Hour 1: NY Baseball Check In

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: NY Baseball Check In

Date: September 16, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (ESPN New York)

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Overview

This episode dives into the emotional rollercoaster of the 2025 baseball season for New York's Mets and Yankees, in what was meant to be a high-stakes, star-driven year that fizzled into underwhelming realities for both fanbases. The hosts check in on the “temperature” of New York’s baseball faithful, critique team performances, discuss playoff scenarios, commiserate over fan disappointments, and weave in classic banter about studio quirks and New York sports culture.

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Section 1: The 2025 Baseball Season — From Hype to Heartbreak

Timestamps: 01:05–06:00

Main Points:

• The season began with enormous expectations: Mets and Yankees as powerhouses, loaded with stars (Soto vs. Judge narrative).
• Both teams have faltered—Mets started hot but collapsed; Yankees failed to live up to World Series runner-up status.
• Emotional fatigue is high for both fanbases; hope has been squeezed out as fall approaches.

Quotes:

“This was supposed to be the baseball season where it’s Mets versus Yankees…Soto versus Judge. All it’s been is two teams…with the exception of the Mets when they started the season red hot…It’s really mostly been Yankee fans complaining, and rightly so, that this team is not where they’re supposed to be. And the Mets being one of the worst teams in baseball since the middle of June. This was not what we signed up for here.”
— Don La Greca (04:00)

"The second half of the season has been ‘who sucks less?’... All the wind got sucked out of the sails after May."
— Alan Hahn (05:32)

Notable Segment:

• Reflects on how the rivalry element has faded due to both teams' inconsistencies.
• Discussion on how fans have clung to "hope" ("the four-letter word") despite pessimistic reality.

“You’re holding onto that four-letter word, hope, but your eyes tell you something different.”
— Alan Hahn (06:00)

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Section 2: Playoff Scenarios, Disappointment, and Hope

Timestamps: 06:00–16:50

Key Discussion:

• Despite flaws, both teams are barely in the playoff picture due to weak competition.
• The Mets are “backing in” to a wild card spot; the Yankees are fighting for home-field advantage in the Wild Card round.
• Playoff paths are analyzed—Yankees could face Red Sox or Blue Jays; Mets likely get Dodgers or Padres; none are favorable.
• The hosts express how the structure of baseball playoffs fosters false hope for underwhelming teams.

Quotes:

"It shouldn't be about a run. It’s supposed to be about setting the bar. Did anybody think in their wildest dreams in spring training that...we’d be talking about a Yankee team five games back of the Blue Jays for first place...and the Mets...eliminated in the NL East by mid-September?”
— Don La Greca (07:44)

"The only chance of the Yankees and Mets competing in October is on the golf course."
— Caller Javier (36:37)

Memorable Moment:

• Joking about which teams are even truly threatening in the postseason; the Blue Jays, Tigers, and Mariners are “good but not threatening” due to lack of proven playoff pedigree.
• Met fans' hope for a miracle is mocked as irrational but relatable.

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Section 3: The Sense of Futility and New York Sports Malaise

Timestamps: 16:50–20:00

Topics Covered:

• Broader theme of disappointment in NY sports: not just baseball, but looming NFL woes (Jets, Giants off to bad starts).
• The very real possibility that both baseball teams are gone from the postseason before Knicks/NHL openers—rare and demoralizing.
• Compares NY sports fans' “moral victories” to hollow hope in both baseball and football.

Quote:

“Both teams could be out before Halloween. That doesn’t happen often, right?”
— Alan Hahn (17:47)

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Section 4: Listener Calls — Fan Fatalism and Realism

Timestamps: 36:27–39:37

Caller: Javier from Queens

• Asserts “almost no faith” in either team, especially the Mets (“no solution for their starting pitching problem”).
• Suggests Mets and Yankees will be “competing for tee times” in October.
• Calls out the weak bullpens as fatal flaws; the only hope is the league is “down.”
• Craves Knicks basketball already as the only NY sport with real promise.

Quote:

"I think the only chance of the Yankees and Mets competing in October is on the golf course.”
— Javier (36:37)

Host Response:

• Don and Alan agree: both bullpens are liabilities, the regular season has been demoralizing, and October holds little real hope.

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Section 5: Tangible Baseball Issues — Bullpen Collapse & Key Players

Timestamps: 38:05–39:37

Key Points:

• The Mets' bullpen, once among the league’s best, collapsed midseason (ERA jumped from 2.82 to 5.04 after June 12).
• Attempts to fix the bullpen through trades only made it worse.
• The Yankees’ offense is a high-strikeout, home-run-or-bust lineup; they have looked particularly inept at the plate recently.
• The panel debates the value of Giancarlo Stanton—great in postseason, but brutal slumps and injuries make him unreliable.

Quotes:

“When he goes bad, it’s bad...27 strikeouts in his last 51 at bats. He’s striking out more than half the time.”
— Don La Greca (49:02)

“What happened to the Mets is their bullpen went from one of the best to one of the worst and that’s end of story.”
— Alan Hahn (39:06)

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Section 6: Banter, Studio Hijinks & NY Sports Media Inside Jokes

Timestamps: 24:11–36:14

Highlights:

• Extended, humorous debate about a Mets jersey (the "Mark Sasso jersey") being moved in the studio.
• Don is adamant about its place as a symbol of the show and team history—objects to anyone moving it without respect.
• The conversation devolves into a classic New York radio bit: arguing over background décor, who’s responsible, and studio “territory.”
• Peter jokes about “covering the whole studio in jerseys” to add character to their blandly colored set.
• Studio producers are “suspects” for the jersey being moved; Don stages mock outrage.

Quotes:

“I don’t like people touching other people’s stuff.”
— Don La Greca (26:49)

“It looks like someone took laundry and just pushed it on the wall.”
— Peter Rosenberg (28:24)

• This segment offers much-needed comic relief and captures the show's rapport and interplay between hosts.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Alan Hahn’s Summary of Fan Hopelessness:

  "You’re holding on to that four letter word hope, but your eyes tell you something different...That’s why I said, this team pisses me off so much.” (06:00)

• Don La Greca on Year-End Reality:

  “How are we in this spot with these two teams now...I didn’t think we’d be having a conversation in the middle of September that these two teams would be wild card teams.” (17:16)

• Fan Call (Javier):

  "I have almost no faith in either of the teams, probably less in the Mets...the only chance...is on the golf course." (36:37)

• Host Frustration Turned Humor (on losing hope for NY sports):

  "We're not out of September...we're done. We're not even going to get to Halloween."
  — Peter Rosenberg (18:31)

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Section 7: Looking Ahead — Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 49:51–end

• The hosts note that, barring a miraculous turnaround, both Mets and Yankees fans face a bleak October, with the real “next hope” being the start of basketball and hockey.
• There’s acknowledgment that neither team has a true foundation for postseason success, with bullpen and managerial issues persisting.
• The combative, bantering spirit continues throughout, with plenty of inside jokes and gentle ribbing both about baseball and within the show's production team.

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Summary Takeaways

• The 2025 Mets and Yankees seasons have both fallen short of high expectations, mostly due to prolonged slumps, injuries, and bullpen meltdowns.
• Both hosts and fans are exhausted by repeated cycles of hope and disappointment, and most have little faith in meaningful postseason runs.
• The show is laced with humor, authenticity, and classic New York sports fatalism—the kind that makes for compelling forum radio.
• The most vibrant moments come from the blend of serious baseball talk and playful, insider banter, a hallmark of Don, Hahn, & Rosenberg.

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For Mets and Yankees fans who missed the episode: This hour provides catharsis and commiseration. While offering analysis and predictions, the hosts essentially voice what New York’s baseball community is feeling: exasperation, reluctant hope, and plenty of wisecracks to get you through to the next season.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans. Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] Don I had never seen.

[Don La Greca]

Holes like that before.

[Caller]

Don.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not comfortable touching it. I'm not.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

And Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not breastfeeding.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I.

[Alan Hahn]

That's too bad.

[Don La Greca]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Han and Rosenberg.

[Don La Greca]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Alan Hahn]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Don La Greca]

App 300 one of the big city. Don Han, Rosenberg with you until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball. Mets, Padres at Citi Field. Everybody's doing, man. We're getting. We're in the second half of September. The baseball man.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about this. We're in the. We're, we're. Remember in April when it was too early and it was just getting started in such a long season. We're at the end now. That's it. This is, this is the latter half of September, which is the end of the baseball season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I always have the same relationship with the end. It's the end happens and we get to the. Well, it may not happen this year.

[Alan Hahn]

October is all that matters. We.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then I get hyped off of October and I go next year. I'm going to be passionate about it starting in April. And then April comes and I'm like.

[Alan Hahn]

And then you realize it's so, you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is so far away from anything good happening. And then these two teams have a way of making you despise the sport by the time it's over.

[Alan Hahn]

Honestly, I'd love to take the temperature of both Mets and Yankees fans today.

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Not, not.

[Don La Greca]

I think that's the only way to get an accurate reading.

[Alan Hahn]

That's really the best way to get the rating.

[Don La Greca]

You know, it's well deserved.

[Alan Hahn]

But, but what I mean though is that not to do with last night or any of that stuff, it's just in general. Where are we right now? Where, where, how do you feel? Because like I was just telling a friend of mine this morning, we were just talking back and forth. Friend of mine, Red Red Sox fan. Big Red Sox. So I'm like, we're, we're playing each other like you you and I are going to be at each other's throats for three games.

[Caller]

And.

[Alan Hahn]

And he was giving me all the things wrong with his team. And I'm laughing because I'm like, oh, boy. I listed all the things wrong with the Yankees. And I said, other than that, everything's great. So I just said, they, they are really. They put me in a bad mood more often than not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So are you saying that the theory that when. I don't know if you've ever heard this, but there's a theory that any of us, as much as we complain about our problems, if we were to bring our problems to someone else, we would generally go home with our own problems.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not in the case of the Yankees and the Red Sox. You would rather have the Red Sox problems, Is that what you're saying?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not. You're.

[Don La Greca]

You are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You are actually interested in trading.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. My response to him when he said, it looks like, you know, Yankees Yank socks are a lock for the wild card. I said, I hate this team so much.

[Don La Greca]

And I brought this up.

[Alan Hahn]

That's how I feel.

[Don La Greca]

It was like, like a week ago, though. It's so interesting, the perspective.

[Alan Hahn]

But they had, they had a good 12 game run.

[Don La Greca]

They went 7 and 5 and 5.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don La Greca]

The Gauntlet. Hey, like K was talking about today because I guess he dubbed it the Gauntlet. And I've been, you know, kind of taking the reins on it. The Gauntlet. Well, you went seven and five. All right. It was good. I mean, it was, it was above.500, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One game worse, it's 500.

[Don La Greca]

But here's the thing. You went through the gauntlet.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And the Blue Jays still gained game on. Like, you went seven and five. They went eight and four.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

You know, so, yeah, you were able to kind of solidify a playoff spot.

[Caller]

So.

[Don La Greca]

See, that's the thing. And it goes back to Alan just being right, because if you remember, like a month ago, I was getting upset because there were like Yankee fans saying, boy, Met fans got to be happy that the Yankees are struggling. Because then always paying attention to the Met struggling, which I laugh at, because Met fans pay attention to Met struggling and Yankee fans pay attention to the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

That was a June conversation.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I remember this a long time ago. Right. But like, the scripts flip. Like, honestly, you know, the Mets have been a huge disappointment this year. They go out and get the best player, one of the best players in baseball. They're trying to feed off of what they did last year and they're going to settle for the third wild card if they're lucky. And the only reason they're going to settle for the third wild card, not completely fall out of the playoffs is because I don't think the Diamondbacks are any good. I don't think the Giants are any good. I don't think the Reds are any good. If either any of those three teams are really good, the bets would be in trouble. But the Mets are going to fall right into a playoff spot. They're going to back right into the postseason as the third wild card. The Yankees went to the World Series last year. Yes, they lost Soto, but they pivoted right. They went and got Goldschmidt, they got Bellinger, and they got one of the best pitchers in baseball in Max Freed. And they're battling to make sure that when they play the wild card series that they're home and not a Fenway like so. This has been a hugely disappointing baseball season on so many different fronts. This was supposed to be the baseball season where it's Mets versus Yankees and it's going to be Soto versus Judge. All it's been is two teams kind of, for the most part, with the exception of the Mets when they started the season, like, red hot and they were 21 games above.500, the best team in baseball. It's really mostly been Yankee fans complaining, and rightly so, that this team is not where they're supposed to be. And the Mets being one of the worst teams in baseball since the middle of June. This was not what we signed up for here.

[Alan Hahn]

No second half of the season has been who sucks less. Remember I told you it was the fun thing, like you just said at the start of the season. That's what I was hoping for is the old school, get on the bus. And if your team won and their team lost, you could talk trash. They could. You didn't want to get on the bus in the morning if, if the Yankees lost in the Mets won because, you know, you'd have to hear about it. Like, that was. That's what I was looking forward to all year. The two titans of baseball with two iconic star players in the big market. That's what I was. And for about half a season, we were kind of getting that, although Soto wasn't putting up the numbers. But all that was there. But for the. For the second half of the season, there's been so many other stories about both teams that nobody can stick their chest out. There's nothing to brag about, nothing to be excited about. That. That's the point. It's like they've sucked all the wind out of the sails after May, when both teams were two of the best teams in the sport. So now what? Like, it's how you supposed to feel going into October. What are you supposed to think? How could you possibly. Like, Boone's thing keeps. He keeps saying it, and it's the only thing he's got left to hold on to. What Boone keeps saying is, our best baseball's in front of us. But you know why? Much front left but. But you know why he's saying it? Because how bad? It can't get worse. Like, he's saying, we're not. We kind of. We can't be this bad. We can't possibly be this bad. We got to put it all together and maybe we could do it in October. That's what he's hoping for. That's what he's clinging to. And you know what that is? That's the same thing as moral victory Monday. When the Giants lost, but it felt like a win. When the jets lost, but it felt like a win. That's the same thing. You're holding on to that four letter word hope, but your eyes tell you something different. Yeah, and that's kind of where I'm at. That's why I said, this team pisses me off so much. But that doesn't mean I don't want to beat the Red Sox, though. But it's still. They make me mad. Madder than the opponent makes me.

[Don La Greca]

That's what I was saying. And listen, I love the videos that we send out, but you know, I'm getting ripped last night. Oh, Don gave up on the Mets. Don's not going to watch the mess. That's not. That's what you got from my, from my rant yesterday.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, no, you didn't. I gave you the option to check to cash out. You said no.

[Don La Greca]

When our beloved producer gives the headline, Doc gives up on Mets because nobody watches or reads everything. So they just look at a headline and run with it. But I feel the same way about the Mets. It's like, yeah, I want to make the playoffs. Yeah, I'm going to hope that they make a run. But it's not supposed to be about a run. It's not supposed to be about hope. It's supposed to be about setting the bar. Did anybody think and their wildest dreams in spring training that we'd sit here getting ready for September 16th baseball to be played, Mets home for the Padres, Yankees in Minnesota to Take on the Twins and we'd be talking about a Yankee team that is five games back of the Blue Jays for first place in the east and effectively six back because the Blue Jays have the tiebreaker. So with 12 left, the Twins have a six game lead and the Mets, who in in the middle of June had a five and a half game lead over the Phillies in first place. And the best record in baseball will enter play tonight on September 16th. Eliminated in the National League east for.

[Alan Hahn]

The first place clinched it last night.

[Don La Greca]

Philadelphia in Los Angeles last night clinched the national league East on September 15th.

[Alan Hahn]

What if I told you have a.

[Don La Greca]

12 and a half game lead on the Mets for first place in the National League East.

[Alan Hahn]

If I told you in June that the Phillies would not only win going away the division, they do it with Zach Wheeler out for the season.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, Zach Wheeler out.

[Alan Hahn]

If I told you that when we.

[Don La Greca]

Heard about Zach Wheeler being down and the Mets had all these games with the Phillies and they swept them. The Phillies at Citi Field was like, oh yeah, the Mets are in play. But the Mets can't keep, keep themselves in play. They're four games above.500, guys. It's not like the Phillies gonna win 100 games this year. They might, but I doubt it. They've got 12 games left. They got 90 wins. They're going to finish with probably 96 wins, something like that. Certainly not any kind of year for the, for the record books.

[Alan Hahn]

But would you take. So you'd have to play in a, in a wild card, the Dodgers or the Padres? Right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, right now it'd be the Dodgers. It would be right now. The Mets would play. Yeah, the Dodgers because the Cubs would play the Padres in Chicago. The Mets would take on the Dodgers. Now the Padres are only two back. So I guess the Padres could, you know, that's, that still could happen.

[Alan Hahn]

You're going to play one of the NL west more than likely. Right, that's what it seems like. So the Phillies though, still have a shot at catching the Brewers. Well, the brewers look like they're, you know, brewers are the best team in baseball.

[Don La Greca]

They are for whatever that means.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but still. So you could either play the brewers or the Phillies if you can get past the Dodgers in the wild card round. Right. Like if you're just looking at it face value. You don't feel terrible about these matchups, right?

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, like it's not like you're going into it saying no chance. The only team. To me, you, you've proven you can beat the Dodgers. Right. You've proven this season you can beat them.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but you'd love to see the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

You'd love to see the Phillies. Because in the playoffs, like, you play well in that building, they don't play on your building. Like, that's why when you look at the path for both these teams, that's the, that's the four letter word. Because when you look at it on paper, it still gives you a reason to say, okay, they are playing like crap. But these matchups don't scare me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Isn't that what's annoying about it?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

Yes. It forces you to keep caring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To some, you don't. You shouldn't care. It's a waste of time to care. But that's going to draw you back.

[Don La Greca]

In because that's what Peter was saying about you go to October and the Mets and Yankees make a run. You get all hyped up for, for March when the season starts. Then you realize how important is the regular season. Got to stay out of the wild card. Can't make it out of the wild card. Next thing you know, you make a run. But really looking at it realistically, yeah, you can make a run, which irritates me because it shouldn't be about that. Is that really Yankees, Red Sox. Flip a coin, man, that really, honestly, you know, Yankees did take two out of three at Fenway, but the Red Sox have the tiebreaker because they won the season series. So over the larger sample size, they've been the better team. So even though the Yankees have, you know, one game up in the loss column, if they finish tied, those three games are going to get played at Fenway. Is it impossible for the Yankees to win? Of course not. But it's going to be a lot tougher.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

And what does Toronto ever won? What is Detroit ever won? What does Seattle ever won? Those are your American League winners. So the Yankees have to feel like you could make the case that the tougher, the toughest thing would be that first round against Boston. Yes, because we'll see. Because Boston has at least shown you recent vintage that they can do things.

[Alan Hahn]

Chapman's really, he's found it again, like so the closer wise, like the back end. At least they're both.

[Don La Greca]

The Blue Jays are good.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me tell you.

[Don La Greca]

Their history tells you they're not going to make a roll.

[Alan Hahn]

They are see them and the brewers reason why they're both playing so well is because of how they play, because of what they can do. And a lot of it has to do with they don't mash home runs like they aren't doing it the way everybody else is doing it. They manufacture runs. They could find ways to score small ball. They have a lot of athleticism on the base path. They're very good defensively. They have good relief pitching. Like, those are the things with those two teams that can get you through a whole regular season. But in a playoff series, when. When the pressure's on and the matchups and all the things, all the scouting reports and everything else, how do you match up with them when the. When the entire focus is on trying to beat them? That's what I'm wondering.

[Don La Greca]

All I'll say is, is this. Nobody believes in the Blue Jays because they haven't gone to the World Series since.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but they've been. They've been the last couple of years. They've been building to this.

[Don La Greca]

Nobody believes in the Tigers. Nobody believes in the Mariners, who have never been to a World Series. Right. The one team you're so afraid of is Houston because Houston's got the pedigree.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. They're a mess.

[Don La Greca]

But if you look right in the now, because I could have said the same thing about the Yankees last year. Well, don't worry about the Yankees have been to the World series since 2009. Who cares? And they did. So if you look at it in the now, the team that you really should be the least worried about is Houston. Houston doesn't have a bullpen. Houston offense has struggled. The Yankees had success against them the last time they played them. Like the Mariners. I don't worry about them. But you look at the Tigers and the Blue Jays in the now. Both won the season series against the Yankees during the year. Both have been, you know, really. And the Blue Jays have been really good Blue Jays when. When the pressure has been on them deep because we. Part of them wilting, which is what they've done recently, is feeling the footsteps of the Yankees during this recent run for the Bombers. And yet they played better than the Yankees. They won five in a row last night. Have you seen? They're down one nothing in the eighth inning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They score.

[Don La Greca]

They score in extra innings to win the game.

[Alan Hahn]

They're really taking them like, not when they play the. Like when they're just fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're just.

[Alan Hahn]

They tell. I'm telling you, man, there's something. It's a great energy with that team. Yeah. Bichette. They have a really. The energy there is really good. Springer just as a catalyst. He has found it again. That's a. That's A. It's a good team. It's hard not to believe in him. And how about this, Doc, by the way, they. They could clinch a playoff spot Friday. They're so worried up in Canada because you know where the game is broadcasted on Friday, Apple tv. They won't even get like, their home broadcast won't be able to have them make this thing. I mean, they haven't made the playoffs. Like, think about that. It's a big deal.

[Don La Greca]

That would stick.

[Alan Hahn]

And so they're so. It's almost like they don't want to clinch on Friday just for that reason.

[Don La Greca]

And the flip side, you said in the National League, as bad as the Mets have been. Well, you know, the brewers, what do they ever want, right? They were the better team last year and the Mets were able to beat them.

[Alan Hahn]

They're on that kind of.

[Don La Greca]

Phillies. Mets beat the Phillies in the playoffs last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. All right, but the Phillies know it.

[Don La Greca]

But they played the Mets have played the Dodgers. Well, but I mean, Dodgers, Padres, a best of three.

[Alan Hahn]

I'd hate. I would. Kids, would you rather play the Padres or the Dodgers in a wild card round? I would rather play the Dodgers. As crazy as that.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I probably would rather play the Dodgers, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why?

[Don La Greca]

Because they've had recent success.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At least there's something there, right?

[Alan Hahn]

The Padres are just that.

[Don La Greca]

Well, answer that. Let me see how the next three days go.

[Alan Hahn]

I was gonna say why.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why does it matter what could happen? It's gonna make you feel great.

[Alan Hahn]

Matchups. You see matchups. I got Michael King going tonight. You want to see how you match up with him?

[Don La Greca]

Surely, honestly, other than, like, other than the look, last year's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Last year.

[Don La Greca]

Okay. Different team, different set of circumstances. Honestly, ask yourself as a method. Don't give me the oh, you gotta believe garbage. Really just how this team is played. Are you giving them any shot to beat the Dodgers, the Padres, in the best of three? How could you? Yeah, how could you? Other than. Oh, I the hope that Allen talks about or just hey, hey, you never know. It's baseball, Susan. No, no, no. Tangibly. Who's a better team?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm saying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, let's have a real conversation like.

[Don La Greca]

And the Yankees. I give a better chance to. But. And they did take two out of three from Boston recently. So that makes you feel good. But overall, season series went to Boston, season series went to Toronto. Forget about what recent history tells you. What in the now, how are we in this spot with these two teams now, the Yankees have had injuries. I'm sure they'll throw that back at you. If they don't make a run in the playoffs, they'll say we didn't have Cole, we didn't have Heel for half the year.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah, no, that's.

[Don La Greca]

Judge couldn't play the outfield, he was on the ill. Or they'll be built in excuses for sure. But still, I didn't think we'd be having a conversation in the middle of September that these two teams would be wild card teams.

[Alan Hahn]

The NHL regular season opens October 7th. The wild card round would be open, would be finished October 2nd. Will the NHL season start without either baseball team still alive?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good question.

[Alan Hahn]

Because that, that's. That doesn't happen often, right?

[Don La Greca]

That, that you'd got. You got nobody.

[Alan Hahn]

Nobody. Both teams out.

[Don La Greca]

Very rarely does that happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And don't forget, as excited as we all are about basketball and with good reason, still going to get there. And it's the very beginning and it's going to take time. And of course you know, I thought.

[Don La Greca]

Over basket we had commissioner saying you just watched the highlights.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now listen, you want to watch the other problem, Wally. But you don't need to watch every bit every game.

[Alan Hahn]

You know that's true. Just watch the post game show that's on YouTube. You can watch that for free. But like, but that's. Think about this. Because both football teams we won't get to Halloween. Both teams gonna be out of it, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well Halloween.

[Alan Hahn]

We won't even get to Halloween.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan. Right now this is what's so annoying. And this is. This is back to the God has been saying about moral victories. That's the thing about moral victories. And we had certainly had one with the jets in week one. And you could argue there was one for the Giants this weekend with the offense they put up. But it doesn't change the fact that they both drop another game. We're done. We're done. We're not out of September 03 03. I'm sorry, you're not.

[Don La Greca]

No, no. It could be done by October 1st. The other teams. Now listen. If for some strange, wacky, nutty reason the Giants beat the Chiefs and the Chiefs are owing three. I could still see an avenue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Chiefs can make the Chiefs, but.

[Don La Greca]

The jets and the Giants starting really starting 0 and 2, you feel like you're done.

[Alan Hahn]

But Owen 3, Owen 3 since 1990, six times has a team gone on to make the playoffs since 1990.

[Don La Greca]

And listen six times. And we don't know how many of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those teams were a New York team.

[Alan Hahn]

Jets did it once was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jets are one of them.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. When 81.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, 1981. Greg Buttle was on, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, you could still smell Namath's jock strap in 81. That's how long ago it was.

[Don La Greca]

And there might have been guys that like. No, you know, you couldn't. No. I'm going to tell you why you couldn't smell. Smell it. Because they had it. They. They put it in. Dipped in gold.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don La Greca]

Hanging in the locker.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a gold member already.

[Don La Greca]

Gold member. That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it's, it's, it is really depressing.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, the stuff with the. Namath was doing, God love him. I still was probably still in the air in 80. That's what I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what you get the point I'm making.

[Don La Greca]

But that's that more. That's more about Namath than it is about like the length of time. But it's both. But all you need to know is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'Re 20 years out.

[Alan Hahn]

If you want to do a Namath computer. Namath's backup quarterback was starting then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're less than 15 years away from it. It's right there.

[Alan Hahn]

It's right there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

81 is that long ago.

[Alan Hahn]

Dude. The guy who was their starting quarterback was serving as Namath backup.

[Don La Greca]

Exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

In 81 at one time. So like that. That's, that's how Richard Todd.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So in my lifetime, essentially, I was born in seven.

[Alan Hahn]

The most recent team to do it was the Texans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That doesn't count. That's 2018 by the. And so. And there's.

[Alan Hahn]

And Right. So we're going to. And they won the division.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so we can tease what we were talking about to get into in the program later that Don brought up in our meeting. You look around you watch last night. You see what Todd Bowles was able to do in Tampa. You watch Daniel Jones over the weekend.

[Alan Hahn]

Look around you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look at Geno Smith here. Look at this. Everywhere you.

[Alan Hahn]

Sam Darnold, former Giants having success.

[Don La Greca]

The jets and the Giants are a relative locked be 0 and 2 every year, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, relative. That's.

[Don La Greca]

This is Todd Bowles, fourth year in Tampa. Every year he's been the head coach of the Tambay Buccaneers. They've started two and up.

[Alan Hahn]

Why can't the jets get a coach like that?

[Don La Greca]

If only, right? If only. Yeah, we'll get into that. Just because of the fact that you look at what Todd Bowles is doing. You look at, you know, Daniel Jones is doing Sam Garland. It's not like they didn't have quarterbacks and head coaches. You know, it's, it's, there's a lot to get into, but there is the baseball that is kind of interesting and just I want, here's what I want to challenge the positive Met and Yankee fans, mostly Mets, because I just don't see any positives right now with this team. But other than, hey, anything can happen or look what we did last year, give me some tangible reasons why you think that these teams can do real damage in the postseason and then we're not going to have the nightmare that Alan's talking about that October 7th, when the NHL season starts, baseball in New York will be officially over because the teams already have Baggy Day. And they'd be done and we'd already have the, you know, the Daily news, who stays, who goes articles, you know, which we grew up with. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. I'm Christian McCaffrey, pro running back and.

[Alan Hahn]

Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not kidding when I say NFL by Abercrombie. Broke the Internet last year and I.

[Alan Hahn]

Think this season's lineup is even cooler. And so does my wife who keeps.

[Don La Greca]

Stealing all my hoodies. Stay fit for the season and Abercrombie's newest arrivals Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Alan Hahn]

It's Pro Savings Days at Lowe's. Get up to 35% off select major appliances and save an additional $1,000 when you buy four select LG major appliances. Plus get a free Dewalt 20 volt max 5amp hour battery when you buy a select Dewalt 20 volt max tool. Get the job done for less at Lowe's, we help you Save valid through 926. Selection varies by location while supplies last. See associate or lowe's.com for more details and qualifying items. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Game time is Brought to you by Telemore. Do Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

I like when he holds it.

[Don La Greca]

Matt's open up a series with the Padres with coverage immediately following us right here on 880 at 6 30. And the Yankees continue their series with the Twins 740 Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature at Iris Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try to do Tullamore Dew honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly. I love the job that Anthony and Jacob do sending out the clips of our show which you can find on YouTube and it's on obviously social media. And the one thing that's somewhat negative about two things is that people out of market are like what the heck is this if they don't know us?

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

And sometimes you don't get the whole thing. So some of it occasionally could be taken out of context, I guess if you didn't hear the whole thing. But I found this interesting this morning. I don't know if the guy took it down off of my feed when I was flipping around this morning. I can't find it. Whatever. The guy off of one. I think it was my Chiefs. Yeah, it was completely performative. I think, you know, I was goofing around.

[Alan Hahn]

The NFL won't let the Chiefs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was a rare. That was a rare. Where Don's rant is a goo is like a goof. Yeah, it was a rare.

[Don La Greca]

But there are people that like want me killed in Kansas City because they, they just. They love whenever the Chiefs are attacked. Yes, that's what the great humor in it.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, so they watched it. Which means it's views. No, it's definitely view which is all that matters.

[Don La Greca]

But some guys, like I wonder if the Devils are now reconsidering giving Don the job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought the same thing. Thought the same thing.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sure the Devils are not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I had a conversation yesterday. They were very concerned.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you think so?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh yeah. They said if this is a kind of approach, the whole thing. People are out of their gourds.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, actually, the Hughes brothers are now thinking about maybe they should just get traded to this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that true?

[Don La Greca]

Since I've taken the job, Luke hasn't signed that contract. Fitz said he'll get done and now maybe so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now I'll tell you the problem with these videos though, is that Don, for whatever reason, the way that's laid out Don is lit like, decently in this room. And Alan and I look like we're inches from death.

[Alan Hahn]

You think gray walls are a good idea?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The gray isn't great. I'll be honest with you.

[Alan Hahn]

It is brighter because it's gray instead of, like, you know, a darker color. Like a lot of studios are darker colors. Yes, but it's still like, we don't pop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we do not pop.

[Alan Hahn]

We need to pop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don at least has some life for whatever reason, just based on where he's sitting.

[Alan Hahn]

That's great on gray, though, if you think about it, with Don right behind him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ah, it's white on gray. It is funny that Don's hair. Don's hair shouldn't even be called gray.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I also ask white, who moved the jersey?

[Don La Greca]

I don't like people touching other people's stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

It was always off. Hold on, hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not only Don seat. Two other people sit in this chair.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't say Don's name. It says Mark Sasso. Softball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if someone doesn't want that look for their shot.

[Don La Greca]

No, no. We put it up and that's where it stays.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, I'm saying. But, like, what if someone else goes, I don't want this.

[Don La Greca]

Then they can go complain to management. The last thing you do is touch it.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you wait.

[Don La Greca]

So there's a lot of things I don't like. I'm only. I want to buy a nice outfit for tomorrow. The camp's opening. We're doing a lot of. A lot of interviews, stuff B roll, different things.

[Alan Hahn]

You're going to look good tomorrow, aren't you?

[Don La Greca]

I'm going to try. And what if I. What if I just walk into the department store that I'm going to go to and just start moving the mannequins around? And when they say, sir, what are you doing? I just didn't like the way it looked. I'm going to touch. No, you don't touch other people's things. You go to management, say, I don't want the jersey behind me. And then, man, listen, I can't. I can't say John can walk in there and do it, but I don't want. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What if it was management who moved it?

[Don La Greca]

No, I doubt it.

[Alan Hahn]

Doubt it. That would take effort.

[Don La Greca]

I don't. Alan Hahn put that up because we were the. He was the only one that cared to come.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I've done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Many times.

[Don La Greca]

No, in this case, I understand. Don't feel guilty. No, because now you start talking it up like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'M just, I'm just defending that we share the room is all. So if someone didn't want that in their video in the background every time to defend, to defend who that would be. It's not a framed jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It looks like someone took laundry and just pushed it on the wall.

[Don La Greca]

Who are you?

[Alan Hahn]

That's all we got. Listen, all I'm. All I'm saying is we all consume other shows and the different videos that come with these shows. Yeah, all of them have interesting backgrounds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, we need stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

They all have character around us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We need stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

The old studio, you guys had a whole setup in front of you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it was beautiful. Yes. Put in a little effort.

[Alan Hahn]

And then also you had a couple of your drop down banners.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not once we got to the.

[Alan Hahn]

But we have nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have that. That's.

[Don La Greca]

See, that's the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I agree with the point.

[Alan Hahn]

Sicily's broken up.

[Don La Greca]

The Mark Sasso jersey means something to this stat. We've been doing it for two decades.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

It's. It's a baseball jersey that fits. The alternative is basically a hostage video background.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's correct.

[Don La Greca]

If you're moving. If we move somebody else's jersey to put that one up, then you got something like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like for example, if I were to sit here and you just get. Take a one shot of me on our thing and I just stare at the camera like this.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think it's an Abu Ghraib video. I mean this is. This looks like it's a bad moment.

[Alan Hahn]

Although there's, you know, some, some plants behind you in the window. So it doesn't.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does it make it to that? Yeah, I guess my side does have a little something in the background.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm the one that looks like he's just put in the corner and the gray twice.

[Don La Greca]

The only thing missing is me holding up a newspaper with the current date.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

And then if that was the still you saw on social media, you'd be like, oh my God, somebody has kidnapped Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don has been kidding. The crazy random.

[Don La Greca]

But if you see the Sasso back by the old.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, it's a sports show. That's what it. So we, we. I think we just need to figure out how to put some character on the wall behind it.

[Don La Greca]

I'm going to do something tomorrow.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh boy.

[Don La Greca]

Because that's not the only one I got. Because we were so shorthanded this year, I got like 10 extra. I'm gonna plaster the entire hole. No, no, there's gonna be a mark Sasso jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

He's going in stitch of the studio.

[Don La Greca]

And if any of them gets touched, wait, then I touch back, by the way. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But hold on, Don. Don't you have, like, respectfully, to the late, great Mark Sasso, don't you have tons of other jerseys, too?

[Don La Greca]

It's the principle. They touched that one, right? And now we're going to make it multiply.

[Alan Hahn]

This one also says 880 on the back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It says 880?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. What if we flipped it around on. They did touch it then?

[Peter Rosenberg]

If it had the 880 in the background.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen, tomorrow's an interesting day for you to do that. I can't say why, but tomorrow would be an interesting day.

[Alan Hahn]

It would be an interesting day to.

[Don La Greca]

Mess with the matter of fact. You can make the case. It's the perfect day, and it's exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

The day I want to do that.

[Don La Greca]

This is bigger than the toenail clip in garbage. I want to know who touched it, I want to know who it was, and I want to have a conversation with him because it was completely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I bet you had a conversation with them on his podcast last Friday. It's my prediction.

[Don La Greca]

Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's my thought.

[Don La Greca]

Bold prediction. Well, you know what?

[Alan Hahn]

But it's not out of control.

[Don La Greca]

Dave is a suspect. He does sit in this chair. Well, there's only two suspects, him and Carlin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it. That's all it could be, right? Unless on the wheat.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I think John moved it. That's an easy answer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's done.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. John Winthrop moved.

[Don La Greca]

John Winthrop because the one guy said was allowed.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. Now you got to bring him in, because now he needs to explain. Because if that's the truth, if it was a management decision.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The more troubling part is, I know Anthony's very busy. Is that he obviously didn't hear everything we're saying in the last five minutes.

[Don La Greca]

I mean.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's done with us. He really.

[Don La Greca]

He just trampled it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So. So.

[Don La Greca]

Because there's big footing things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Dave has nothing to do with this. John Winthrop made the decision. Oh, so there's nothing to say here?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, there is a lot to say.

[Don La Greca]

Now, but explanation in the meantime. Here he comes.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, I see he.

[Don La Greca]

I see.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's get him on the mic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John is sauntering down the hallway in his.

[Don La Greca]

He was the one person he does.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That I said was allowed in his Mickey Mouse underwear.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So. All right, Headsets going on.

[Don La Greca]

I couldn't come into this studio.

[Alan Hahn]

It means by the way. He's always on the morning show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I know. We just want to get him everyone.

[Alan Hahn]

They might as well make him a third host.

[Don La Greca]

He doesn't like this show.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. This is not getting that.

[Don La Greca]

This is not how we envision the afternoon.

[Alan Hahn]

We're getting that.

[Don La Greca]

The morning's a different story. But John, from this room.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got no problem with you in that room. Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. When I joined the morning show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's from this room. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

What was the question about the who touched that jersey?

[Alan Hahn]

That was me. When? Sometime early last week. Was it between shows during a show? What was the motivation?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The motivation was I keep seeing this.

[Alan Hahn]

Jersey in all of our shots.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And I was like, we gotta move it to the side.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So why?

[Don La Greca]

So we can see above a more gray. Well, it was just a bone color.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the thing.

[Alan Hahn]

More gray. The Sasso event really only has a role in your.

[Don La Greca]

It's. It's always. No, no, no, no, no. Go. Get out. I don't even want. No, Get. Get out. No, this is a station event. It's not just your thing. It's just a three to seven thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, if you want to turn around and use that side.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, just get out. I'm disgusted. No, seriously, I don't even want to look at him. That something that's been so important. It's just your thing. It's not a station.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Brings everyone. Brings everyone together.

[Don La Greca]

That brings every. Supposed to bring everybody together behind Chris.

[Alan Hahn]

Carlin for like a week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it has no, you know, should I put a Rutgers jersey behind you?

[Don La Greca]

What does Rutgers have to do? They're on the fan, for God's sake. This is something.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that better? Is that better? Get out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's sick. You're actually sick to your stomach from this.

[Alan Hahn]

When he said it's.

[Don La Greca]

It's your thing. It's an afternoon thing. Really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But can I say that we may be onto something? I know Don's not going to like this.

[Don La Greca]

This.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'll talk to you. Alan, let me talk to you for a second.

[Alan Hahn]

Don's not going to like this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don's not going to like this because he's on the jersey thing for the Sasso and I get it. But these thumbtacks through the jersey, seeing how easily you're doing that. I don't hate the idea of covering this thing with jerseys. I don't hate that.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, we could have a pretty cool collection. All of us have crazy jerseys.

[Don La Greca]

I just want some respect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. That should be the first. That should be the Centerpiece jersey is the sass.

[Don La Greca]

What is the jersey in the shot? This jersey?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

It's an afternoon thing. They're lucky they was in the shot. Believe me, that's more interesting than anybody that was in the shot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy, that's tough.

[Alan Hahn]

Now this feels.

[Don La Greca]

Well, they get paid for what they say. Are Carlin and Dave anything to look at?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Don La Greca]

Oh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Visually, you see it. By the way, Michael's still unhappy with me about the home.

[Don La Greca]

He should be. And he wrote I want to know ratted you out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I told him. He told me was it apparently was a senior person at. At another place that he works. Yes, you said it. And I said to him, I said.

[Alan Hahn]

I said, they're always listening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not true.

[Alan Hahn]

Be careful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said, it's not true. He said. He said that it is. I said, he's got no proof. And he said, I'm gonna go to the podcast and listen. All right, well, I don't know. He's not gonna do it, so I'm sticking with. I'm sticking with my proof.

[Alan Hahn]

You're going full denial?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going full denial.

[Alan Hahn]

Based on the fact that he won't do the research.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think he can do the research.

[Don La Greca]

Somebody.

[Alan Hahn]

Four hours of radio. He'll have to do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He can't do it.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think he'd be that obsessed?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no. I think he's moving on and forgetting about it.

[Don La Greca]

Obsessed about it. But there's. He has his limits. And, yeah, downloading the podcast is way beyond.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, also, Michael already had another technical problem yesterday, which is I. He has a problem with the. The tech that he uses to do the show remotely. And you may remember we were having a conversation in the room last time I saw him. So he texted me yesterday and said, what's the thing you told me that I should use to make it better for when I do the show? And I told him, I said, go into Verizon store and ask for a WI Fi stick. This should not be hard.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He walked into a Verizon store, no idea what he was talking about. They didn't even know what he was saying. So he's got.

[Don La Greca]

He's not savvy in that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he's got lots of issues going on right now, so hopefully he won't focus.

[Don La Greca]

It got away from us. But there was an important moment. We got a full bank 1-800-919-3776 of calls about the Mets and Yankees of it all. So let's go to Javier In Queens. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Javi?

[Caller]

What's up, guys? Thanks for taking the call as always. And I just want to. I want to shout out Jacob and Anthony. They're really great on this show. Like, talking to them is very pleasant. The music's always really good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I agree. They're fantastic what they do.

[Caller]

So listen, with the Mets and the Yankees, I have almost no faith in either of the teams, probably less in the Mets, just because they have no solution for their starting pitching problem. I mean, I think the only chance of the Yankees and Mets competing in October is on the golf course. I think they're going to be competing for. For tee times early in October. I don't think either of these teams are going particularly far. The saving grace is the league is down. And you know what? The Yankees maybe like their, their back, two starters can, you know, become amazing bullpen arms. Like, maybe. Maybe that's the solution for them because the bullpen looks really weak. I don't think so. But that's about it for them. And with the way. The way football is, the Knicks cannot start playing soon enough. And Alan, when was the last time we heard that in New York sports? And I'll wait for the knicks to start.

[Alan Hahn]

1993.

[Don La Greca]

Terrible. Yeah, but, but, and again, do not take this the wrong way, but, you know, as great as the Knicks are going to be, it's still going to be like October basketball. First couple of games of the season, it's not possible to get a read. It's really going to be really tough. But, you know, it still could be fun. But it's not what you want.

[Alan Hahn]

If they go out, if they jump out to, you know, a 100 start to the season, you're. Then you're happy. But you don't expect.

[Don La Greca]

Hobby broke it down, though. Like, both of these bullpens have been putrid.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

And even Michael, when he was open to show, like, he started to go, like, who is in the circle of trust?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trust.

[Alan Hahn]

I kind of like that. But he, we should do that before the play.

[Don La Greca]

Devin William outside of Bednar, like Devin Williams maybe in the circle of trust, opposed to everybody else in the bullpen. Like, that's how bad the bullpen's been. Like, Weaver was awful last night.

[Alan Hahn]

But Weaver is usually good in a big spot. He was good in Fenway.

[Don La Greca]

It was good at Fenway. But the previous four or five star.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but he's like good out of spot when you put him into like sleepy spots.

[Don La Greca]

He's not as sharp happened with lighter. Yeah, you know, there, there's devolved, by the way, that was a bad deal. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Closers on the team and nobody like.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, it's, it's been fair. And then I think when you look at how important bullpens are in the postseason, you can't really be happy with either of these teams starting.

[Alan Hahn]

See the numbers. Bullpen wise through June 12th for the Mets, the bullpen was 2A2 ERA, which was second best in Major League Baseball. Right. Since June 12th.

[Peter Rosenberg]

504.

[Alan Hahn]

25Th.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It just is when you ask what happened to the Mets, you could, you could try to say, well, you know, Alonzo went through a slump and Lindor went through. No, take all that out of the equation. What happened to the Mets is their bullpen went from one of the best to one of the worst and that's end of story.

[Don La Greca]

And now then you're the fourth and he made him baseball and he made.

[Alan Hahn]

A billion trays to fix it and made it worse.

[Don La Greca]

None of them seem to work. 1-800-919-3776. Talk about a Tuesday at 4:30, enn at 6. We'll take you out till 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

See [e-mail], for all the gambling problem. Call 8778-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY 467-369.

[Don La Greca]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great and when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's Nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. 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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seriously, it's $15 a month.

[Alan Hahn]

Three, no big contracts. Four, I use it. Five, my mom uses it. Are you. Are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront.

[Don La Greca]

Payment of $45 per three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.

[Alan Hahn]

See mintmobile.com thanks for listening to the Don Hahnen Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

All right, let's get back to the Busy phones at 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Anthony in the car. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Anthony?

[Caller]

Hey, fellas. How you doing?

[Don La Greca]

Good. Man, I'm shocked.

[Caller]

This jersey thing is such an issue.

[Don La Greca]

Really?

[Caller]

With Carlin sitting in front of it. How are they even able to see it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you know what? That's not. You know. And, and I, I'm gonna say something right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay? You were thinking it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You said, I'm gonna lift up the curtain in a way. Don, Don's gonna be done with me for the day. Done. I'll see him tomorrow. I don't want Don to play any sort of ignorance on this. Allen, I looked at the call screener. The call that he intentionally picked up says, how are you able to see the jersey behind Carlin? He knew exactly what he was doing and he went right up on Carlin because he's sick about this whole situation.

[Caller]

I'm with you, Don. I'm with you 100. I'm with you 100%. Listen, I, I work for a format printing company. If you want Posters, Alan. I'll trade your posters for a box for one of the Knicks games.

[Don La Greca]

Whoa.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, what posters we talking when you say a box?

[Caller]

Like, you know, like a little, you know, one of those little sweets.

[Alan Hahn]

Little sweets? Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

That's a big basket.

[Alan Hahn]

That's like, what kind of water? Look, he shot his shot. I appreciate it.

[Caller]

Alan's high up.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sure.

[Caller]

Come on, now.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, I don't know. I don't know if, you know, this the start of the season, they give us a roll of tickets and they're like, yeah, if you can pass them around, go ahead, have fun. Especially this coming season when, you know, Knicks tickets. Nobody's looking for Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no, no, nobody.

[Don La Greca]

Well, you know what?

[Alan Hahn]

I appreciate you shot your shot, though. I appreciate that.

[Caller]

I thought you held some weight over at that place.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, I put my. I keep my head down, my eyes down, and I just do my job and I go home.

[Caller]

Hopefully. Hopefully the starting five does the same and brings us.

[Alan Hahn]

Just do the job. Yes, sir.

[Don La Greca]

I don't even. I could be wrong about this. I don't think Breen's getting you in a suite. A suite? That's a tough.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don La Greca]

That's a big time ask.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think Mike Breen can get someone in a suite if he wants to.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, there was a time we could do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I remember those days so well.

[Don La Greca]

I did throw that around a little bit back in the day, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But in exchange for a poster, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a good deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I feel like you got to do a lot more. If you want to get two in the suite, you're gonna have to bring a little more than a poster.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don La Greca]

I think it would be more than one poster, but, like, how many posters is the equivalent of a suite at the nickel?

[Peter Rosenberg]

This guy sounds like Don negotiating a contract.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? I don't need more money. Give me two.

[Don La Greca]

Go the same way. Matteo in.

[Alan Hahn]

Is it Mateo?

[Don La Greca]

It says Pete. Oh, it's Mateo.

[Alan Hahn]

Mateo, Pete, the guy that Allen Restaurant. Mateo's Pete. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There he is.

[Don La Greca]

Are you new?

[Alan Hahn]

Alan? I had to explain it to them.

[Don La Greca]

What's up?

[Caller]

Hello. Hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How are you, buddy?

[Caller]

All right, I gotta thank you for getting me on the last time. The last time I was a little pumped up, so I might have fumbled around a little bit. But I love. I love your show, Alan. And. And then I. I said something at the end I didn't realize was a cuss word.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, we do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. Don't worry, it happens.

[Caller]

All right, listen, I'm a diehard Yankee fan, a diehard Jet fan. Die hard Nick fan. First, I give you a little Jet insight. I have my knee replaced. I'm doing physical therapy. And this woman's always at the physical therapy place. She's Woody Johnson's cousin. Her last name is Johnson. All right, I said, why don't you tell Johnson to sell the team, because he makes terrible decisions. She tells me. She tells me, he don't care. It's like a hobby to him. He lets his kids and grandkids do it. Enough said with that. But getting back to the Yankees, I. I know I'm going to repeat myself here, but two things got to change. Obviously, you got to get rid of Baboon. Everybody says that.

[Alan Hahn]

Baboon. I haven't heard that.

[Caller]

Aaron. Boom.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I figured it out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I figured it out, but.

[Caller]

Okay, I'm sorry. It's all over here. All right. All right, good. I'm so far, so good so far, sir. And the other guy is Stone.

[Alan Hahn]

Standing around.

[Caller]

Wait, wait. Are you gonna tell me he's a playoff hero? And this and that and the other thing.

[Alan Hahn]

He is.

[Caller]

Well, wait a second. The guy gets hot for maybe two, three weeks at a clip, but then he's out for two months, and then he's. And then it takes him about a month and a half. He goes on a dead streak like he's on now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but listen, I'd rather have.

[Caller]

I'd rather have Rice playing DH every day and catching a little bit. Leave Goldsmith at first base because Rice can't handle the short hops from the infield. And put. And obviously put Calavera at first, second base. I mean, a shortstop, and let him lead off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pete. Well, listen, I appreciate the call.

[Alan Hahn]

I love you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me just.

[Alan Hahn]

The Stanton one is.

[Don La Greca]

Let me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me respond to that, how if a guy gets hot three weeks a year, and those three weeks are always September and October, you need him around, especially on this.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but, you know, he's been good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In the playoffs every year.

[Alan Hahn]

He's very good in the playoffs. But, Pete, Pete, there are bigger issues when you talk about who's got to go. Oh, yeah. Yes, there are bigger issues. And by the way, you left off one really big name of if you really want to change things around here, this guy's got to go. You left one name off that list. Huh? If you really want to change things around here, I mean, everything Good. You can't figure that out?

[Caller]

Well, come on. What? One large name. You got to get he says he a player or no. Oh, you're talking about cashmere, don't you think? Well, yeah. Well, he's never going to get hot. He's never going to agree with you on that.

[Alan Hahn]

And again, that's, that's, that's part of the problem is it's never going to change until they make a change, because.

[Caller]

Boone should have been fired three, four years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't even think Boone is the top of the list of the issues with the team. I don't think it's him.

[Caller]

Yeah, well, here's the guy I would hire as a gm. A lot of Yankee fans have said this.

[Alan Hahn]

Who's that?

[Caller]

But think about this. Who traded Stanton to us? It was Jeter.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Who cares who bleeds? Who's the one critical of the team in the way they play? Who's publicly critical of the team in the way they play?

[Don La Greca]

Well, I mean, we're in fantasy land because Cashman's not going.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just not happening. Yeah, right. We love you, Pete. Thank you.

[Don La Greca]

But you know, Pete, I'm going to defend you on the stand. You can't get rid of him because of the fact he's so good in the postseason, but it is pretty scary. He has struck out 18 of his last 26 at bats.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, when he goes bad, it's bad.

[Don La Greca]

So in his last seven games, he's batting.115. One homer over his last 15. He's batting.118 now. He's got three home runs, but his last. All four home runs of the last 15 games have been solo shots.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you do the previous 15? Because he was on a heater for.

[Don La Greca]

A while in the 30 games, you know, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs. Like, he does get hot.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

But when he goes cold, man, it's stone cold. I mean, think about it. 27 strikeouts in his last 51 at bats. He's striking out more than half of the time he's getting up.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And the Yankees overall, I mean, how many times have they struck out the last couple of games? The kid that pitched last night had 11 strikeouts. Six. How many did he have for the entire game? I think they've struck out like close.

[Alan Hahn]

To 30 times against crochet, right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

But overall, for the game, I think they struck out 16 times. I think 16 of the 27 outs on Sunday were strikeouts.

[Alan Hahn]

They're big swing and miss team.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's the problem because you can get out of jams by striking guys out. Yeah, but that's the byproduct of, you know, waiting for the home run. You get a lot of strikeouts.

[Alan Hahn]

You're looking for the mistake piece. That's what you're looking for.

[Don La Greca]

And because the and then the rights. Why the Blue Jays have been so difficult to play. They put the ball in play. So you start kicking the ball around. You're not able to get out of like a bases loaded jam by striking out the side. These guys will get sacrifice flies. They'll find a way to score runs. Now last night, we're going to get into why last night was last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good. Here, more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football season.

[Don La Greca]

It's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy app is sharper than ever. So you can draft like a pro and dominate your league. And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game mode where the best compete to be.

[Alan Hahn]

Crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion.

[Don La Greca]

Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign up to play ESPN Fantasy Football today.