Hour 1: Yankees Comeback & Mets Prospects

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Yankees Comeback & Mets Prospects
Release Date: July 11, 2025

In this engaging episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive deep into the recent performances of the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. The discussion is rich with insights, debates, and expert analysis, making it a must-listen for baseball enthusiasts and fans of New York sports alike.

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1. Introduction: Setting the Stage

The episode kicks off around [00:27], where Don Hahn welcomes listeners to a lively Friday show, hinting at a "full frontal" discussion that promises to delve straight into the heart of current baseball happenings.

2. Yankees' Recent Comeback and Game Analysis

A. Game Recap and Group Chat Reactions

At [02:06], Don discusses a memorable game where the Yankees secured a comeback victory, leading to enthusiastic responses in their group chat. Alan Rosenberg reflects on the game's pivotal moments, especially highlighting the performance of pitcher Gerrit Cole and the impact of key plays in the late innings.

B. Player Performances and MVP Considerations

Don shares his admiration for players like Anthony Rizzo and their contributions to the game, stating at [03:13], "Anthony and Anthony ready to jump off the George Washington Bridge for seven innings of that game was so true." The conversation then shifts to MVP discussions, where both hosts express their opinions on candidates like Austin Meadows and Judge, debating their merits and contributions to the team.

C. Bullpen Strategies and Pitching Concerns

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the Yankees' bullpen management. At [06:33], Don critiques the bullpen's performance, especially in high-pressure situations, and questions the decision-making processes behind pitcher rotations and relief strategies.

3. Mets' Current Season and Future Prospects

A. Performance Overview and Management Decisions

Don reveals his frustrations with the Mets' lack of urgency in managing their bullpen and starter rotations. At [12:37], he criticizes the organizational philosophy, emphasizing the need for proactive decisions to bolster the team's chances in the postseason.

B. Prospects and Development Strategies

Alan Rosenberg counters Don's points by suggesting that the Mets are focused on the careful development of their prospects, ensuring long-term success without compromising the current season's performance. This leads to a broader discussion on the balance between immediate success and future potential.

C. Comparing Organizational Approaches: Yankees vs. Mets

The hosts engage in a thorough comparison between the Yankees' investment-heavy approach to starting pitching and the Mets' more conservative strategy. Don at [34:19] argues against the high salaries awarded to starting pitchers, suggesting that the current trend devalues pitching roles similar to the running back position in football.

4. The Evolving Role of Starting Pitchers in Modern Baseball

Don Hahn and Alan Rosenberg explore the shifting dynamics of starting pitchers, likening them to running backs whose value has diminished over time. At [31:14], they discuss how only a select few pitchers command high salaries, while the majority are managed with a focus on bullpen strength and strategic deployments.

A. Salary Analysis and Performance Metrics

Alan provides a detailed breakdown of starting pitchers earning $20 million or more, highlighting that out of 150 potential starters, only 11 earn above this threshold. Don adds his perspective by analyzing players like Jacob deGrom, questioning the return on investment for such high salaries when pitchers face frequent injuries and inconsistent performances.

B. Future Implications for Team Strategies

The conversation extends to the broader implications for team management, with both hosts emphasizing the need for balanced investments in both pitching and bullpen to maximize team performance throughout the grueling 162-game season.

5. Listener Interaction and Call-In Segment

At [30:43], the podcast features a call-in from a listener named Brian, who inquires about the future of starting pitchers and their market value. This interaction prompts further analysis from the hosts, reinforcing their earlier points about the evolving nature of pitching roles in baseball.

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Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn ([02:06]): "We have a 1-0 lead in the 8th inning against a lousy baseball team, and I got a second game of a doubleheader coming up here. I want to win this series and march on to Kansas City."

• Alan Rosenberg ([03:13]): "They did get a run on the boards. They weren't going to get shown. They didn't get no hit. They weren't going to get shut out. But the Stanton home run, that made it 5:3. That, that's when I feel like the adrenaline was put back into the team."

• Don Hahn ([06:33]): "You had a run on third, and all you had to do is put it out in the outfield. And that's what he did. And they won the game."

• Alan Rosenberg ([16:42]): "If you give me chess pieces, I got to use them. And Stanick's supposed to get me somebody that I can trust."

• Don Hahn ([31:14]): "Really what you're seeing is very few select pitchers are getting the big money. Cole got the money. Freed got the money. Yamamoto coming out of Japan, got the money."

6. Off-Topic Banter and Closing Remarks

After an in-depth discussion on baseball, the hosts transition into light-hearted banter about golf, reminiscing about past experiences and entertaining humorous anecdotes. This segment, while diverting from the main topic, adds a personal touch to the podcast, showcasing the camaraderie between the hosts.

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Conclusion:

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the Yankees and Mets, blending statistical insights with passionate opinions. The hosts effectively balance deep dives into team strategies with engaging conversations, making complex baseball dynamics accessible and entertaining for listeners. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, the episode provides valuable perspectives on what lies ahead for New York's beloved baseball teams.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

With the Venmo Debit card, you can Venmo everything. Your favorite band's merch.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that.

[Don Hahn]

Visit Venmo Me debit to learn more.

[Allen Rosenberg]

The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the.

[Don Hahn]

Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply. We sit down on Sus Han.

[Allen Rosenberg]

It's lame. It needs Viagra. And Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

I'm gonna lift my shirt up, take my pants down and shake it all around. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Allen Rosenberg]

This is Don han and Rosenberg on 8 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

App 301 of the big city. Happy Friday, everybody. Don Hahn and Rosenberg, a full frontal today right up to seven o'.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

And that's when we will hand it off at 7:30 to Mets baseball, Mets and the Royals. Tonight, final series for both the Mets and the Yankees before the All Star break. Yankees home for the Cubs. Mets in Kansas City for the Royals. How are you, Allen?

[Allen Rosenberg]

I'm good. You said full frontal. The sun is finally out. It would be cloudy most of the morning. I saw you poolside earlier. I was literally in it earlier. I mean, one of these, one of these Fridays, Donnie, we should do a poolside show.

[Don Hahn]

We can make that work.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Put the equipment right out there, right, right out in the sun. Love it. And just do it. Then you get your real full frontal. Because video element in these days, you'd.

[Don Hahn]

Have to drag out the camera and everything. But we can make it work out there.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Absolutely. Yeah. So let's make it a point at sometime before the end of the summer that we pull that off.

[Don Hahn]

Now, can this finally be a day that even you, Allen, can luxuriate and what the Yankees did the night before, can, can that, can, can this at least be the day where we can shelve the whole. Worried about their hitting, worried about their ops, worried about hitting with runners in scoring position, worried about the bullpen that you can just. Yeah, there's things to nitpick, but can you at least. Can we do a segment on just how amazing that must have been for Yankee fans last night?

[Allen Rosenberg]

All you have to do is look at the group chat last night. Yeah. And just Anthony and I again. I know. I'm sure you were busy. How was the show, by the way? Was it. Was it good?

[Don Hahn]

Well, full disclosure, you got there in time. A friend of the show, friend of the station, Willie Wilson.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah. We love.

[Don Hahn]

William was basically like the music director of ESPN New York back in the day, right?

[Allen Rosenberg]

For a long time.

[Don Hahn]

His band would always play at the beach bashes in the holiday party. Well, he has put together a school, a tag school to help kids become, you know, Broadway stars or singers or set designers. And he's got a whole school going and he puts on plays in the North Jersey area. And he's been. He's actually been nominated for two Tonys because of his work.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Love it.

[Don Hahn]

And last night in Fairlawn, New Jersey, they were doing the Lion King and I wanted to show support. So I met Nancy and the kids and my nephew Declan to see. And the kids all did a terrific job. And Willie says hi and got to talk to him after. So I was monitoring everything over the phone and then had to get home, which was like an hour away. And I was listening to the end of the game. But you guys were doing a great job keeping just me updated. Both Allen and Anthony ready to jump off the George Washington Bridge for seven innings of that game was so true.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Well, Woo was unhittable. And it's. I mean, how many times did I out loud say, like anybody I was talking to not only in the group, but other friends of mine who are Yankees fans or people that know that a man can fan. I'll just love to troll me when things go wrong. I just kept, well, you know, kids don't know nobody's hitting them. I just kept saying, nobody's hitting them. They're not going to touch them. Like, I just did whatever I could to jinx it. I did my part right. All you need to know is that the conversation between Anthony and I began with me saying, so this game sucks. And that was in the seventh inning. And then I re. I like after all that I just said, so this game's fun because that's Stanton at bat in the pinch hit situation. Like, yes, okay, they broke up the no hitter. They did get a run on the boards. They weren't going to get shown. They didn't get no hit. They weren't going to get shut out. But the Stanton home run, that made it 5:3. That, that's when I feel like the adrenaline was put back into the team because it went from like saving face to okay, they can win this. And that's the, I mean, I felt. And I haven't had that kind of confidence in the Yankees in a while. I had that kind of confidence in them in that spot because it just felt like things started to turn, you know, you got Woo out of the game. And, you know, they show the parents. It's a part. This shows you I'm getting old, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Do you ever feel this? They show the parents. Now my teams get no hit at home. I'm frustrated. But then you see the parents there, and I'm like, oh, man. Like, I feel bad for them because the minute he gave up the hit, you could see and he made a face, and him and Jazz had that moment, which was kind of cool, where Jazz said something to him and. And smiled and. And the kid, I guess he batted him on the lower back, like, as if any. And. But he had that grin on his face, like, damn it. Like, he knew he was that close. They showed the parents. The mom was. Right away, her face sort of looked, you know, sad. The father just didn't change expression at all. And in that part of me was like, ah, that sucks. As a kid, I would have, you know, said something about the parents that you couldn't say on the air.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Allen Rosenberg]

But it just shows you I'm getting old. But you, again, you weren't watching. So I'll ask Anthony. Anthony, when Stanton hits the home run to make it 5, 3. In your. In your brain, were you like, okay, they're going to win this. Did you have that kind of confidence? Because I did. I'm like, all right, I'm locked in now. They're going to win this. I had a better feeling. Well, remember what I also said. You're also pessimistic. So it was clearly. Well, I said it to you guys in. In the studio that they won two of. They won the first two games, and it clearly felt like not necessarily a punt lineup, but they rested Goldschmidt. Yeah. And Vivas was in for Paraza. And although Paraza is hitting.157, so it really doesn't matter who's playing third. Right. That. That is not a place that has a lot of offense for the Yankees right now. But when you start seeing they're going to pinch hit, they got Goldschmidt pinch hitting. They got Stanton pitch hitting. So, okay, they're trying to get something here. And after you get the home run from Stanton, you have to feel a lot better about their chances. And then I don't know what the heck was going on in the ninth inning, but the Yankees read something, and they made it very easy. First of all, couldn't throw a strike. Munoz. And then everybody basically contributed to that one, including Volpe. He did throw strikes. He wouldn't throw a fastball first.

[Don Hahn]

Well, and he might have been tipping what he was throwing. That's been speculated too. I thought the Wells at bat, you know, listening to it driving home, I thought was great. Six pitch at bat. You know, it's.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Rice had a big at bat too, man. Like, like Rice was a very patient, very disciplined at bat.

[Don Hahn]

No, Rice was. I thought, you know, Wells, he's 2 0, but then he goes 22 goes full, gets the single to tie the game. And you know, at that point, you just know it's inevitable the Yankees are going to win the game, especially with Mariners not scoring in the top of the 10th inning. And I'll say this, and maybe it's being too over the top with my opinion, but you only get so many opportunities in an MVP race to make a statement. And there's a lot of people out there because he's a catcher, want to give Raleigh his flowers. Because even though he doesn't have the war that Judge has or the batting average that Judge has, he might actually beat him in home runs at RBIs. And because he's a catcher, they may get some votes. Well, you had the mano a mano series. Your team completely wet the bed. He did homer, but just one for 11 in the series. And I'm sorry, that's a great play by Volpe. You got to make that tag. He's dead to rights. It's the game, man. You got to make that play. So I don't think he put his best foot forward. So when you don't get those mano a mano moments, too much. MVP versus mvp and Judge is the incumbent so he doesn't have to show anything. But at Yankee Stadium, a home run hitters ballpark, you know, one for three, bunch of strikeouts doesn't make the, the, the big play at the end of the game. To me, I think that puts it to bed as far as MVP is concerned.

[Allen Rosenberg]

He also had a terrible series.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, one for 11. He hit the home running game one. And then I was it.

[Allen Rosenberg]

And it was. And it was. By the way, it was me. It was an A rod. I mean, it was garbage time. It was late in a blowout. It. It didn't really mean anything. It was a bomb, but it didn't really mean anything. I also didn't like the fact that he's the one that, like, he's the one that was. We were tipping pitches. That's why the Yankees were hitting Munoz. You know, it does sound like sour grapes, right? You had a bad series. You don't make the tag in a play that really, if you think about it. But what does Pudge Rodriguez make that play? Did some of the best catchers in the game make that tag? Like, it seemed like he almost didn't give it the effort it deserved.

[Don Hahn]

He was out. Volpe was dead. He was dead. You know, you said it best that day.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You thought he was out, right when he called him safe. And I said, they're going to challenge that. And I remember, like, I think I actually said in the group chat, Anthony, right. I was like. I was like, did he tag him? Did he. Didn't he get him? It seemed like he got him. I thought he. Then they showed the replay. I'm thinking, how the hell do you miss him? That's a Platinum Glove winner, too. Raleigh, listen.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think Don's right.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I think Don's right. This was your chance to make it. Make that case of, I'm right there with this guy. And instead you had a bad series at the plate. And that play, defensive play at the end was a bad look for you defensively. And so how can you not think and judge by the way walked off the game, even though it was just. I know he didn't. It wasn't a hit, but it was still. It was exactly what you needed to do. You had a run on third, and all you had to do is put it and put it out in the outfield. And that's what he did. And they won the game. He walks off the field. In my opinion, the MVP right now.

[Don Hahn]

But you know, listen, if. If Raleigh makes the tag, your opinion is going to be a little bit different about him not coming through and not hitting it deep enough and. And all that, but still, great win. And to me, that whole game encompasses everything you want to say about the New York Yankees in one game, right? In positive and negative. Yeah, like negative. Wu is a great pitcher. Completely shuts the Yankees down, right? So that's kind of what happens in the postseason, right? You get great pitching, shuts down great hitting. So you had that aspect of it then. You had the aspect of how the Yankees offense just waits out to attack the underbelly. Now Munoz is probably. Is an all star, right? But. But tipping pitches or whatever, you get to the bullpen, they're going to expose it right there. They're not going to go away. We saw it in the Mets series, even though, you know, they didn't win two of those three games, a 72 game. What happens? Met's got to get the closer up because they keep Coming. They keep coming. They keep guys on. They're still a swing or two away from getting back in every game. So you saw that aspect.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

And you also saw the aspect of why, at the end of the day, you can't get overly concerned about the Yankees not making the playoffs. Because if that's a playoff team in the American League, Seattle, that shows you the problem with the American League.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Bullpen can't hit, but they're a good team and they might be on their way to the playoffs, but they completely wet the bed of Yankee Stadium. They had a chance to make a statement. They swept Pittsburgh, didn't allow a run in the series. They come stampeding in to Yankee Stadium, MVP candidate versus MVP candidate, and they got swept and embarrassed themselves last night from the eighth inning on. So if that's one of the best the American League's got to offer, ultimately, the Yankees have no concern about making the playoffs.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I mean, they're not one of a big.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, I guess, but I'm saying.

[Allen Rosenberg]

One of the top teams. Yes, but they're not even leading a division.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, one of the best. Listen, he's their playoff team.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So I'm just saying that, again, we've expanded the playoffs where, where six of the 15 teams make it, but I'm just saying that that's supposed to be a pretty good team. And the Yankees took care of business.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I mean, they're not in the wild card.

[Don Hahn]

They're not. They fall out.

[Allen Rosenberg]

They're a game out of the wild card. Yeah. So. Yeah, that's what I thought.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I remember going into the series.

[Allen Rosenberg]

The Red Sox have gotten on. What do you call it, a toot. Right. They. So they've actually climbed into. Believe it or not, it's all the American League East. It's. It's the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, who are the three wild card teams. Right.

[Don Hahn]

Because it changed going into the Series because the Red Sox have gotten hot.

[Allen Rosenberg]

And Seattle, the Mariners, just dropped. Yeah. So they dropped out. I mean, they, you know, look, the Royals who play the Mets tonight, they're. They. And the. And the Texas Rangers are the only two other teams that you'd really feel like, have a legit chance to climb in. But it looks like the American League east, the whole entire division, can end up making the playoffs. That says a lot about the American League, if you want to really say it without question.

[Don Hahn]

Now, that was the Yankee side of things. Let's flip onto the Mets side of things. And they got swept in a doubleheader by One of the worst teams in baseball. And they followed up coughing up that one nothing lead in the eighth inning. We debated about the Peterson taking him out with a runner on after giving up the fifth hit of the game. And then the bullpen, Stanek gives it up and then again, can't hit with runners in scoring position. But what's frustrating for me is the lack of a sense of urgency around the Mets. I understand they're banged up, but how many more openers do we have to go through? How many bullpen games do we have to go through before at some point David Stearns brings up one of his prospects? Last night Stroud had no hits over seven innings. McLean's been good down in the minor leagues and for whatever reason, Stearns just does not want to call up any of his prospects and he'd rather have these openers, rather have these bullpen games in what I think are important games, important series, when you're trying to win a division and you're a game and a half back of Philadelphia. And I know it's early, we haven't even hit the all Star break yet. We haven't even hit the 100 game plateau yet. But you see the Yankees and what they've started and the prospects they've called up to start games. You know, why is the Mets philosophy so much different?

[Allen Rosenberg]

I want to believe it's because what the Mets have, like between McClain and Sproat, you've got two starters, they're both righties. You brought up a righty who's around that same age in Tidwell. That's, that's the guy you brought in to give you some bullpen. I don't know if they want to disrupt development of players because remember, they're not long term with any starters. That's not what they do.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Like the Yankees can do it because look, look at the money they've put into their starting pitching. So they don't really look at it as, you know, this is a guy that we have earmarked as an ace or, or, or a starter. They, they've got guys that they're, they're going to use accordingly. So my, I, I gotta believe. And we don't really hear a lot, you know, I don't, I don't think Stearns is ever going to explain this stuff, but I just, I don't think they work it that way. That's my opinion. Again, the guy that they called up who's a 24 year old was Tidwell. He's still he's top 15 prospect.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Allen Rosenberg]

But it's not like he's a, he's not trash. But the other two guys, as you mentioned, are way ahead of him when it comes to organizational power rankings. But they're all righties. Everybody's already have no lefties.

[Don Hahn]

But, but Tidwell wasn't giving you length. Right. He's a bullpen guy. So that was an opener when he pitched.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, Slitler actually went out and pitched five and a third. Right. He's giving you some length now. Now, as far as the philosophy is Concerned, back on July 3rd, David Stearns was asked, would you consider bringing up one of your top prospects for a spot start? I'd say my preference is to not bring up a top prospect for a spot start. I also understand it's a unique circumstance and I can't take anything off the table right now, but my preference would.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Be to figure out a way to do it without doing that. Now it's a spot start. Now you're, you're asking about the bullpen that has been God awful and trying to get one of these guys to help you there. But I don't know if you want to mess with a guy who's being built as a starter during the season and have him just give you an inning and that messes with him. So I don't think that's why I don't think you're going to see it. But the spot start explanation, I think that's the part that you're wondering. While they were injured, they're healthy now with their starting pitching, so they don't really need to do it. But a couple of weeks ago, that's when you could have expected.

[Don Hahn]

No, but they're. And granted, you don't know that you're going to get rained out. But we have seen recently where, you know, Hageman starts to game two of the double header. I mean, you've seen you had a spot start in the Yankee series. So what I'm saying is in that situation, would it have been so wrong instead of Sprout pitching yesterday, having him come up and pitch the second game of the double header saying, I want to win this series, I don't want to have to use an opener, I want to use one of my young kids.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Now I understand there's peril because you only have a certain amount of call ups and I get that. But the lack of urgency, let's face it, is, hey, we're a playoff team and we're likely going to make the playoffs, may not win the division, but I'm not going to damage the long term view of this team. Brian Cashman thinks the same way too. The whole idea of I want to win a championship, not championships, right. I'm not going to put all in one season and damage any chances down the road. I want, I want to have multiple kicks of the can, not just one. But what ends up happening with the Yankees, the pressure from the fan base and then how will step in and go, hey, let's, let's do it, you know, let's give Teixeira the money back in 09 or let's be in on, let's make sure that we bring back judge, let's make sure that we spend this little extra here or there to get it done. And maybe ultimately Cohen will do the same thing at the deadline with Stearns. But I don't, I don't, I don't want to sacrifice the future Allen, but I also don't want to throw away an opportunity here to give myself the best chance to make a run this year. Right. So I love keeping an eye on the future. I get it. But sometimes you got to put the hanger in the pocket, right? You can't always be thinking about three or four or five steps ahead. Sometimes you just want to make sure you're not giving up your turn like in pool. And I don't want the Mets to all of a sudden have to take the same path they took last year. They could win this division. I want to see them win the division and take the next step, not have to take the path they took last year or possibly have to be on the road for the wild card. These are the things that I want to try to do both if I can, but not come at the expense of the now either.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah, I get that. But I think organizationally they're just trying to be careful. I know you hate hearing this, the idea of the kid gloves treatment of pitchers, but that's a reality. You know, that's, that's where it's at. I think when you hear him explain about the spot start, I just think he doesn't want to disrupt development for like, you know, just again, if, if it's September, if it's, if it's meaningful, if there's something like on the line, I don't know if you have that you make that same decision. But I do think when it comes to the middle of summer, I don't want to disrupt some guys that we feel really good about and we want to make sure that they develop properly. I don't want him to have a. To do something up here and then it messes with whatever happens when we send them down. And there's also, you know, options. You know, there's that game, too. You got to play. Of course, I don't know if this is, to me, this. Yesterday's conversation that we had continues to be, in my opinion, about what the team itself is screaming to its general manager. And I think he's hearing it loud and clear, which is why the closer we get as we get to the other side of the All Star break, the closer we get to July 31, you're going to see that it's David Stearns that has. He's got everything now hanging on his shoulders. This is not about Mendoza deciding to take Peterson out with after one hit in the eighth inning when he had pitched a clean game. This is. No, I'm supposed to play it this way. You give me chess pieces, I got to use them. And Stanick's supposed to get me to Diaz, and he didn't on this one game. So you got to get me somebody that I can trust. If I can't trust him, that's up to Stearns, the GM at this time of year, just like Cashmere, they are assessing their team halfway through and they're seeing what are the weaknesses and, and what can we get to make sure when we get to October, they're no longer weaknesses. And that's. That's up to these two guys.

[Don Hahn]

Okay?

[Allen Rosenberg]

Pressures on both of them, but especially on Stearns, because of what we saw yesterday. And if you don't have enough right.

[Don Hahn]

Now to win the National League, they don't have enough. But also to kind of put it back on Mendoza's lap, going back to the argument that we had yesterday about Peterson, is that knowing all that I know there are certain games I just can't let slip through my fingers. And so, yes, I've got. I've got a Stanek problem. He hasn't been great. Even when he got the job done against the Yankees, he walked the ballpark. I've got a pitcher with just 90 pitches I want. I'm going to have him try to get through it because I can't trust the bullpen. Yes, we're going to have to address that. Yes, that's a problem. But I got a 1 nothing lead in the 8th inning against a lousy baseball team, and I got a second game of a doubleheader coming up here. I want to win this series and march on to Kansas City. And now they end up losing that game. There are no show in the second game. Now they lost a series, now they, they blow all the momentum that they have built up, not just taking two out of three from the Yankees, but the comeback on Tuesday against Baltimore completely gets washed away. And now we'll see what happens this weekend. And now maybe a game and a half back becomes three and a half back. And then we look back at being a wild card team again and saying, boy, I know we didn't think it at the time, but back in July, wasting those games against Baltimore cost us a division. So if they go on and win the division, Alan, no harm, no foul, right? What were you concerned about? What were you worried about? But if they end up missing out, missing because they lose the division by a game, those are the games they're going to look back and say, you let it happen. So, yeah, things have to get done, but there's also games that have to be won in the process, and you can't let those things slip through their fingers. There's 162 of them, but they all mean the same, right?

[Allen Rosenberg]

As long as you are within striking distance and two games back of the Phillies is striking distance, because you will see them again and you still control your destiny. As long as you're within. To me, you got to stay within three games, that's all. And then you control your destiny. It's as simple as that. So there's no reason to fret about June or July until you get to that last series with the team that's ahead of you. And if you could just stay within range, you're fine. So we don't even talk about June or July if they're right there in September. And that's what we're looking for.

[Don Hahn]

And you get Senga back tonight. Yeah. This is going to make, what, his fourth start since coming off the il. We'll see who ends up pitching on Sunday. Got all your starters, but go out, I'll feel a lot better if they go out. You can sweep Kansas City, go in with a little momentum, maybe pick up a game, you know, on Philadelphia in the process. And just. We have this conversation all the time. Oh, it's early. You know, it's. I get it's early, but it's games like this, Phillies, Phillies on the West Coast, Right. They just had a series against San Francisco. Now taking on the Padres. Let's take care of business, right? San Diego is eight games above.500. Kansas City's two games under. So let's see the Mets gain some ground and let's forget about what happened against Baltimore.

[Allen Rosenberg]

So you're all right. So Donnie. And we'll carry this into the next segment. So when do you feel scoreboard watching time begins?

[Don Hahn]

I always. Too early because you're already telling about.

[Allen Rosenberg]

All your opponents and everybody like you're so locked in on the standings in the scoreboard right now. And I'm. I told you, for me, middle of the season is about get right because you want to go downhill. You get to late August and now it's time to get that momentum. The last six weeks of the season and you want to go downhill right now you got to get right. And getting right is whoever's not going, you got to get them going. And whatever's wrong with the roster by now you have a half a season to figure out if the roster is good enough or not in any sport. So this is to me, the get right time. The scoreboard watching and momentum and the standings. That to me is late August. But maybe you think differently.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, I don't. You're right. I'm not going to sit here and get crazy. But at the same time, I always keep an eye. It's easy. It doesn't take a lot of effort. What did Philadelphia do? Know how many games back you are? I don't think there's any problem knowing, you know, where you stand.

[Allen Rosenberg]

No, no, that's fine.

[Don Hahn]

The game, sweating every moment.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, watching the Phillies as intently as I'm watching the Mets. No, but I keep an eye because once upon a time they had a four and a half game lead and now they're back a game and a half. So it is very fluid. But I like, I like to keep an eye because, you know, you see it. Look at the Dodgers, what they're going through right now in the negative way. And then the Red Sox all of a sudden got hot. No, Blue Jays all of a sudden get hot. You're gonna, you're gonna go up and down. There could be ebbs and flows. Right. But at the same time, during those ebbs and flows, you want to make sure you take advantage. When if Phillies gonna dip, I want to take advantage of that, not, not kick myself because during their five game losing streak, I lost four in a row and didn't take advantage of it. You know, so I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping an eye. Not freaking out. You're right. August, September, you're living and dying with the out of town.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Now we get into it, right?

[Don Hahn]

But it's always something. I think it's just a part of what we do as fans. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health, with 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress. To battle stress, most of us can't wave goodbye to work, but we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient too. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. As largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Unwind from work with BetterHelp our listeners get 10% off their first month month at betterhelp.com timeout. That's betterhelp.com timeout right now, all Abercrombie men's tees are 25 off and Spotify listeners are getting an extra 15 off.

[Allen Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Allen Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Allen Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Allen Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Allen Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Time now for the weekend weather brought to you by Wild Pork Foods. Looks like a nice weekend ahead. Tomorrow Partly Cloudy with a high of 84 and Sunday mostly cloudy with a high of 84 as well. That was the weekend weather brought to you by Wild Pork Foods. Wild Pork Foods is your Grill season, go to. With over 450 meats and seafoods. Blast frozen for peak flavor. Visit in store or order same day [e-mail].

[Allen Rosenberg]

What'D you. What do you. You're a big hard rock guy. You're a big 70s music guy. Jake just came in with a little heart, a little barracuda.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Allen Rosenberg]

How'd you feel about Hart back in the day?

[Don Hahn]

Well, I like Barracuda. They kind of.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Okay, you don't.

[Don Hahn]

They're kind of like the female version of Aerosmith, where they had, like, damn. Well, in the sense of they. Because they do have some soft rock tunes.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Well, they. They turned it into, like. Yeah. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Then it became like.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Kind of like a movie. Like.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like the Jennifer Warren got involved in, like, that kind of feel.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Nancy Wilson. Because it's Nancy and Anne, right? The sisters. Yes. I'm sorry. It's Ann Wilson. Ann Wilson ended up being, like, one of the most prolific movie soundtrack producers. Mm. Like her, Her. She's credited on so many movies that it's not like she didn't make the music. It's like her putting together soundtracks that go with the movie. It's. It's amazing what her second career became. But Anne was the brunette, Nancy was the blonde. Yes. I gotta tell you, as a. As a teenage boy in the 80s, Nancy Wilson might have been one of my favorites.

[Don Hahn]

So you were.

[Allen Rosenberg]

So you.

[Don Hahn]

You understood the vibe that Judge Reinhold had in Fast Times.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yes, sir.

[Don Hahn]

At the red light.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yes, because that was.

[Don Hahn]

That was a Nancy Wilson cameo in Fast Times. Ridgemont High.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Where he's wearing the pirate outfit.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah. You know the song, they had these dreams. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I had many of them.

[Don Hahn]

And we're gonna leave it at that.

[Allen Rosenberg]

She's like 15 years older. It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Even today, she's 71. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

No, but I, I wouldn't consider myself a fan. I do like some of their songs, though.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

And I. I agree with you about, About Nancy.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Okay. I'm glad you did.

[Don Hahn]

And I think a lot of other guys do as well. And if you don't Google.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Did I make you Uncle? Did I make you uncomfortable?

[Don Hahn]

No, you don't make me uncomfortable. I, I. Maybe other people feel uncomfortable about it, but I don't.

[Allen Rosenberg]

No, it's life, man.

[Don Hahn]

No, exactly.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Happen to see that. That one of their songs was with, you know, top 100, Billboard. They did something this morning, and I just thought of, like, I thought. I haven't really listened to any of their music in years. And I just saw it and I just said right away. I just.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you had uttered, you, you had mentioned during our meeting today.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

That you wouldn't mind if she came up in conversation today. You know, like a summer Friday show kind of thing.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Curious to see if anybody else had the same vibe. I did and obviously Judge Reinhold did as well.

[Don Hahn]

And Jacob was paying attention in the meeting and decided as he always coming out of our first break, he's the best, you know, playing it and getting that out of the way.

[Allen Rosenberg]

So Jake gets the show. Yes, he does.

[Don Hahn]

And especially the vibe that we have in the summer show on a Friday for sure.

[Allen Rosenberg]

What do you say?

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Brian in Rockville Center. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Brian?

[Allen Rosenberg]

How's it going, guys? I just wanted to ask you if you could see in the future.

[Don Hahn]

I'm kind of surprised it hasn't happened yet. The starting pitching position becoming like the running back in football where you kind of know these guys are going to break down so you're not going to pay him. And then could that increase the market for relief pitchers because you're only getting five innings out of a pitcher. It's very rare you get more. Can you guys see that happening?

[Allen Rosenberg]

Brian, I would argue it already has. Honestly, I would argue you're already starting to see it. I think every contender at this time of year over the last 10 years, it's like go back 20 years, teams always are looking for relief pitching help or upgrading relief pitching especially. I mean mainly contenders are you always talk about your bullpen more than you ever did before. Like back in the day, remember Don, they called it the fireman, right. Like that was always the, the guys who came in, they put out the fire. Like that's really all relief pitching was about is when your starter went in the tank, who comes in to put out the fire and then you add your closer. Now it's, it's all matchups. It's. There's so much more to it, strategy to it. But I think what, what the Mets are doing, Don, is very similar to what he's saying. They are looking at starting pitching as something you don't invest long term in. You short term invest in it and you just kind of once a guy wears out, let me just find somebody else that can do the same thing for him and just have a stronger bullpen that can protect you from weak starting pitching. I like your see it that way.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. I think you nailed it when you said it's already happening.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Because really what you're seeing is very few select pitchers are getting the big money. Cole got the money. Freed got the money. Yamamoto coming out of Japan, got the money. Guys that they deem are special, and not every team can do it. Select few can. And it's usually for like the one guy. Because I need my one ace, right. I need my one stopper, like my game one starter, a guy that could be available for me in an elimination game, a game five, Game seven, and then everybody else. It's just, let's get. Let's see if we can get it at a discount. Because what you're paying for not just is their ability to pitch Allen, it's them to give you length. What Cole is like. Cole can go out there and give you seven, maybe eight innings at least. There's that one day on the calendar where I don't have to go too deep into my bullpen.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Your stopper. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And, and, and that's what you're paying for. And that's it. There's very few. And so it's like the running back, right? Where. All right, Saquon turned out to be special circumstances. Philadelphia was on the verge of a championship. He had skill. You were given Adrian Peterson the money back in the day, but mostly everybody else, it's now been devalued into. We feel like if we build the right infrastructure, anybody could play that position. And that way, don't spend a lot of high draft pick and money on these guys. These pitchers are the same way. That's what it's becoming, is that I just want a staff and some guys start, some guys are in the bullpen. But all I'm trying to do is trying to get 27 outs. And if I'm not going to get any more than 15 to 18 outs for my starting pitcher, why am I paying him $35 million a year when the game is still very much up for grabs post 6th inning? Like, he could do his job. And I still don't win the game because I don't have the proper infrastructure to take advantage of it. I don't have the bats to add to the lead. I don't have the bullpen to close it out. So why am I spending all this money on that can fireball him down for six innings and the game scoreless going into the seventh, and I still lose the game.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You're basically paying a guy a ton of money and he's not giving you Even half the game anymore. Let me ask you this, what would you say is like give me an annual salary. Just give me that like one year salary. Give me a demarcation of. That's, that's spending big on a pitcher. What number would you put?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, clearly I wouldn't have it 35. I would say 20 pops to my 20.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Okay. There are in the league this season, I just looked it up. There's 30 starting pitchers making 20 or more. Now if you 30 sounds like a lot. And again you're talking about. It's like Severino's getting that Maniah is getting that. You know, like Walker Bueller got that. He got 21.5 and he's showing he's not worth it. Surprised me. You know, of all these sale they're all like 22, Bassett's 22. Jordan Montgomery got 22 this year. Gosman up in Toronto's pitched well, 23. So what if. How about you want to do 25?

[Don Hahn]

Okay, 25 million. Yeah.

[Allen Rosenberg]

And you like. So who's making 25 million or more this year as a starting pitcher in the majors? And that grand total is 11.

[Don Hahn]

11.

[Allen Rosenberg]

So you want me give you the names? Are you interested?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Tell me who's worth it, who's not.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Allen Rosenberg]

All right. I'll start at the bottom and go up. So the bottom at 25 or more is Robbie Ray, Sonny Gray, Jack Flaherty, Carlos Radon, Shoy Ohtani, who's, you know, again, he does a lot of Blake Snell, Corbin Burns, Tyler Glass, now Garrett Cole, who's not playing. Jacob deGroms at 40. And number one this year, highest paid pitcher by salary in the year, Zach Wheeler at 42. That's it.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, and, and, and all those guys at first blush seem to be worth it either. All names, even the first one you mentioned, Ray, it was, you know, going to the All Star game.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Isn't going to, isn't going to pitch because he's pitching on Sunday, but he's an All Star.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right. Those are two Yankees and two are Dodgers out of the 11.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Well, there you go. And so think about that. Of the 150 potential starting pitchers, because you figure you got five for each team.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right. Actually, I'm sorry, three if you considered Ohtani.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You know. Yeah, I didn't realize that. Right.

[Don Hahn]

You know, so only 11 of the 150 are making north of $25 million. You know, so you're already starting to see a very select few and most of those teams are teams with, you know, throwing a lot of money around.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Do you believe in it?

[Don Hahn]

I. Well, look at, look at deGrom now. He's having a great year. You know, Rangers, can't hit. He's not giving you any length, is it was. Does it end up being worth it? $40 million. Where are the Texas Rangers? And he's having a great year. So what is it doing for me?

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right, That's. That's what you got to think because that's. Because now are three and a half games out of a wild card spot.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Allen Rosenberg]

They're just two under.500 as a team. Team.

[Don Hahn]

Now if I have. Now that. What's interesting is if the degrom becomes available and let's say I'm the Mets. Although I doubt he'd ever come here because I think. I don't think he really liked New York. So I don't know what his whole no trade clause thing is. I don't. I don't think that would happen.

[Allen Rosenberg]

But just everybody's saying that he wouldn't come back because he hated it here.

[Don Hahn]

I had the feeling that he hated it here, but, you know, I don't know if he ever said it, but it just. I got the sense he just wanted out. But whatever. Yeah, if you brought the grom here, like for a Mets trying to make a run, you might see value because, hey, I want to have that guy pitch for me in the postseason. But for 162 games on a team that's got other needs, I send them out here, it gives me six tremendous innings. I don't score. Like Texas doesn't have any big bats. My bullpens. Ah, look. Look at his whole career with the Mets. Right? It was basically, you know, losing a game two to one in which he was the one that picked up the RBI single that the Mets had.

[Allen Rosenberg]

How many wins did he have the year he won Cy Young that he had? Wasn't it like 11 wins?

[Don Hahn]

It wasn't. Wasn't a lot because he had so many no decisions, the bullpen would blow it for him. Or, or they didn't score for him, you know, and you just say to yourself, like, what, what, what? Does it make sense? Just like the running back, does it make sense when I'm throwing the ball as much as I am and I'm able to pick a guy up in the third round, they can go out there and get me 12, 1300 yards, another 5, 600 via the air because I've got a great offensive line, I got a great quarterback. I've got all these weapons and I'm able to use the running back to take advantage of all those things. Why spend that much money? Why draft that high?

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And I think the caller brings up a tremendous point. Are we already there.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Now, again, I asked you if you believe in it, because obviously the Yankees don't. Because the Yankees prioritize starting pitching by putting, putting a ton of money into it, which is. That's what they've done. Freed's making a ton, actually. Where is Freed on this list?

[Don Hahn]

I don't believe in giving pitchers big money. Now, obviously Stern's taking it to a different level, but because he's not, it's not so much giving the money, just not giving the years, because we didn't even bring up the other part of it. And these guys get hurt. Right now I go out and get my ace, I give him a five year contract worth $35 million a year. And one of those years he's going to be gone because of Tommy John. But one of those years, he's going to miss half the season because of something. Yeah, a bad shoulder or, or like what happened to Sangi. He's going to pull something. Going to cover first base. They're China Dolls and they're not available.

[Allen Rosenberg]

It's amazing. 50th 14, 5 is what he's making. He's right up there for Cy Young.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So that's worth every penny.

[Allen Rosenberg]

It's a, it's an interesting conversation because it is a contrast. The two New York teams, it's a con, and obviously the Dodgers too. It is a contrast in styles and what makes more sense, what works? It depends on your point of view. So I'm curious if you like the way the Mets do it or do you, do you prefer to do it like the old days or like the Yankees do it and the Dodgers do it?

[Don Hahn]

Well, it shouldn't matter that ace, because.

[Allen Rosenberg]

In a playoff series, Donnie, you know, you got to have those guys that can shut down a lineup.

[Don Hahn]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone. 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 Chev and has many campuses including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia. Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile.

[Allen Rosenberg]

With the price of just about everything going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in.

[Don Hahn]

A reverse auctioneer which is apparently a.

[Allen Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

So give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of 45 for 3 month plan equivalent to 15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com thanks for listening to.

[Allen Rosenberg]

The Don Han and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, get ready to swing big at the ESPN New York Tee It Up Golf Challenge. It's presented by Jake's 58 Casino Hotel. It's all happening Monday, July 21st. I'm getting texts from friends about this already, Don, so this is great. And you know what else too, by the way? I'll get to it. July 21st. It's Monday. Colonial Springs Golf Club, Farmingdale, Long Island. That's out here on Long Island. Teams will battle it out for amazing prizes and bragging rights. Of course, you can lock in your foursome now and everybody's calling, so get in on this while you can. The ESPNY York app is where you go to do this. So you know you have that on your phone. So who's going to be there? Well, it'll be me. It'll be Don. You have Rick and Dave as well. Carlin and Bart are going to be there. Of course. We also have special guests. We have Larry Johnson, John Starks from the Knicks, Justin Tuck from the Giants, and how about this? Don't. When I saw Butch Goring at Joe Micheletti's event earlier this week, right? And I just said to him, you know, butcher you and and his wife, Paula McHale. Now Paula is the Rangers game producer pre and post. And so they, they're golfers, like high level golfers. Butch is really Good. Paul is excellent, and I psych. And they're Long island people. I said, you guys should come to the event. We just locked them in today. You want to talk to Stanley cup champion Butch Goring. Little islanders talk. And Paul knows everything about the Rangers, so you got that. And they might even have a couple other hockey people come around, too, so you never know who's going to be there. It's a great time. And most importantly, all proceeds support the Garden of Dreams foundation. It's the ESPN New York Tee Up Golf Challenge, presented by Jake's 58 Casino Hotel. It's brought to you by London Jewelers, Verizon, Schweppes, Wild Fork Meat and Seafood Market, Botobox and Infinity.

[Don Hahn]

I was talking more details.

[Allen Rosenberg]

By the way, find the Tee it Up tile on the ESPNYork app, which I know you have on your phone. Right.

[Don Hahn]

That's where you're listening, right?

[Allen Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

So I was talking to my agent Russ, today. As you know, there's a lot of balls in the air for me right now.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Excuse me.

[Don Hahn]

He lives three miles from there.

[Allen Rosenberg]

That's his club. Oh, well, he's coming.

[Don Hahn]

He's gonna be there. And I've been getting a lot of pressure that I should start playing now. You know how I feel about golf.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I don't know. Wait, do we. Do we have. Do we have a drop of you talking about golf?

[Don Hahn]

You should. We'll give Jacob a second.

[Allen Rosenberg]

We clearly don't.

[Don Hahn]

I want to hear it.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I do, too, because it's one of my favorites.

[Don Hahn]

You're right there.

[Allen Rosenberg]

It should be.

[Don Hahn]

So while he's doing that.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Right. You were talking about having balls in the.

[Don Hahn]

Like, how much I'm missing out. And I'm a competitive guy, and part of the reason I don't play is I hate it. And also, you know, I broke so many badminton rackets when I was a kid. Barely. Oh, my God. There's just so many of them. You know what?

[Allen Rosenberg]

You choose.

[Don Hahn]

I will watch everybody. See, I'm a really good miniature golfer, and I love miniature golf. I love golf courses.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I despise golf is just one of the great drops ever.

[Don Hahn]

Now the back. You don't know about that. Do you know who's in the. In the room when I did that? You know, was sitting to my right when I did that was Mark Teixeira.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Oh, okay.

[Don Hahn]

Mark Teixer was in studio for a.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Whole show, and you yelled, I despise golf.

[Don Hahn]

I. Because that was. I don't know if. Well, unfortunately, even if. Yes, had it, they wouldn't be able to. You know, they would have no platform in which to show it right now.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Fair point.

[Don Hahn]

But it was during the. The Open, and I was just talking about how pompous it is that it isn't the British Open. It's called the Open because they're just so disgustingly full of themselves. And so I just. I said I despise golf. And I started, like, skipping around the studio, just screaming how much I hated golf. Mark. The show must have thought I was a mental patient, honestly, because if you don't know me like he knew me. He was a weekly, and he. It was the summer. It might be during the All Star, he came in, he was hosting with me. Michael was off, and he was in there. But if you don't know me and you're not, like, a big fan of the show and you see this, you'd be like, this guy. Something's wrong with this guy.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Now, here's how I could sell golf to you.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You like a good time?

[Don Hahn]

I do.

[Allen Rosenberg]

You like a beverage? Yes. And since you have your softball event every year, you know how to swing to hit a ball?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Allen Rosenberg]

There you go. That's basically. Don't look at it like, you know, again, the. The. The whole idea of golf, which is the. The goofy outfits and, you know, keeping score, caring about what happens. Look at it as. It's a couple hours with the boys where we just, you know, we have a few pops and we're telling stories and ripping on each other, and every now and then, you hit a shot well enough to be able to break.

[Don Hahn]

Well, let me ask you this. How Competitive is the 21st? Like that? That.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Well, it depends on what Forsome you're in like John Starks. It gets. Is competitive, you know, Rick. It'll be competitive.

[Don Hahn]

Well, is there a way?

[Allen Rosenberg]

I think you don't know who you're gonna be going. It's competitive.

[Don Hahn]

You don't know what your foursome is gonna be.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I do. Yeah. Yeah. Brandon Long, who I love, one of my favorite people in the world. I'm gonna get to hang out with him and his foursome.

[Don Hahn]

Is there a way that for a hole I could sit in for somebody just to see how it goes?

[Allen Rosenberg]

Well, we tried to do a Bart. We tried to do that with Bart last year. No, no, you could, because there's going to be some foursomes that.

[Don Hahn]

Because it's best.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I'm not good. Like, I don't play at all.

[Don Hahn]

Is it best ball?

[Allen Rosenberg]

I think so. Yeah. So I Think it is. So, yeah, you could get some swings. I would like to. Me, like, I had Bart. Bart doesn't like to play, but he'll putt. And it's hilarious because you don't want him putting, but he would. So, like, you could do something like that, or you could just take some swings and just try it out.

[Don Hahn]

Because I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out on a lot of stuff is trust. Maybe I got to put my hatred aside for a second.

[Allen Rosenberg]

It could be. It could be really. It could be a lot of fun.

[Don Hahn]

Now I have played, but again, it was 1997, and I had that great shot in Burbank, California. I told you, tapped it in, said, I'm never doing this again.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Never doing this again.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but, you know, time goes by, we're talking almost 30 years ago.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

28 years later. Why not revisit that whole thing?

[Allen Rosenberg]

It could be a great time with the right people. And there were ESPN New York golf outings in the past years, especially when Rick and I were doing shows together where Rick and I were in foursomes together. And we were. We laughed so much, we were crying, exhausted because of just how much we laughed and had a good time. And then Rick got tired of me being bad and wanting to win, and I suddenly was no longer in his foursomes, which is. Which is when all the fun stopped for me.

[Don Hahn]

Because you know what I was thinking of? I'm gonna sound like a fraud here, and it's fraud alert.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Fraud alert Friday.

[Don Hahn]

But I was thinking, like, what if the impossible happened, right?

[Allen Rosenberg]

What's that?

[Don Hahn]

And I'm in. I'm in Anaheim on an off day. And. And Jack and Nico in the. In the lobby go, hey, Don, we need a. We need a. We need somebody to play with us today.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Why not?

[Don Hahn]

What am I going to say? I hate golf, Despise golf, Start skipping around the lobby. And then, you know, I don't know if you want alienating myself from the Devils or do I.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Think about it. What if the coaching staff say, hey, Don, we need one more. Why don't you come out with us? We got two days. No, they're not in Phoenix anymore. The best was in Arizona because they'd all but the club. No more Arizona. I know, but. No, if you're in Anaheim, like, yeah. And if they. Hey, Donnie, we'll get you clubs. Don't worry about it. Come on out.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I will watch everybody's golf. Tommy Fitz can't play today. You want to sit in? Am I Like I said, am I going to skip around the lobby? I ate golf.

[Allen Rosenberg]

The Open. The Open. Well, what's. What's more pompous? That or the fact that today the Wimbledon semifinals were the gentleman's semifinal? Gentleman. Stop it. Like it's, it's, it's just the men's. Can we move on? Stop.

[Don Hahn]

Can't do it.

[Allen Rosenberg]

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. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Allen Rosenberg]

Some say the three point ball has.

[Don Hahn]

Created a monotonous rhythm to the game. Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Allen Rosenberg]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goods buys in history and I think I will be successful.

[Don Hahn]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series, Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts.