they blow out their elbows from throwing so fast. And that's been the trend over the last how many years of pitchers increasing velocity this bat, it benefits the Rembrandts again, the guys who can paint the corners and, you know, manipulate the strike zone as well as anybody. Because now that brings them back into.
Don LaGreca
The game, they're relevant again and it.
Caller
Gives baseball a chance to open up. You know, even the draft, Triple A, college, it changes everything. You know, I just want to know.
Don LaGreca
What you guys think about that.
Alan Hahn
So thank you, Andre. So I guess what Andre's trying to suggest is we go beyond power pitching and spin rate and everything else and get back to trying to just miss bats. Trying to.
Don LaGreca
Well, that's always the objective, right?
Alan Hahn
It should be, but I don't know. I'm trying to figure out what Andre was trying to suggest there. That's all.
Don LaGreca
I just trying to suggest that, hey, now the art of pitching has come back. Instead of me trying to blow you away with 100 mile per hour fastball, maybe I need to be more like Greg Maddox, Work the corners, make it so that I can't get the barrel of the bat on the ball. But not everybody is as good as Craig Maddox. Okay? A lot easier for guys to just muscle up and throw the ball as hard as they can. That's still going to be the general philosophy. If you miss the bat, then this is not. This is not a deal. This is not a thing. But they'll believe me. They always. We always come up with ways to increase the offense and then the geniuses will figure out a way to try to lessen the too much offense.
Peter Rosenberg
So slow this thing down.
Don LaGreca
So by the way, you know, and.
Peter Rosenberg
You know where you really have a tough time winning me over that with that now, don't lessen the offense and sell me on defense when there's no such thing as real starting pitching anymore. Anyway, that's the thing. If we're going to choose between great offense winning or each team trotting out. Don, seven different pitchers a night. Give me the big offense. I'm sorry. There's Nothing sexy about 8 different people pitching in a 31 game. I'm sorry.
Don LaGreca
And also, do you ever think of this? The attention was caught because the Yankees hit nine home runs, right? What if. What if the attention was caused because somebody hit a line drive back to the pitcher off of his head and killed him.
Peter Rosenberg
Excuse me.
Don LaGreca
And then they said, oh, well, he was using a bat, that it makes the ball go.
Alan Hahn
So that would be banned.
Don LaGreca
How would keeping it quiet have aged if, God forbid, something like that happened? Because really, what's the reason they don't have aluminum bats in Major League Baseball? I mean, because it becomes dangerous.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. You know, and why there's netting up on the sides.
Don LaGreca
I don't think this is any more dangerous. But again, it's all the perception of keeping something a secret. And then it was exposed by the Yankees, who are a national team, breaking the record for home runs in a game. So it called attention to it. But there's other things that can call attention to things, like 115 mile off the bat that, God forbid, you know, hit somebody in the stands.
Peter Rosenberg
Right.
Alan Hahn
You definitely don't want that.
Don LaGreca
But. But, you know, but I'm just. I'm just saying that let's be thankful that this all came out the way it should outside of being honest with everybody to begin with, because a lot of home runs were being hit and not something worse.
Alan Hahn
Let's go to Ron and slam Diego.
Don LaGreca
Oh, okay.
Caller
Hey, what's going on, guys?
Don LaGreca
How are you?
Alan Hahn
What's happening, Ron?
Caller
Good. I just quickly.
Don LaGreca
No surprise, but whoever gave you the daredevil, no superpowers. He's got, like, echolocation. That's not nothing.
Alan Hahn
Oh, wow.
Don LaGreca
I mean, it's not sexy, but it's something.
Alan Hahn
It's interesting.
Peter Rosenberg
It is a little.
Don LaGreca
It is interesting.
Alan Hahn
We got to get real creative as we invent new superheroes. We got to come up with things that no one ever thought of before. That's something.
Don LaGreca
Well, to help the company out, I mean, that. That series is going on right now on Disney plus, and, you know, check it out.
Caller
It's pretty good.
Alan Hahn
Attaboy.
Don LaGreca
You know, thank you for that.
Alan Hahn
That little promo.
Don LaGreca
That makes you a good call.
Alan Hahn
Gonna cut that. We're gonna cut that right now. Make that a promo. It's perfect. Yeah, with enthusiasm, too, by the way.
Don LaGreca
He knows what he's doing with that call.
Peter Rosenberg
That was a good call, by the way. I know we don't normally give political updates on the show.
Don LaGreca
Why not?
Peter Rosenberg
Cory Booker has now been speaking for over 20 hours.
Don LaGreca
Hey, no matter where you stand politically.
Peter Rosenberg
That's right.
Don LaGreca
You got. You got to tip your cap to somebody who's speaking as a guy who's interviewing people, too. But he's standing there doing it as.
Peter Rosenberg
A guy who just had to go off the air for five days and couldn't speak anymore. I just got to give credit where credit is due. 20 hours.
Don LaGreca
Mr. Smith goes to Washington.
Alan Hahn
Right.
Don LaGreca
The premise of that whole movie, Right, is going up there. And even though there's no filibuster, because there's nothing on the table to discuss, particularly, I mean, right now, right at this second. But you ever see that movie?
Peter Rosenberg
I've never seen that.
Don LaGreca
That's, you know, Jimmy Stewart talking for, like, two days.
Peter Rosenberg
Don's Depth of the Classics. No, don't ask.
Don LaGreca
Don't ask. I know they didn't say it, but you've heard Mr. Smith goes to Washington. Like, you heard of that, right?
Peter Rosenberg
I have.
Don LaGreca
Okay.
Peter Rosenberg
I bet they haven't. I think you have. Anthony, you have heard of it. He's okay. And Jacob, be honest. He's. No, he doesn't know Alan. Mr. Smith goes to Washington.
Alan Hahn
Absolutely. I've heard of it.
Peter Rosenberg
Heard him.
Don LaGreca
All right.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm not asking you to see it.
Alan Hahn
I didn't get through it. It was. It was on Turner Classic Movie.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, damn right. It was like a dream about. And I mean literally dream, because you're sleeping once it starts.
Alan Hahn
That's just generally that some of the best ways to fall asleep at night is to put on that channel and get something from 1940.
Peter Rosenberg
Something, nothing better.
Alan Hahn
And you're out. You're out in seconds. It's so good. Never got to it.
Peter Rosenberg
If you. By the way, if any of you guys are looking for hilarious content, my friends Eric and Jeff Rosenthal do a podcast called Two Jews and Two Black Dudes Review the Movies. And it's Jeff and Eric and the Locks. And even though the Locks are three members, it originally started with just two of them. So it's two and two. Even though it's three. And they review movies together. So Jeff and Eric and the Locks, they're all from Westchester but from very different backgrounds, and they watch movies and then they all sit and discuss them to hear Jadakiss and Sheik Luch of the Locks discuss Field of Dreams. Allen was among the funniest things.
Don LaGreca
Oh, I can imagine.
Peter Rosenberg
No, when you talk about a cultural divide.
Alan Hahn
Not relatable.
Peter Rosenberg
They literally. They despised the move. I mean, and like, Eric Rosenthal was trying so hard to be like, he. Don. He's breaking it down a way you would. Like, my friend Eric was really being like, but what. Let's specifically talk about the father son dynamic and really breaking it down. No matter what he said, they just thought it was the most Boring, stupid movie any people had ever made in history. In fact, I believe at one point Cheek Loot insisted that James Earl Jones was probably not in the movie that much. At some point he said, I'm not doing this anymore and walked out. Hurry up, my parts. I'm done.
Alan Hahn
He hated it that much.
Peter Rosenberg
And then it made me want to rewatch it. I do remember thinking as a kid, I love, I like this movie, but it's slow. Like, I do remember that feeling as a child. But I haven't seen it now in 30 years. Have you guys seen it? Anthony, you're a baseball man.
Alan Hahn
Certainly, I've watched.
Peter Rosenberg
I know you have, Jacob. You see Field of Dreams?
Alan Hahn
Yeah, over a dozen times.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, so you love the movie?
Alan Hahn
Not love the movie, but it was.
Don LaGreca
One of those movies as a kid. It always showed up on cable and I just stopped and watched. It annoys me. We've talked about, about.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, no, no. Well, we know it. We know Tom. We know your theory. The continuity of it.
Don LaGreca
Moonlight Graham did not die.
Alan Hahn
You don't like the, the historic timeline.
Peter Rosenberg
No, not only that, Alan did not bat right hand. They got Shoeless Joe batting right.
Don LaGreca
Come on.
Alan Hahn
That's that lost dot immediately. We, we did. Yes, we did do this.
Don LaGreca
Ray Liotta did a great job, but you couldn't find a left handed actor.
Alan Hahn
Just reverse the film.
Don LaGreca
You couldn't reverse the film.
Alan Hahn
Just reverse the film. So much.
Peter Rosenberg
It's so upsetting.
Alan Hahn
So much there.
Don LaGreca
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Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Let's get to a little game time brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's telly time. Mets continue their series with the Marlins down in Miami. Coverage immediately following us at 8:80. Note the start time. 6:00pm that's right, Knicks and the Sixers here at Madison Square Garden. We've got coverage starting at 7 over on 10:50am The Yankees, they start a series with the Diamondbacks in the Bronx. That's at 7:05 first pitch. And the Islanders welcome in the Lightning at 7:30. Speaking of Lightning, we had some last night. Did you see it?
Don LaGreca
Oh my God.
Alan Hahn
We had some wild weather yesterday.
Don LaGreca
Right when the kids had to go to bed too, which was a little.
Alan Hahn
Oh, that's the worst.
Don LaGreca
Disconcerting. But they got through it. But the lightning was.
Peter Rosenberg
They don't. They don't find. They're all out scared. They don't find it like fun and mysterious at all. Spooky.
Don LaGreca
It's just a little nerve wracking. But no, they're not scared. I find it very calming.
Peter Rosenberg
Me too.
Don LaGreca
I like a nice storm in the middle of the night.
Peter Rosenberg
I love it the best.
Alan Hahn
Hell yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
Nothing but. Oh hell yeah. I love when alan turns full Dr. Dre.
Alan Hahn
Game time by the way. Brought to you by Tully More du the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore do or try the new Telemore do, honey. During tonight's action. Glasses up of course. To enjoying Telemurdu.
Don LaGreca
It's Charlie time.
Alan Hahn
I missed that.
Don LaGreca
I missed it too. Yeah, because I think, I think. I think Peter's got a pulse on certain things and I just trusted him on.
Peter Rosenberg
Thank you. Now, now I do want to share something.
Alan Hahn
I was not the one to trust him all.
Peter Rosenberg
No, I was right. I wanted to share this with you guys. Had my follow up meeting today with the doctors over at NYU about the voice camera shoved down there for the third time in the last two weeks.
Alan Hahn
The voice I thought was something else. Good.
Peter Rosenberg
Excuse me?
Alan Hahn
Full, full.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, the cameras went down. I spot. They didn't go down. They went down full. Fully recovered, they said from whatever went down good. But I'm going to do like a full vocal therapy. Like six sessions of voice speech therapy stuff to learn. So you screwed yourself up. No, no, not because of that. They said like I said fully recovered. They just said do you want to. They basically asked me if I find that I have any sorts of struggles and I said I do think a little bit. And they said are you interested kind of in learning the ways to use your voice more effectively, to protect your voice more. And I said yeah, why would I not be? This is life, Peter. It's my whole life.
Alan Hahn
Shouldn't. Don't you think our employer should invest in this for everybody who's on air talent, dude, this could be like the torpedo bat of strengthen. Right. Strengthen your voice. Use it better. Yes. Sign, sign up all my talent for this.
Peter Rosenberg
It's. And by the way, it is covered by our insurance. I mean, I don't know if you guys have the SAG AFTRA insurance. That's what I use. It's covered in that anthem insurance as any sort of like physical therapy. And I'm going to have six sessions where. But it was really interesting today, like her explaining to me what kind of talking is harder on your, you know, voice box than others. I'm excited. I'm like thrilled to learn this. I'm going to be, I'm going to go full Ruko Don before the show.
Alan Hahn
Why are you revealing that, man? Don't tell people about this.
Peter Rosenberg
We've done it. We've told people before. He's a psycho.
Don LaGreca
Just don't rehearse with a cork in your mouth.
Peter Rosenberg
Wait, that one too.
Don LaGreca
Not, not him. It was somebody else.
Peter Rosenberg
What do you mean a cork in his mouth?
Don LaGreca
I worked with somebody that would do speed exercises helping enunciate. He put a cork in his mouth and like read the update.
Alan Hahn
Oh boy.
Peter Rosenberg
What does the cork in the mouth do?
Alan Hahn
You just said update. So now we can start deciphering.
Don LaGreca
Go have at it.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Oh, yeah, we could break this.
Don LaGreca
Well, it just helps you enunciate without the being able to move your mouth. So I guess.
Peter Rosenberg
Interesting.
Don LaGreca
Listen, I love talking as you know.
Peter Rosenberg
Right. But your voice is very. I don't think you need any help. I actually think both of you. Part of the reason I want help is I actually think both of you just have more powerful voices than me. I think both of you cut through more than I do. And I feel like the weak, I feel like the weak link.
Alan Hahn
It's really all that we must hear. We must hear our voices like our own voices differently because I don't know why we're doing this because this is.
Peter Rosenberg
Like a private bottom of the hour. But whatever, keep going.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, maybe that's what it is. But I honestly like.
Peter Rosenberg
Or end of the hour, whatever the words are.
Don LaGreca
Shut up.
Alan Hahn
I've always been, I've always been somebody that thought, you know, voice for print, you know, like I, I, I can't stand the, the really, you don't, you.
Don LaGreca
Don'T act like that, by the. By the way.
Alan Hahn
No, I had a very funny beer, but. But really. No, that's well said. No, but you sound very set that up for you.
Peter Rosenberg
You have a very clear. But Don may have the best voice on the station. It's a big, booming, beautiful voice.
Don LaGreca
The way Alan sounds and looks. You wonder why he chose.
Peter Rosenberg
No. It's almost weird, right?
Alan Hahn
Will you stop? No, it is true enough.
Peter Rosenberg
It is. It is interesting to be that tall and have a good voice and decide.
Alan Hahn
That must be something wrong in the brain.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
There is something lacking there.
Peter Rosenberg
There's got to be something.
Alan Hahn
Or.
Peter Rosenberg
I agree.
Don LaGreca
Agree.
Peter Rosenberg
No, I totally agree with you, but it is a weird choice. But anyways, I'll update you guys. But I was excited, too.
Alan Hahn
That's good. Good.
Peter Rosenberg
Get checked out. Why not, right?
Alan Hahn
They said, you're okay. That's the main thing.
Peter Rosenberg
I said. I said. They said, you know, if that's something you want to do. I said, is it covered by insurance? They said, yes. I said, well, why wouldn't I want to do it? They were like, there's some people who don't believe in it.
Don LaGreca
Believe in it.
Peter Rosenberg
I went, all right, well, I. I believe in medicine. Yeah. If you can teach me how to use my voice better for free, I'm going to be here. Let's do it.
Alan Hahn
It's like an athlete, Peter. You train right, you strengthen yourself to be better performance. It's the same thing.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
They would do.
Peter Rosenberg
She said that they're going to treat. She said, you have to think of your voice. I'm going to treat you. She said, like Beyonce. You're the same as Beyonce. Your voice is your living. And I went, you know what? I am in many ways like Beyonce. And I appreciate you saying that.
Alan Hahn
Let's take Javier in Queens. My man Javi. There he is.
Caller
Actually, it's Stench from amernac.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, we love Stench.
Caller
Happy, Happy April Fools, guys, is it actually Stench?
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, sorry, Javier.
Caller
It's Javier. Sorry, guys.
Peter Rosenberg
Big body.
Alan Hahn
Javi, what do you got, Javier?
Caller
Oh, I love it.
Alan Hahn
Courvoisier.
Caller
First of all. Yes. Alan. Styling and profiling on Saturday. You guys did a tremendous job celebrating Walt, I want to.
Peter Rosenberg
Sunday.
Alan Hahn
That was fun.
Caller
Sunday. My apologies. His birthday was on Saturday. My apologies.
Peter Rosenberg
There you go.
Caller
Right? And you guys hit, like. Like the big stuff. When it comes to Batman, you guys are. In a weird way, you're both correct, right? It's, like, incredible. The lasting power of the oldest version of Batman, the song, and how famous Adam west became after it. And of course, the movie in the 90s was tremendous. It was such a big thing. But for. For me, the greatest iteration of Batman is the Animated series from the 90s. If you're a true fan, that's the best version of that. Just want to throw that out there.
Don LaGreca
Okay.
Caller
With it, with the torpedo bat. I don't, I don't have too much to say about it. I just love the conversation around it. Because the Yankees are doing so well and you have, you know, idiot Mets fans who don't realize that Lyndor has been using the bat are complaining about it, and then dummies from the Red Sox are complaining about it when the lead story out of Boston is how they neutered their best player, they moved their third baseman to the DH spot, and he can no longer swing a bat. Obviously that's going to change, but he's also heavy. The season's going to go for us. I'm perfectly happy.
Don LaGreca
But, but, but, but just listen. Have at. Listen. Met. I opened the show with this yesterday. Met fans, Red Sox fans, anybody complaining about this. It's ridiculous. But yes, Yankee fans didn't know either. I mean, everybody was caught in the dark with this. I mean, Stanton had it. You didn't notice. Nobody noticed. Nobody's supposed to notice. So what are you going to think without any information, honestly, and you find out that there's a different bat, your mind's obviously going to go to something going wrong. Like how would this happen when nobody know about it? Then as information came down, obviously that opinion didn't age well. But to defend those people, what else are you supposed to think?
Caller
I would say this on the low. People did notice that Stanton's bat looks slightly different in the playoffs. It just wasn't a huge story. It was a bigger story this weekend because of all the home runs that were hit by the whole team. But for example, if Lindor had hit four home runs in a game, some dummy Yankees fans would call in, but not to the effect that Mets Nation and Boston has been so deeply affected by all by these bats that their own players can and have used. So, you know, miss me with all of that.
Don LaGreca
But here's the thing. I'll push back on, but don't make it seem like Yankee fans are any different than any other fans. Okay?
Alan Hahn
Thanks, Javi.
Don LaGreca
I mean, Avi, if, believe me, if it had been reversed, Yankee fans would be going crazy, too. And rightly so, because you didn't have the information. But. So don't sit there and go, idiot Met fans, idiot Red Sox. All fans are idiots when it comes to their teams and defending their teams. Right?
Alan Hahn
But we all agree that it's because it was the Yankees that this reached the level that it, that it reached. All right, we got to leave it here. We've got more to get to. We do have your calls and we'll continue with them on this. Your opinions on the bat and of course Batman. But also we have rules changes in the NFL every year they seem to make changes, but they made one in particular to overtime that you got to hear about and the one that everybody's talking about, the Tush Push. We'll let you know what they're doing there as well, so stay with us. But first, Peter, a message.
Peter Rosenberg
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Alan Hahn
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 speaker.
Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Bats & Batman
Release Date: April 1, 2025
In the premiere episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into the hotly debated topic of Major League Baseball's (MLB) recent introduction of the torpedo bat, juxtaposed against rule changes in the National Football League (NFL). The episode seamlessly blends sports analysis with pop culture discussions, particularly focusing on the evolution of Batman across various media.
Overview of the Torpedo Bat: The conversation kicks off with Alan Hahn posing a critical question: "Which rule or which situation do we think their particular league will get rid of first, the tush push or the torpedo bat?" [00:34]. This sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of MLB's adoption of the torpedo bat and its implications.
Don LaGreca’s Critical Analysis: Don LaGreca provides a scathing critique of MLB's decision, questioning the league's motives and execution. He argues that "Major League Baseball has been handed a gift... They found a legal form to increase the offense" [02:29]. Don further laments the lack of transparency, stating, "Major League Baseball should have got way out in front of this maybe though" [06:47], emphasizing that proper communication could have mitigated the ensuing controversy.
Impact on the Game: The hosts discuss how the torpedo bat has led to a surge in home runs, especially spotlighting players like Anthony De La Cruz. Don contends, "he had a big night because he was using that bat," highlighting how the bat's design provides an unfair advantage that disrupts the game's integrity [04:33].
NFL's Approach to Rule Changes: Alan Hahn draws parallels with the NFL's handling of rule changes, particularly the "tush push," noting MLB's hesitation to address similar situations promptly. He observes, "baseball did approve its use... that's why this is a controversy," pointing out the inconsistency in MLB's regulatory approach [02:29].
NHL's Proactive Communication: Don contrasts MLB's secrecy with the NHL's transparency post-lockout, where changes like the trapezoid and alterations to rink dimensions were openly communicated to enhance offense [02:29]. This comparison underscores MLB's failure to inform stakeholders, leading to widespread misinformation and backlash.
Aaron Leonard’s Explanation: The episode features insights from Aaron Leonard, purportedly the inventor of the torpedo bat. He explains the genesis of the bat: "the eureka moment really was when players pointed to where they were trying to hit the ball and they noticed themselves that that was not the fattest part of the bat" [16:43]. Leonard discusses how the bat's unconventional design was a response to players seeking better performance, leading to its adoption across MLB and minor leagues.
Future Implications: Alan Hahn speculates on the bat's future, suggesting it could become a multimillion-dollar business as its popularity spreads beyond the majors [17:33]. Don warns of potential overuse and the subsequent need for regulatory intervention, saying, "if it does become obnoxious, will there have to be something that will be done about it?" [18:19].
David and Elizabeth's Perspective: A listener named David applauds the discussion, stating, "this is exactly what baseball wants," highlighting how the controversy has reignited interest in the sport [20:58]. However, Don counters by emphasizing the negative light MLB is in due to perceived impropriety [28:54].
Andre from the Bronx: Andre offers a strategic viewpoint, suggesting that the torpedo bat benefits pitchers by reducing the need for excessive velocity, thereby lessening arm injuries. He posits, "tasking pitchers to just miss the bat", which could restore pitching artistry [31:24].
Javier's Input from Queens: Javier from Queens echoes similar sentiments, appreciating the renewed conversation around baseball and its potential positive impact on the sport's popularity [46:17]. He stresses the unfair focus solely on Yankees players like De La Cruz, arguing that broader recognition of players using the bat would normalize its use without blame [48:30].
Evolution of Batman: Shifting gears, the hosts engage in a nostalgic discussion about Batman's various incarnations. Alan Hahn reminisces about watching both Adam West and Michael Keaton's portrayals, highlighting the cultural shift post-Keaton’s performance: "it became what Marvel and everybody else have turned into something different" [14:10].
Preferred Iterations: Don LaGreca expresses a preference for the Adam West version, arguing that his portrayal embodied the essence of Batman without superpowers, much like the traditional roles in sports [15:07]. Peter Rosenberg discusses the animated series of the 90s as his favorite iteration, citing its depth and impact on true fans [46:25].
The episode concludes with the hosts reiterating the significance of transparency in sports regulations and the potential for innovation when leagues communicate effectively with their audience. They also tease upcoming discussions on NFL rule changes, particularly the "tush push," and continue to tease topics in future episodes.
Alan Hahn [01:29]: "We've got rules changes and we've also got one rule in football that everybody wants to stop."
Don LaGreca [02:29]: "Major League Baseball has been handed a gift... They found a legal form to increase the offense."
Peter Rosenberg [04:44]: "Now hear me out for a second... Is there a line for that?"
Aaron Leonard [16:43]: "The eureka moment really was when players pointed to where they were trying to hit the ball and they noticed themselves that that was not the fattest part of the bat."
Don LaGreca [28:54]: "Major League Baseball should have got way out in front of this maybe though."
Alan Hahn [31:24]: "So what Andre's trying to suggest is we go beyond power pitching and spin rate and everything else and get back to trying to just miss bats."
Final Thoughts: "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" successfully navigates the complex interplay between sports innovation and regulatory transparency, enriched by lively banter and diverse perspectives. Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan intrigued by the torpedo bat saga or a pop culture enthusiast reminiscing about Batman's legacy, this episode offers a comprehensive and engaging discourse that sets the tone for the series.