Hour 1: Justin Fields & Yankees' Errors

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Episode Summary: Hour 1: Justin Fields & Yankees' Errors

Release Date: July 24, 2025

1. Tribute to Hulk Hogan (00:31 – 05:26)

The episode begins with Don LaGreca announcing the passing of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan at the age of 71. Don emphasizes Hogan's widespread recognition, stating, "If you're telling me he's not a household name, who do you know like that?" ([02:45]). Alan Hahn reflects on his relationship with wrestling, acknowledging Hulk Hogan’s iconic presence despite not being a hardcore fan. The hosts discuss Hogan's impact beyond wrestling, touching on his appearance in pop culture and his role as a significant sports personality.

2. Justin Fields' Injury and Jets' Season Outlook (05:36 – 16:10)

Transitioning to NFL news, the hosts delve into the recent injury of New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields. Don shares alarming news: "Justin Fields was taken off the practice facilities field on a cart" due to a dislocated toe ([06:37]). Alan Hahn expresses concern about the severity of the injury, questioning, "Does that change the odds in the game?" ([07:10]).

Chris Canty, a guest on the show, offers an optimistic perspective, predicting that Fields will make the Pro Bowl and lead the Jets to an eight or nine-win season, reminiscent of the 2015 team ([09:11]). Don counters this optimism by labeling Canty's expectations as "hyperbole," arguing that Fields' injury could hinder his performance as a dual-threat quarterback. He asserts, "If you want to tell me that I believe that Justin Fields is going to be a future Pro Bowler...," ([09:27]) expressing skepticism about Fields achieving significant milestones this season.

3. Yankees' Defensive Struggles and Roster Construction (20:02 – 38:44)

A substantial portion of the discussion focuses on the New York Yankees' defensive shortcomings. Don criticizes recent performances, highlighting a game where the Yankees committed four errors: "When you don't prioritize defense, this is what happens" ([20:02]). Alan Hahn echoes this frustration, describing the performance as "pathetic" and questioning the team's ability to compete effectively in the postseason ([23:40]).

Reporter Jordan Ronan joins the conversation, offering a critical analysis of Yankees’ management under Brian Cashman. He argues that the offseason focus on offensive acquisitions like Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt did little to address defensive weaknesses. Don elaborates, "They put Bellinger at center field... because he's gonna hit home runs," ([32:30]) suggesting that Cashman's strategy prioritizes power hitting over essential defensive skills.

Listener calls further amplify concerns, with one fan asserting, "The Yankees are a championship caliber team and that's why they've sucked the enjoyment out of being a Yankee fan right now," ([24:21]). The sentiment reflects a growing disillusionment among fans who feel that despite high payrolls and regular-season success, the team lacks the foundational unity and defensive prowess needed for championship contention.

4. Listener Engagement and In-Depth Discussion (30:24 – 53:03)

Interactive segments with listeners deepen the discussion on the Yankees' approach to team building. Jordan Ronan poses critical questions about the Yankees' strategy, asking, "What's the problem with the Yankees?" ([37:09]). The conversation highlights a perceived disconnect between management’s focus on offensive firepower and the essential need for a balanced, defensively sound team.

Don critiques the Yankees for neglecting fundamental aspects of the game: "They want guys that... hit home runs. They put a lot of emphasis on offensive statistics like home runs" ([46:11]). He argues that this overemphasis on offense leads to vulnerabilities, especially when facing strong defensive teams in the postseason.

Alan Hahn adds that the Yankees' relentless pursuit of hitting power overlooks the importance of defensive stability and versatility. He remarks, "You need... different elements of a team. You can't have seven guys the same shape and size," ([46:27]), emphasizing the need for a more holistic team composition.

5. Humorous Interludes and Cultural Banter (Throughout)

Interspersed with serious discussions are lighthearted exchanges and cultural references. The hosts engage in playful banter about Chuck Mangione’s passing, movie quotes, and personal anecdotes, adding a layer of camaraderie and relatability. For instance, Don teases Alan about unfamiliarity with certain 70s pop culture icons, fostering an engaging and personable atmosphere.

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Segments

As the episode wraps up, Don previews upcoming segments, including a discussion with Peter Rosenberg about Hulk Hogan's legacy at 4:30 PM. He also teases future topics, ensuring listeners stay tuned for continued in-depth sports analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca: "If you're telling me he's not a household name, who do you know like that?" ([02:45])
• Alan Hahn: "What the Yankees did yesterday was pathetic." ([23:40])
• Chris Canty: "Justin Fields will make the Pro bowl in 2025." ([09:27])
• Don LaGreca: "When you don't prioritize defense, this is what happens." ([20:02])
• Jordan Ronan: "We spent enough time on the debacle." ([42:44])

Key Insights:

• Hulk Hogan's Legacy: Recognition of Hogan’s influence transcends wrestling, impacting broader sports and pop culture.
• Justin Fields' Impact: Fields’ injury poses significant questions about the Jets’ season prospects and management’s quarterback strategy.
• Yankees’ Strategy Flaws: Persistent defensive errors and an overreliance on offensive talent hinder the Yankees' ability to secure championships, despite financial and managerial resources.
• Fan Frustration: Growing discontent among Yankees fans centers on unmet expectations and perceived mismanagement, highlighting the gap between organizational success and on-field performance.

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of current sports narratives in New York, blending serious critique with engaging banter, and setting the stage for further discussions on legendary sports figures and team dynamics.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

With the Venmo debit card, you can Venmo everything. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply. ESPN WHSQ and WCBSFM HD2 New York A Good Karma Brands radio station Don one day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.

[Alan Hahn]

Han huge.

[Don LaGreca]

No, but Big and Rosenberg. I didn't listen to anything you just said. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York. This is Don Han and Rosenberg on 8:80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app 3:00 clock in the big city. Don, Han and Rosenberg take you up until 7 o' clock here in New York City. Another hot, humid day. But it's the summer. Enjoy. It'll be cold before you know it. And after spending the last two days at Giants camp, Jordan Ronan back with us, took the day off yesterday and used that day off to spend the entire day at Giants camp. And then you split Giants camp and in the city to do the show today. So you're working.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, we gotta give the people what they want. They want a little Giant stuff, you.

[Don LaGreca]

Know, they need a little Ron On.

[Alan Hahn]

Well I'm not, gotta be honest here. It's probably not what people are thinking when they wake up in the morning.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I thought you were gonna say. Well listen, it's not a little Ron On. They want, they want a lot of Ron On.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm self deprecation. So you gotta learn, you know, you work with Dave Rothenberg, he's the greatest person to ever walk the face of the earth. And I'm on the other end of the spectrum, big self deprecation guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay. Yeah, that's been. But you're, you're great man. You had a very nice day at Giants camp. We'll get into that a little bit later on. You know, bunch of different places to start. But I guess the first place will begin is another day, another loss of an icon. And we lost Hulk Hogan today at the age of 71. And I. Peter goes through this a lot. Peter's gonna join us at 4:30 to discuss the loss of of Hulk Hogan. But another one of those guys. You might not know anything about wrestling. Never saw him wrestle. You Know who he is. He's gone at the age of 71. And I know that there are people that love sports and don't think wrestling's a sport, whatever, you know, but just like Ozzy Osbourne, when somebody of that significance passes away, who's a household name, you got to acknowledge it. And even somebody like myself, who's not a wrestling guy, but obviously my brother is, and he's made a living out of it. If, depending on your age, you probably have a memory of Hulk Hogan in some way, shape or form, whether him playing Thunder Lips in.

[Alan Hahn]

In.

[Don LaGreca]

What was that? Rocky 3 or that. That first big match I remember against the Iron Chic. That's going back a long way for everybody I'm in the room with. But whatever year that was, you know, 1981, whatever. And that watching that was almost like watching any other sporting event. It was like a big deal when they fought each other. And then I kind of outgrew the.

[Alan Hahn]

Whole, almost like political.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, just. That was because you were right in the middle.

[Alan Hahn]

It was. Yeah, you know, America versus the Middle East.

[Don LaGreca]

There was a time in the, you know, in late 70s with Shah of Iran, and we. We were not in a good place with Iran. And wrestling took advantage of that. And the Iron Sheik was willing to play the foil. And the great American hero that was Hulk Hogan came in, and everybody kind of got wrapped up in that. And I remember when Hulk Hogan came in to support Bob Backlin going up against the Iron Sheik. So I remember a lot of that. I outgrew it. And again, I'm not putting any shade on wrestling, which is something that I. As I got older, I fell out of. But who doesn't know who Hulk Hogan was?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm not gonna sit here and tell you I was a wrestling Die Hard. I was clearly a wrestling casual as a kid, right? Like, that was my. My, you know, nine years old to 13, maybe. Being in wrestling like your normal kid when you. That's like the prime age and some people stick with it. And that's when some people realize that this is fake and phony and you're out. I was the. I'm out at that point. But, you know, Hulk Hogan, you know exactly what he stands for. You know, what is it with the song that he came into I am.

[Don LaGreca]

This is rude. I'm American. Oh, yeah, the whole thing. Oh, I am a real American.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm a real American. There you go. See, Jake Jacob's me out there.

[Don LaGreca]

But he was. He just commanded a room.

[Alan Hahn]

I remember The Maniacs. Yeah, the whole thing. He was wrestling.

[Don LaGreca]

No. And he just. He had a presence about him. I remember Game 7, Stanley Cup Final 04, Tampa, Calgary. I was in Tampa. His daughter was singing the national anthem and he was there and he was walking around like in the bowels of whatever they call. It's Amelie arena now, but they didn't call it Amelie St. Pete's Times forum, whatever it was called back in the early 2000s. And just his presence, like you just before you saw him, you almost like felt the murmur and then he come around the corner and just like everybody's like, oh, my God. He just. The whole. The tan skin with the white beard and the flowing hair. I mean, he was balding but still managed to have enough of a mullet going on. And he kept it going for a long time. It was just. I mean, he amazing.

[Alan Hahn]

He stretched out as far as he could.

[Don LaGreca]

So kind of just crazy. And it's weird too, Jordan, how it happens in threes, right? Malcolm, Jamal Warner, then we lose Ozzy, and now the whole.

[Alan Hahn]

I come on the show and we just got to talk about death all week.

[Don LaGreca]

But listen, if you listen to this time slot with Peter on it and my brother's been on the show, there are wrestling fans and we can acknowledge it. And Peter's available at 4:30. So in lieu of Alan Han's Thursday rewrite, we are going to talk to Peter Rosenberg about the death of Hulk Hogan. Jets dodge a bullet today. I'm ready to do kickboxing. I just one last time, let me look at the phone and see what's going on before I disappear into the gym and I'm seeing panicked text messages from her pinhead suit. John Winthrop, our season's over. That's the first one I saw season over. I'm like, what? See what happened? Oh, Justin Fields was taken off the practice facilities field on a cart. I'm like, oh, no. And so I'm thinking the whole workout, like, Tyrod Taylor's the starting quarterback. It's over now. And then it turns out he's got a dislocated toe. He's day to day. So it looks like they dodged a bit of a bullet.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, for sure. And look, I'm on a text chain with other reporters and some of them are at the jets and they're like, oh, Fields is down. You know, it could, could be bad. You know, he's, he's taking a card off now and you're like, that could be. At the same time, I'm thinking not the opposite of what John Winthrop's thinking. Because I'm like, yeah, that's obviously a loss. You wanted to see what he had and you wanted to see him as a starting quarterback. You're telling me that there's a big, that you know, demonstratively could tell me that Justin Fields is better than Tyrod Taylor.

[Don LaGreca]

You're reading my mind. And because you know, you came in a little bit late because of your camp, so we didn't take the deep dive into the fields of it all. But I was thinking the same thing. Like as I was working, I'm like, well, is your season really over? I mean, Tyrod Taylor, he doesn't have the ceiling that Justin Fields has. But like in the now, is there that big of a difference between the two quarterbacks? Now you got a two year contract, Fields, so if God forbid, he was out for the year, that's a year of evaluation to see what he can do. Now you got a 27 year old coming off an injury in the last year of his contract to kind of show that he could be your future. That I get. But like season over, why would the season be over? I mean, I think Tyrod Taylor's won games. I don't, I don't think you can win upside. But you know, if you had to play. Listen, if, if he's not ready for opening day and there's no reason to believe he's not going to be again, he's day to day with a dislocated toe. I think it's not even the big toe that he'll be ready for opening day. But if you tell me he's not ready for opening day, does that, does it even change the odds in the game? Tyrod Taylor to Justin Fields again, I get the ceiling.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think so.

[Don LaGreca]

But I saw Tyrod Taylor almost beat the Bills last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Tyrod Taylor can win games as a starting, he's done it as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, two years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

It makes me wonder. Yeah, except they botched the end of the first half, you know, down at the goal line. But it makes you wonder like what are the, what are people's expectations for Justin Fields? If you think he's that much better than Tyro Teller, I think you got to curb your expectations. Like what are you expecting from, from Justin Fields at this point?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, listen, we're going to question Mark.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's, let's see what he's going to be. And now he's going to be out a little while at least.

[Don LaGreca]

What, what you could do is you could be Chris Canty.

[Chris Canty]

I think the New York jets this upcoming season are eight or nine win team. I don't expect that they'll be in the playoffs. But the last time The jets won eight games. You got to go back to the 2015 season when Ryan Fitzpatrick was the trigger man and Brandon Marshall was in town. That's how long ago it's been since the jets won eight regular season games.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Chris Canty]

So, yeah, I think it's a boom relative to what we've expected from the New York jets over the last decade or so.

[Don LaGreca]

So he thinks that he could be a boom. He actually went on to say he thinks he could be a Pro Bowler, which I think. Yeah, which I just. I think that's hyperbole.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think the Pittsburgh Steelers felt that way and I don't think the Chicago Bears felt that way.

[Don LaGreca]

It was 4 and 2, but he threw five touchdown passes. I mean, in order for him to go to the pro market, for him.

[Alan Hahn]

Look at the market was for him in league. I don't think the league thinks it.

[Don LaGreca]

You're going to need Mahomes, Allen and Jackson all to collectively not want to go to the Pro Bowl. For Justin Fields to go in the afc. Listen, I believe that he can be a good quarterback and I think eventually find himself to be a franchise quarterback one day under the right tutelage. But right now there isn't that much of a separation between the two. But listen, I don't want to get on Jet fans. I worked with them.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to have the option too. You want to have the option of having both.

[Don LaGreca]

We have that sound with the Greenie from get up. I mean, it's like he lost a loved one when he found. I. I think Jet fans, sometimes they just love the misery and they want to get nuts about it because I kept thinking, God, happens to us all the time.

[Alan Hahn]

We're the Jets.

[Don LaGreca]

But he's fine.

[Alan Hahn]

Same old jets, right?

[Don LaGreca]

But I was hearing comparisons early this morning to, you know, what happened to Rogers. Are you nuts, Vinnie? You were going to win the super bowl that year. You had a right to complain. Five minutes after carrying the flag two years ago, Aaron Rodgers blows out Achilles. That's a reason to cry. But like for Greeny to go nuts, find that out about. Come on, man. Oh, here's what he. Here's the actual Canty talking about him being a Pro Bowler.

[Chris Canty]

Justin Fields will make the Pro bowl in 2025. The New York jets will have one of the most dynamic run games in the entire NFL and Fields will be what sets them apart. Lamar Jackson aside, he might be the best runner at the position in the entire league. Last season through the first six games, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Fields as the starter, were seventh in rushing in the previous three years. The Bears finish only second to the Baltimore Ravens in total rush yards during that span. A supporting cast featuring former teammate Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Braylon Allen, along with an offensive line that has three first round draft picks and this unit has all of the elements to bring out the best version of Fields. Based on roster construction, there's no doubt what new head coach Aaron Glenn wants his offensive identity to be. Play physical, run the ball, take care of the ball and take shots via play action. The formula. That formula, combined with what has been a top five defense over the last three years, will win gaps green a lot of games this season and Fields will receive his share of credit for it. Justin Fields will have a Baker Mayfield esque renaissance to his career.

[Alan Hahn]

He talks about Justin Fields, by the way, as if he's a running back.

[Don LaGreca]

I love you and you know what? Get Chris on because I don't want to say anything out of school. I'll say it right to him. All right. I love Chris and he's coming to the softball on August 23rd. Love Chris. Can't get enough of it. He's out of his mind. And the reason he's out of his mind is everything he was saying. If they're going to be a run, first off, it's Fields going to run for 1200 yards. You're not going to the Pro bowl when you've got Jackson, Allen, Mahomes burrow in your conference. That's not going to happen. And also Mayfield. Take a look at Mayfield. Do you know Baker Mayfield threw for 4,500 yards? Baker Mayfield has a skill set that he can throw for 4,500 yards. So for a Baker Mayfield esque, you got to come up with a different comparison. I'm not saying Justin Fields can't be a good quarterback. I'm not saying that at some point he might become a Pro bowl quarterback. But you become a borderline journeyman quarterback. What? Three years, three different teams. You went 4 and 2 last year on a Steeler team and you won you through five touchdown passes in those four games. Those six games. And now with a team that's going to run primarily, he's going to have a Baker Mayfield. That's Baker Mayfield was thrown for over 4,000 yards. How is Justin Fields going To do that in a team that's going to be built around running the ball.

[Alan Hahn]

And now he has a toe injury, which obviously doesn't help before he knew about the toe. But I'm saying now that we. Now we say he actually has a toe injury, that would hurt the idea that Justin Fields would blow up like that as a running option. Right. Because this is going to set him back a little bit. Maybe not fully and he's not going to miss regular season games, but it could slow him down a little bit, make a little bit more difficult to run. I don't know. I don't know how long this might linger.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, you hope it's not going to be an issue. But, but, but in.

[Alan Hahn]

In full does sound super serious.

[Don LaGreca]

Chris did say that before the injury. I don't know if he'd come off of it after hearing about the toe injury. But come on, man. This is where you get in trouble as far as expectations are concerned. Now if you want to tell me that I believe that Justin Fields is going to be a future Pro Bowler and even the Mayfield thing didn't happen immediately. Remember after he went to rank, he left Cleveland. He was in Carolina. A cup of coffee with the Rams.

[Alan Hahn]

Ben McAdoo running the offense in Carolina.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it took a little while.

[Alan Hahn]

Then he went to the Rams.

[Don LaGreca]

I think there's potential there. That's what the jets are banking on. He's still young enough, but we start throwing this year. This year with a brand new regime. Oh, yeah. So three first round picks on the offensive line. How many first rounds the Giants have on their offensive line over the. Over the last few years?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, they kept throwing it for sure, but look, the jets also. How good is it? Are the jets actually going to be when we're talking about. He said 9 and 7, 8 and 9. Well, not 9 or 9 and 8. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't get off.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I can't get it right.

[Alan Hahn]

I do it all the time, but.

[Don LaGreca]

As soon as you get used to.

[Alan Hahn]

It, that's sort of. That's sort of like their ceiling, right? I mean. Yeah, because that's pretty much their ceiling. Everything would have to go perfect. And you're talking about him running for basically 1,000 yards to get to that because he's essentially as a running back. I don't know. That's it seems to be asking, which goes back to the original comment. Don, what are the expectations for Justin Fields?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the expectations are for him, I think right now to start learning how to become a franchise quarterback. Run the ball primarily don't make any mistakes. I'm not saying game manager because I think he's got to be a quarterback. But at some point.

[Alan Hahn]

Are we all discounting that?

[Don LaGreca]

At some point when. Because I love that this. Run, run, run. Okay, great. Then they're going to put nine guys in the box. Eight. Nine guys in the box. And they're going to dare Fields to throw them. And at some point, in order to take that next step, you're going to have to start throwing the ball downfield. All right? That's what you're going to have to do. All right? Unless you're telling me he's going to become the next Jalen Hurts. And if you're telling me that, then the jets have a long way to go to have the talent the Philadelphia Eagles have. If you're telling me that he's going to throw for 2,500 yards and take this team to the super bowl, that means he's going to run for another thousand, have another seven touchdowns with his legs. Stop it, all right? Don't put that kind of. Don't put those kind of expectations on him.

[Alan Hahn]

And here's the other problem.

[Don LaGreca]

Not right to do.

[Alan Hahn]

Here's the other problem with having him succeed. That way it becomes hard to stay healthy if you're running the ball that much.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, yeah. First day of camp, he ends up getting.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. He's already injured.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Now granted, this was. Seemed to be freakish, right? Non contact and like, it wasn't like a byproduct of running. He just stepped on. Somebody stepped on him. We have his toe.

[Don LaGreca]

We have a fourth death. Now, this one's not quite as icon, but I love the guy. Chuck Mangione.

[Alan Hahn]

You're losing a lot of guys, Tom.

[Don LaGreca]

But you know Chuck Mangione, don't you? All right, I'm gonna do my best trumpet, right? You know that song, right? Okay, come on.

[Alan Hahn]

Even Jacob knows I know the song.

[Don LaGreca]

Jacob, you know Chuck Mangione, right? Yes, I know the jazz artist Chuck Mangione. Yes. Play that song for me. Harvey, I know you want to take the day, but just get involved today.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you not realizing my musical interest and knowledge are minimal? Did you hear the three concerts that I went to?

[Don LaGreca]

And it wasn't for none of them. They were.

[Alan Hahn]

None of them were for the concerts.

[Don LaGreca]

But I said. But it was pretty eclectic. Three that you went to, right? What was it? Wu Tang. Graceful. Dead. And what was it?

[Alan Hahn]

Zach Brown. Zach Brown, Brian.

[Don LaGreca]

See, I don't even care. Speaking of which, we didn't even talk about. He did fly. He goes fly at MetLife. And were you there for that?

[Alan Hahn]

I wasn't there for that one. He did. He was wearing a jet. A pretty cool vintage jets versus Eagle shirt. I don't know when it was from ZACH Bryan in MetLife Stadium. He's. And then he did say, go Birds. He did. He'd give a go Birds.

[Don LaGreca]

You got something for me, Harvey? I'm efforting as we speak. I'll be in a few. That's all right. When you catch a guy in a nap.

[Alan Hahn]

So give me. Give me a rundown on Chuck Mangione.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, just. He had classic hits in the 70s and that was one of them. I. How old is he? He was probably 80 something. 82. I don't know. My wife just texted me. I'm just saying that this. They're happening now. They usually happen in threes. Now we've got a fourth.

[Alan Hahn]

Does that mean we got two more coming?

[Don LaGreca]

You know this song?

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. Yes, I do know this song.

[Don LaGreca]

And he had the. He had the hat and the be. Yeah, he was. He was big in the 70s.

[Alan Hahn]

Got nothing. I wasn't alive in the 70s. I was born in 1971.

[Don LaGreca]

You know the Civil War, don't you?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, with the Revolutionary War, these things all happened before you were born. There was a world before Jordan, Ron.

[Alan Hahn]

They don't teach those.

[Don LaGreca]

For a guy that's self deprecating, he basically is taught. If it was before I was born, I'll take a poop on it. It doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

He said he was big in the 70s. I'm just saying I wasn't there for him being big in the 70s. I didn't say it's not pathetic that I don't even.

[Don LaGreca]

Liberace. We're familiar with his work.

[Alan Hahn]

Never heard of him. I'm kidding. For a second, you almost reacted like second level.

[Don LaGreca]

I believed it. Yeah. He was the guy that.

[Alan Hahn]

I've heard of Liberation.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I got it.

[Alan Hahn]

I got it.

[Don LaGreca]

But Matt Damon was. Was making out with that. Yeah, I remember that one. Yeah. Liberace. Yeah. No, come on, man.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

He's not the icon that the other three were, but for some people, Chuck Mangione passing away is a thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Harvey did you know he was.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, don't ask. Harvey was asleep five minutes. Okay, what's up with this now? I'm not catching this.

[Alan Hahn]

Catching straight.

[Don LaGreca]

I like picking on Harvey.

[Alan Hahn]

Can we stick to Hulk Hogan?

[Don LaGreca]

Because he's Peter on the line already. So we Just listen. I just like picking on Harvey because I love him. If I ignored him, that means I don't care for you. If I'm picking on you, that means I love you. I love Harvey. Love you too. All right, we got that all out of the way. But the other big story today, besides Chuck Mangione and his trumpet is the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Dude, I got a lot to say.

[Don LaGreca]

When you don't prioritize defense, this is what happens. All right, listen, they get the big home run from Judge and they're hitting the ball. But four errors, and that's not putting your best foot forward.

[Alan Hahn]

They could have had six done that. Remember the ball that Bellinger misplayed and didn't see? That doesn't count as an error.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Right. And then they had the other error on the strike three where there's a Scara playing a Scara, threw it into center field, but they actually called a questionable check swing on Vladdy.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

That could have been an. They could have six errors in one game.

[Don LaGreca]

So you're, you're not exactly putting your best foot forward. And when you look at it, I know they beat the Mariners and they had a. They had a great comfort behind victory. They almost got no hit. And then they come back from five nothing down and win. They haven't played great in such a long time now, and I still think they're making the playoffs. But as each day goes by, it's almost like they're trying to defy me. Right. They're almost trying to start.

[Alan Hahn]

Possible that they don't. I'm starting. They're one injury. Let's say Max Freed's finger is a problem because if. I don't know if you're. Well, I could tell there was a.

[Don LaGreca]

Certain point after every pitch he was.

[Alan Hahn]

Going behind a mound. You could see in his facial expressions he was getting angry. He couldn't. He couldn't command his certain pitches. He barely even threw his curveball like he clearly was affected. Imagine he has to miss like four weeks. Now, now, now, are the Yankees in on the. At least in danger of not making the playoffs?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, not, because if they found that out, they would probably make a deal to get another starter. And you still hope to get deal back.

[Alan Hahn]

They're one injury away from being in.

[Don LaGreca]

Serious trouble, but I still think they're making the playoffs. But that, that's besides the point because you went to the World Series last year and the reason you lost that World Series is the reason you're losing games today. And this is what frustrates Yankee fans. We're going to take your calls. Coming up at 1-800-919-3776. As big a defender as Cashmen as sometimes I've been. The one thing that gets very frustrating with him is his stubbornness. They built this. All right, don't tell me about the Cabrera injury. Don't tell me about this or that. This is the team they envisioned. Offense, offense, offense. We'll go out and get starting pitching. They don't prioritize defense. It's not something that's important to them. And the reason I know that is because Jazz played third because they didn't want to take his bat out of the lineup. They didn't care that he wasn't a great third baseman. They want Dominguez in the lineup. He's a center fielder. They can't have him play center field, so they put him in left field. Why? Because he's got a big bat and he did homer yesterday. But you know what? He's not a great left fielder. Playing judge in center when he should have been a right fielder at times last year. Force feeding guys out of position because they want the bat. But I'm telling you again, good teams, there's enough bad teams in baseball that threw 162. You'll navigate the necessary wins to get into the playoffs. But this is the preview of the postseason when you're going to have to beat the go out there and beat the Blue Jays. When you're going to have to go out there, you know, and beat the best teams in baseball, which they don't do on a consistent enough basis. They'll beat the flotsam and jetsam because that's what they're built to do. But this is why you don't make runs. You can't kick the ball around the field and expect to win. The Angels could have very easily swept the Mets this week. You know why they didn't? Because they're the worst defensive team in baseball. They gave up runs and the Mets were good enough to take advantage of it. These teams are good enough if they face a good enough team. Jordan, you commit three, four errors, you extend innings. They're going to take advantage of it. The Dodgers did it in the World Series last year. The Blue Jays have done it to him in the six games that they've or the seven games they played over the last week or so. Enough.

[Alan Hahn]

What the Yankees did yesterday was pathetic. It was pathetic. And we looked at it. They have two series wins over the last, what, three months? Two and a half, two months against teams with winning records or good teams. We'll consider the Mariners one of them. Right. That was a good series win they had recently before that. Don't you have to go back to mid May when they beat the Mets? Mid May, it is almost the end.

[Don LaGreca]

Of July and you're, and you're July and I get your 10 games over and I get the first card.

[Alan Hahn]

But you're watching.

[Don LaGreca]

It's, it's time to take the Blue Jays seriously. But it's also time to look at the Yankees and just say is that a championship caliber team?

[Alan Hahn]

And if you're no, the answer is clearly no. Nobody's your fundamental answer that right now is currently composed. The Yankees are a championship caliber team and that's why they've sucked the enjoyment out of being a Yankee fan right now. And I could tell you that because I'm a big Yankee fan watching it. It's a terrible product watching every day. It's, you're, you're expecting these kind of things to happen. You're expecting strikeouts, you're expecting errors. And you're looking at like how do we have Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe and somehow we took away one of their best assets. They don't run anymore. Like that's part of what makes them good players.

[Don LaGreca]

Or the thing is Jazz makes it second. And you're like, why was he playing third for that long? He sees a second baseman. You see that play yesterday was spectacular.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And they took the strengths of these players because. And they, they just took them away eliminated. Because that's not part of what they believe in. They don't believe in running and moving guys over. They want to swing and swing for the fences and hit home runs. And that's not what Jazz Chisholm, I mean that's what he does now. But that's not what makes Jazz Chisholm a good player. That's not what made Anthony Volpe a huge prospect. So frustrating watching them.

[Don LaGreca]

It's frustrating lots to get into. 1-800-919-3776. Peter Rosenberg will join us at 4:30 to talk about the life and legacy of Hulk Hogan. Six o', clock, we've got enn. We're taking up until seven o'. Clock. It's all happening right here on Don Hunter. Rosenberg with Jordan ran on sitting in on ESPN New York. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health. With 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress to battle stress. Most of us can't wave goodbye to work, but we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient too. You can you can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. As largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Unwind from work with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout that's betterhelp.com timeout Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in a reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

Sold. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network speed, taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com hey guys, it's Ceedee.

[Alan Hahn]

Lamb, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm partnering with Abercrombie this season to tell you all about their viral denim.

[Don LaGreca]

All you need to know is denim.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. See the creativity that Jacob has for the game time read because Mets Yankees are off and there ain't nothing going on. But there is something going on. It's a battle of the best in the AL as the Tigers host the Blue Jays at 6:40. Good job Jacob Tullimore Dew the original triple distilled triple blended and triple cast matured Iris Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Alan Hahn]

I actually heard this morning they were giving RJ a hard time because he put, you know, Mets fans will be watching closely as the Padres play the. Whoever, the Reds or something like that game is. Like, you know, matters for the Mets and their playoff hopes, and they gave him a real hard time.

[Don LaGreca]

I wonder, what is that game in the National League?

[Alan Hahn]

It's the Padres. Against who? Somebody.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the Padres are playing the Cardinals.

[Alan Hahn]

The Cardinals. Yes. I said the Red. That was close.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a bit of a stretch.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But the fact is that that was their point.

[Alan Hahn]

That was.

[Don LaGreca]

But I'll tell you what, that Tullamore do read shows you how well we're represented on the other side of the glass. Yeah, because Jacob did the extra work to kind of create importance into the Blue Jay Tiger game.

[Alan Hahn]

And was that Luigi Mangione's music, too?

[Don LaGreca]

No, that Chuck.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, Chuck, that's.

[Don LaGreca]

You're mocking it now and again. The guy's. The body still warm. That's not nice.

[Alan Hahn]

And Harvey, do you know who Luigi Mangione is?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, he's the yo, yo that killed the health care guy. And you know what? Unfortunately, he probably had more fans than Chuck, which is sad. All these women like sending them. You know, I heard about that.

[Alan Hahn]

What kind of society do we morons.

[Don LaGreca]

And we should give credit to Harvey because Harvey nailed the Tullamore dude. Like, everybody else was, like, a couple of seconds late. Not sure Harvey nailed it. So you know what? Go back to bed, Harvey. You're done. You did your good deed for the day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, Harvey, you don't need to do anything for the rest of the show. That's gonna be like Harvey killed, right?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm set. There must be some, you know, Red Bull highlights you can watch. Yeah, if I already want to be put to sleep. Yeah. Yeah, but get highlights of that. The worst loss in franchise history the other day. 1-800-919-3776. Back to the busy phones. A lot to get into and to discuss. So let's go start it all off with Chris. He's in Tom's River. You're on. Don Hanna. Rosenberg. What's up, man?

[Jordan Ronan]

Hey, guys. How are we?

[Don LaGreca]

Good.

[Alan Hahn]

What's up, Chris?

[Jordan Ronan]

So I got two. I got two points. First one I want to make is what was the main thing that Brian Cashman focused on after. After Soto went to the Mets. What was the main objective of his offseason?

[Don LaGreca]

I would think the. Well, the main objective, I would think, is to replace the loss of Soto. Soto's bat.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But then they invested all that money in Max Freedom, so that.

[Don LaGreca]

So it was Freed, Bellinger and Goldschmidt that. That was the objective. And none of. I. I guess, you know, Goldschmidt's a good defensive first baseman, but I don't know if any of that addressed the D. Did it.

[Jordan Ronan]

Well, that was the main objective. Everyone was. The Dodgers report came out. They were talking all that crap about how all you had to do was hit the ball and play and they needed to upgrade their defense.

[Don LaGreca]

That was a lot of the talk.

[Jordan Ronan]

And the main objective was. In my opinion, the main objective was to upgrade this defense. And it literally has gotten worse. Last night was one of the most embarrassing performances I've ever seen.

[Alan Hahn]

Embarrassing.

[Jordan Ronan]

I was looking at the tv, I was like. I was screaming. I was going crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you know, it's interesting, Chris, like, that should have been the objective, but I wonder, was it the object?

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I was going to say.

[Jordan Ronan]

Good point.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think it was the objective. That's what we sat here, we yelled and screamed. I don't think the Yankees looked at it and said, you know what we need? This is what we need to focus on this offseason. No, they went and they tried to resign Juan Soto.

[Don LaGreca]

Because the interesting thing, Chris, they had to resign Juan Soto. Juan Soto was not a great defender. He's not a great defender. Like, so all they thought about, we got to replace his bat. Goldschmidt, former mvp. That was.

[Alan Hahn]

Your former mvp, was an upgrade on defense. So let's be fair.

[Don LaGreca]

I know he's.

[Alan Hahn]

That was.

[Don LaGreca]

But I don't think.

[Alan Hahn]

Upgrade.

[Don LaGreca]

Was that the reason they got him.

[Alan Hahn]

Or because Cody Bellinger also is a very good defensive player? I actually become to appreciate. I didn't love the signing at the time. I've come to appreciate Cody Bellinger. His best skill also is not his hitting. He just plays baseball.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, he does.

[Alan Hahn]

A good fielder last night aside, he lost the ball in the. In the, you know, the roof. Like, I can't go nuts over that. But he's a good baserunner.

[Don LaGreca]

Understood.

[Alan Hahn]

He's got speed. He can. He could field very well. Multiple positions, like, so they did address with those two guys a little bit.

[Don LaGreca]

But the objective, Chris, I think this is what you're getting at, is, yes, Bellinger is a good defender, and yes, Goldschmidt's a good defender, but was that the objective or was it their bat? Because remember, Bellinger plays center, which landlocks Dominguez, which puts him in a position that he's not comfortable playing. So even though you're getting good defense out of center field, you're devaluing third but the left field because now Dominguez is playing it out of position. So was the objective. Chris, I guess is your point any of it about trying to improve this defense?

[Jordan Ronan]

Well, it really should have been. And it's pretty. It's embarrassing to see what's happening right now.

[Don LaGreca]

It really is.

[Jordan Ronan]

It's one of the worst types of baseball I've ever seen. My second point is real quick, sorry guys, is who's, who's the best player that the Yankees have developed over the last 10 seasons?

[Don LaGreca]

This is easy answer obviously judges.

[Jordan Ronan]

Yeah. And what the one thing he does is he everything he does his hitting coaches outside of the Yankees organization. So there's something wrong inside this organization. Now I love Jason Dominguez, but I don't trust the Yankees to continue to develop this guy because look at their best player. He went outside the organization to get.

[Don LaGreca]

Better, but you still have to give them credit for Judge. But take a look around the infield, right? Goldschmidt acquired him during the off season. Jazz traded for him last, last off season. You got a hole at third base. Your shortstop is a, is a poor defender. That is getting worse by the, by the moment. All right. You haven't developed a big time catcher. I guess Rice can be that. But is he a catcher? No, he's a first baseman. Well, first, like so you get these guys. But yeah, Dominguez is a, is, is a prospect, right. Who's now playing in the big leagues, playing out of position. Now you got Rice coming up here trying to find out is he a catcher, is he playing short, is he playing first base? There is a frustration level and God knows they don't develop pitchers. Right. I mean we'll find out if heel is going to continue being the pitcher that he was. So I guess we'll have to wait.

[Alan Hahn]

Like he was going to be pretty good.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And stay healthy.

[Don LaGreca]

But you know, that was always the knock on Cashman outside of Andy Pettit, you know, they were, they're going out and acquiring all their great pitchers. They don't seem to develop pitchers. But that also comes with being in a pennant race every year. So sometimes you've got to trade for guys and, and they have money so they can use Free agency. So I'm not going to knock them for that. But if they made it a priority to improve this defense, which you don't even know if they did right, it didn't work because they seem to be worse.

[Alan Hahn]

I think Chris is onto something because I kind of agree with him. I've been saying this for a little while.

[Don LaGreca]

You look at, look at some of.

[Alan Hahn]

The Yankees players that come, that came up, right? They came up and they performed well originally and then they've gotten incrementally worse as hitters. Gleber Torres, Gary Sanchez, Miguel Anduhar Volpe. Now you could add to the list that I said, Gary Sanchez, all these guys come up and actually have success right away and somehow they go in the other direction. It's supposed to be the opposite, Don. You're supposed to come up and get better. As you get used to playing at the major league level, somehow they keep going in the other direction. It's kind of mind boggling. And the bigger point is the Yankees, this Yankee team right now, has sucked the enjoyment out of being a fan. Seriously. I go in there and I watch every day and I'm demoralized. I'm thinking to myself, this is a terrible product overall. It's like you just mentioned a mishmash of guys. Everybody's playing out of position. There's a lot of strikeouts. They swing for the fences, they can't move runners over. They're terrible fundamental players. Extra innings, they have no chance because they can't score with a guy on second base unless they hit a home, a darn home run. They, it's just, they walk to third base. That Clay Bertore is making the same bonehead, lazy mistakes. Aaron Boone doesn't tell you anything and apparently whatever he does to try and fix it doesn't work. And you're sitting there banging your head against the wall and people outside of New York, and you kind of said this to me before because you're not a Yankee fan. You're like, well, they're still going to make the playoffs, that's fine. But I'm sitting here watching this team that's constructed horribly that as doesn't do anything fundamentally that, that you want to see as a fan. And you really know ultimately at the end of the day, they're not really a World Series winning team.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Because what's the constellation though? Oh, they could.

[Don LaGreca]

Yankees could make the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

They're going to make the playoffs. Is it bad to have high standards?

[Don LaGreca]

That's not good enough. What it then points to Is, well, the only reason you made the playoffs every year is because you've got over a $300 million payroll. But when it comes time to actually help, I keep hearing over and over, I heard it when I was doing the Michael K Show, there's something wrong with this roster. This roster was not constructed properly. Well, whose fault's that?

[Alan Hahn]

Cashman.

[Don LaGreca]

Brian Cashman has been given all of the tools to build the team and yet you don't have a third baseman or there's a year you don't have a left fielder or this guy because in the first year that it happened, that guy's out of position.

[Alan Hahn]

This was about two years ago.

[Don LaGreca]

It is all about the offense and the. The guys, you know, Babbitt or his exit Velo or the velocity of this and that. So it's all about the offense. But when it comes down to winning a game, when it's two to one and you're kicking the ball around and given the opposition that also is thinking about offense, an extra couple of outs in innings, what do you think is going to happen? That's why you had no chance against the Dodgers. And that was a scouting report. Put the ball in play. What do the Blue Jays do? They put the ball in play. They don't strike out a lot. That's the other thing too. Get pitchers that strike out. Well, you know what? Maybe you need if you got fielding, it's not that big of a deal. If you put in play. What was those all. The problem with Holmes as a closer with the Yankees was because he doesn't have swinging. So he puts the ball in play. Yeah. On this team, that's a bad thing. On a team that can field, it's actually a good thing. Maybe he doesn't have to throw as many pitches to strike people out. So if I all I want my pitchers to do is strike out and all I want my hitters to do is hit home runs. Well, what's the missing formula? And that is once the ball is put in play and you're kicking it around, you're not going to be able to win. That is a recipe for destruction for final.

[Alan Hahn]

Final kicker for Yankee fans. Is this what makes you think it's going to change?

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not. Look, Brian Cashman doesn't look like he's going anywhere. Aaron Boone just got a contract extension. What makes you think that this organizational approach is going to change and I'm getting nothing.

[Don LaGreca]

And I'm going to tell you a little bit more on why it's not going to change more your calls at 1-800-919-3776 as well. Peter Rosenberg on Hulk Hogan at 4:30. Jacob Perry led ENN at 6. You're listening to Don Hanna Rosenberg with Jordan Ronan on ESPN New York. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want, like that dream house or ride, is a great feeling. That's why the State Farm personal price plan can help you save when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts. The Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University helps you go from I know the way to I've arrived with our top 10 ranked online MBA. Gain skills you can learn today and apply tomorrow. Get ready to go from make it happen to made it happen and keep striving. Visit strayer.edu Jack WelchMBA to learn more. Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by chevin as many campuses, including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. His name is Blaine. What movie is that from? You know.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it doesn't ring a bell.

[Don LaGreca]

Doesn't ring a bell?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

The John Hughes movie. Now it's Escape. Not Sixteen Candles, the other one. Blaine. His name is Blaine. It sounds like an appliance, not a person. Now it's bothering me. What's the other? Not Sixteen Candles, the other Molly Ringwald movie. Pretty in Pink. You ever see that? That was in the 80s. That was when you were alive.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but I don't think I saw it.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, my. You're just too busy breaking.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I'm a. I'm a little more like late 80s. 90s guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay. I'm 47 years old. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But I was born in 79. So like at nine years old I'm not watching Pretty in Pink.

[Don LaGreca]

But you know, six years old.

[Alan Hahn]

So I know it's just one I've never seen. I've seen a lot of. I've seen most 80s movies, just not.

[Don LaGreca]

It's just that it's not like milk. The movies don't expire. They're still there. You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Don LaGreca]

I saw the Graduate. It was a year before I was born.

[Alan Hahn]

I've seen the Graduate.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, there you go. Pretty in Pink is not the Graduate. But you know, it was something like that. Anyway, so at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, Adam Svenson. Sveninson. I don't know who these people are. Minus 11. It's got two stroke lead over Sam Stevens. Chad Rami is got. Is minus 8. So at least I had some names that I think I might be able to pronounce. Who knows?

[Alan Hahn]

I like golf and I don't really know who those guys are.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, this is right after the Open.

[Alan Hahn]

So a lot of people are playing. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Taking this off. I'm just saying I don't see any really big hitters in this at all. And if they are, they're way down the leaderboard. But anyway, that's the leaderboard update which is brought to you by Schweppes. Schweppes offers a hole in one refreshment experience and is a proud sponsor of PGA of America. Enhance youe Summer with Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger Alex. So 1-800-919-3776 is the number to call. Let's get into the calls again. Let's see, where are we going to go here? How about, let's go to Caesar in Huntington. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man?

[Jordan Ronan]

What's going on, fellas? How are we doing today? Lots of new faces this week. Yeah, I missed my, you know, Alan Vaughn, my neighbor. But nevertheless, I just want to talk about the Yankees. I mean, you know, we spent enough time on the debacle. Oh, I Cheetah said, what does the game slow down when you're prepared and what does the game speed up when you're not? Is that a, is that a, is that a boom question or is that, you know, like how do you get so much more out of your players?

[Don LaGreca]

I think what's frustrating is that they, and this is what I, when I, when I teased, go on the break, I got thrown off by the golf. There is that. They've designed this, all right. This is how they believe you win games. That's what's just so frustrating about it is they Brian Cashman understands the lack of defense. Do they care? Because is it just the whole idea of I am going to out hit any mistakes that are being made? I remember talking to Mark Teixeira when we were talking about why can't they hit against the shift? Why do you always have to try to hit right to the guy? They have it field perfectly. And Mark Teixeira's answer always was, it's my job to hit over the shift. So Mark never adjusted his game, even though a bunt down the third base line would be an instant double. Drives me bananas because he would give it over. So I'm sure they all sit there in their room with all these analytics and go, we're good. Don't worry about it, Skip. They can make all the errors they want, but we are going to outscore the opponent. We're going to win the game 12, nine and it's not going to matter.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going to hit the ball over the shift.

[Don LaGreca]

They must see that there is not an issue here. What else could it be? Because if you see it and I see it and the fans see it, they have to see it. So I have to then assume they don't see it being a problem. Like the first caller of the show about addressing the defense. You lost the World Series because your fundies were awful. Did they do anything during the off season? No. The objective was we've got to replace Soto's bat because Soto didn't play well defensively. They didn't care because he was a world class hitter. So get Bellinger, former mvp. Why? Because he can hit home runs. Let's get Goldschmidt, former mvp. Why? Because he get home runs. It just happened. I think luck out that those guys were also good defenders. But you put Bellinger at center field. Knowing that Dominguez is a better center fielder didn't stop you from getting Bellinger. Why? Because he's going to hit home runs and Goldschmidt's gonna hit home runs. Put Jazz at third even though he can't play third, but he's gonna hit home runs. I want guys gonna hit home runs. Never mind that Stanton can't play the field, he can't run the bases. What does he do? It's home runs. So that's the way they built the team.

[Alan Hahn]

It's more about Collecting talent for them than it is building a team.

[Don LaGreca]

Collecting certain talents.

[Alan Hahn]

That's how it feels to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Collecting certain talent, talents that can hit.

[Alan Hahn]

We'll minimize. We'll minimize if you could run. We don't even care.

[Don LaGreca]

They want guys that. And guess what? Volpe for a shortstop now he's hitting some home runs. What does Rice do? Rice has 15 home runs. Rice isn't even a full time player. He's got 15 home runs.

[Alan Hahn]

Also hitting.220 by the way.

[Don LaGreca]

Doesn't matter. He's hitting home runs. They're looking at that. I've got guys that hit home runs. Can they field? No, but they hit home runs. Can they run the bases? No, but they hit home runs.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not putting together pieces. That's just collecting.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You need, you can't have all guys that are the same shape and size. You need a couple different pieces. You need to have different, different elements of a team every. You can't have seven guys the same. You can't have three left handed hitting catchers.

[Don LaGreca]

But here's the thing they do. They're not stupid. They understand the game. They disagree. They think this is the way to build a baseball team. The people that think Cashman doesn't know what he's doing, Boone doesn't know.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no, no.

[Don LaGreca]

You just disagree with the way they build the team. They're building it exactly the way they want to build it. I disagree with it. You disagree with it. Everybody that watches baseball disagrees with it. But they're going to tell you we're 10 games above.500, we still can win this division. We're going to make some, we're going to make some deals that are going to make us better. We're just in the World Series last year. Tell me why we're wrong. That's the thing.

[Alan Hahn]

They think that we make the playoffs. It's a crapshoot in the playoffs. You know, we just had some bad luck here or there. In the playoffs. Eventually if we keep. You keep throwing, you know, throwing dice at it and we're in the playoffs, eventually it'll come up the right numbers. That's how they feel.

[Don LaGreca]

That's. And so it's just, it's a disagreement on policy kind of. Right. Like they do it one way, you think another way. Kind of the way it is in politics. Right. They, they don't think they're doing anything wrong. They think this is the best way to win and they believe the evidence. The proof is in the pudding. They're over 500 every year. They're in playoff contention every year. The building's full every year. So what the hell are you talking about? We're not the Mets. We're not the Mets who occasionally make. Again, I don't agree with this, but I'm playing the role of Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner. They could say we're not the Mets that occasionally are good, but also occasionally lose 100 games in a row. We're not the Diamondbacks who go to the World series and now two straight years being under.500 and are now sellers of the deadline. We're not the Marlins. We're not the brewers who never do anything. We're the Yankees. We went to the World Series last year. Or above.500 every year. They believe they're doing it right, and they also believe they're doing it well.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they could get. Stick out their chest and puff out their chest and be all happy and proud of themselves. When, when the goal is to be consistently good and not to win championships.

[Don LaGreca]

If that's the goal, then what do you think? Cracks? What do people say? That it's when, when they, when in life, Jordan. When somebody fails and their answer is, well, it's a crapshoot. What are they telling you? They're telling you that luck wasn't on our side. We just didn't get them breaks. That's what they're saying instead of admitting we weren't good enough to win. So if your philosophy is in the regular season, we kill it. We don't win the postseason. But hey, you know what? Then just luck of the draw, man. We just. We'll get them next year. We'll get them next year.

[Alan Hahn]

Never see change.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's, so that's why Boone gets frustrated. That's why Cashman gets frustrated, because they, they don't understand what the problem is. That's why I'm saying, Steve, in Middle Village, what's the problem with the Yankees.

[Jordan Ronan]

Problem is that their business model is that, you know, they, they have to continue to do what they're doing because they want to keep fannies in the seats, and they're content just to do that and, and, and be competitive.

[Don LaGreca]

But you were going to say. I thought you were going to say, Steve, that they've lost their winning culture.

[Jordan Ronan]

Well, I did lose their winning culture, and I was about to get to that.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But here's the thing, Steve, is that they still believe they've got a winning culture because they finish above.500 every year. They go to the playoffs Just about every year. Your. Your definition of winning culture is the old George Steinbrenner. Second place is first loser. You got to get out of that. Because they believe they have a winning culture because they do, in the regular season, win all the time.

[Jordan Ronan]

I agree with how you're describing the approach, and I'm not saying let's go back to George Steinbrenner. Those days are over, where you buy the best players and all that stuff. The last time the Yankees, I think, had a real chance to win the World Series was the year that they did win, because they had people that you knew were. Had the intangibles to win. They could. They didn't just go for home runs. This is very boring, though, what. What they do. Very boring. And it gets it. And it gets shown up when they play good teams because they can't feel. It's kind of like when they. When the Mets used to have. Who is that guy Jeffries? And I had him. And also, who is Don. Who was the Philly shortstop that the Mets got that they put him in center field?

[Don LaGreca]

Juan Samuel. Juan Samuel.

[Jordan Ronan]

This is the same thing.

[Don LaGreca]

Now.

[Jordan Ronan]

Cashman's been around too long. It's over.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Jordan Ronan]

But as long as fans keep on.

[Don LaGreca]

Going, well, that's it. See, that's. See, that's the thing. This is the fundamental difference. That's a great call. The fundamental difference is you think they're losing. They don't see it. They think everything's fine. Yeah. How will come on once a year on the Case show and say, we're really disappointed we didn't win. But they go back in their room and they count their money and they see the buildings full and they see the ratings on. Yes. And they see Yankee hats all over New York City, and they see that they're in playoff contention every year. And every once in a million years, there might be sellers at the deadline instead of buyers, but every year, for the most part, they're buyers at the deadline. And Cashmere will bring in. He'll bring in Suarez, most likely, you know, and maybe they'll win.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think they'll bring in Suarez. I don't think they. I don't even think they would make that.

[Don LaGreca]

Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but they'll tell you they didn't because they didn't have to. And then when they don't win the World Series, they'll tell you it's a crapshoot. But look, we won 96 games. We made the playoffs again, and they look at themselves and look at every team in Major League Baseball and they'll say, we're better than them. We're better than them. We're more consistent than them. We win more than them. Oh, the Astros, they cheated. Oh, yeah, The Red Sox won more World Series over the last 25 years, but look, they've had losing seasons in between. Yeah, the Mets are good, but you know what? The Mets two years ago lost 90 games. We never lose 90 games. They can go up and down and say, we're better than them all. Oh, the football teams in New York, they stink. The hockey teams, when was the last time they won a Stanley Cup? Oh, the basketball team, the Knicks haven't won since 73. We won in 2009. The Nets never win. They can sit there and pump their chest and say, we're better than everybody. Why are you bothering us? We make more money. We sell out the building. What's the problem? That's what they're going to tell you.

[Alan Hahn]

At the end of the day, that's disappointing, because as a fan, am I wrong?

[Don LaGreca]

As if I say anything, I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

What point does it reach? No, but what point does it reach? Critical miss. Because as a fan, you're not like, you're sitting there watching. I think most Yankee fans believe this. You look at the team and you're like, this isn't it. This isn't a real contender.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Alex then Peter. Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.