Hour 1: Deadline Plans

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Deadline Plans (July 31, 2026) ESPN New York | Hosts: Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg (remote), Alan Hahn (on vacation)

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Episode Theme Overview

This episode is centered on the looming MLB trade deadline and how the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers are shaping their strategies in light of an uncertain labor climate, possible changes to the rules around payroll/salary caps, and the wild card playoff picture. Don La Greca leads discussions on the quirks (and annoyances) of modern baseball uniforms, trade deadline anxieties, the Yankees' struggles with injuries and fundamentals, and listeners’ calls about the state of their favorite New York teams. While Alan Hahn is still on vacation and Peter Rosenberg is away at SummerSlam, Don commands a solo show with support from producer/anchor Anthony.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Baseball Uniforms & Identity Crisis

• Don’s Rant on Uniform Confusion ([00:47] – [02:39])
  • Don bemoans that the Cubs are wearing blue alternate uniforms nearly indistinguishable from the Blue Jays, sparking a larger frustration about MLB (and NBA) teams departing from their classic looks for the sake of merchandise sales.
  • Quote: “I should be able to turn on the television set and instantaneously be able to tell who’s playing… Baseball, I shouldn’t turn on the game and not know who the hell’s playing.” (Don, [01:42])

2. MLB Trade Deadline Dynamics

• State of the Mets ([03:00] – [10:00])

  • The Mets, having underperformed, are expected to be among the most active teams trading veterans for prospects—Peralta, Robert Jr., Clay Holmes among possible departures.
  • Don notes that most "prospects" acquired in summer deadline deals rarely pan out, citing famous counterexamples (Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson, John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander), but warning that such returns are rare.
  • Quote: “Most of the time, these prospects never amount to anything… Somebodies going to get Robert Jr. from the Mets, and that team is going to know immediately whether it worked or not, because it happened in real time. And the prospects, the Mets get—God knows whatever happens to them.” (Don, [11:58])

• Uncertain Labor Future & Its Influence on Deadline Deals ([10:13] – [16:09])

  • The CBA is up in the air; Don predicts that with the threat of a hard salary cap, teams will pivot towards moves involving short-term, non-committal rentals rather than locked-in contracts.
  • The Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets are all poised to approach the deadline differently:
    • Dodgers: Will risk everything for a 3rd straight title, unconcerned if 2027 is lost to a lockout.
    • Yankees: Wary of adding long-term contracts due to possible new cap constraints.
    • Mets: Only able to rebuild with prospects, since their trade pieces won’t net immediate impact.
  • Quote: “It is the Wild West where everybody has got a different stake in the game.” (Don, [16:47])

• Expanded Playoff Race Means Fewer Sellers ([16:09] – [21:00])

  • With so many teams close to contention, few are genuine “sellers”—most are holding, making big trades less likely or less impactful.
  • Memorable Moment: Don lists the crowded playoff races, noting even teams like the Pirates and Marlins are technically still in it.

3. Listener Calls & Yankees-Mets Talk

• Injury Worries & Yankees Outfield (Bobby in Belmore) ([22:13] – [24:25])

  • Caller highlights Aaron Judge’s chronic rib injuries and questions his long-term outfield viability. Don agrees the team must soon transition Judge out of right field to avoid more injuries: “He’s too gargantuan of an offensive player to take the risk of him being out there and getting hurt…he’s got to DH once Stanton is gone, that’s his position.” ([24:25])

• Yankees’ Fundamentals & Accountability (Neil in Arizona) ([26:45] – [33:00])

  • Neil questions Yankees' recent base-running and defensive miscues—bad throws and poor slides. Don distinguishes between organizational failure vs. player error:

    • “I mean, by the time you get to the major league, shouldn’t some things just be assumed? … That is not to me, Anthony, you may disagree, that’s not to me a case of the Yankees not teaching guys fundamentals. That’s just a kid being overaggressive.” ([29:55])

    • Producer Anthony and Don debate the balance between tolerance for mistakes and accountability culture in modern coaching.

• Aaron Boone’s Future (Joe in Vermont) ([38:01] – [40:45])

  • Listener Joe asks if it’s time for a new voice if the Yanks don’t make the World Series. Don, though a Boone fan, concedes: “If they get Judge and Bellinger back and they’re whole for the postseason…and don’t go to the World Series, I’m sorry, it’s got to be on the table.” ([40:11])

• Final Mets, Yankees, and Packers Thoughts (Lewis in Union City) ([41:33] – [42:58])

  • Mets fans shouldn’t expect a major prospect haul for tradeable assets. Don predicts the Packers will struggle, picking the Bears for their division.

4. Personal & Lighter Segments

• Cameo Shout-outs and Family Banter ([34:42] – [37:45])
  • Don greets Megan and Jason (listeners/fans), shares fun anecdotes about surprise birthdays and his family at the beach, adding a friendly, interactive tone.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’m not going to pretend to know any of these prospects or any prospect that they get moving forward…” (Don, [04:10])
• “This is the Wild West where everybody has got a different stake in the game.” (Don, [16:59])
• On MLB’s possible Armageddon: “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a die-hard baseball fan to know we may be facing baseball armageddon. There may not be a season next year.” (Don, [14:28])
• “He’s too gargantuan of an offensive player to take the risk of him being out there and getting hurt.” (Don, [24:25])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:47] - Don’s rant on Cubs uniforms and loss of classic identity
• [03:00] - Closer look at the Mets’ deadline approach and state of franchise
• [10:13] - Labor uncertainty and impact on team strategies
• [16:09] - Playoff races, seller scarcity, and deadline context
• [22:13] - Listener call about Judge’s rib injuries and Yankees DH future
• [26:45] - Neil on Yankees’s fundamentals and accountability, sliding mistake debate
• [34:42] - Megan and Jason: Cameo anecdote, family fun, and birthday banter
• [38:01] - Joe in Vermont: Should Boone be replaced if no World Series?
• [41:33] - Lewis: Mets, Packers, and the trade deadline realities

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Tone and Style

• Wry, jaded New York sports fan humor, especially Don’s mixture of nostalgia and frustration.
• Engaged and opinionated, embracing listener calls and alternative views.
• Candid about franchise flaws but savvy about the realities of both business and fandom.

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Summary Takeaways

• New York baseball finds itself at a crossroads: the Mets reboot, the Yankees teeter between contention and decline, and the broader context of a looming labor crisis adds a layer of unpredictability to every move.
• Trade deadline is less about blockbuster swings and more about cautious, anxious positioning—with every team gambling differently.
• Don’s solo hosting, seasoned with calls, humor, and personal stories, keeps the episode accessible even to casual baseball fans while providing informed, honest analysis for diehards.
• Listener engagement remains a core feature, anchoring the show as part sports analysis, part sports therapy, true to New York radio tradition.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Todd.

[C]

Sometimes fraud gives you movement. It sounded like it moved.

[B]

Han, you heard a squish. And Rosenberg shake gently to assure complete activation.

[C]

Hello, this isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[B]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[C]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[B]

ESPN New York and streaming live on

[C]

YouTube 305 in the big city. Don, Han and Rosenberg with you here on a Friday, gorgeous, and I mean gorgeous Friday. Of all the bad we weather that we've had. It is absolutely awesome to be able to go out there. Nice 85 degree day, not a cloud in the sky getting you ready for the weekend. Baseball deadline is on the horizon on Monday, Yankees playing the Cubs at Wrigley Field for the start of a three game series over the weekend. And what am I looking at? What am I looking at? Are the Yankees playing the Blue Jays or the Cubs? I don't want to sound like the old man on the lawn, but the Cubs have a classic uniform, right? The Cubead with the C and the pinstripes and the blue hat with the sea. They've had it forever. Ernie Banks. You go back to Andre Dawson, Rick Sutcliffe and the Cubs, who are a pretty good team. They're a wild card team and they've got these, the Blue Jay Blue uniforms you don't remember back in the day. The baby blue with the white pants and they've got a helmet that really just looks like the Blue Jays helmet. What are we doing? God, you know, sometimes I just, I end up hating baseball, Anthony. Why does baseball continue to drive me up a wall like they're intentionally trying to turn me off sometimes?

[D]

Well, I mean you've got a revenue stream where you can make new jerseys and the city connects. And I forget, I think that's what they call it in baseball. People like them and people like to buy new jerseys and they're aware of that and they're going to do that as much as they possibly can.

[C]

I don't. But let's come up with something again. But you have a cool uniform, man. You have a uniform that really looks great. Then they Bothered me when they went to the blue with the, with the pinstripe pants. But I kind of live with that. They did that like in the mid-80s or whatever. You want to change it around a little bit, but to look like another team, I should be able to turn on the television set and instantaneously be able to tell who's playing. I go through that in the NBA, it takes me five minutes to figure out who's playing in the game. And then when I figured out who's playing in the game, you might get a situation like I did in the first round of the playoffs of the NBA when the Hawks are playing the Knicks. And I thought the Knicks were the Hawks and the Hawks are the Knicks. The Knicks were wearing their like black uniforms with that, it, it, whatever design it was with the circle. And I'm like, oh, what, what are, what are the Hawks wearing tonight? Because I saw white and orange or what looked to be orange was red. But the way the TV looked like it was the way the orange was the, the red looked orange. And it's like I thought the Knicks, I'm thinking the Knicks are scoring. And then I realized, no, that, that's, that's the Hawks. But I get that in the NBA they've been doing that for years. But baseball, I shouldn't turn on the game and not know who the hell's playing. I know it's the Yankees. I'm, I'm used to those uniforms. Whatever. I'm going to complain. 1-800-919-3776 Peter is going to join us in just a little bit. He's out in Minnesota for SummerSlam. He had some things he had to take care of and he's doing that. So we're hoping to get him probably in the second hour of the show. Alan, his last day of his vacation is today, so he will be back with us on Monday when I go on vacation. So we're not going to be hold till we get to the middle of August, but hey, welcome to the summer. Speaking of Summer, speaking of July 31, when I was growing up, and I'm not talking about when I was a little kid when the Trade deadline was June 15, which was ridiculous for Tom Seaver got traded on June 15. Can you imagine making a decision on whether you were in or out for the playoffs on June 15? And that was back when only four teams made the playoffs. So now they've done the right thing and they've extended it past July 31. But July 31 was always the day and that's today. But they decided rather than have all these things happen like on a Friday, which is always like a dead time in sports, let's do it on Monday. Everybody comes back from the weekend and then it's on. I think 6 o' clock Eastern is the trade deadline and by then everything is going to be happening. And the Mets have made a couple of deals before the deadline. You know, a couple of weeks ago they traded Peterson to the Cubs because the Cubs were decimated with their rotation and then Minter got traded to Minnesota. I'm not going to pretend to know any of these prospects or any prospect that they get moving forward, but Jeff Passon earlier this week was on the Michael K. Show and he said the Mets are going to be the most active team at the deadline because the Mets are finally admitting that they made a huge mistake not pivoting from the previous team. But obviously the players that were brought in all were mistakes, all had to be moved on from, but she had. Somebody's not going to be moved on from. He's going to. He's got an opt out. But he won't opt out. Not after the year that he has had. But all the other guys that they went out and got, they're probably going to get moved. We've just found out Peralta has been pulled from his start. So obviously he's on the trade. But we knew that he was on the trade block. Looks like he will eventually be dealt. So he's going to be gone. God knows what you're going to get for a guy that goes four and two thirds innings every five days. And Robert Jr. Is probably going to be gone because he's actually hitting well since coming off the illness and he's a bat. I wonder if the Yankees would kick the tires on him. Although the Mets and Yankees usually don't make deals. So we'll see what, what happens there moving forward. And then you've got, you know, everybody else on the team. Clay Holmes, who is absolutely going to opt out of his contract at the end of the year. Why is if school gets dealt to the Dodgers, which seems like it's inevitable, and the Dodgers resign him, which I don't know whether they will or won't, we'll get to that in a second because it's not really a great free agent class. Clay Holmes will, will then become the best free agent starter. So he's going to opt out because that means big money. So we'll see if the Mets can move him and where will there be a team that would want him as a rental. But he's a starting pitcher. If he can come back from the IL pitch, well, take a chance on it, but you're not going to get a ton for him because he's coming off the IL and because he's going to become a free agent. So all these guys are going to be moved as Ahmed Rosario just hit a home run to break the scoreless tie in Chicago. So the Cubs are up on the Mets, Cubs are up on the Yankees. Excuse me one to nothing. I'm still not used to all this interleague play stuff. So he most likely is going to get dealt. So there is going to be a fire which can make a Met fan excited, you know, and what has been a completely lost season, now you can actually sit back and watch moves be made, pivot away from this disgusting season and start rebuilding your farm system and making some moves so you can move on. And I know the first reaction is going to be, don, why do we want David Stearns, who should be fired, making all of these moves? Well, two reasons why. Number one, he dug this hole. He should be the one to try to get out of it. And if you look at his track record, he actually does pretty well in these situations. When he has had to trade players for prospects, he's done well because he's had to do that in the small market in Milwaukee, right. Whenever somebody became great, he'd have to deal them away because he couldn't afford to pay him and then build up the prospects and now has made Milwaukee a World Series contender this year, even though he's not part of it, that this might be in his wheelhouse, as bad as this season was and as bad as a general manager as he may be in real time as far as making decisions to build a team, that the one thing that he seems to is building up a farm system which the Mets desperately need to do and kind of go forward from there. So this could be an exciting time for the Mets. Could be. But here's the problem. And I heard Carlin talking about this with Dan Grasse earlier this morning into the afternoon. We hear a lot of stories about. Great playing, huge prospects. You know, growing up, it was always the Craig bio for Larry Anderson deal, right? The Red Sox had, excuse me, Jeff Bagwell. The Red Sox had Jeff Bagwell. They needed a relief pitcher in Larry Anderson. So they trade Bagwell to the Astros. They get Anderson, they make the playoffs. But then Bagwell becomes an amazing player for the Astros. The other one that I always heard throwing out there is the Tigers and the Braves made a deal where the Tigers acquired Doyle Alexander for their run to the playoffs in 87, in which they did make the playoffs. They got beat by the Twins and didn't advance, but they still made the playoffs. They still won the American League east, but it cost them John Smalls. And so there's those stories. The two best players on the Washington Nationals are guys that the Nationals got in a deal for Juan Soto with San Diego. So there are times where you make a deal and you get something back that turns your franchise around. But most of the time, these prospects never amount to anything. And you don't think about it because after the deal's done, you go, this guy's rated 6, this guy's rated 16th, this guy's rated 60th. And then you wait, and two years later, it's like, whatever happened to that guy? Oh, well, we traded him in this deal or he didn't work out, so we had to cut him. Like, very seldom do these guys actually move earth. And the players that you deal, well, those teams remember because they made the immediate impact. They either worked or they didn't. So somebody's going to get Robert Jr. From the Mets, and that team is going to know immediately whether it worked or not, because it happened in real time. And the prospects, the Mets get God knows whatever happens to them. So that's one of the things that kind of takes a little of the excitement away from it. But I want to know how you feel at 1-800-919-3776. We don't know what the heck baseball is going to be next year. Is there going to be a salary cap? Is there not going to be a salary cap? If there's not going to be a salary cap, what restrictions are they going to put in to stop the big market teams from spending huge money? Are they going to have more penalties on international money? Are they going to take more draft picks away? Like, what are they going to do? They're going to do something because the Yankees are red hot now, one of the biggest market teams in the country, because of how the Dodgers are outspending everybody. So if they don't cave for a salary cap, which players never do in Major League Baseball, what will they pivot to that could affect you having a high, say, payroll or be locked into really odorous contracts? But what if there is a cap? All right, is it going to be a hard cap like the NHL where you've got no movement? This is the money you're allowed to spend and that's it. Where you actually see some teams, Anthony will tell you they're like play shorthanded because they're at the cap and somebody got hurt and they don't have the room under the cap to call somebody up or make a trade and they actually play with 19 players instead of 20 because they they're under the cap. Like a real hard cap. Or is it a soft cap like you have in the NBA where you can sign your own players for however much money you want? Like where the NFL where guys can still make 60, 70 million dollars a year? Same in the NBA. Like is it going to be that kind of a cap? Because if it's that kind of a cap, then there will be wiggle room for the big market teams to still be able to pay their own players and still be able to maneuver around and still have high payrolls and still have superstar players on the team making big time money. But if it ends up being a hard cap, then the Dodgers might be forced to shed over $100 million of payroll the next off season to make it work.

[E]

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[C]

You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You can't look away.

[E]

Every assistant, every stop, every loco three

[C]

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[E]

What records are going to be broken this season?

[C]

All of it. Right here. Lock in.

[E]

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[B]

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[C]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[C]

What I was saying is nobody knows what the heck is going to happen next year and I'm not going to sit here and start talking about, you know, cba. That's going to make everybody want to glaze over. But it doesn't take a rocket science or a die hard baseball fan to know that we may be facing baseball armageddon. There may not be a season next year. Now I don't think that'll happen because when the NHL canceled their season back in 0405, there were teams in the NHL that would make more money not playing than playing, because that's how bad their system was. So they needed to have something happen. Something had to change in order for these teams to be able to survive, and they needed a salary cap, and that's what they were willing to do to get it. I don't know if there's any Major League Baseball teams that would make more money not playing than playing, but there is a problem, and it needs to be resolved. How far are the two sides willing to go to get what they want? And really what it comes down to is how far are the owners willing to go to get their salary cap? They don't know if they're gonna win or lose, so they don't know what the heck the system is gonna be. So right now, this trade deadline is so interesting to me because they're flying blind. And most likely what they're going to do is they're going to want free agents. They don't want guys under contract. Give me free agents. I'm going to go for it right now to the best of my ability, try to win, and then we'll see what happens next year. The Dodgers might turn around and go, yeah, we'll.

[F]

We'll.

[C]

We'll trade for Scubal. Maybe we'll even sign them. They might not even care because if they win a third consecutive title, they might not care about 27. They might be willing to throw 27 away if they can win three championships in a row. The last team in Sports to win three straight titles were the Yankees back in the 90s. So they might see value in that and not care. That's why the Dodgers might say, oh, yeah, I'll go get Miller. He's got years left on his contract. Who cares? There might not be a 27 season. I don't care. I want to win a third consecutive title. So you got the Dodgers operating that way. Then you got the Yankees operating like, wait a minute. I don't want to trade for anybody that's got any term, because I don't. There might be a salary cap, and then I might. I got Cole with Big Money. I got Judge with big money. I got Stanton with big money. I got Freed with big money. I can't afford to bring in a Mason Miller who's got two years left on his contract at Big Money and maybe have a salary cap and have to let these guys go. So you have the Yankees acting The opposite way. And then you got the Mets who want to compete next year, who've said they want to compete next year, but they can't. They have, they have no ability to bring anybody in because none of the guys that they can trade are going to bring in quality players that can be on their roster this year or next year. So they can only go for prospects. So they'll load up on the prospects and then they can just lay in the weeds and wait for whatever's gonna happen. So you've got the Mets just playing the wait and see game. They got the Yankees who are probably like, I can't afford to do anything too big. And then you got the Dodgers going. Yeah, what the hell, we'll just hold spend like drunken sad, doesn't matter. There is no tomorrow. That that old saying, drink up for tomorrow we die like that. That's the way the Dodgers can go about their lives. Right now. It is the Wild west where everybody has got different stake in the game. And the other thing, when you take a look at Major League Baseball right now, who is really officially out of it? You know they're talking about the Padres trading Miller. The Padres are still in a race for a wild card. They still very well make the playoffs. If you take a look at the wild card race in the National League, they are right there in the National League West. They're out of it. But right now they're two back at Philadelphia for the final wild card. So are they going to trade their closer when there's an excellent chance they could still make the playoffs? And who knows, if San Diego made the playoffs, say ahead of Philadelphia, they would take on Arizona in the wild card. They couldn't beat Arizona. Now all of a sudden you're in the divisional round. Who knows, like, are they going to throw that away to get rid of a contract and waste a chance of going? Pittsburgh hasn't done anything in a decade. They're two and a half games out of a playoff spot. Miami, just coming off a 12 game losing streak before they swept Philadelphia. They're a.500 team. They're sellers, right? They're two and a half back. The three back of the loss column. St. Louis is only three back. You look at the American League. Cleveland, two games above.500. They're the final wild card. Minnesota, they just traded for Minter because they think they're alive. They're a game out. Houston game out. Would you be shocked if Houston made a run? Baltimore two and a half back. Seattle three back. Detroit, they're Kind of in a tough spot. They're four back in the loss column. But if they have a big weekend and who are they playing this weekend? Detroit. They're taking on the A's. So if they sweep the A's and gain a couple of games, you think on Monday they're going to be trading anybody? They'll probably trade school because what are you going to do? But they might trade school and hey, give me somebody on my roster to help me try to win. I can't resign the guy, so I'll trade him away. But give me somebody for my roster so maybe I can make a run. Especially in the American League. Like, I don't think anybody's beating the Dodgers. It doesn't feel like maybe Milwaukee. I don't think any of these, these teams that I'm talking about, the Padres, the Pirates, teams like that, are going to be beating the Dodgers and stop them from going to the World Series. But in the American League, the Yankees all banged up, nobody believes in the Rays. Like, so if I'm the Twins, I'm thinking, why not me? Why can't I make a run? Seattle be like, why can't I make a run? I went to the league championship series last year. So none of these teams are going to be selling off. So you only got a handful of teams, the Mets, the Rockies, the Giants that are. That they know they're out of it and have to trade. But what do they have? They don't have much. Otherwise they wouldn't be in last place. It's really fascinating. It is. It is pretty crazy out there. 1-800-919-3776 There'll be football to talk about a little bit later on. You know, we still have the residual stuff for Mayfield that's really gaining a tremendous amount of traction. Jordan Ronan, who filled in for Rick D. Pietro this morning, some interesting things to say about Malik Neighbors, how the momentum is starting to build towards, hey, there's a very good possibility that he might be ready for Week one, which would be a godsend for the Giants. We've got fraud alert Friday at 4:30. We've got ENN at 6 and then we're out of Dodge at 6:30. We'll hand it off to the Mets and the Marlins. Mets did win a game yesterday, so they've got that going for them. And it was Robert Jr. Who had a big hit. So if you're a Met fan, you just get excited about him getting hits, not because you're winning games, but maybe you might get a Little bit more for him at the deadline. 1-800-919-3776 so what are your expectations for Monday? When we hit the air on Monday, we're gonna be only three hours away from the deadline. What's gonna happen over the weekend? What's gonna happen before we hit the air at 3 o' clock on Monday? Interesting stuff. Let's start it off with Bobby and Belmont Belmore. You get things going here on Donjon Rosenberg. What's up, Bobby?

[G]

Yeah, I don't know what's going to happen on Monday, but I just hope that Neighbors doesn't get hurt again week one like this.

[C]

That'd be awful. Yeah, yeah.

[G]

I want to get to judge injury, so please don't come here. I'll be quick with this one. Two games ago, you know, Christian's playing out in the Moondocks now. The bench coach doesn't do anything to begin with. I'm not going to blame it for totally on Boone, but he's partially. Why didn't it bring this guy into the field? I mean, you know, I know he should have been there or, you know, playing shallow, but what the hell? What was that Coach? Is that his job to bring these guys in when they're not playing properly? So, you know, I didn't understand that, you know what I'm talking about.

[C]

I'll let you finish, Bobby. But whenever I see that the way that they're so buttoned up with the analytics, I got to believe that's exactly where they wanted him to play even though it didn't work out. But there's no way that those guys, as buttoned up as they are, are going to allow a fielder to play out of position. They're all over that. So you might disagree with why they did it, but I doubt very seriously they didn't see that he was out of position. But who knows?

[G]

The guy was on first base. Yes, but the guy's on second base. So I don't know how the analytics, you know where that's a double. That's a double defense there playing, you know, that's a double. But we get to judge now. No, I don't hear many people talking about this, but you might have, but in 2019, he broke the same ribbon and partially punctured his lung. Now this could be a long term issue with him. I mean, he broke the same rib and he's been out even longer than back then. He was only on 54 games in 2019, he's been out longer. So I mean this. He might not be the same. Yeah, he might not be the same player. You don't know. It's like a secret. I mean, you know, that's like oblique. I mean, you know, you can't swing. And if he does come back down the road, Stanton, you know, even if there's no season next year, if there is, Stanton's last year is next year. You know he's going to get hurt again if there is a season. So would you put Judge in first place or D? I don't think he wanted DH because he wants to play the field. And you know, when you put him in first place, put Rice back, a catcher back, you know, next year or the year after, because he's not going to last. You can't put him in the house again. One more injury to those ribs, I mean, he might be done.

[C]

Well, Bobby, I've been saying it for a long time. Michael has argued with me about this and thank you for the phone call. As great as a right fielder as he is with one of the best arms that I've ever seen, it makes zero sense to have him stay out there. As good a defender as he is, he gets hurt and it's. I know it was a fluke, the wall at Dodger Stadium and or banging into the wall the other day before he got hurt or diving for plays. It's not. He's too gargantuan of an offensive player to take the risk of him being out there and getting hurt. It just is as great. And listen, I'm a big defense guy. I think that good teams play good defense and I think it's important. But as good as his arm is, as great as his glove is, and now he's going to be 34 after the lockout, maybe 35, he's got a DH and then once Stanton is gone, that's his position. I think that's one of the reasons why they didn't go to the map for Soto, because Soto is a terrible defender. And they knew that if they had given him a 15 year contract for a decade of that contract, he was going to be a dh. And I don't think they wanted to freeze up the DH position with Soto and Judge because they know Judge isn't long for the outfield. But the feeling was Judge can still give me a couple, three years in the outfield before I got to worry about that. But coming off this injury, Bobby, you're right. We'll see what happens when he comes back. If he comes back. And the word is he will come back. But will he be judged when he comes back? But whenever they play baseball again, whether it's in 27, late 27, 28, I can't. I can't play the outfield anymore. And once Stanton is gone, I think he's got to be your dh. Our first base. All right, maybe you try first base. Less likely getting hurt there. Doesn't have to worry about diving for balls. You know, maybe he can run into the tarp for a foul ball, but it's not the same pitfalls that you see in the outfield. But I can't imagine that he is going to be long for the outfield as good as he is. Just. You can't do it. Neil's in Arizona. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. What's up, Neal?

[H]

Hey, afternoon, guys. Well, I didn't think I'd be on so quick. Hey, love the show. I actually was listening to Jake before the show.

[C]

Couple things.

[H]

On the Yankees on Wednesday night's game, when Allie Sanchez makes that kickoff throw for third base and throws it into left field. That Ali Sanchez's call, or is Boone calling that from the dugout? Because that was the stupidest with two out. What was the stupidest thing I've ever seen?

[C]

Well, based on the way Boone defended him, Neil, it makes you think that at the very least, the Yankees were on board with the attempt. Now, he never said that he called it from the bench, so I guess he didn't, but he defended it. How do you defend that? I mean, you're. Two outs, you're, you're, you're. They actually played well defensively in that game, Neil. It's a, It's a dump throw, you know. You know when your announcers are criticizing the decision to throw to third basement. Dave Sims was all over him on that call. I think it was a kid trying to make a play. I don't think it came from the dugout, but I really had a hard time with Boone defending what he did. I understand you don't want to kill your player, but. But you gotta let the world know that that was a bad decision.

[H]

He'd have been safe anyway. Even if McMahon caught the ball, he'd have been safe anyway. It wasn't even a close play at their base, so I just didn't understand that. And then, don't they teach? I mean, fundamentals? I mean, I think they do, but like yesterday, like in the game, when Dominguez, they finally get a hit, Dominguez gets a double crisis structured into three. He's totally safe. And Overslides your back. How do you overslide the bag going, I just don't. And gets called out. It just boggles my mind. Like you do this every single day and you overslide the bag.

[C]

But let me ask you something, Neil. And I know, and I'm not going to call you one of those, you know, spoiled Yankee fans or the snob Yankee fan that I've been calling people who follow the bombers this week. But, like, how much is that the organization's fault and how much is that you got to just blame the player, right? I mean, come on, my son knows not to do that. And he's 8 years old. You played your whole career. This kid has been up in double A, Triple A. He's been on the major league level. You got to know not to do that. I mean, by the time you get to the major league, shouldn't some things just be assumed that you know how to slide into third base in a big spot? I couldn't agree more. You know, so I'm not trying, I'm not trying to take the Yankees off the hook, Neil, and thanks for the phone call because, you know, we talk about the. The fundamentals are bad. And so it's not so much Aaron Boone, but like the whole organization has to take a look at what are you guys doing with these players in a ball. Like, what are you teaching them?

[D]

Well, Boone addressed it after the game.

[C]

Well, the Sanchez he defended.

[D]

No, but the slide he addressed after the game.

[C]

No, he did address it after the game. But what I'm saying is, is it Boone's fault?

[D]

No. He even admitted, he said it himself, that he's got to know better in that situation and put himself in a better position where he doesn't overslide the bag.

[C]

Right. But what Neil is trying to say

[D]

is he wants him to Casey Stengel him, take him by his neck and throw him down the stairs and say, don't do it again.

[C]

They don't listen. I'd have to ask Michael because he's at spring training. Do they have sliding drills in spring training? Maybe they do. I doubt it very seriously. You know, you should know by the time you've made it to major league baseball, with all the games that you played in high school in the minor leagues, that by the time you get to the major leagues and put on a major league uniform that you know not to overslide the base. He was overly aggressive and he oversled the base. I can't blame the Yankees for that. I mean, at some point, man, you've Got to figure that my players know what the hell they're doing. Now. The question then becomes, what do you do about it when he makes a mistake like that? Like, do you bench him? Do you call him out? Boone did. You can't do that. Like, if you want to talk about disciplining him for making that kind of a mental error, that's a different story. But I just think he's a kid, he's over aggressive. He's a kid that hasn't lived up to expectations. He's been hurt, he's trying to leave an impression and he screwed up. That is not to me. Anthony, you may disagree. That's not to me a case of the Yankees not teaching guys fundamentals. That's just a kid being over aggressive. And Boone now has to decide how he wants to deal with that.

[D]

He said he didn't, he said he didn't slide right. He all said it's tough because it's just like it was a, it was a double trying to get to a triple. So you're not seeing where the ball is. So maybe you think you don't need to slide. And he probably made the decision to slide too late, which is how this happened. But he said you have to be a little more careful in that.

[C]

Right? But, but fans, fans want guys to be benched. Fans will want guys to be like criticized openly for stuff like that so that they get, you know, scared to make a mistake. Otherwise their manager is going to rip them publicly. No, that's not the way Boone operates. That's not the way most major league or head coaches, period, in the pros handle things anymore. But I'm not going to have an over aggressive play like both of them. The Sanchez play, that's being over aggressive. That's a kid trying to make a play. It was, it was dumb, shouldn't have done it. But that's not not knowing like the fundamentals. That's just a kid that got caught up in a moment. It's a great game and he's trying to make an impression. He knows the catcher's position is open. He knows that making a play like that and if he had picked him off the third base, that could be a big feather in his cap, moving forward and getting playing time. It was a bad move. It was not smart. But some managers, some organizations too, encourage being aggressive. Sometimes, sometimes you screw up, but sometimes that aggressiveness actually gets you an extra out or get you an extra base.

[D]

And again, Don, you'll call me, you'll call me a snob or anybody that says it. But as Boone kind of articulated, like, you just got to be able to play catch. Well, it wasn't a good throw. Even McMahon said he takes blame for it. The ball was 2ft in front of Ryan McMahon, and it didn't look like he was ready for a ball to even be thrown to him because he was playing off the bag anyway. Because Murakami is not a danger to steal home.

[A]

Right?

[C]

So saw a chance. He thought he saw a play. And he's probably. If you want to get into the fundamentals, he's probably taught, hey, if you. If you see a chance, you know, take it. And he screwed up. He has an awful throw. As the caller said, he would have been safe anyway, even if it was a perfect throw, which is a bad decision. It's a bad decision. But it was also in a game, guys, when you're talking about fundamentals, where the Yankees were really flashing the leather in that game, did the defense save them? They could have lost that game multiple times. That. That pick by Goldschmidt at first base was, you know, maybe it was lucky, but that was. That was an amazing play. They did a great job of keeping the ball in the infield when they could have lost games like. So that was a weird game where it was what looked to be a fundamental misplay that cost him the game. But the defense, I thought, was pretty stellar in that game.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[C]

I'm going down to shore. I'm looking forward to that. So I need a bit of a break. Finally get away. I had a staycation earlier in the summer, and now I get a chance to go away. But the stress of going away sometimes doesn't make it worth it. Like just getting the house prepared because we've got people that have to come over to take care of the cats and get the kids packed and us packed. And it just like the stress that we're going through today and tomorrow morning before we leave. You just need a vacation from that. 1-800-919-3776. Megan is down in South Carolina. You're already ESPN New York. How are you, Megan?

[H]

Hi.

[F]

Hi. How you doing, Don?

[I]

Good.

[C]

How are you? Now, did you send a cameo to me recently?

[G]

I did.

[F]

Thank you so much. Okay, that's why I'm calling. Yeah. Today is Jason's birthday, so I wanted to see if you can give him a shout out.

[C]

Oh, absolutely. Happy birthday, Jason. I forget how old he was, but it was definitely younger than me.

[F]

Yeah, he's 39.

[C]

Yeah, that's right. It was 39. So I remember doing it, and I remember it was a Megan and a Jason. So has he seen it yet?

[F]

Yes, he saw it, and he was very surprised. I mean, happily surprised. But it really made his day. So thanks so much.

[C]

Well, you're a very nice wife, I could tell you that. And. And you guys have a very. You have a very interesting household because you don't root for the same teams.

[F]

Yes, we don't. And that's one thing I knew I was not going to budge just because he was a Yankee fan. I wasn't going to switch to the Mets. That's for sure.

[G]

I'm not a fraud.

[C]

Okay. Yes. And on fraud alert Friday. You did the right thing, and I think I mentioned that in the cameo.

[H]

So.

[C]

So on a Friday, you got. You got some big plans tonight, then?

[F]

Yeah, we're gonna go out to dinner. I mean, we both took the day off today, so we just did little things. But tonight we'll go out for dinner.

[C]

All right, well, Megan, thank you. And hopefully Jason has a great birthday and again, wish him a happy 39th birthday. The game that I play, Anthony, on Cameo, is when somebody is celebrating a birthday, and it's like they're a certain age. What year was it when Don Legreco was that age? Okay, so he's 39 years old. So when was. What year was it? When I was 39 years old. And that was 2007.

[D]

Wow.

[C]

And Nancy threw me a 39th surprise birthday party because she didn't want to do it on my 40th because she thought I'd see it coming and I wouldn't see the 39th. And I was surprised.

[D]

That is the smart. See, Nancy knows what she's doing, and

[C]

I forget who it was. God. I got to look back and check. I had a Ranger game that afternoon. Was a Saturday. The Rangers are playing, I want to say the Flyers. On a Saturday afternoon. I was doing the pre and post, and I went into the Garden, and I came back. When I came back from the Garden, surprise. And that was the game. Somebody on the Flyers knocked Brendan Shanahan out cold. I don't know if you remember that.

[D]

I do remember that. Yeah.

[C]

But who was it on the Flyers? I forget. I think it was the Flyers. I'd have to go back and check. But knock them out like it was bad, like they had to take him out on a stretcher like I had never seen in like recent hockey. Like that. Like I did something you'd see in the 70s and 80s all the time. But Shanahan was a tough cookie. Yeah, he was, but he just got hit square. So if anybody on social media can remind me who that was that knocked him out. 1,800-91937.

[D]

Panthers, right?

[C]

No, I thought, I thought it was the Flyers.

[D]

Well, in. So you said. What year was this?

[C]

Oh, seven.

[D]

Oh seven.

[C]

So this would have been. I don't know if it would was exactly on my birthday. It was February 07.

[D]

February 07. Okay, I gotta get, I gotta get back. I'll get, I'll get, I'll get back to you on that.

[C]

I thought it was the Flyers, but Tom Rennie years.

[H]

Woof.

[C]

I, I might miss.

[I]

Remember?

[C]

I'm not sure. Let's go to Joe in Vermont. You're on espn. New York.

[H]

Wow.

[C]

South Carolina, Arizona, Vermont. We're all over the map. What's up man?

[I]

Yeah, how you doing buddy? I hope you enjoy your vacation next week. Now real quick, are you the like luxuriate and roast on the beach all day type or are you more like find the activities, mini golf, that sort of thing?

[C]

I am. I do enjoy the beach, but I don't like laying out in the sun. I like being in the water and then like hiding under the umbrella and reading of a bunch book. But where I'm going to Ocean City, New Jersey. So they got the boardwalk. So I love walking the boardwalk with the kids and doing all that stuff. That's where I have my most fun.

[I]

Nice. Love it. I actually am an Ocean City guy as well. So I didn't make it this year, but last year I made it down with the family. So I had a couple, couple points for you about Boone for one. And this is a quick one that you can just answer after I, after I hop off. I'm curious if you think he probably should be moved on from. If they don't at the very least like go to the World Series Series here. I mean I, I want to say I am a huge fan of Boone. I've enjoyed him this entire time. Like I don't dislike him as a manager. I guess I just think after nine for a new voice. So I'd be curious your thought on that?

[C]

Well, yeah, go ahead, go ahead. No, go ahead.

[I]

I was going to say along the same lines that I kind of have almost reached a point now where his credibility when he's talking to the media, and therefore talking to the fans is, like, almost cooked for me. I was pretty frustrated just today. So, obviously, I'm sure you saw Jazz pulled up yesterday, got pulled out of the game during extra innings. We're hearing the report is that he has cramps. I'm talking to a friend and saying, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if the cramps was just a line and there. And there could be something more going on. We see him out of the lineup today. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if I find out in 48 hours that he pulled a hammy and is going to be out for three weeks.

[H]

Three weeks.

[I]

And it's like, I guess I just don't know. When did the manager become, like, just a PR director where he's spinning, you know, kind of pissing on my head and telling me it's raining.

[C]

Well, but the thing, Joe, is you got to understand that. And I hate always using this as my defense of Boone, but it's organizational, and that goes everywhere. All a head coach, a manager can give you is what he's told by his trainers. And I'm sure they might have thought it was a camp cramp. And then they find out the next day that it's not a cramp. That's not Boone playing games. And if Boone was, quote, unquote, lying, you know, the organization probably told him one thing and he had to say it. That's just organizational. I'm not going to get on Boone for that. But I'm on record saying if they get Judge and Bellinger back and they're whole for the postseason and don't go to the World Series, I'm sorry, it's got to be on the table. And I'm a Boone fan. I like Aaron Boone. I get along with Aaron Boone. I wouldn't call him a friend, but, you know, I'm somebody that likes him and roots for him and wants him to do well. But how could it not be on the table? The American League stinks. They're the best team in the American League. If they get everybody back, I'm sorry, it's got to be at least on the table, at least considered. But if Judge doesn't come back, Bellinger doesn't come back, some unforeseen circumstances, all different. Different situation, obviously. But Hole, I'm sorry, this team's got to go to the World Series. Lewis in Union City, you're on espn. New York.

[D]

How are you?

[C]

Awesome, man. I'm all right. Two questions.

[H]

One with the Mets, Mets fan that hard. I'm disappointed. Now, I do have a question for

[C]

you guys to ask.

[H]

I'm a Packers fan. If I can ask you realistically what you think the packers need to do to

[C]

go all the way? Well, they obviously need to get is is their quarterback the guy. Everybody seems to think that they've they've got the guy. His opportunity is there. The Lions, I don't think, are going to be as good. I think the Bears are winning that division. Oh, I think they could. Well, listen, they showed me something in the postseason last year, Louis. I think they've got a quarterback who's designed to be great. He was the first over. I thought he played great in the postseason. And thank you for the phone call, Louis, because we're up against it. But I picked the Bears to win that division. As far as what the Mets do at the deadline, they're going to get rid of everybody, but I wouldn't expect to get a haul back and hopefully they get a couple of gems in the minor leagues that could become something. But it'll be exciting to see all these guys moved. But I don't think you're going to see anybody in the return that's going to be much of a needle mover for you.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

I don't want to know how this

[B]

all is messages made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.