Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Circle of Trust

Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Overview

This episode centers on the “Circle of Trust” for New York baseball teams as the MLB playoffs approach. Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg debate which Yankees and Mets pitchers—and a few key hitters—truly inspire confidence as the postseason dawns. The conversation interweaves humor, active disagreement, and New York sports anxiety, with a generous side of betting talk and the perils of trusting technology in the studio.

Key Topics & Insights

1. NFL Thursday Night Betting and Trends

(Starts ~01:07)

• The hosts discuss the upcoming Dolphins-Bills game, betting lines, and their recent track records with Thursday night picks.
• Hahn: “NFL can’t be thrilled that we get a heavy dose of nationally televised Dolphin games, right? Thursday and then next Monday...” (01:32)
• Talk of favorite teams covering spreads, and whether to ride the streak or bet against the trend ([03:23]).
• Rosenberg: “Whenever you don't have a dog in the fight, all they do is score, score, score. I feel like when you pick them, they never cover.” (02:06)

Memorable Moment:

• Don to Peter: “No points through two weeks, man. Don’t you dare make me root for the Dolphins.” (03:39)

2. Yankees: The "Circle of Trust" for Playoff Pitching

(Begins ~06:12)

The hosts assess which Yankees pitchers are truly reliable for the postseason.

Starters

• Hahn's Circle of Trust: Rodon, Freed, Schlitler, and Heel.
  • Schlitler: Mixed feelings due to inconsistency and inexperience under playoff pressure.
  • Heel: Preferred if it’s a must-win, due to greater experience.
• Hahn: “Those are my three. Even last night, there's something not right with [Schlitler]…but when Boone came out, he didn’t want to come out.” (08:13)
• Don: “So you have Rodon, Freed, Schlitler and Heel. You have four starters, which is all you need in the postseason.” (12:19)

Bullpen

• Trustworthy relievers: Bednar (“he’s your closer”), Williams, Weaver, and possibly Warren as a long man.
  • Rosenberg: “Devin Williams, I honestly always feel like he’s a guy that’s gonna melt in the worst moment, but he’s been good lately...”
• Skepticism towards others—Cruz deemed “too emotional,” Tim Hill “not great lately.”

Stat Check:

• A: "Last six innings, [Cruz] has allowed seven earned runs. He's got five walks—and no, he's out right now." (11:57)

3. Playoff Pressure, Experience, and Pitcher Psychology

(Featured commentary throughout ~14:23–18:16)

• Anxiety over pitching in New York’s playoff atmosphere, especially for young or untested arms.

  • Don: “There’s just...when those lights are on, when the bump things up at the stadium, as Bill Daughtry used to say... it hits different, doesn't it?” (14:43)
  • Rosenberg: On trusting young relievers: “My amount of trust that I have for anyone is relatively low. But, you’re being positive, you’re coming up with people you can trust.” (13:20)

• Debate if postseason “unknowns” matter more than regular season results—“There's still gonna be the unknown of a kid that's never pitched in the postseason before, and what is he gonna do?” (17:19, Don)

• The “House of Horrors” in Houston—whether the Yankees fear returning there for a playoff series.

  • Rosenberg: “There's no way you don't have nerves about that series...if you underperform against Houston, you're a disgrace.” (21:16)

4. Mets: Who Makes the Cut for Playoff Trust?

(Begins ~27:35)

• Rotation: McClain and Sproat are almost “must trust” based on their current run, but there’s worry over inexperience.
  • Hahn: “If I am going to give you heat on Schlitler because of no experience, then how can I trust McClain, Tong, and Sproat? ...But how do you not put McClain and Sproat based on what they've done.” (27:37)
• Relievers trusted: Rogers, Thornman, Brooks Raley. Others like Stanek, Soto, or Helsley inspire little confidence.
  • B: “Stanek is the guy you put in when the game's...you don't care. And it's amazing that every time he comes in in mop-up duty, he gives up runs.” (29:27)
• Offense may need to carry the Mets if pitching proves unreliable: “If you are somebody clinging to the fact the Mets can go on a run...they’re gonna have to bash their way there.” (31:00, Hahn)

5. Offensive Circle of Trust

(~32:05; major stars, trust issues)

• Mets: Soto, Alonzo, maybe Lindor—but Lindor is streaky.
  • A: “Lindor could carry them and be the MVP, and Lindor can go like, oh-for-16 in the two games they lose.” (32:39)
• Yankees: No one truly fits—cannot even comfortably say Judge or Stanton due to postseason history.

6. Perspectives on Playoff Mentality & Player Legacy

(46:12–47:17)

• If you could pick between a hot Aaron Judge postseason or home field, the hosts unanimously choose Judge playing well.
  • C: “One of the fascinating storylines going into the postseason is that this is an all time great player who has this one thing that everyone holds over his head with good reason...Whether it’s right or not until the guy has a killer playoff.” (47:17)
• Judge’s postseason struggles recited: “His ALDS experience, he's played in six of them in his career. His batting average is .192. 41 strikeouts...” (47:35, C/Hahn)

7. Behind the Scenes: Studio Trust Issues and Lighter Banter

(41:47–44:49)

• Extended, comic riff on the dangers of logging into personal accounts on work computers, leaving digital “footprints,” and trust among colleagues.
  • B: “I don’t want a paper trail…I don’t know, whatever else here at night didn’t look at my account…” (42:20)
  • A: “He doesn’t want a paper trail. It’s like—” (42:37)
  • C: “With the nails, I threw out who I thought it was…who don’t you trust?” (43:05)

Notable Quotes

• Rosenberg: “Overall, my amount of trust for anyone [in the Yankees bullpen] is relatively low.” (13:20)
• Hahn: “Freed, Rodon, Schlittler...that’s my three. Hill maybe, but after that it gets dicey, man.” (08:04)
• Don: “It’s New York. It’s the postseason. In baseball, it’s different.” (15:40)
• Rosenberg: “This team hasn’t shown me that they operate that way. They haven’t shown us the big, big brass cajones.” (22:24)
• Hahn: “[Stanek] is the guy you put in when the game's like you don't care. And it's amazing that every time he comes in, in mop-up duty, he gives up runs.” (29:27)
• Rosenberg: “Who do you trust in that locker room?” (43:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:07 | NFL Thursday Night Football pick talk | | 06:12 | Yankees circle of trust: pitching staff breakdown | | 14:43 | Playoff pressure and home/away splits for pitchers | | 21:16 | Houston: house of horrors for Yankees | | 27:35 | Mets circle of trust: pitching staff breakdown | | 32:05 | Offensive “circle of trust” for Yankees and Mets | | 41:47 | Studio banter: computer paranoia and trust issues | | 46:12 | Judge’s postseason legacy vs. home field debate |

Tone and Style

True to their show’s reputation, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg keep the conversation fast-paced, passionate, occasionally irreverent, and always steeped in New York fan intensity. They blend real fan worries with sharp analysis and never shy from calling each other out—whether it’s over the rotation, trust in the bullpen, or happenings in the studio.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is a must for New York baseball fans looking for a candid, sometimes skeptical, and often hilarious assessment of Yankees and Mets playoff readiness. You’ll get thoughtful if nervous evaluations of pitching staffs, honest talk about postseason nerves and mental hurdles, and an entertaining window into the always-charged relationships of three iconic New York sports voices.

End of Hour 1: “Circle of Trust”