Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Not Prepared
ESPN New York | October 6, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives into an exasperating sports weekend in New York, centering around the Yankees' postseason collapse, the ongoing misery of NYC football teams, and the larger issues with local sports franchises. Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg commiserate over the state of New York sports, focusing intensely on the Yankees’ disastrous start in Toronto, the fans’ frustrations (especially with Aaron Judge), and a culture of excuse-making and lack of accountability within the Yankees organization.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. New York Sports Weekend: “A Lost Day”
- The hosts paint a bleak picture for New York fans, highlighting failures across all major teams (Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets).
- Don sums up the collective futility:
“Yesterday felt like a lost day, didn’t it? ...I don’t even think it’s the fourth inning and I got up and I said, I’m done.” (01:29)
2. Yankees’ Collapse in Toronto
Contrast in Mood & Expectations
- The prevailing shock is over surrendering 23 runs in two games to Toronto, flipping pre-series optimism to resignation.
- Alan reflects:
“It does feel like the season is over, the series is over. Based on what I saw in Toronto.” (02:22)
Max Fried’s Failure and Pitching Woes
- Speculation over Fried being “rocked” unexpectedly leads to larger questions of preparation and confidence:
“He didn’t want to be there. He saw it in his eyes...” — Don (03:56)
“They hit him like they knew it was coming.” — Don (03:59) - Conspiratorial undertones (sign stealing, prepared Blue Jays) emerge but are ultimately cast aside in favor of blaming poor pitching and preparation.
Chances to Come Back?
- Alan emphasizes that, despite the odds, teams should focus on “Win a game tomorrow”—urging fans to avoid defeatism:
“Can I win a game tomorrow? And the answer is yes, you can... Just win a game and worry about Game 5.” (06:24)
Blame Allocation: Pitching vs. Aaron Judge
- While the media and fan narrative shifts to criticize Aaron Judge’s lack of clutch at-bats, particularly his disastrous strikeout with bases loaded, Don and Alan argue the far bigger problem is the Yankees’ pitching meltdown:
“When you've given up 23 runs in two games, shouldn’t we be looking at the pitching... isn’t that where the crosshairs should be?” — Alan (08:15)
3. Excuse-Making and “Yankee Standard”
- The hosts push back hard on the excuses: sign stealing, lack of high-tech batting machines, Toronto’s stadium quirks, etc.
- Don and Peter mock the shift from Yankee arrogance to excuse-mongering:
“You’re the New York Yankees. You’re not supposed to make excuses. Built to win.” — Alan (14:14) “Give me a break. Sometimes you just go, 'you know what? The kid was freaking good.'” — Don (16:37)
4. Fan & Media Accountability
- Listeners and the media obsess over Judge and call for heads (Boone, Cashman), but the hosts encourage more holistic critique—players, and team preparedness need to be accountable, not just the manager or single superstar.
- Rosenberg calls out Yankees’ tendency to live in a “we’ve been robbed” mindset (“Astros” narrative), to their detriment:
"They have been comfortable living in a we’ve been robbed world over the last five or six years." — Peter (17:41)
5. Toronto’s Preparation and Motivation
- Don insists Toronto “wanted the Yankees” and were “incredibly prepared,” using their chip-on-the-shoulder energy to dominate.
“That was an ambush up there in Toronto. They were ready. You weren’t. That’s all you need to say as a team. We were not ready for this.” — Don (18:46)
- Hosts challenge Yankees to show similar urgency and edge, warning “don’t go quietly into that good night” (19:24).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Mood of NY Sports Fans:
“Monday. That's what it feels like, right?... The football teams just continue to embarrass themselves and the Yankees are facing elimination.”
— Alan (00:52) -
On Max Fried’s Confidence:
“He didn’t want anything to do with that atmosphere and what the Blue Jays had for him.”
— Don (03:56) -
On Excuse-Making:
“I don't want to hear about... the hotel in center field... they’re stealing signs just like the Astros did... Don’t make excuses. You’re the New York Yankees.”
— Alan (13:52, paraphrased for clarity) -
Accountability for Poor Play:
“Give me some accountability for once.”
— Don (17:23) -
On Fans Wanting a "Pound of Flesh":
"It's a pound of flesh thing that fans want when they're mad and no one's holding the players accountable because they can't. That's all they want."
— Don (42:43)
Key Calls & Fan Commentary
29:34 — Anthony in the Bronx:
Advocates holding Judge accountable for his failures, especially when compared to clutch opposing players:
“Until [Judge] does it, that narrative is not going to change. He's not a big game player.”
(30:18)
Alan and Don both agree that Judge should be held accountable for his high-profile strikeout with bases loaded (31:00), yet Alan points out it’s a weird conversation: Judge is still batting .440 but isn’t coming up big when it counts.
37:12 — Dave:
Questions Judge’s “clutch gene” and criticizes the media for making excuses; invokes “What would George do?”
- Heated (and circular) debate on whether harsh public criticism (a la George Steinbrenner) improves team outcomes or just appeases angry fans (41:17).
48:27 — Eddie in Massapequa:
Echoes fan frustration:
"How deflating is that for the rest of the lineup when we have nobody out, bases loaded, and our guy, instead of just taking the pitch, getting a run... our captain is garbage in the playoffs."
- Don agrees with the moment’s impact, but won't call Judge “garbage.” They debate possible reasoning for Judge's actions and revisit the narrative that only Aaron Judge gets held accountable—adding that the problem is wider than one player (49:40).
Additional Show Highlights
-
On Team Culture:
The Yankees are challenged to play up to their historical standard and quit excuse-making.
“Maybe it’s time for them to be the little engine that could. Because... they looked like the team that plays in another country... didn't belong.”
— Alan (19:24) -
On Fan Frustration:
Repeated calls for firing Boone and Cashman, but hosts say fans should aim their anger at the whole organization:“Let people vent... everybody’s on the carpet right now.”
— Don (33:30) -
On the “Big Moment” for Judge:
“There’s a part [where] you ask yourself deep down, bases loaded, nobody out, and I’m the man... I’m really taking that pitch?”
— Don (44:19) -
On Accountability after Failure:
“When he does something wrong in the stadium and you boo, that’s the pound of flesh you’re getting.”
— Don (43:18)
Pro Sports and Beyond
- The first hour closes with the promise to address Giants/Jets football struggles later (“NFL binge” at 4:30), with Alan teasing a hot take about the ugly state of NFL play due to “extended preseason” (21:27).
- The show maintains a New York-centric, sarcastic, and passionate tone, balancing fan discomfort with bracing realism and humor.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:52: Setting the scene — NY sports failure, Yankees’ elimination woes
- 03:34: Max Fried’s meltdown, Blue Jays’ surprising preparation
- 06:24: Can the Yankees come back? Focus on “one game at a time”
- 08:15: Should Judge be in the crosshairs? Pitching staff vs. offensive scapegoating
- 13:52: Debunking excuses — sign stealing and equipment; the “Yankee standard”
- 18:13: Toronto’s chip on their shoulder, Yankees’ lack of urgency
- 29:34/37:12/48:27: Fan calls — holding Judge accountable, the need for a “Yankee pound of flesh,” and deeper frustration
- 44:19: Psychology of the big moment — Judge’s approach at the plate
Tone & Language
The episode is classic sports talk: passionate, irreverent, and combative between hosts and with callers. The mood is heavy with disappointment but spiked with sarcasm and plenty of back-and-forth about who should bear blame. There’s no sugarcoating—just a blend of tough love, humor, and an abiding lament for what New York fans have to put up with.
Summary
This sobering first hour crystallizes the malaise around New York sports, with the Yankees’ playoff collapse as the main course. Despite the temptation to pin blame solely on Aaron Judge for not delivering in key spots, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg argue the real failures were systemic: pitching collapses, lack of mental readiness, and a creeping culture of excuse-making. Their message to the Yankees and fans alike: accountability starts everywhere, and only playing up to your pedigree—not excuses—will reverse New York’s sports misery.