Hour 1: Boring Baseball

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Boring Baseball
Release Date: July 29, 2025

In the inaugural episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the current state of Major League Baseball, with a particular focus on the New York Yankees. The episode, titled "Boring Baseball," offers a candid and critical analysis of the Yankees' recent performances, management decisions, and player injuries, all woven with personal anecdotes and engaging banter among the hosts.

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1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode begins with a light-hearted exchange about the discomfort Alan Hahn experiences due to sweating in the studio, setting a casual and relatable tone for the discussion. This segment, while brief, establishes the hosts' chemistry and readiness to tackle more serious topics.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (00:47): "How you feeling? Because I'll tell you how I'm feeling. I have right now what you would call a wet bottom. And it's not comfortable."

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2. The Current State of the Yankees

The primary focus of the episode centers on the New York Yankees' disappointing performance over the recent months. Alan Hahn expresses his frustration with the team's record, highlighting their struggles both offensively and defensively.

Key Points:

• The Yankees have posted a record of 15 wins and 24 losses, placing them nine games under .500.
• Pitching woes are identified as a major issue, with the starting rotation boasting a 4.22 ERA, ranking 15th in the league, and the bullpen not performing much better with a 5.06 ERA.
• Questions are raised about the front office's strategy, especially regarding the management's reluctance to make aggressive moves to bolster the team for the remainder of the season.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn (05:01): "The Yankees are 15 and 24. They're nine games under .500. Remember this whole thing about the Yankees never play to a losing season? This is a long stretch of losing baseball."
• Alan Hahn (10:22): "The Yankees pitching has been a major problem. It is 15th in the league."

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3. Front Office Decisions and Future Outlook

Delving into management decisions, the hosts debate whether the Yankees should continue to invest in the current season or pivot focus towards rebuilding for future success.

Key Points:

• Alan Hahn suggests that the front office should prioritize fixing the team's issues now rather than trading away high-level prospects, emphasizing the need for controlled, long-term planning.
• Peter Rosenberg counters by arguing that the organization may be perpetuating a narrative that the postseason is a "crapshoot," thereby not committing to immediate changes needed to make a championship run this year.
• The discussion touches upon Aaron Judge's injury and its impact on the team's dynamics, with concerns about how his absence affects the Yankees' chances.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn (11:21): "I'm saying they should not sell high-level prospects to fix a low-level team. And they should make any move for 2026."
• Peter Rosenberg (11:48): "Because basically what you are asking them to do is to punt on the rest of this season, which I don't think that an organization."

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4. Comparing Yankees to Other Teams

The hosts draw comparisons between the Yankees and other MLB teams to contextualize their performance and potential strategies.

Key Points:

• Reference to the White Sox and Rockies, highlighting that the Yankees have fewer wins compared to these traditionally struggling teams.
• Discussion about how successful teams like the Dodgers, Cubs, and Mets have historically performed in playoffs, contrasting with the Yankees' current trajectory.
• Alan Hahn emphasizes the lack of a cohesive team vibe, which he believes is essential for success, unlike teams that appear grinding and motivated.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn (09:37): "So you're playing worst in the league baseball over that stretch of time, well over a month now of baseball, you have been one of the worst teams in the sport."
• Peter Rosenberg (13:25): "If we go out and agreed with you, it would be inconsistent with what they've been telling us the last decade."

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5. The Impact of Key Player Injuries

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the injuries of key players, notably Aaron Judge, and how these affect the team's performance and future prospects.

Key Points:

• Aaron Judge's Injury: Judge's injury is portrayed as a critical blow to the Yankees, with discussions about the uncertainty of his return and the potential long-term effects on his performance.
• The hosts speculate on management's handling of Judge's injury and its implications for the team's strategy moving forward.
• Concerns are raised about the bullpen's reliability, especially with closer Klase underperforming and being investigated, further destabilizing the team's late-game efforts.

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg (19:37): "But you can't do it to Aaron Judge."
• Alan Hahn (20:03): "He was the best closer in the sport, couldn’t get anybody out at the most important time."

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6. Fan Reactions and Expectations

The episode touches on the sentiments of Yankees fans, reflecting frustration over unmet expectations despite significant investments in the team.

Key Points:

• A caller, Kadeem, likens Aaron Judge to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, emphasizing how Judge's individual brilliance may overshadow the team's underlying issues.
• Discussion about the erosion of fan trust, with long-time supporters feeling neglected by the organization's lack of decisive action.
• Ty Butler reinforces the sentiment that the Yankees' struggle is not due to high expectations being spoiled by past championships but rather the long-term underperformance despite hefty payrolls.

Notable Quotes:

• Kadeem (28:34): "You have been so on point and so correct... We are turning into the team that both of us hate. The Dallas Cowboys."
• Alan Hahn (30:48): "I can't think of another player in New York history, maybe not that great... but this would be Judge..."

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Towards the end of the episode, the hosts reflect on the broader implications of the Yankees' performance and management's future decisions.

Key Points:

• Alan Hahn criticizes the front office's inability to recognize and address the team's deficiencies, calling out general manager Hal Steinbrenner for how he allocates the Yankees' substantial financial resources.
• Peter Rosenberg emphasizes that the Yankees' identity is at stake, comparing their potential decline to historic teams that failed to live up to their reputations despite having star players.
• The hosts conclude by underscoring the necessity for the Yankees to make pivotal changes to restore their standing as a championship-contending team.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn (43:35): "It's not about the owner. It's not Hal Steinbrenner's cheap. He spends $200 million. How is it being spent? That is my biggest problem."
• Peter Rosenberg (44:35): "We're doing the playbook of excuses might have been the worst thing to happen to them."

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8. Interaction with Callers

The latter part of the episode includes interactions with listeners, adding diverse perspectives to the discussion.

Key Points:

• Kadeem, a caller, likens the Yankees’ over-reliance on Aaron Judge to how the Dallas Cowboys rely on Jerry Jones, suggesting that individual brilliance is not enough without a solid team foundation.
• Joe voices frustration with the team's performance, comparing it to long-suffering franchises and expressing skepticism about the front office's strategies.
• Richard Rosenberg engages in playful banter with callers, maintaining the episode's lively and engaging atmosphere.

Notable Quotes:

• Kadeem (28:34): "Aaron Judge is Jerry Jones. They'll give you some flash... but we got to do something."
• Joe (35:07): "You gotta stay with me. The Yankees have many problems. There's nothing to hold on to."

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9. Final Remarks and Advertisements

The episode wraps up with the hosts acknowledging their listeners, promoting upcoming shows, and participating in light-hearted conversations about music and personal anecdotes. Advertisements interspersed throughout the episode are omitted from this summary to focus on the main content.

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Conclusion:

"Hour 1: Boring Baseball" serves as a passionate and insightful critique of the New York Yankees' current predicament. Through informed analysis, personal anecdotes, and lively discussions, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg offer listeners a comprehensive look at the challenges facing one of baseball's most storied franchises. The episode effectively combines expertise with relatable commentary, making it a must-listen for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the game's intricacies and the dynamics of team management.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

With the Venmo debit card, you can Venmo everything. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show.

[Alan Hahn]

You can Venmo that.

[Don Hahn]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank in a pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Ty Butler]

Don, I was fighting with obesity.

[Alan Hahn]

I wore. You were losing. Don. Don.

[Richard Rosenberg]

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

[Alan Hahn]

And Rosenberg, Richard, have you ever heard of Brazzers? No, this isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Ty Butler]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg on 8 80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yes. Don Han, Rosenberg, Alan Hahn with Ty Butler.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's do it, baby. Let's do it.

[Alan Hahn]

How you feeling? Because I'll tell you how I'm feeling. I have right now what you would call a wet bottom.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's not comfortable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a lot of different ways we can go there. You got the swamp ass.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, all of it. Now, here's why. So we have. ESPN has a basketball tournament that'll be at the Garden in November, and they're promoting it. And so the mascots from the four teams, college teams, came into our studio to hang out. And just a little promo. You'll see it all on the social media channels. So you'll see all the different pictures in the. The craziness. So it's. It's all the blue Bloods, it's Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State. Those are the four teams involved. And so the mascots, you know, the Spartan, the Blue Devil, you know, the Jayhawk, all of it, they were all here. It was great. And they came into our studio and they sat in the chairs and they did sort of like their own little mascot podcast thing, which is funny because nobody talks. So I don't know how you do a podcast when nobody says anything. They're all just making the usual. Whatever they sign to the crowd. That's what they do to each other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the gimmick, you understand?

[Alan Hahn]

You know, pound the chest, wave the hand, whatever it is. It's like, okay, I don't know what you're saying. So I come into the studio. They want to get some pictures. So I sit in the host chair. The, I believe at the Kentucky Wildcat was sitting in the chair. So I said, no, you up. This is my seat. Right? Just having fun. He gets up, I sit down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Drenched, soaked.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, When I tell you that, you heard a squish. And now this camera's on me.

[Ty Butler]

So I got.

[Alan Hahn]

They're taking pictures of us for this promo. So I can't, like. I can't make that. That face. So I just. I smile through it. And then when they leave, I get up right away, and I looked down. You saw the chair, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I saw it.

[Alan Hahn]

You saw how soaked that was, right? This poor guy that's in the. In the suit must be. First of all, it's a million degrees outside, and they came from outside. So I'm not blaming him. He's. The poor guy's just sweating through his costume. And now it's sweat through me and the khaki shorts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I decided to wear the khakis. Can we show that the cameras with the booty's looking like.

[Alan Hahn]

No, we don't need.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we want that, right? We want to see what the booty's looking like.

[Alan Hahn]

Need visual evidence of this. Trust me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This might be something we throw on the socials.

[Alan Hahn]

Nice. It's good. We're good there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They call it.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll show the chair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They call it thirst trapping. That should be the ESPNY version of Thirst Trap.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll show the chair. The chair is soaked. That's all you need to see. Nothing more. So anyway, so, yeah, I'm a little uncomfortable right now. I hope you understand that if the show starts out a little awkward, it's mainly because I'm trying to dry my butt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's gonna show up at some point during the show. Excruciatingly hot outside.

[Alan Hahn]

It is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, it's madness. Like, this is one of those days, Alan. You take the shower, you get out, you're like, nah, I gotta hop back up in there. Cause I'm already sweaty.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, Today's that day that when you were an athlete back in the day, you loved. Because once you start sweating like basketball camp on a day like this, by the first station of camp, you're soaked. So you're like, all right, now I'm just sweaty the rest of the day. Probably spend the rest of the day I'm on skins. Like, I don't want to put that damn shirt on. Right. Like, you were happy skins. Then you just jump in the pool when you get home and everything's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You ever had to guard someone who was just nasty?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God, the worst.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Smelled bad when you got they backing you down and he's banging and banging you.

[Alan Hahn]

Excuse me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To charge Barkley.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I know. I know. The Once you Got to the, like a high school level of camp where there were some of the guys that would, you know, matured very early. Hairy Ch. And this is the 80s, remember, I grew up in the 80s. So it's hairy chest, hairy armpit, hairy, all of it. And you're like, can you just. Can you just put a shirt on? Like, damn, man. Nobody wants to deal with that. And it's just sticking to me now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yo, so good quick story for you because you brought up high school.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So my coach, who was also the principal of the school, that must have been great. We played against a high school that had matured faster than us. So they were just bigger and stronger and everything else. It was so bad he petitioned to the league to have this game played. 9:00am on a Saturday morning. Doors closed, no attendance. That's how bad it was. Or he didn't want to embarrass us.

[Alan Hahn]

Not embarrass you. See, I thought he figured these guys are probably out all Friday night, 9am they won't be ready.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no, no, no. He knew it was gonna be a bloodbath.

[Alan Hahn]

He knew it'd be ugly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He knew that and he didn't want to embarrass us. So that's, that's my story of recalling the big.

[Alan Hahn]

So you had a Covid game. Well before COVID The COVID game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So embarrassing, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, so embarrassing. I'm sure that still wasn't. Was more entertaining than what we saw from the Yankees last night. And it really is reaching that boiling point. I mean, I feel like, like, Ty, I feel like I've run out of things to say at this point. I said it all, I think yesterday when I made it abundantly clear. And the Yankee fans and I saw the response not just in the calls. We got it again. 800 now at 93776, but also in the response from social media on the posts that they put up. When I said, like, I watched the Blue Jays and I used to hate watch them and I used to give them. I would, you know, I'd be disgusted with freaking guys. Think they're so good. And then it's like, oh, Johnny Hussle, George Springer. And then I became like, you know what? That's the way I want my team to play. I actually like how hard they play, how it isn't one way or nothing, they can find other ways to beat you. It is a more entertaining game. And a lot of Yankee fans clearly feel the same way. And we keep being told, well, too bad they're not changing it. That doesn't mean I'm supposed to like it. And then last night. So I settle in, okay, well, new series, here come the Rays. It's a division opponent. You suck against division opponents. Everybody in the clubhouse knows this. In two days there could be some changes to the roster. And so let's just see, you know, with a fresh start, Schlitler, you know, can he get off to a good start? Feel good about this guy's got an unbelievable fastball and it's like, I'm not even out of. I'm on the train leaving Penn Station. I'm not even out of the. Off the island. I didn't even get through the tunnel to Long Island 2 nothing. So I'm already like, come on. But then when I. By the time I get home and I'm watching this game, I watched it on the Gotham map and then I watched it when I got home and I'm ty. I was bored. That to me is a problem. They, the Yankees, you could say they were lifeless, but it was worse than that. They were boring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, people are going to say whenever your team doesn't hit, they don't score runs, they're boring. Here's what I'll ask you though, because I'm very curious. And we can hear from Yankee fans. Is there a segment of the population that I won't dare say is enjoying this, but is cool with it? Because they know that if the Yankees do end up being boring and missing the playoffs, it could lead to change. Like, that's. That's the part of the season we're getting to because we're. We're no longer at, you know, can they win a championship? I wonder if there are Yankee fans who are watching these games, feel like, you know what? It's not the worst, worst thing in the world because let's just say the bottom falls out, we miss the playoffs. We might see some wholesale changes happen.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, what's the indication you need? Let me give you. Just. Let's catch up. Because the series that set me off, Fenway park goes right, goes back to mid June. Fenway park where they. That did not look like a team that was trying to impose its will on arrival. And we were actually saying going into that series, like, you know, the Red Sox, they don't even arrival anymore. There's no juice going into the series. I came out of that series going like they looked like they were playing the Royals, like it didn't matter. And that bothered me. But it also bothered me how they played. And then of course, the way they played in that series. So since that series, The Yankees are 15 and 24. They're nine games under.500. Remember this whole thing about the Yankees never play to a losing season? Right. They never have a losing season. But this is a long stretch of losing baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good sample size. 39 games.

[Alan Hahn]

No, that's, that's right. That's a good piece. So, and I said this yesterday to Don. I was like, I bet you that they have won as many if not less games than the White Sox who are God awful. And the Rockies. And the Rockies who are even terrible. Do you know the 15 wins is one fewer than the White Sox and one better than the Rockies. That's it. So you're playing worst in the league baseball over that stretch of time, well over a month now of baseball, you have been one of the worst teams in the sport. It gets better. Since that series, the Yankees pitching has been a major problem. We always look at the batting and we always concerned about the offense. And it's amazing how long ago the torpedo bat stuff, how long ago was that? Right. It's going to revolutionize the game and. Nope. But it's the pitching that continues to be a problem. Now we know there's no Garrett Cole. Now there's no Clark Schmidt. We understand Luis Heel is a rumor. Until I see him throw a ball, he's a rumor. The Yankees pitching his starting rotation a 422 ERA. It is 15th in the league. Their, their bullpen has a 506 ERA, seventh worst in baseball. Pitching has been a major, major problem. And this is telling the front office we are not a championship team. We are not nearly good enough. And there aren't enough moves you can make by Thursday afternoon to fix this this season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So you're saying they should sell.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm saying they should not sell high level prospects to fix a low level team. And they should make any move for 2026. And that's how I feel as a fan. Fix the holes because there's many. But start fixing them now so that next year at this time. You're saying that move, they made it last year's deadline. What a difference it's made.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here is the problem.

[Alan Hahn]

What's the problem?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because basically what you are asking them to do is to punt on the rest of this season, which I don't think that an organization.

[Alan Hahn]

When's Darren Judge playing again?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he should be ready in 10 days, right? He's going to be hitting off of a Tee today or tomorrow and they'll see how that goes. But here's my. And I don't necessarily disagree with you, but looking at it through the lens of how the organization can think based on what we've been told. All we've been told is October's a crapshoot. Doesn't matter if you win the division. You get in as a wild card. It's a crapshoot. So, Alan, they can't punt on 20, 25 because they're, they, they. They lead the wild card. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, I'm not saying I didn't say punt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're saying.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm saying you're saying I'm not making aggressive moves to try to become, hey, this is going to help us win the world championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're also laying out a vision for next season. Yeah. Which naturally means that you're punting on. On the rest of this year.

[Alan Hahn]

Ty, what is what I just gave you some numbers. But the, the biggest problem with this team is what I mean.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everything.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's their offense, it's their defense.

[Alan Hahn]

Bottom of the order.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. What else?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, like the players playing at a position. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Bullpen, major issue and starting punching injuries.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And say, well, that's a strength that's going to help this turnaround.

[Alan Hahn]

So with that in mind, how are you fixing any of that to turn yourself into a champion? Because why mortgage the future when there is no present?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they believe that all they have to do is get into the dance and it's a crapshoot. Which I fundamentally disagree with.

[Alan Hahn]

Especially this year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I think you go back the last decade, it hasn't been a crapshoot. Usually one of the best teams in baseball wins the championship.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Arizona, I said usually. Atlanta also was a team that was dead in the water at the trade deadline they made. They doubled down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kansas city rolls in 2015. Who were in the World Series the year before that? How about the Cubs who were great all year? How about the Dodgers who had been in three World Series in the last four years? So there's evidence that would suggest that usually the better teams are amongst the.

[Alan Hahn]

Wins and the New York Mets are playing like a team that I wouldn't see. See, that's the difference. The contrast of the two teams in New York. Ty. Which is why I'm feeling this way. Because I go from watching that Yankee game to watching Mets, Padres.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Red Sox hadn't mentioned in 2018. But go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

That that Met Padre game felt like a two teams that know that we Might meet in October. Like you talk about, like the Mets take a big lead early. Cease was good first inning. See that ball he hit on the back of his head, by the way. So that looked like all the Mets early and then the Padres pound back because Montas, you know, was getting knocked around. And now you had yourself like this back and forth, which I felt like this was a fun game because that Met team is a Met team that you could see has a belief in them going right, which two weeks ago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You would say they didn't when they were losing. So that they never counter.

[Alan Hahn]

But the Mets never looked lethargic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that double header sweep to the Orioles, they looked lethargic when bottom of their order was bad, when they got their asses handed to them by the Pirates, like so we could have been saying the same thing about the Mets. But I want to stay with the Yankees for a moment. If they were 10 games under.500, what you're selling would make sense. They're still ahead in the wild card race. They're still a playoff team. And my point to you is the organization has been selling on selling this to us for a decade, that it's a crapshoot. If you believe it's a crapshoot, we don't want to hear about 2026, okay? It's still 2025 to be played. Your best player is coming back. Louise Hills are returning to the rotation. You'll make whatever moves at the deadline. Not to mortgage your future, but within the margins, you. All you got to do is get in. That's what they've been telling us. Right?

[Alan Hahn]

So that's their theory.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's inconsistency.

[Alan Hahn]

That's their theory.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If they went out and agreed with you, it would be inconsistent with what they've been telling us the last decade. That's what I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they've only once done a sell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At the deadline, 2016. And that was obvious because that team.

[Alan Hahn]

Was going and they were old and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had the young guys and you know, coming up, time to turn it over.

[Alan Hahn]

That's true. But they also, like, when you think about how they're set up, you know, Lombard, Lombard is somebody that looks like they want. They think he could be there by next year or the year after.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, if we get a year after.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's the other part of baseball. Well, but, you know, keep that in mind, too. Operate like you might have a salary cap, because you might. So I just think when you have some prospects that you feel good about, but aren't ready ready. And you don't want to rush them, but you also don't want to lose them if you have a. See, I'm glad you brought the salary cap thing up because that is a big part. I think it's a big part of the equation. We know what side of the line Hal Steinburn is going to stand when it comes to the showdown for a salary cap. Right? He is that they're one of the richest teams in the sport and he wants, period and he wants a cap. Right? The Dodgers are $400 million. They don't want a cap. But they, they. But the Yankees do. And that says so much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One team is by any means necessary and the other team is, you know, we're going to operate within the guidelines of. But think about luxury tax.

[Alan Hahn]

So if I, if I know caps come or some, some form of a control of spending and I have some young players in my system that I think could grow into my next generation of talent. I'm not trading those pieces now when I know I need young, controllable contracts like NFL style. I need young, controllable contracts at a lot of positions so I can be successful long term. And if I don't have those guys because I emptied the tank on a year where my team sucks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Alan, I'm not saying they should empty the tank.

[Alan Hahn]

I know you're saying that they've been telling us all along that October is a crapshoot. But I'm telling you their mentality is changing. Their mentality about a roster is changing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess we'll see in the next what we are 36 hours. Aaron Judge getting hurt obviously changed a bunch because last week I was saying it is a dereliction of duty if they don't go out there to do everything in their power to improve this team because you have the best player in baseball at the peak of his powers on his way to another MVP and you're not doing enough to surround him with the talent necessary to win a championship. And we don't want him and you've been covering New York sports for so long to end up on that list of, you know, players that didn't win a championship that were that great. Like guys who just.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't think of another player in New York history, maybe not that great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'm saying that was as good.

[Alan Hahn]

As him in his sport and didn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Win a champion, maybe not that great, but he will end up on that list with the Ewings where like the first thing you think about Patrick's the closest I can.

[Alan Hahn]

And Patrick was never the best player in the sport.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He wasn't, but he's the closest.

[Alan Hahn]

But isn't he the closest? Can you again. I know, sidetracking. But that's why I love talking to you, because we go to so many different places. But just. Can you think of another name of a guy who was at the top of the league and didn't get a title in New York, not anywhere else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like the Soto doesn't count because he was a rental.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but I'm talking. You know, when I'm saying a guy, I mean, a guy's been here for a while. Not a minute, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, Melo was great and was an MVP candidate, but he was never the best.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, Ewing. Ewing was one year. He was an MVP finalist. Only one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But, you know, like, that's. That's as close as you can get. So this would judge literally the best player in the sport.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we're talking about something that could end up being precedent. Yeah, which is why, like, before the injury, I'm saying, like, there were people before the injury saying they should be Sellers. I'm like, what the hell are you talking about? Being sellers? You have Aaron bleeping Judge.

[Alan Hahn]

You can't do it to Aaron Judge. But see, I'm treating. I'm treating the Judge injury like it's like, it's season ending. Here's why. No, because putting him, the DH is one thing. They've already said that the injury does affect gripping the bat. So swinging off a tee is to test. All right. How does it feel? Is it improving? Is it not? And that can also tell me that there could be one swing that all of a sudden, he's now flexing the forearm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This goes back to an old joke we had. Remember that flex? Remember that flex? Restraint and whatever happened.

[Alan Hahn]

Whatever happened, you know, like, we're in October. Hey, Aaron, you know that time you had that flexor string? I was like, doing. By the way, we never talk about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's never showing up again.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. Ty and I have had everybody listening. Ty and I have had this joke for the longest time because there was one time you and I were talking about a play. This is. This goes back to the two studios ago. Yeah, well, we were talking about a player who had, like, a back issue or something. And I said to you, when does anybody ever say to a player who starts a season with a back issue, hey, whatever happened to that back issue? It always comes up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's like nothing to be concerned about. He'll be fine.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, he'll be good. Okay. Hamstring strain. Like Kenny Pickett. Like the story in Cleveland is that Kenny Pickett's got a hamstring strain, but it's not a big deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He should be fine.

[Alan Hahn]

That it shouldn't affect the quarterback battle, which everybody obviously should. Dor Sanders. And I'm like, oh, hamstring strain in training camp? Yeah. No, that's no big deal. Oh, no. Week four, you're like, hey, Kenny, you know that hamstring strain? No. It always lingers. So that's what concerns me about Aaron Judge is I say, like, all it's going to take is one swing tie. And now, you know, he's not playing the field. Now all of a sudden, Stanton is relatively useless as a pinch hitter. And that's it. You're not going to play him in the field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Second overqualified pinch hitter.

[Alan Hahn]

So now what do you do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it brings me back to. And this is where we land is. It is coming. Yankee fans listening know it's coming. And it is going to be the most infuriating thing that's going to happen this offseason.

[Alan Hahn]

What's that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is going to be revisionist history. It'll be, well, you know, it was right there in front of us, but captain got hurt. Heel. He missed most of the season. Clark Smith got hurt. Cole was done. It was right there in front of us.

[Alan Hahn]

Soto didn't resign.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We were going to be a team that contended for a championship, but, you know, things just happen. And we're all watching it with a healthy Amber Judge and saying, no, no, no, man. You guys, with Judge healthy, did not look like y' all were winning the title. But I'm telling you, we're going to get to the offseason, and that's going to be the story they run with.

[Alan Hahn]

You think so? You. And I love that because I completely agree. The excuses are already setting up.

[Jacob Perry]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Don Hahn]

Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy taxes and fees extra.

[Alan Hahn]

See mint mobile.com Gatorade is the number.

[Ty Butler]

One proven electrolyte blend designed to hydrate better than water so you can lose more sweat and raise your game. Gatorade is it in you? Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Jacob Perry]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Ty Butler]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Girl, you know what's up.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead, tell me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tell me what's up, baby.

[Alan Hahn]

Jake's just laughing now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yo, you know what's crazy?

[Alan Hahn]

Jake, now real quick, because you're a music guy. When Don and I harmonize, how's it sound?

[Jacob Perry]

It sounds pretty good. I'm not gonna lie. Sometimes I do laugh at you boys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You saying it sounded bad?

[Alan Hahn]

How did that sound?

[Jacob Perry]

I mean, if you're asking me, he needs auto too. Ty would have did the same thing I did. I'm not saying I'm much of a singer, but I would have hit the.

[Alan Hahn]

Why do you have to. I didn't ask you how you sing. I'm asking about your ear, not your voice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you're comparing me to Donnell Jones like that? That's a tough one. That's a tough battle to win.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I mean, then why battle?

[Jacob Perry]

I mean, Ty, come on. Ty, he's a he. Ty's well aware of how he sounds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it was bad. It was that bad. It needed to be called out.

[Alan Hahn]

Put it this way. Have you ever. Have you ever serenaded your Wife.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we did that last night. It was a birthday.

[Jacob Perry]

Oh, my gosh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a birthday. What you want me to say?

[Alan Hahn]

So you serenaded.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She should be.

[Alan Hahn]

You sang to her?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did a little singing.

[Jacob Perry]

Honestly, Don would be jealous.

[Alan Hahn]

Sang to her. What'd you do? What'd you say?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I sang. We had this DJ on. On. On the YouTube, playing the hits. Oh, yeah, found it on YouTube playing the hits. I was singing.

[Alan Hahn]

Who was babysitting?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nah, the kids were sleeping. Man. This was after dinner. They were worn out.

[Alan Hahn]

Door locked?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Door locked. No entry.

[Alan Hahn]

No entry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There was a lot of singing going on last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

They ever catch you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nah, not yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Not yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not yet. Bang on wood. Not yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Nice lives.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that's happened to you before? Oh, man. How do you recover from that?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it luckily caught, but not it. Didn't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So here's my question.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't know what was up. So we just kind of, like, looked at each other like, Ben, I was close.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, so here's my question, because you've got both. I only have sons, right? Which one is worse, the daughter or the son? It has to be the daughter, right? 100% no question.

[Alan Hahn]

Hundred percent. Like with my son, it's like, you know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you can explain that away. You can laugh about, you know. You know.

[Alan Hahn]

But with your daughter, how do you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even have that conversation with her?

[Alan Hahn]

It's like, I work with fiends. What? Happily married men discussing a healthy relationship with their wives.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's nothing wrong with that.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, now, all of a sudden, that's a bad thing? We gotta be. We gotta ban that. No, that's what life's all about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The daughter for. Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

The good stuff. And that's no question that that's what it was. But luckily she had no idea. Like, just. Just thought, like what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just like ignorant or just. Yeah, like, see enough.

[Alan Hahn]

Like you. Probably both. Because it was pretty, you know?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, how about that, Jacob? See enough.

[Alan Hahn]

Dear God, it's like the Playboy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, Alan.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why Covers. You gotta just keep the covers on no matter what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, we had a fun night. Happy birthday to my wife.

[Alan Hahn]

Happy birthday. That's good. You had a good night. You serenaded her.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what she said? So she's. And I know we got to get to the call. So we were at the beach bash, and she's like, you know what I love about Alan?

[Alan Hahn]

Nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's like, he. He always makes you feel like you care about you. Like he cares about you.

[Alan Hahn]

But I do. It's genuine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. And no. And she said it comes from a genuine place.

[Alan Hahn]

The minute I saw her, the first thing I wanted to do is give her a hug.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There are some people, how you doing? But they really don't give a damn. She says, coming from Alan, he'll come up to me, you know, give me a hug, ask how I'm doing, how the kids feels very genuine. And she loves that about you. Just wanted to put that out there.

[Alan Hahn]

I appreciate that, but it is genuine. I never get to see her.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's once a year at the.

[Alan Hahn]

Beach Pass, probably 800-919-3776. Uh, let's take some calls here, Ty. We have Kadeem in the car to start us off.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Kadeem, what an honor to start off.

[Kadeem]

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

[Alan Hahn]

How you doing?

[Kadeem]

We're good. We're good, Ty. I mean, obviously couldn't have a better feeling with the Don Dot out in the third guy that I. I appreciate and remember who he is anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, I don't say that. Come on.

[Kadeem]

I'll just play. I'll just play it. But. But Alan, I gotta tell you, from start with this whole Yankees thing, you have been so on point and so correct. You know what you've been to the New York radio listeners over the last month. You're the friend that everybody loves but everybody also hates. And that's because he's been telling the hard truth. You have been letting us know for so long that something was wrong with this Yankee team and it just, as you said, did not look right. And from what you said yesterday, I was. You took the words right out of my mouth. We are turning into the team that both of us hate. The Dallas Cowboys.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Kadeem]

And we as the team. Now, listen, analogy, you got to stay with me. Now, as a team as a whole, you know, they're the Cowboys and Aaron Judge is Jerry Jones. Now, stay with me. The team will give you. We'll give you some flash. We'll go, you know, we'll let you think that we have a chance and we can stick around and all that. And then Judge being Jerry Jones is because it's not no fault of anything he said. It's because of his greatness. So he'll hit 60 home runs, bat.320. And we're so entertained by the greatness of Aaron Judge that we gloss over all the holes that we've always had year after after year after year. And it's coming to the point where he can't do it by himself. But we got. We got to do something. I don't know, but that's all I got. Gentlemen. Kadeem, have a great rest of your day.

[Alan Hahn]

Appreciate you and the cowboy thing. As much as Yankee fans don't want to agree to that. There's a lot there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Slight difference.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, obviously, 30 years of a drought is a lot longer than 15.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And how's. Also not. But no Jerry Jones.

[Alan Hahn]

But if you just look at it from size of fan base expectation every year. Brand no bigger. Right. No bigger brand than football. No bigger brand than baseball. Sorry, Dodgers. It's true. No bigger brand. Probably two of the biggest brands in sports in the world. Okay. And yet with everything they have and with like the prestige of it all, nothing. It's like Ferrari never winning in F1. Right. Think about it. It's that. It's literally that. It's having the prestige of being like considered excellence and yet never being excellent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about this? I'm talking to Tom Bauer the other day was a producer at the station.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, he doesn't have like crisp memories of the Yankees last World Series championship, 2009.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, that's Anthony's first Yankee championship memory. There's a whole generation of Anthony.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't know, they don't remember or they don't have like vivid memories of it, which is insane.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, but that 15 years ago, that's a long time. Think about that's 15 years ago. The jets were in the AFC championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game with Nick Folk, by the way, kicking field goals. He's back now.

[Alan Hahn]

But think about that for a minute. Right. That like, that's. The jets haven't made the playoffs in forever. And they were in the AFC Championship game after the last Yankee World Series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we thought the Mets have been.

[Alan Hahn]

To a World Series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We thought that team with that, the amount of talent that they had, like if I had told you, no, they're not going to even make it back to the World Series. It gets crazy, by the way. So I want to throw in two more names. DeGrom and Don Mattingly. We talked about stars in New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Who nobody was a bigger fan of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dom Mattingly than me didn't win championships.

[Alan Hahn]

But he, like Dom Mattingly wasn't the best player in the league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but he was an NVP. He was an MVP.

[Alan Hahn]

He was really good. Yeah. But I'll give you deGrom because that guy once sat young and he was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The best pitcher in baseball.

[Alan Hahn]

It's like basically, you know, it's DeGrom going through is what Skeens is going through right now in Pittsburgh. Yeah, where he's just lights out, not giving up anything more than a run or two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't mean to throw shots, but the Yankee fan has become the Knick fan because we're doing the wait until Paul Skeens is a New York Yankee in a couple years. Like, we're just longing for free agents. We're becoming the Knick fan once again.

[Alan Hahn]

Be careful because if there's a cap coming, a lot of that stuff changes. It's amazing, but a lot of that stuff starts to change. Let's get Back to the calls. 800-919-3776. Joe's in West Harrison. Hey, Joe.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Is this the Han and Mini Bart Scott Show? How you doing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, is that. Is that a race joke? What's going on here?

[Richard Rosenberg]

Mini, you're. You're much smaller than Bart Scott, if I'm not mistaken, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm just playing. I'm just joking.

[Richard Rosenberg]

Definitely not a race job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nah, man, I'm just joking. I'm sorry. I'm just joking.

[Richard Rosenberg]

That's good. No, no, I don't mind you coming back at me. It's all good. So, Alan's been a while. Hope all's good with you and your family. You too, Ty. The cowboy Yankee thing I could agree with, but as Ty said, I don't know how you could compare judge. Unless you want to say in spite of judge or in spite of the owner. Yeah, of the Cowboys. You know, I can get that. But the teams. Yeah. Nah, no way. But I don't get that part. But I would in my training, top prospects. If I'm getting a scheme back. Only because you brought up his name or something like that. That's a young guy. That's salary controllable, like you said, with the cap coming up. I would do that, you know, without, you know, making or make little tweaks at the trading deadline and not give up the future. So I wouldn't do that at all. Would not do that at all. But it's just tiring to see how this team plays. I'll be honest with you. I would move Volpe up when the other shortstop, that's the stud down their mind, Elise comes up. I would get rid of. Definitely get rid of the second basement. Now, I'm not a big fan of his. I think, you know, he's too animated, too much of a clown. I'm not a big fan of his. And don't get me wrong, he said some home runs, but go ahead, buddy. Good time. Sorry I interrupted you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I was Gonna say Jazz actually is one of the best players on the team. So I. I mean, I just find.

[Richard Rosenberg]

That not consistent and he doesn't put the ball on play a lot, but he is playing well. I'm not saying. I just don't particularly like that. I would. And I would trade if we can get that kid Tucker from the Cubs, but we know that's not going to happen this year because they're, you know, but for young. For young. Prop. For young. You know, kind of like when hockey makes a trade. If they're. Or NFL or they're. Well, not the NFL hockey. Are they NHL ready? Are they. You know, meaning they already step in and play a big role on your team. I would definitely do that, but other than that, I wouldn't give up. Mortgage a future with this team. Sorry, I wouldn't do it.

[Alan Hahn]

I just feel like. Yeah, no, thank you, Joe. Like you can hear it. It's what. What Joe's basically saying is, I just don't like them. You're reaching that point where it's like as a team, I asked you earlier, like, what are their problems? You're just like, they have many problems. Right. There's just a lot of issues. And that's the issue is it's. There's nothing to hold on to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what makes it more devastating?

[Alan Hahn]

Judge was the one thing to hold on to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's what makes it more devastating. Aside from the Judge injury, the Yankees were going to be a team that, you know, whether they were a wild card or a division winner. You get into the playoffs, you. You. Are you petrified of anyone in the American League? It's as wide open as can be.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Everybody's sleeping on Detroit. I think Detroit's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, anyone picking a central team to beat the Yankees in the playoff series, I get.

[Alan Hahn]

Historically, I understand it, but that matters, man. But you know what else matters? Pitching. And Detroit has.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does. It does.

[Alan Hahn]

But okay, now they. But I'll tell you the other thing I don't like. I don't like a series against the Blue Jays. You know why? Because they know they can beat you and they know how to beat you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We still have to see them close the deal. I wouldn't be celebrating the Blue Jays just yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Once again, though, it's funny, we are going to show lack of confidence in other teams, but we're going to have confidence in the Yankee team. That has shown you nothing over the last month and a half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's why it makes it so frustrating because all the Yankees had to do is not be. What did you say, 14 and. Or 15 and 24 in their last 39 games?

[Alan Hahn]

That's not good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you'd still have some holes just because the American League is not the National League.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Well, after Zumi's at the dog park, it's time for Drive up at Target.

[Unknown]

In goes a big bag of kibble and one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Drive Up.

[Unknown]

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[Ty Butler]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Jacob Perry]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Ty Butler]

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

[Alan Hahn]

More my speed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember way back in the day, before you were an afternoon drive host, you were doing nights. And before the show, we would do the set list.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, man, set lists were great. Yeah, it was like how, how much we cared about all the ancillary things of a show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that stuff's important.

[Alan Hahn]

You do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Music gets the host.

[Alan Hahn]

I do, too. Was music ever, like, a real thing at the station before I got here? Like, is. I don't remember it being that big of a deal, but whenever somebody would play music coming in and I heard it, I'd always want to react. And like, and then when I started hosting and then we'd say, oh, play this song. Play that song. It just became a music became part of the show more and more. And then like, I mean, Don, like Jake, hasn't we've seen a new side of Don McGregor, have we not? Since we've all, like, because Nobody's better than Jacob Perry when it comes to the ones and twos. I mean, he's so good. He's so fast, and he. His.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His range.

[Alan Hahn]

Range is insane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, look at where he comes from. He's got a music background. BLS days.

[Jacob Perry]

BLS high 97 power 105 years.

[Alan Hahn]

Pretty much name three stations that play the same music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you told me, like, if you.

[Alan Hahn]

Gave me, like, K rock and, like, threw something else in. Seriously, Sinatra. I did that for a while. Okay. You got rain.

[Jacob Perry]

If you think about it, though, like, all those stations are kind of encompassed in the same. So, like, K rock and hip hop and, like, pop are all, like, owned by the same person. Like, I really like three of the same stations.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a good point.

[Jacob Perry]

So they're all, like, on the same floor. So I had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

BLS isn't just playing hip hop.

[Jacob Perry]

No, no, no, no. R B, soul. You'll get. You'll get a little reggae every once.

[Alan Hahn]

We play two kinds of music here, country and western.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you've completely unlocked a potential that maybe Don didn't even know he had.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Jacob Perry]

Yeah, Don. Don was kind of hesitant at first. I think he was kind of, like, stuck in the okay ways where, you know, we talked about music, but no more than 30 seconds because. Yes. And everybody at ASCAP was gonna come get us. So we kind of had to, like, lead Don in a way. And it was kind of helped by Allen and Peter, you know, kind of.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, talking about music and yourself.

[Jacob Perry]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you. You. Cause you seem like he. What's what I. Again, things I love about Jake, but one of them is that he just can sense a mood, and he'll just start playing music, right? And then you'll hear Don go, now, why would you play that today? Like, why would you play that today? And then he'll explain it, and then it's like, oh, that made. And then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's the curator.

[Alan Hahn]

Vibe is set. He's the curator dj.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Jacob Perry]

It started off me doing, like, a. Like, on this day, and then kind of, like, listen to, like, the Don talk about certain music and playlists, and I kind of, like, tap in, and I'm think, all right, so if I stick in this genre, maybe this could rot out the whole show. And then sometimes, too, it just based on, like, the story. Like, Yankees are struggling or, like, Knicks are not doing the way we need to. I'll feed into the fans like that.

[Alan Hahn]

NINJA plays don't believe the hype.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm trying to figure out what you're referencing with the hype, you know, the.

[Jacob Perry]

Championship hype that comes with the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T believe any of it. Always something behind it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about this?

[Alan Hahn]

Cody Bellinger thoughts on where the team is right now? Can't be good.

[Cody Bellinger]

Yeah. Obviously, ultimately we would like to be probably in a better spot, but, you know, it's just kind of where we're at right now. And, you know, for me, you know, I got confidence in the guys in here. You know, I like showing up every day and going to battle with these boys in this locker room. So I think we got a lot of really good baseball players in here and, you know, just got to keep focusing on what we can control and keep playing our game.

[Alan Hahn]

Notice what he said? We have some really good baseball players in here. What you want is that baseball players to become a team. They don't have that vibe, which is why I believe a front office, a functioning one that doesn't just live off of numbers and stats and a binder. They look and they get a feel for their team and they go, you know what? Something's not right. And there are years where you see a team that's grinding and they just. There's bad luck, can't get a win, whatever it is, and you're going, you know what? I want to reward these guys. They're working their ass off. I want to show them we still believe in them. I'm going to make a move that's going to jolt that club. I was making them go, whoa, we're not selling, we're buying. We brought in a guy like, you feel fired up. That changes a room. There's also years like this one where what Cody Bellinger's saying and just that same sense you get of a team that looks like they're. They're a rudderless ship. They're. They're on the water and they're still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Floating, but you're at a pass, but.

[Alan Hahn]

They'Re not going anywhere. And you go, they aren't telling me that they are looking for that big move.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you do nothing, Right.

[Alan Hahn]

They haven't shown me that I need to do something to really let them know how much we believe in them, because they aren't telling me I should believe in them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I ask you a question? While I understand all of that? How much of it comes down to Judge getting hurt and you might not having 100% version of Judge the rest of the season?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I think that only makes it more obvious if you didn't. I've been Saying this for a month, Ty, if you didn't already see it, this is now. Like, it's right in your face. You should see it now. And the players are telling you without telling you. This is not a team to buy into this year. Now, with that in mind, you said something before the show that when you first said it, it shook me in a way. I'm like, that's ridiculous. And then I thought about it and I said, but he might be right. Why don't you share that with everybody?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think last year going to the World Series might have been the worst thing to happen to this organization.

[Alan Hahn]

Sounds preposterous, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because in their minds, it confirmed they know what they're doing. We've got it all figured out. You can trust us. We know best. You beat the Royals, you beat the Guardians. And I'm not diminishing that accomplishment, because getting to the World Series is something you should celebrate. But it might have, like, taken us away from the reality that Cashman just doesn't know how to build a championship team. We haven't seen it. Then they get to the world. Remember, during the run, Alan, because you were doing shows, callers were saying, people were saying, can't believe in the Yankees. This. That route to the World Series was easy. It's a cakewalk. Then they get to the Dodgers series and get spanked in five games. So it validated a lot of what people were saying about the Yankees in the lead up to that series. So I just think because of what happened last year, Boone gets an extension. Now Cashman gets to say, how, look, see, we know what we're doing. And if that doesn't happen, maybe there are some changes now in real time, I didn't feel that way. I was excited. I wanted them to win. But in the aftermath of all of it, seeing that nothing is gonna change and they're just gonna go to their, you know, playbook of excuses might have been the worst thing to happen to them.

[Alan Hahn]

And think about. Add to that what you're saying, which sounds, again, it's. It sounds outrageous, but it really isn't the path, how they got there, the fact that Klase, the greatest, the best closer in the sport, couldn't throw, couldn't get anybody out at the most important time. And now he's being investigated, by the way. But just. You're right. Getting to the World Series bought them more time. When I say them, I mean Cashman and his people, not Boone. It's not about Boone. It's about Cashman. And it bought him more time made Hal believe that, yes, we can still believe in this when we're watching Major League Baseball and we're realizing that this isn't. This isn't it. And as a fan, you know, and I'm going from my generation of fan who that group in the 90s that we're all looking back as the new standard, you know, the 27 Yankees and the. And the DiMaggio mantle, that era, that was used to be the standard. The new standard of the modern Yankees is that 90s team. And don't you. Oh, they won all the championship and they bought them. It's not about that. How they played, how they played was inspiring. There was something about that group that was gritty, that was tough, that was. They were a team you love to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And this feels more finesse.

[Alan Hahn]

This doesn't even feel finesse. This feels robotic. That answer from Bellinger was robotic. Everything about them feels robotic. It doesn't feel like a team that just goes out there and plays ball. There's a certain way they do it, and it's the only way they do it. And if it doesn't work, they lose. But we promise you it'll work more than it doesn't. And that's what I was saying yesterday. It's just becoming harder and harder to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just want to say something real quick. I want to correct something that was said on this show. I don't remember who said it, but one of you guys, I was driving, listening, said something like, man, that four championships in five years spoiled Yankee fans. It hacked their brains into thinking this is the standard. I completely disagree with that. Because me, the Yankee fan in this chair, isn't complaining that they're not winning four championships in five years. No, it's not complaining that they've gone 15 years. Like, you're one of the three highest payrolls in baseball for a decade and you can't win a championship. Something's wrong with that. And that's not spoiled brat.

[Alan Hahn]

You're 100% right, Ty. And I'm glad you said it, because it also comes back to what I keep saying. It's not about the owner. It's not. Hal Steinbrenner's cheap. He spends $200 million. How is it being spent? That is my biggest problem that needs to be talked about more.

[Ty Butler]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.

[Ty Butler]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.