Hour 1: Yankee Snobbery

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode Title: Hour 1: Yankee Snobbery
Air Date: August 10, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn (Hahn), Peter Rosenberg (out today)
Platform: ESPN New York

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into "Yankee snobbery"—how Yankees fans process adversity, heightened expectations, and the team’s current struggles despite strong pitching and recent wins. Don La Greca, a Mets fan, questions why Yankee fans can’t enjoy the team’s resilience, while Alan Hahn defends fan frustrations given historic standards and offensive woes. The duo critically examines the Yankees’ approach, prospects for October, fan psychology, and reactions to this challenging season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Vacation Talk

• [00:51-03:04] Don’s back from vacation in Ocean City, a dry town where he "unplugged" from social media but stayed tuned into baseball with family and friends.
• Don admits to becoming a "puzzle guy" while on vacation and recalls getting roasted on the show for his unique food habits.
• Alan sports a Robert Graham golf shirt, a gift from Don, leading to friendly ribbing about acknowledgment and marriages.

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2. Yankee “Snobbery” Defined—Team Expectations vs. Current Reality

• [04:05-10:33] Don revisits his on-air comments calling Yankee fans “snobs” (“arrogant,” per Alan).
• Don: “You got a lot of flaws. …You are a poor offensive team for a reason…because they’re missing Stanton, they’re missing Bellinger, and more importantly, they’re missing Aaron Judge.” ([04:30])
• Speculation: The Yankees are “putting Stanton on ice” for the postseason, with Alan agreeing:
  • Alan: “If I told you the Yankees are going to put him on ice…and just let him train...they’re not letting him off ice until October. Would you say that’s ridiculous, or that’s the smartest thing you can do?” ([05:04])
  • Don: “Because that’s all the Yankee fans care about is what [Stanton] can bring to the postseason.” ([06:13])

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3. Recent Performances and Fan Emotional Tone

• [06:25-11:53] The Yankees recently took two out of three from the Braves, following similar series wins over the Cubs and Phillies—yet, as Don puts it, “Yankee fans aren’t happy unless it’s perfect.”
• Alan references the group chat “snob hill,” where fans still nitpick even after big wins:
  • Alan: “It’s snobby. It used to be for Luis Sessa. … Every time you brought in Sessa, that meant you were waving the white flag.” ([08:05])
• Don reads group chat texts in a “snob voice,” poking fun at Yankees fans who can’t be satisfied.

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4. Offensive Struggles vs. Pitching Strength

• [10:33-13:50]
  • Don: “The one difference between this team and all the other teams is this team can pitch. This is the best rotation you’ve had since the Dynasty era and it’s not even close.” ([10:33])
  • Offense remains anemic—averaging three runs a game—but Don points out the team is still above water.
  • Alan: “Now you’re telling me that a chance to win this year has to be on the shoulders of Aaron Judge, who might not have taken a swing in a major league game for three months before he’s back?” ([12:21])

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5. Style of Play: Why Not ‘Manufacture Runs’?

• [13:34-16:16] Alan criticizes the Yankees’ inability to pivot offensively, failing to manufacture runs or play small ball when stars are out.
• Uses Rangers hockey analogy—missing your superstar goalie—other teams adjust their approach, why not the Yankees?
  • Alan: “If you know you’re missing Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton…why not change it up? That’s the part that bothers me.” ([13:50])
  • Don counters that few teams adjust fundamentally: “Baseball doesn’t really think that way. … These teams aren’t stringing hits together, they’re just bashing the baseball.” ([16:05])

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6. The Burden of Expectations

• [17:38-23:12] Don asks Yankee fans to enjoy the fight and resilience of this injury-wracked team, but Alan (and many fans) remain frustrated: “You leave guys on base, the only way [the Yankees] score is a home run, and that is maddening.” ([12:48])
• Alan is hesitant to saddle Aaron Judge with all post-injury expectations: “I don’t like the idea that now I’m going to put all this on Judge.”
• Don likens Yankees snobbery to always focusing on flaws instead of appreciating the competitive fight.
  • Don: “Because it’s the Yankees, and there’s this standard that was set, you know, centuries ago…it’s the snobbery of, ‘well, it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.’” ([18:45])

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7. Comparing Playoff Races & League Strengths

• [22:28-25:44] The hosts discuss the Yankees’ standing in an “ugly” American League and how mediocrity around them (Red Sox, Rays) keeps the path open.
  • Don: “You know you’re going to the playoffs, and they’re showing you…when you’re banged up, you are still alive and you’re getting these guys back.”
  • Alan: “You’re barely alive. That’s number one.”
• Brief digressions into the broader AL and NL playoff pictures and what it would take for the Giants in the NFC (football crossover).

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8. Fan Calls: A Generational Perspective on ‘Snobbery’

• [32:14-36:13] Caller Miguel (Yankees fan, 29) confesses to some “snobbery,” arguing it’s “ingrained in our DNA,” shaped by generations of title expectations—“when we’re good, it’s not good enough.”
• Don contextualizes: “There’s no other team that is held to that standard…You have not been embarrassed by this organization.” ([33:57])
• Discussion of how, even in “bad” years, the Yankees are always relevant and above .500.

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9. Outlook: Appreciate the Ride (Even If You’re Not Thrilled)

• [36:13-39:55] Don urges fans to “enjoy a team that’s going to the playoffs.” Alan still wants more offense and less sameness: “It looks the same every night…you’re getting great pitching. That wouldn’t drive you crazy?” ([36:13])
• Don compares current Yankees to underdog teams (like the “little engine that could” Reds or Red Sox) and notes how, for those fanbases, adversity is fun because it’s unexpected.
• Alan finds enjoyment in rising prospect Lombard Jr.: “Love that kid. He’s been…the guy that you held on to…you pivoted from Volpe very nicely. This kid can flat-out defend, really good.” ([39:00])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don (on Yankee fans):
  • “There’s this standard that was set, you know, centuries ago…it’s the snobbery of, ‘Well, it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.’” ([18:45])
• Alan (on the Yankees’ offensive woes):
  • “The only way they score is a home run. And that is maddening.” ([12:48])
• Miguel the Caller (on generational expectations):
  • “I’m 29 years old, so my entire life the Yankees have been like this otherworldly expectation and that expectation is ingrained in our DNA…and even though we’re not living up to it nowadays, it’s still ingrained there.” ([32:25])
• Don (on how fans perceive adversity):
  • “When you are…other teams, they become a little engine they could—boy, that’s fun. … The Yankees are supposed to do that, and that kind of takes a little bit of the fun out of it.” ([47:11])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | Don returns from vacation; playful banter | | 04:05 | “Yankee snobbery” and fan expectations defined | | 05:26 | Conspiracy Stanton is being “iced” for postseason | | 06:25 | Don: “Tell me you weren’t pumped on Friday night…” | | 08:05 | Alan: “Snob hill” group chat recited in “snob voice” | | 10:33 | Best pitching staff since the Dynasty and offensive struggles | | 13:34 | Alan: “Why not manufacture runs?” Team’s inability to adapt | | 17:38 | Don: “How…are you not excited about the now?” | | 18:45 | Don: “It’s the snobbery of, ‘well, it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.’”| | 32:14 | Caller Miguel: generational snobbery, expectations discussion | | 36:13 | Alan laments sameness; Don advocates enjoying the ride | | 39:00 | Alan praises Lombard Jr. as a silver lining | | 47:11 | Don: Comparing Yankees ‘business’ to the fun of underdog teams |

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Conclusion

The hour is an honest, engaging debate about the psychology of Yankee fandom—how historic success shapes expectation, and why many fans find it so hard to appreciate resilience and wins amidst adversity and offensive drought. Don as the outsider (Mets fan) champions pride in the fight, while Alan embodies loyalist frustration, unwilling to ignore the team’s glaring flaws. Callers add generational flavor, ultimately highlighting a unique aspect of New York sports: the joy of victory is forever measured against the specter of past dominance.

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For listeners: If you’ve ever wondered why Yankees fans seem perpetually dissatisfied—even after a gritty series win—this episode pulls back the curtain, blending humor, sharp analysis, and a dose of nostalgia to capture the unique “snobbery” and passion that defines one of baseball’s most storied (and demanding) fanbases.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

God, one day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Han. Huge. No, but big. Yeah. And Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Alan Rosenberg]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Alan Rosenberg]

ESPN New York and streaming live on

[Don Hahn]

YouTube 301 in the big city. Don, Han and Rosenberg with you till 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball, Little Mets, Braves action for your soul. We're not complete again. No Peter this week, but we've got Alan Hahn back.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Wait, no, no, I was back.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but I'm just saying, the last time I spoke, you weren't here.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, so the show, now I'm speaking doesn't exist?

[Don Hahn]

I Miss John's not here.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There's no show.

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Don Hahn]

No, honestly, there was no show because I was on vacation, man. I was down in Ocean City. I was engaged. Cause there's a bunch of baseball people in the house that we rent together.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Cal Casey works over at mlb. So a lot of baseball, a lot of baseball talk. I did my Mets puzzle. I showed you. I text you over the two puzzles. I found out I'm a puzzle guy because there was one rainy day and I brought some puzzles. It's actually fun.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The kids love that stuff.

[Don Hahn]

No, the kids love it. It gets everybody kind of engaged. Get them off the tablets or whatever. But I gotta be honest, I told you I took X. Or Twitter, whatever you want to call it. Off my phone, please.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Said you took X.

[Don Hahn]

And I just.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Damn.

[Don Hahn]

No, I drank. Listen, drinking was. I'm not a big drinker. But when you're on vacation, it's a dry town. Ocean City. But you could partake in your own house. And I did on occasion, but I kind of just unplugged. Not from sports, but just from the general business. Yeah. So not a lot of social media. Not listening. I Did a little birdie told me you guys like spent an hour on me sprinkling my leftover chips on my salad. So that must have been a busy day.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It was very busy. That was a big, a big sports talk day.

[Don Hahn]

You know, you're catching shrapnel over there on your show. Like, wait a minute, I don't know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I believe that was that Friday? Yeah, so it was Friday. It was Friday before the kid was going on vacation.

[Don Hahn]

You knew on Thursday, Mets played. They're irrelevant.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So.

[Don Hahn]

But you had the trade deadline, you had a big week. So I was following everything that was going on in the world of sports. But it's nice to be back because I do enjoy what I do and I hadn't seen you for two straight weeks and I'm a fan, so I missed you. Terrible.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Gave you a big hug. And what did I do for you today? Everybody on YouTube can see that I'm wearing. This is a shirt. This is a Robert Graham golf shirt that Don gifted me. I gifted and I'm like, you know what? For the first show back, I'm wearing it today. I mean it's 88 degrees in the city, so it's a perfect day to wear it, but. Yeah. What do you think? How's it fit?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it looks fantastic.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You're not looking at me.

[Don Hahn]

I was looking at you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Forgive me though.

[Don Hahn]

I have to. I was looking.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You see what he did? He's like. This is what happens like in the, in the marriage, right? When after a while. Yeah, you look great. Huh? Didn't even look. Not even look it up.

[Don Hahn]

Did we just spend the last 35 minutes together during the meeting talking about the shirt? He showed me the shirt. I saw it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You did a great. But you know how he is. You have to acknowledge him every time. Yeah, he was. No, you have to look him in the eyes when you. Yes, that.

[Don Hahn]

He's just. That's. That's one of the non virgins that care.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I look great, hun.

[Don Hahn]

It is, it is the feminine side of Alan. We all have to be on it. We all have at all times. But no, the shirts are great. So Robert, I got a Robert Graham shirt on. I love that today as well. It's a great shout out to the people over at Robert Graham. They do a tremendous job, as did the Yankees this weekend. And the last I left you, Peter and I were doing the show. I did a show myself and I called Yankee fans Snobs.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I heard this arrogant. I don't like it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you don't like it, but accept it. Because you know what? You got a lot of flaws. I was listening today, listening to K, listening to Carlin. I listened to the morning show. Okay, are they gonna get judged back? Are they gonna get Stanton back? Did they do enough at the deadline? I heard Buster only earlier today talk about how, you know, they did well at the deadline. They did as good as they could have possibly done with what they were looking to do. They weren't. They weren't going to be all in on some of those players. You knew that they weren't going to be giving up Lombard Jr. And with that said, they are a poor offensive team for a reason, because they're missing Stanton, they're missing Bellinger, and more importantly, they're missing Aaron Judge. And I do believe they will get all three of them back. My conspiracy theory is. And Alan, I think you agree that Stanton is being held for the postseason. I don't know this. Nobody told me this. No little birdie whispered in my ear.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It just feels that way.

[Don Hahn]

It feels like when I'm hearing he's being introduced to the bases, like, hello, first base. Hello, second base. Hello, third.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I love the verbiage that the Yankees use. They're great with that stuff, right? It was out. They called it outdoor running.

[Don Hahn]

Right. So he's not in the gym.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He's being introduced to bases. Like, these are just hilarious phrases, but I'm on that. I'm on that bus. Because if you're anybody that has followed this team and followed Giancarlo Stanton now for the last X amount of years, if I told you the Yankees are going to put him on ice and just let him train, you know, he'll hit in the cage, maybe do some BP every now and then with some live pitching, but they're not letting him off ice until October. Would you say that's ridiculous, or would you say that's probably the smartest thing you can do?

[Don Hahn]

Because that's all the Yankee fans care about is what he can bring to the postseason. Because he is the one guy that you cannot criticize about the struggles in the postseason.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He is always bringing postseason.

[Don Hahn]

So get. Make sure he's healthy. Give him a week or two at the end of the season to kind of get the blood flowing, getting ready for the season, the. The second season. And Bellinger, they said it's four to six weeks. If it goes the max, that's mid September. So he should be back. And I understand the apprehension about Judge maybe being back at full strength, but I do think he's Going to be back. And yet this team. And again, I'm coming from a Mets fan perspective, but I'm now here with a Yankee fan who can go at me. I think that you should be really excited about what might be happening here with this baseball team. You just took two out of three from the Braves after taking two out of three from the Cubs, after taking two out of three from the Phillies. All these playoff teams, yes, you lost two out of three to the Cardinals, but three playoff teams? How could you not be excited about it? Did you. Were you not? Give me this. I know you guys are snobs and you look at it like, again, it's the Mona Lisa. Tell me you were doing anything but pumping your fist on Friday night. Two runs out of nowhere in the ninth inning and then winning an extra innings. Tell me that that wasn't a ballsy kind of championship caliber win against the Braves, who walk into the building winners of eight straight games. You're getting completely shut down. You wasted a great performance from Freed. You're dead in the water. One out, nobody on in the bottom of the ninth inning, down, two, nothing. You tie the game, you win an extra inning game. Tell me you weren't pumped on Friday. Seriously.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Here's what I texted. So Ty Butler, Anthony and I have our group chat. It's just a white flag. That's. That's what we call it. We wave the white flag like it's snob hill.

[Don Hahn]

That's what that tech was.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's snobby. It used to be for Luis Sessa. Yeah, because every time you brought in Sessa, that meant you were waving the white flag.

[Don Hahn]

Can I. Can I read the texts in snob voice or is there filthy stuff?

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, it's not filthy. Just look at Friday, 1108. I'm in blue.

[Don Hahn]

All right, 1108.

[Alan Rosenberg]

1108. Friday. So the game was not over. It was still. They were still losing and couldn't score.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so. So that start. So Friday, 1105. 11.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, okay. 1105. What did I say?

[Don Hahn]

As Don would say, this team is a dead stick.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Why does he sound like Anthony Pusick?

[Don Hahn]

Family Guy Anthony Pusick, respond. A brutal watch. Ty Butler 9.9. 10 times. They lose that game last night.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Won it though. That was the next morning. So they won the game. And we're still on that.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's like, so it just wasn't perfect. Oh, she stepped on the ball. That's what you guys sound like to me as a method when I read those. That is One of those. No. I'm sorry. I will tell you this.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No. Saturday was a win that.

[Don Hahn]

But again, the same thing. I believe she scored five runs. And you had. You had a leak. Sweat it out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The kid in front of the old. That kid in front of all the legends put on a show.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It was so good.

[Don Hahn]

No, that would. That was. That was amazing. And you almost pulled it out. Yesterday was a lot like Friday. Yesterday was where but Grisham hits the home run. The title. But again, you didn't go quietly into that good night.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Okay. Because a dead or a dead stick

[Don Hahn]

would have just lost one nothing and it'd be over. But at least you tied it. All right, listen. But the Braves came in winners of eight straight. The Braves are one of the best teams in baseball. They're in first place in the National League East.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Now you got sale on Saturday.

[Don Hahn]

That was a good quality sale versus Cole. And Cole.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What a game.

[Don Hahn]

Here's the deal.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right?

[Don Hahn]

Forget about the four championships in five years. That was a different era. That was a different world.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Okay?

[Don Hahn]

Even though baseball wants. The owners want a salary cap. It was the wild west back then where it was like the same four or five teams and big money markets and all that stuff. But with the revenue sharing era where it's. You see different champions. Up until the Dodgers started spending all the money. When the Yankees have gone through this lull without a championship, their problem going into the postseason every year they can't get the big hit.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They can't hit. Yes.

[Don Hahn]

But the one difference between this team and all the other teams is this team can pitch. This is the best rotation you've had since the Dynasty era and it's not even close. And you're sending out quality every night in the postseason. You're going to be in every game. I'm not telling you're winning a championship, but I'm saying even right now, as presently constituted, averaging three runs a game over the last 44 games. 20 and 24. Not bad considering they're averaging three runs a game. Carlin brought up the stat. The last time you saw a team averaging three runs a game for an entire season were the White Sox a couple of years ago who lost 121 games. That's not winning baseball. The Yankees are finding ways and they're going to get reinforcements. The best player in the game is on his way back. Bellinger is on his way back. Stan most likely will be there in the postseason. I can't understand how you can't be excited about where The Yankees are right now, it might not be what you thought. It might not be what it's supposed to be with the third highest payroll in Major League Baseball. But tell me you're not excited about this team that just kind of refuses to lose, that finds ways to win games, that plays their best against the best teams in baseball and are in a position to make, to get better. How are you not excited about this team?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because the concern is, is what you said about the pitching and that feeling of finally getting the pitching right. Schlitler is a Cy Young. I mean, he's pitching his money. It's unreal how good he is. And obviously Cole is really starting to find it. You can see the bulldog in him freed like you've got. I know it. You've got dogs that can help you win a series. Starting pitching, it's great. But the offense has been so bad.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That now you're telling me that a chance to win this year has to do, has to be on the shoulders of Aaron Judge, who might not have taken a baseball a swing in a major league game for three months before he's back, and then he'll have three weeks to be ready for the time of year that always is his struggle. And you're going to tell me I should be excited?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The year that he gets hurt, you know. Hang on, hang on, hang on. All right, here's the other thing. The frustration of you're getting this pitching and while you know Judge is going to be out for a while and Bellinger is going to be out for a while, you know, you don't have them. The approach never changes. That's what's maddening. They don't manufacture runs, they leave guys on base. And for the most part, the only way they score is a home run. And that is maddening. I am not saying that it can all come together in October and hit at the right time, because that's. They're saying in la, the Dodgers feel that way, but the confidence comes from demonstrated performance. They've done it twice already. They already know. Just get to October, we'll be fine. The Yankees problem is get to October has never been and we'll be fine.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but this is different. This is hitting different because of the pitcher.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The offense always got worse, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Right. So it can't get any worse than it's been. And yet you're still finding ways to win because your pitching is way better than it's ever been.

[Alan Rosenberg]

To believe in something that right now is a variable, and I have A hard time doing that.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And I don't like the idea that I'm now going to put all this on Judge to a point that if it. If it doesn't happen, he has to carry more criticism. Now that's the maddening part of this whole thing. Why don't they change the approach? Look, let's take another sport. Let's take a. Let's. Let's go with this. The Rangers lose Shusturkin for like three months. They got to go to backup goalie. Are they just going to keep playing fire wagon hockey or are they going to. All right, you know what? We don't have our goalie. Let's play a little more conservative. Let's back it off. Let's be very solid defensively. Let's grind out because we know we can't. I know we can't leave the back end open. Right? Wouldn't you say you got to change your approach. If you know you're not just missing Judge, you're also missing Bellinger and Stanton. Those are three major pieces of a lineup that you think could be championship caliber in October. They don't even bother to change it. I think that's the part that bothers me.

[Don Hahn]

But I don't think anybody changes away.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You almost gave away second place. You're lucky this week that you held off the Red Sox for now.

[Don Hahn]

But it's also not luck. It's also the league that you're in. That has to be part of it, too. The Red Sox should be kicking themselves. They went into the weekend and you were talking about it during the meeting. You brought it up on Friday. Yankees are taking on a brave team coming in eight straight wins. The Red Sox are hosting the lousy Sacramento A's. They had. They had to be thinking we're gonna be in second place. We're gonna pass the Yankees. And they lose on Saturday and Sunday. The Yankees ended up taking two out of three. And they lose ground instead of gaining ground because that's kind of how the American League is.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They were a half game that gained a whole a full year.

[Don Hahn]

Yankees should have lost that game on Friday and it fall into third place. But they didn't. And you talk about manufacturing runs. How did that inning get going? Right. Lombard Jr. With a grounder. The pitcher Iglesias throws it away. He goes to third. And they didn't know how to hit a home run there. They almost hit a home run. What? Wells at the top of the wall. But they didn't. They walked. They worked. They were like the old Yankees, they were working counts. They helped the ladies out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And well that's what that. So you lost to the Cardinals.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He drew eight walks tonight.

[Don Hahn]

Can't change a leopard. Can't change his stripes, right? That's the way you're looking at it, right?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Fair.

[Don Hahn]

So these guys all of a sudden aren't gonna bunt. And there was an examp was here on the show, you know, with, with Caballero.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He tried to bun in in the game Friday. It was a disaster. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And even last week there was a. They, they had the review against the Cubs. They tried to bunt and bunted into a double play. But the review took the double play out of it. So they're not going to all of a sudden become the 85 cardinals. But you're seeing not reliant on the home run. But listen, you took, you gave the example of the Shosturkins out. They'll change because there are different ways of winning in hockey. Baseball doesn't really think that way. How did the Braves score their runs this weekend? Honestly, they hit solo home runs on Friday. They had a two nothing lead on two solo home runs. Right. I mean they're not. A lot of these teams aren't stringing hits together. They're just bashing the baseball. They're hitting home runs. That's how the game is played. Some teams have a little bit more wiggle room than the Yankees, I will give you that. But instead of looking, this is why I say snob. Instead of the wide angle lens look of overall just looking at right now, it's a team that can't hit. The reason they can't hit is because they're banged up and yet they're still winning games. And when you get to the postseason, you can't score less than they're scoring now. And even if those guys don't come back, which they will, but even if they don't come back, you still have a chance. This pitching staff is going to give you a chance, Allen, to be in every single playoff game that they're in. And there's still a very good chance that you're going to get those three guys back. And if Judge doesn't do it, well, then bat on him because then maybe he's not at all time.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Wait a minute. Is that fair?

[Don Hahn]

Listen, is it fair that this team was forced to try to keep their head above water, which is all anybody asked when Judge went down? And it's not Judge's fault that Bellinger then gets hurt and then Stanton's Stanton, right? But if he comes back and can just be half of what he is, isn't that better than no judge at all? And it still makes them better offensively. I'm just saying how, as a Yankee fan, are you just not excited about the now of, hey, we've got a chance here and we're going to get better. But again, you harp on, oh, do I know judges coming back? Do I know Stan's coming back? Do I know Bellinger's coming back? But right now, it's a team that I think you can be proud of. They're never out of a game. They fight, they crawl, they do whatever they can to try to win games. Isn't that all you can ask an organization to do? I'm telling you, if it was any other team, if the Knicks were down, Brunson, you'd be. You'd be going nuts every night. If they were hanging in there and keeping their head above water and winning basketball games. But because it's the Yankees and there's this standard that was set, you know, centuries ago, it's the snobbery of, well, it's not the way it's supposed to be. Boy, they could probably play a little bit better small ball, but even more situation.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Boone saying they have to be better, too. It's not just like Yankee fans being.

[Don Hahn]

Who's always so positive. Bunu always defends the players and is

[Alan Rosenberg]

saying the offense has to be better,

[Don Hahn]

actually says has to be better. Finally being a manager.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So isn't finally.

[Don Hahn]

Because that's what managers and head coaches do. They find the negative. That's their job. But as a fan sitting there, how are you not enjoying what this team did this weekend?

[Alan Rosenberg]

But that's a complete flip of the way it usually goes because he's the one that's always Sunshine Don keeping the head above water. They're 30 and 29 since judgment out. They are one game, one game without

[Don Hahn]

the best player baseball. And they know that they were going to lose Bellinger for 11.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You're not doing that. No, you can't do that. They have a great pitching staff.

[Don Hahn]

That's what they have, a great pitching staff.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But, but, but you got. Come on, you, you can you tell me that this lineup, as much as it is missing Judge, they're getting three runs at times, mostly two runs a game. That's all they can do. Jazz Chisholm comes into the season with everything he's got to say.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not defending Jazz.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm out all. I'm not Defending, right, The Grisham thing now. Yes. He had a big home run. I get it. The other night. That was a big home run. Last night that was a big home run. Good clutch moment. Nice. Doesn't matter. For the most part this year has not been.

[Don Hahn]

You're giving the wide angle lens like

[Alan Rosenberg]

if you were telling you it's all kids, you know, Jones has played a lot.

[Don Hahn]

Lombard's played a lot.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Lombard's been. Yes, he has. He's been like, like those guys. I'm not mad because it's all those guys. There's still high priced players that are playing on this team that Cashmere brought in that all of a sudden if you take one piece out, the whole house of cards goes down. Then, you know, what you said about Judge, you might as well put him in Cooperstown now. Put a statue, put a plaque, do it now.

[Don Hahn]

Well, because they can't survive without 99.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, what are they?

[Don Hahn]

That's what I've been trying to tell Yankee fans who kill him all the time in the postseason, that we don't need Judge. Well, you need Judge. This is why you need Judge. But there's also Bellinger in the last 11 games and that's a big part of it too. So you lose Bellinger and in the, in the front end of Judge, who is Grisham was out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But sometimes great players pitching, you can still find ways to win. You manufacture runs, you do whatever you can. I'd be losing my mind if I was. These pitchers, I give them credit, they don't lose.

[Don Hahn]

Look at the. Welcome to my life. Jacob deGrom. I'm just saying is, is that you still got it good, right? You could be rooting for the other team in town who finally, you know, they won five out of six when it's meaningless and they sold off all their players. Now they're finally winning games.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And I want to talk about a

[Don Hahn]

team that kicks the ball all over the place and can't get anything done.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They asked me on Friday going into the series against, against Atlanta, that had come in winning eight in a row after the Yankees, you know, piddled everywhere on the field against the Cardinals. And it's like if they, you know, come, what do you need to see this weekend to feel good about the team's direction? And I said, one weekend's not going to change anything. I need to see this for consecutive weeks. I need to see it consistently that they can survive. And I got, I got one comeback and a good game against a good pitcher on Saturday in front of the hall of Famers in front of the all Timers.

[Don Hahn]

It's not the way you want it to be.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And then we're back to 01 run on Sunday.

[Don Hahn]

All right, fine.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You couldn't do anything on Sunday over

[Don Hahn]

the last, the last four same teams you've played, they took two out of three in the Phillies, two out of three from the Cubs, two out of

[Alan Rosenberg]

three from the opposite.

[Don Hahn]

But it's about winning games. I'm sorry that you're not entertained, but when you go, when you're banged up and you're, you're in the situation that you're in, you are still alive and you're getting these guys back.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, you're barely alive. That's number one.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you say barely alive, but they have the Red Sox who can't lose all of a sudden lose two in

[Alan Rosenberg]

row to the A's, which they haven't done in two months.

[Don Hahn]

I'm telling you, Tampa, that's been red hot right now still should be kicking themselves because they should have a double digit lead on the Yankees right now. And they whittled that away when the yankees were struggling playing 500 ball and couldn't escape. So the Yankees are still within striking distance. But you know you're going to the playoffs and they're showing you. Listen, I can't tell you how to feel. I just watched those games. I watched a lot of baseball when I was away. I watched that game on Friday and it reminded me of something. And I'm going to tell you what it reminded me of when we get back. 1-800-919-3776 I want to hear from you. I'm excited that Alan is back. Very excited about that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm excited you're back. I've been back.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, not in my world. We've got the, the weekend recap, all that. But what else you got?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Now I got for you the project that is finished at my house. I got to show you the video. It came out really nice. And the whole thing, the centerpiece of it all was beautiful set of french doors that my contractor Michael Weldon got working with rings end and rings end. Guys is where you want to go if you want to update and upgrade your home. Any type of projects you have. And not just doors, windows, kitchens, lumber, all the stuff that you need for your home. They have an extensive inventory of built to last high end product lines that contractors like my guy Michael Weldon rely on. So they have showrooms. You can go in, check out all the products and you can see it. You know exactly what you're getting. They have, by the way, they're local 8 full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester County. They also have 12 freestanding paint centers as well. Speaking of paint, you can order paint from them. Did you know that if you know the style, like Benjamin Moore, if you know the style, the color, the coat, all that stuff of the paint that you want, you already know it. All you have to do is go to ringsend.com and you can order it, have it delivered right to your house. It's as simple as that. That's why I trusted Ring's end. I will continue to work with them because you know I love home improvement projects and you can trust them as well. So check them out. Go to ringsend.com that is ringsend.com.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

The Giants returned from West Virginia. We'll get into that. They were only there for like a week and a half, two weeks.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Vibe check. Anthony, while you're on the phone.

[Don Hahn]

He's on the phone. He's trying to.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I was going to try to get a vibe check.

[Don Hahn]

We're going to. You know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know, he's Mr. Negative Giant Fan. I. I was thinking, does he have. Is there even a little bit of, like. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing them play and all. Something. They play. They. They're Saturday, right? Jets are Friday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, jets are Friday. Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah. So I broke camp, come home from West Virginia. You saw all the stuff, right? Jordan's. All of his great reporting. Is there a little bit part of you that's like, you know what?

[Don Hahn]

I've been.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm the only one that's been positive on this show. You guys are the ones that say, tamp expectations. This team's going to stink. No, no, these guys. You guys, that's. You two.

[Don Hahn]

You two. Peter had eight wins.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Hang on a second.

[Don Hahn]

So what I would call what Anthony Pusick just did, there should be a name for that you could date.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You can say anything once. Can't dump it on YouTube.

[Don Hahn]

Where. Where you. There's probably a name for this where you start with the truth, but you close with a lie.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

No, I didn't close with a lie. I never said they were gonna stay. I never. No one said they were gonna stay.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You said tamp expectations. Everybody's too hyped around this team. And I said seven, eight wins.

[Don Hahn]

That's all I said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I thought. And you said, I just want to look presentable again in some capacity.

[Don Hahn]

So where did I say stink? See, that's where the lie comes in that you. You give a little. You give some truth, like the basic 75, 80% truth. And then you close with a hard lie. And all anybody remembers a hard lie.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's absolutely right.

[Don Hahn]

And then he's like, well, he was 80% true, so probably is 100% true. He probably did say sting. I didn't say Sting. I'm just saying all these people are like, oh, they're going to be a playoff team. Have you taken a look at the nfc?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, the playoff team part is what I'm also.

[Don Hahn]

Pump your brakes. They didn't expand the playoffs.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Secondary's got issues, but it's, it's, it's more just about.

[Don Hahn]

And the quarterback, 10 wins. I think it's going to take 10 wins to get the.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Look, look at the division. Look at the division alone.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'll tell you, Washington, the Tunsil thing is big.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's huge.

[Don Hahn]

That is huge.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes. That's something that if you're, if Peter's going to be devastated when he comes

[Don Hahn]

back, but I wouldn't be shocked the Cowboys and Eagles are better. Would you? No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What do you mean? Of course.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so that, so that. Then that's going to be really good this year. So that's a division winner and that's one wild card.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And there's your one wild card.

[Don Hahn]

And then you go to the North. All right, You've got the packers, you've got the Bears, you've got the Lions.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I don't think the Vikings ministry's got their own problems.

[Don Hahn]

Those are three. So one of them wins the division. There's two people, another wild card.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That could be it.

[Don Hahn]

There's only three wild card teams. And then. Oh, by the way.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, wait, wait, I'm sorry.

[Don Hahn]

The defending champion Seahawks.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the 49ers. Oh, and the Rams are favored to win the Super Bowl.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And then there's the Rams. Yes. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So I'm sorry, did they expand to six wild cards?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right. Tell me again. And we didn't even, we don't even have to mention the south, but tell me again how they're making the playoffs and that's fine. But like you, I'm with you. I'm with you on this. I'm. I'm really interested in the Giants this year on many levels, but one of the things I'm very interested in, in is the quarterback story. And also like you keep saying, because I love it, just get out of relegation. Just be a functioning football team again that everybody goes, hey, look, they didn't make the playoffs, but that team's heading in the right direction.

[Don Hahn]

What I'm doing, I want that for the jets. And I'm not gonna. I'm trying not to be that guy, Anthony, but I'm an elder here. I'm the oldest guy on the show.

[Alan Rosenberg]

An elder. He says elder strong.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm just telling you. Well, just. That's the way it works.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He's all right.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that I'm I'm 58 years old. I'm older than everybody else on the show.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Correct. All right.

[Don Hahn]

25 years at the station at 25 years coming up.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

We're less than a month away. And I'm just telling you how it works in this business. All of a sudden, start saying the Giants are a playoff team, then kill them when they're not. I'm not going there. I get it. I decided I am going to. Look, I just want this team to be better. Listen, I might be disappointed. They might win five games and I'll be like, oh, that's terrible. I, that was an awful season. But I don't, I don't. They don't have to make the playoffs to impress me is all I'm saying. But I just know how this business works. All of a sudden, hey, they're going to get better. Now people start to say, oh, they could, I think they could be a playoff team. Schefter says they're going to be a playoff team. This guy said they're going to be a playoff time. This team said they're a playoff. And all of a sudden they're not. The playoffs. And then what should be a celebrated season of improving and getting back on the rails now gets ripped for not going to the playoffs.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know, you don't.

[Don Hahn]

Lost his fastball. Didn't go to the playoffs against the Ravens. They made a mistake. They hired the wrong guy.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And what else will they say? Don Dart's not good kids. No good.

[Don Hahn]

Kid isn't good. I told you, wasn't it?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yup.

[Don Hahn]

So I, it's just all, I'm just telling you I've walked the path, all right? I've, I've walked down this path before, many times. I know how it works. You haven't. You're young. Appreciate that. It's not your fault. As Cat Stevens says, you're young. It's not your fault. But I've been there. I've walked the path and I know how it works. Build them up to break them down. Not playing that reindeer game. Not doing it. You can play it if you want. Diddle away. I am not doing it. 1-800-919-3776 let's get it started with Miguel in Queen. John, ESPN New York.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What's up?

[Don Hahn]

Hey, Don, how you doing? First, I want to say, first time caller. Love this. We didn't lose you. Hello?

[Alan Rosenberg]

He just hung up. Right on you.

[Don Hahn]

No, you didn't. We lost you for a second. You were saying nice things. That's how it goes. No, I just want to say first time caller, love the guys, but I want to talk about the Stop comment. So I'm a Yankee fan and I can admit we are a little snobby, but I don't think it's as egregious as you're saying just because I think you're looking at it from a different point of view. I'm 29 years old, so my entire life the Yankees have been like this otherworldly expectation and that expectation is ingrained in our, in our DNA. And even though we're not living up to it nowadays, it's still ingrained there. So when we're good, it's not good enough. And I know from the eyes of a fan like you down like the Mets that just sold their team, their two stars are not getting along, you're like, what are you guys complaining about? You guys have a great not to understand it because it's the standard that we grew up loving. But when, when do you adjust standard? You haven't won since 2009. Like it's harder to win now. You can't always hold the Yankees up to the four championships in five years. All stars at every position.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Why not?

[Don Hahn]

Because that's just not the way the game is anymore. I think even with the revenue sharing, it's just, it's not the. Even though there's no salary top, they

[Alan Rosenberg]

have a top three payroll.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they do have a top three payroll because it's ingrained in our, in our blood.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes, Miguel makes a great, this is a great point he's making for a first time caller, phenomenal point because it's true, it's not something that from the outside you can understand.

[Don Hahn]

But, but here's just as long as you understand, no one can understand this. There's no other team that is held to that standard. Cowboys, they haven't won over 30 years. Right. When you think of the dynasty team Celtics, they got a couple of titles since 87, but just, just the two. Right. Canadians, they haven't won since 1993. Packers like.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But I'm saying the Celtic fan base is the closest thing maybe, but they,

[Don Hahn]

but they, they still aren't judged the way this team is judged. And you can judge them any way you want. I'm just saying. Okay, again, you're giving the wide angle lens. It shouldn't be this hard, it shouldn't be this way. But in that given moment, what is supposed to be the dark times for the Yankees, you're still able to watch a game like you did on Friday and it means something. You still know you're going to the playoffs. Every other team, San Antonio spurs, they're back now. But look where they were.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They weren't there for long.

[Don Hahn]

They weren't there. They were gone for a while, right? All the great teams, they were gone for a little while, Alan. They were not a good team. You have not been embarrassed by this organization. At the worst of times, they still finish above.500. It's ingrained in you. That's the wide angle lens. At the end of the season, if they miss, if they. If they don't win the championship, I'm not going to get on you for taking the wide angle lens. But right now, in this dark period of time where the team can't hit and you're frustrated the Cashmere didn't do more at the deadline and wasn't all in and you've had it with Boone, your team is still majorly relevant. They are still going to the playoffs. And I still think as presently constituted could be exceptionally dangerous in the postseason because none of these other teams are truly great. So why can't you just enjoy that moment? Right?

[Alan Rosenberg]

The expectations can. Like you.

[Don Hahn]

The expectations have changed when you lost Judge. The expectations changed when you lose Bellinger. I'm sorry. The expectations change. You didn't expect to be here on August 10th at the beginning of the season.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Nobody's saying they should have. They should be winning 10 games in a row. But you should. You. You have to be better than two runs a game.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you should be.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It looks the same every night.

[Don Hahn]

It does.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And you're getting great pitching. That wouldn't drive you crazy.

[Don Hahn]

It did drive me crazy.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It would like.

[Don Hahn]

I know. I mean, I would see Jacob deGrom go out there every five days.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But deGrom wasn't playing on like $300 million payrolls.

[Don Hahn]

A lot of times he was. He was on teams that were expected to do well. He was on teams that went to the playoffs. He was on a team that went to the World Series, Alan. And there were plenty of times I watched them and go. They lose 2 to 1. And the only run they scored was a deGrom RBI single.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah, right. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And a lot of times those things are relatable.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Then if you want to do it that way.

[Don Hahn]

Because a lot of times it didn't end up in doing anything because the Mets weren't good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And it was costing you. Now you're fine. I'm just saying, you just took two out of three from one of the best teams in baseball. And we're talking like, they got swept. You're one of the worst off team offensive teams in baseball since Judge went out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

And yet you're still going to the postseason. And I still think you're exceptionally dangerous.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You're going to pitch better than you've

[Don Hahn]

ever pitched in 30 years.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right. And you're also doing it basically because you are like the. The American League stinks. And you are just.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know what the American. But the National League doesn't. Two out of three against Philadelphia, two out of three against the Cubs, two out of three against the Braves. I mean, come on, you lost two out of three to the Dodgers, but you were in every one of those games, Right? And you did it without Judge, without. I think Bellinger was out then, too. Like, I'm not telling you to do backflips, but can you at least be like, hey, I can be a little proud of this team, but you should enjoy.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Why can't you celebrate them?

[Don Hahn]

Why can't you enjoy a team that's

[Alan Rosenberg]

going to the playoffs, who enjoys losing two to one, who enjoys being two and nine in the innings One day

[Don Hahn]

this week and you lost 2 to 1. Otherwise, you won 5, 4, and you won 3 to 2. But instead of talking about that, you're talking about yesterday losing 2 to 1. And even if you swept the Braves, if you won, they'd be like, oh, we're still not scoring enough run. That's stobbery. That's being a snob. You're helping my argument.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Wait a minute.

[Don Hahn]

You're not a bad person. You know baseball. You are a snob.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But didn't I tell you that Saturday was fun, right?

[Don Hahn]

Until yesterday.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That was great. And then the comeback up until. But it wasn't until they made the comeback, that rare extra inning win. It wasn't until then that. That whole game Friday night was terrible. Offensively maddening to watch.

[Don Hahn]

You are like the guys at the Louvre. And then the Cardinals series you make every day watching the Yankees, like the tree huggers throwing the paint on the Mona Lisa. Like, that's the one thing you focus on, not the three days you got to enjoy the Mona Lisa. The activists came in and started spraying ketchup on her.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, so here's. Here's now where now the. The whole. The kids will start saying glaze. You know what? I've really enjoyed watching Lombard. Love that kid.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Oh, oh, yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He's been, by the way, the guy

[Don Hahn]

that you held on to you didn't. You weren't all in. Yeah, all in would have been giving up this kid. Yeah, and you get to enjoy it. Guess what? You pivoted from Volpe very nicely. This kid can flat out defend really good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And no one wanted to believe me. They all. They all tell me Monday, Tuesday, they were all glazing. You know, it's too soon. Pump brakes.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you were.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Did you. Never mind what I was saying.

[Don Hahn]

You throw the J word out, people are gonna say that you threw. You threw little jeets out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You don't see even like a slight bit of a parallel? You don't see it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, not after that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He carries himself that early. You know the other J I threw out? Jesus, no, Almost. Almost. It did rain. It did rain Friday. I was waiting on that puddle. That almost happened. No, Jalen, but it has to do with personality.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but you. But you know, carry yourself. Yeah, but I saw it. I'm like, really?

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right if I'm wrong.

[Don Hahn]

No, you could. You may be right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, what about grizzled veteran sportswriters in New York who are gushing? What about former Yankees who've already seen this before, who know what they're like? What about the. What they're saying? You hear Willie Randolph gushing about him. All of them. Because it's like your eyes tell you. You just.

[Don Hahn]

It just looks right. I'm not saying you're wrong, but.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So I'm enjoying it because he's. He's proving me right through dj.

[Don Hahn]

I'm saying just. You threw the.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Maybe the best ever.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

Found is a financial technology company, not a bank.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776 Griffin from Connecticut's got a great point. What do you got, Griffin?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Hey

[Don Hahn]

Don, I know you're saying that that they're winning.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I. I feel like some of these

[Don Hahn]

games I rather lose and maybe it's me because I'm afraid of being the first wild card. Yes, I know you'll be the maybe. If you, maybe you do become the first wild card, then you win that best of three. But then you have to play Tampa in the division series. While I hate to watch the al, whoever wins the AL Central, whoever wins the AL west, they're going to automatically, automatically can go to the Championship Series

[Alan Rosenberg]

when they don't deserve to go there.

[Don Hahn]

The AL Central is a bad Help

[Alan Rosenberg]

me out again with the buy. Who gets the ball?

[Don Hahn]

The buy. The buy will go to the division winner. Okay, so the Tampa would get the buy and then the. And probably the White Sox. And then the White Sox would get the buy and then the Astros, right? Or the Astros.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, because they're the third, the third division.

[Don Hahn]

It could be the White Sox too, because they're only. There's not much of a difference between the two. But right now, the season ended today. The Astros would play the Texas Rangers and the Yankees would play the Red Sox and the games would be in New York.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right now it'd be in the Bronx.

[Don Hahn]

But there's only one game difference in the loss column. What Griffin is saying is Drop down to the three wild card, and then you'll play Houston or the White Sox, whoever ends up being the third division winner.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Here's the problem with that, Griffin.

[Don Hahn]

You're saying six.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

It's seven in the loss column. You don't. I know. You want to finish as the third wild card. You don't want to be that bad down the stretch to drop there.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

So I think you can right now just focus on making sure those three

[Alan Rosenberg]

teams remember the bracket game we played with the Knicks. You want to be in this bracket to avoid that team. In the end, you're going to have to play whoever anyway. Right? Like, in the end, you know, you just got to play with whoever's in front of you, and you don't know who you're going to see, but you have no idea.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but look back at it. But down to one to Atlanta, you're like, oh, man, I would rather play

[Alan Rosenberg]

the Raptors until what the Raptors did.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's why it's right. It's foolish to think that way. Here's where Griffin's right. If you got down to last weekend and it's a game difference, you're not going to be upset if you drop to the third wild card. But seven games in the lost column, do you really want to play that bad to drop the third wild card just above. And really, do you want. Would you rather go to the Astros again?

[Alan Rosenberg]

But would you. And would you rather go to Houston or play at home?

[Don Hahn]

You want to play at home? You want to play at home? I know the Red Sox seem like

[Alan Rosenberg]

invincible, but what are they again, the Red Sox thing. And I said this. I said this last week as the caveat. Not that I believe this, because it's. It's been a remarkable story, but at some point, Don, don't you feel like the glass slippers falling off at some point. At some point, midnight's gonna strike because what they're doing, like, they didn't see this coming. No one saw it. It just. It's just happening. Clutch hitting, like, what they're getting was not what they were expecting to be this year. It's just happening.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Would you agree?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And there's no explanation for it. It has been fun up there, but does it reach a point? And other people have told me this, the Red Sox thing could be that it's. It's going to end like it's coming at the wrong time, middle of the season, and at some point, it's just

[Don Hahn]

going to Run out. Maybe that's what happened this weekend. Right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Like, just.

[Don Hahn]

You're going to. You're eventually going to drop a couple because you just can't win every day. Baseball does not work that way.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So you end up losing a couple of games to the.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They got to get a couple of their key guys that have been out. They could be getting back, but you don't know what they're going to. I don't know. Like, I don't like messing around with that stuff. I don't like messing around with. I'd rather play this team. I don't like doing that. I also, though, would rather play in the Bronx against Boston than in Boston.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I don't want to go up there. But.

[Don Hahn]

But you. You.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's why I want to hold them

[Don Hahn]

up on something really interesting because I can relate to what you're going through with the lack of runs being scored and also expectations. There were no expectations for the Reds. This came out of nowhere.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So when I pop their game on, there's just this palpable electricity in the building. And even when they're down a few runs, we're going to come back and win like they just had. Again, that was a bad weekend. But during the week, they're playing the White Sox, man. The White Sox are a good team. They were coming back. They're scoring wrong.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That game when they were trailing the whole game.

[Don Hahn]

Oh. Was incredible.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, it was insane.

[Don Hahn]

But. But because there are no expectations of team playing out of their mind.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There's.

[Don Hahn]

There's fun. There is this kind of business, like, way the Yankees go about it because they're expected to win, that you don't appreciate moments like this because you're not supposed to be the underdog. You're not supposed to be the little engine that could. That's the problem. So when you are. You're mad that you are where other teams weren't expected to do anything, they become a little engine they could. Boy, that's fun.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm turning on a Red Sox game, man. They're just a ball. I saw with the Mets a couple of years ago. They were hot in the second half of the season. All of a sudden it was the place to be. And you turn on their games. They're never out out of it. They're celebrating, walk off wins, tearing shirts off. It's like, oh, my. And the Yankees are supposed to do that. And that kind of takes a little bit of the fun out of it. I get you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han 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 Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and and your smart speakers.

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