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Don LaGreca
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Peter Rosenberg
Don, give me a piece of wood. I'll eat it.
Alan Hahn
Don. Peter, the most used sweat is at a buffet. And Rosenberg.
Anthony Pusick
I'll be honest, the one thing I miss about having an office is the taste of Steve Hart's nuts.
Peter Rosenberg
This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.
Alan Hahn
This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on 880, ESPN and the ESPN New York app on a Thursday in New York city with Don Lagraec and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. We got a busy show for you today. I'm in la. I survived the. The flight. But, Peter, you were wrong. You were wrong about something.
Anthony Pusick
What's that?
Alan Hahn
That we discussed?
Peter Rosenberg
No.
Alan Hahn
You know, your whole thing about the. No, I made it. I'd made it. The ice cream. I survived having ice cream that was sitting in the freezer for a month. That was fine, but somebody else didn't make it. And so there was a point during the flight where it didn't matter how much you turned on that. You know, the ventilation, so you get, like, that nice blast of air. Didn't matter. It was toxic for a few seconds there in first class. It was very toxic. And it's almost like, you know, it was dark, the cabin was dark. Most people were sleeping. Because I imagine, like, when the lights went on, all I kept thinking was I couldn't help. But now you're scanning people going, okay, who was it? Like, you know, like, there's some people. You just look at me like, yeah, it was definitely you.
Anthony Pusick
That's crazy, because I was just saying.
Alan Hahn
Just the fact that you brought it up.
Monica McNutt
Right, right.
Anthony Pusick
I said yesterday on the show, if you weren't listening, I told Don, I said. I mean, Don and Alan. I said, it's funny to me that I feel like, for the most part, flatulence isn't really noticed on planes that much. And Alan said, hold my beer. And then sat through what he sat through. But did you. Did you take a moment to really realize how. How much Brownshire is killing it with the opens of the show. I mean, that was a doozy.
Alan Hahn
That was very good. Yeah, that was a good one.
Peter Rosenberg
He's rolling.
Alan Hahn
That was a very, very good one. Yeah. So we love that at the beginning of the show. So, again, tons to get to today. And in our. In our daily morning conversations that I love having with Anthony Pusick, I got a dose of angry Anthony and Don. It had to do with last night's Capitals Rangers game. Now we have Lakers, Knicks tonight here in LA. Monica McNutt's going to join us at 4. There's a lot to get to on that because the whole Luca LeBron show, we will get to that. The Yankees, their injuries and all that. But I feel like just because of the passion that we heard from Anthony, or at least that I did, and knowing that there is a trade deadline and Chris Drew, he's still making moves. Made another one today. Not surprise. Riley Smith now is on his way out. But there was just something about the frustration that Anthony was displaying in his conversation about a Rangers loss at home. Ovechkin still gets another goal. Who of all but Tom Wilson getting the overtime? Of course it's Tom Wilson who gets the overtime. The Rangers still get a point. They're still very much in a playoff hunt, but there was a lot more that came out of that game that had Anthony fired up. So I don't know. I think we need to bring in a little angry Anthony and see how many other angry Ranger fans either either hear him and will pump their fist or will hate what he has to say. Anthony, what was the thing that bothered you the most?
Charlie Lindgren
Well, the thing that bothered me the most was hearing from Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren after the game and what he said about playing against the Rangers without his brother Ryan.
Alan Hahn
Definitely, yeah. It felt good to get a win for my brother and obviously for the team here. You know, my brother laid it on the line every single night for this team, and he loved being a Ranger, loved the group over there, and I know for a fact they're definitely going to miss him. There's going to be a big hole back there.
Charlie Lindgren
There's been so much of that from the Ranger locker room. And I'm not saying that anybody's talking to Charlie Lindgren and saying, oh, we really miss Ryan, but Ryan Lindgren spoke to Larry Brooks and said he didn't want to get traded a week ago and that he loved it here. Jimmy Vesey, who was part of that trade, said he was unhappy with being scratched a month ago. Zach Jones has been unhappy with his playing time, rightfully so. He's a young player and he wants to get his career off to a good start. But he was blocked by a bunch of these defensemen that lo and behold, have been traded. And yet Capococco talking about how he didn't like his role. Philip Heidel got traded and it's just so. And now I look online today and Vince Mercagliano, one of the Ranger beat reporters, was on a podcast talking about how Chris Kreider's relationship with the organization has been strained because of the Jim Ramsey firing and the memo that said they were open for business where his name was getting thrown out and the trades of Goodreau and Truba. And I'm just trying to figure out why only the Rangers have all of these seemingly emo problems. Because last I checked, Steven Stamkos was a captain and multiple time Stanley cup champion for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They traded him and they might actually win the division. And Don thinks they have a chance to go to the cup and nobody. And I'm sure that there were a lot of people in that team upset when he got traded. But this team, you can't trade Barclay Goudreau. You can't trade Jacob Truba. What if Chris Kreider gets traded now? Ryan Lindgren's gone. Guess what? The Rangers played one of their best defensive games of the season last night without Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren and Jacob Truba. So I don't understand where this desire of these players to say that for some reason they can't get moved. Everybody else in the league can get moved. Miko Rantanen is going to get possibly traded for the second time in two months. But if a Ranger gets traded, it is, it is Death Con 5 at Madison Square Garden.
Peter Rosenberg
I understand your frustration. I get you. Especially when this team is in the middle of blowing up the core. All right. And still also trying to be competitive. They. They're in a tie with Ottawa for the final playoff spot. So none of these moves have hurt their chances of making the playoffs this year. No offense to any of the guys that were dealt. I think you're going a little over the top because it is Ryan Lindgren's brother. So of course he's going to take exception to it and he's going to look for motivation. He was the starting goaltender and it was a surprise. He was the starting goaltender. I think he was the Starter because of this reason, because it looked like Lindgren was jobbed by the Rangers and Goudreau was jobbed by the Rangers and Truba was disrespected by the Rangers. Guys, I understand it's a players league now, not just the NHL. Every sport where the players are now partners with the general managers and the owners. But when it's not working, what do you want the organization to do? You went to the conference final last year, but for much of this year, you've been on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Anybody who's watched this team realized that the core had to change. Something had to change. So what, Chris Jury is supposed to just fall on the sword because we don't want to ruffle any feathers? What are you supposed to do as an organization when it's not enough? Just stay status quo because everybody's happy and everybody's got a no movement clause. So you want to take anybody off. It's great to be a Ranger. It's one of the few places in the United States where hockey matters and you get treated very well. And as we outlined yesterday, you play in the best arena in sports. But you know what? The fans deserve to see a chance for a team to win. You had a chance to do it last year. You came up short. You had a chance to follow it up this year, and you spent the majority of the time on the outside looking in for the playoffs. What would you expect Chris Drury to do? Let you make the decision on who comes and goes?
Charlie Lindgren
Because that's worked out well. I think this is.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, that's worked out well. Because the previous regime's like, oh, we gotta give Mika Zabanajad and no moving clothes. What would we do without Mika's abandonjad? What would we do without Chris Kreider? Well, the question is not that it's their fault, but so far not winning. Your organization, as proud as you are as a Ranger, have won one Stanley cup since 1940. You had the best goaltender in the sport for a decade and a half and went to one Stanley cup final. Team has not been good enough. And now Chris Drury is trying to change that. The fan base wants to see it change. So, yes, feel good, Anthony, that you root for a team that everybody wants to play for, but would ask these players, what do you want Chris Drury to do?
Charlie Lindgren
Don, I. And by the way, don't. Don't get me. Don't get it confused. I thought Ryan Linger was a fantastic Ranger, much like Dan Girardi and Mark Stahl. And they sacrificed, all three of them, sacrificed their bodies. Mark Stahl lost half of his eyesight to play for this team, but eventually your time runs out. Ryan Lingard's 27 years old, but paired with Adam Fox was not putting up any numbers consummate to what Adam Fox can put up. And again, one of the best defensive games this team has had all season. They did not have Adam Fox, they did not have Ryan Lindgren, and they played last night with one of the best teams in hockey. So I know that people like Ryan Lindgren in the locker room. I know that people liked Barclay Goudreau and Jacob Truba in the locker room. This is the third, I'd say, fourth coach that this core has had the opportunity to work with. And we still see the same problems with them. If the power play isn't going, they don't score. The defense outside of the goaltending, whether it be Henrik Lumquist or Igor Shusturkin or Jonathan Quick or any of the other goaltenders they've had, makes it hard for them to win seven game series if they're not scoring at a high level. Artemi Panarin's fantastic in the regular season. It's tougher when it gets heavier in the playoffs for him. So J.T. miller has brought in a new style, new edge to this team. And you've said it multiple times, and Dave has said it on the air, Don, and I think he is right on. J.T. miller is going to change this roster. That is how they want to play. Did you notice that some of the guys that everybody was complaining about that disappeared for six weeks, were going into the corners and laying hits yesterday. We're blocking shots, we're playing hard. Where was that six weeks ago? Last I checked, guys were getting traded then. And now all of a sudden, because J.T. miller's here, everybody wants to play hard. I'm sorry. These guys had the ability to do this all year. I don't know where it was. And that's frustrating.
Peter Rosenberg
I just, I just, I laugh at these players and not just Rangers. All over sports, Alan, Peter, you guys cover it. You see, it is they want to be the de facto general manager, right? They want to be the one that chooses the players and all that. When it works, when it doesn't work, they can go be a player and then point the finger at the general manager for not getting the job done. The general manager's job is to put the best team on the ice, and it's his job that's on the line if he does it. So it's not about making friends. Yeah. Could he handle the Goudreau situation better? Sure. Should he let him know before he was going to be released? Sure. Could the Truba think of it handled better? Yeah, I guess so. But in defense of Chris Drury, he's trying to make the team better and if he doesn't, he gets fired. And if he does, he gets a raise. That's the way it works. You guys get to play under no movement clauses and guaranteed contracts and being able to play poorly. And nobody's taken your job away. Nobody's even taking your ice time away. So I think they're in all organizations. That's what ticks the Yankee fans off. There doesn't seem to be any accountability. What's the accountability if you don't play well? What's the accountability if you don't hustle? What's the accountability if you don't win a championship in a decade and a half? And when there's no accountability and you don't win, what do you expect is going to happen? And you know what? And the only transient position on the New York Rangers in the last few years has been the president and general manager and the head coach. The players stay, everybody else gets fired and that's what do you think they should do, Alan?
Alan Hahn
Because what you have, what you have in this situation, right, Is the only power you have over a player is the most precious commodity, ice time. Right. Like that's the only control you have. It starts there. Then it's also a lot of these guys, like you just pointed out, this is a great place to play. It's a great building to play in. Right. It's a nice city to play in and you can just have one run to the finals and a couple of conference finals appearances and everybody's happy, right? This isn't. It doesn't have the same feel of the Yankees, which is you get to the World Series, that's nice, but you got to win it, otherwise we're all miserable. So for the Rangers, it has been. It got comfortable real fast and you could see it. I had the same problem with the Islanders a couple of years ago when they had gotten to back to back final Fours. And all of a sudden this country club kind of aura was around this team and it felt like, wait a minute, what happened? This was a hungry team that outworked you, out fought you, and that's suddenly missing why? So with the Rangers, I think the same feeling was there. There was a lot of Guys who just never felt uncomfortable in their roles and they could always just point fingers. Oh, well, you know, you got rid of Jim Ramsey. We love him. How could you do that? Like any little thing to complain about, you do. And so what do you do? You start sending guys out and then you start to see it turn over. Because I guarantee you that Mick is a manager, loves living in New York. I promise you this. I promise you he loves living here. And maybe he's got to start saying to himself, I might be the next guy that they try to ship out of here. I don't want to leave her. I love it here. And so that wakes you up. What Drury did is definitely a wake up call in that locker room. Truba out. You know, some certain guys that had to go to sort of send that message.
Peter Rosenberg
Allen. The same things happened with the Knicks last year. It would have been so easy to just run it back. All right, the injury stopped us from beating the Pacers. Let's keep Randle. Let's run it back. Because we didn't get a real true kick at the Kanga guys who got hurt. No. Leon Rose looked at it and says, we need to get better now. We'll find out if it works or not. But you know what? We gotta make the trade for Cat. We gotta bring in Bridges. We've gotta change it because it's not good enough. That's what good organizations do, you know, now once you win a bunch of championships, like the Yankees kept the Core 4 for a while outside Andy Pettico into Houston. And we saw it happen with those old Celtics teams, Peter, Remember, Maybe they kept McHale and Bird a little bit too long, but it was hard to get rid of them. It's happening in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby and you have Kenny Malkin because they won Cups, but they won. That's a nice problem to have when you've got a bunch of rings jingling and jangling. But when you haven't won, you don't have that luxury to sit there and give gold watches out for almost.
Anthony Pusick
That's the thing that's so funny about it, is that I totally get why teams. You know, I've been saying this, Alan, the whole time, when anytime the idea of Sid leaving Pittsburgh comes up, I go, ridiculous. I would rather watch this team be worse and have him end his career as a Penguin than leave. But that's the thing about having several Stanley Cups during your career.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, you earn that.
Anthony Pusick
You earn that. If you don't have it, we don't need to run it back over and over again.
Alan Hahn
Steph Curry in Golden State, there was that talk, well, you got to move Steph Curry, right? Last year, there's this thought of, you know, the. You're not built to win anymore. You do the right thing for him and all that stuff. And it's like, why the hell would you do that? That doesn't make sense because you had a dynasty, you had something going. But there is other situations where it gets to that point where it's like, you know what? It's not working with this. You know what I'm afraid of? I'll tell you this. What Anthony just said about the Rangers and the reaction by fans and. And what Drew, he's now is forced to do is what, to me, is the worst case scenario for the Brunson era Knicks, it's that they're really good. Everybody loves them, they're fun to watch because, I mean, all those things describe the Rangers over the previous couple of years, right? I mean, there was a great vibe about them. I believe that two years ago, remember, I said they had the season the Knicks were supposed to have, like. Like, things were just working out for them, and yet it didn't turn into what you were looking for, which is a shot at a championship. And so for me, the work when everybody says, like, what's the ceiling? What's the floor? The floor is that this ends the way this Ranger run with Kreider as the centerpiece and all these guys, you know, that core that. That we're talking about, that this run ends in the same in a similar fashion. And that's a major concern. And that's why if you're Leon Rose, you look at it and you say, okay, this is, you know, we had to move Randall. We had to get a guy like Towns. But then you look at this again and you go, well, we can't get complacent if this still doesn't look right. And let's be honest, there are games that just doesn't look right, even though they're 40 and 21. We're going to watch tonight against a Laker team that was kind of middling and then made a ridiculous trade for Luka. And now some people think they can win a championship now. So we're going to see again on national tv. Is this enough? And if it's not, here we are in the summer, do you say, well, we like this group, let's not mess with it? Or do you say, nope, got to.
Peter Rosenberg
Get better, and that's why we can include all the teams, even a negative side with Saquon Barkley, you understood what Shane was trying to do, all right, we had him for six years. Didn't work. We've got other places we've got to get better at. We've got to make a tough decision. It hasn't worked. And that's why he's getting destroyed for it. Maybe eventually lose his job for it. I don't know if what Chris Drury's doing is going to work. I don't know ultimately if what Leon Rose is doing is going to work. But you got to sometimes look at it and say, all right, we gave it a. We gave it our old college try. We gave it a shot with these guys, and now it's time to make the change. And the reason I respect the worst.
Alan Hahn
Thing is to wait too long.
Peter Rosenberg
And the reason I respect it, guys, because jobs will be lost if it doesn't work. If it doesn't work, Chris Jury's gonna be shown the door. If it doesn't work, Shane's gonna get shown the door. Probably should have got shown it already. Maybe at some point, if this doesn't work, Leon Rose is gonna have to pay the piper because their jobs are on the line to do it. The players that complain their jobs aren't necessarily on the line because they're. They're difficult to trade. They can't. You can't send them down. You can't always bench them. So it's easy for them that aren't going to be held as accountable by losing their job to sit there and be critical and criticized. So ultimately, we're going to find out if it's going to work. But you know what? When your job's on the line, I think all these organizations, none of them that have won anything in a long, long time, you've got to make those very difficult decisions. We'll see if it works. So far, so good with Leon Rose. We'll find out if Chris Drury gets it right. We'll find out ultimately if Shane gets it right. But as we get close to the deadline, we get close to the start of the baseball season with the Mets, have done what Stearns has done. Sometimes you're left scratching your head, and then they make the playoffs and you're not scratching your head anymore. But I understand Anthony's frustration. It's so easy for these players to play general manager, but the guys that are really doing it for real are putting their jobs on the line to do it. Let's see if it works out.
Alan Hahn
800-919-3776. And I'm curious how many Ranger fans out there feel the same way that Anthony does. It's time for this. It's time for this to happen with the roster to turn it over as best you can. They are still very much. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, they're still very much in a playoff race, right? Like, they still got a point last night. Yes. You know what? It is frustrating because Ovechkin, who always seems to find a way to score against you, got a big goal, which if you get that many power plays, he's going to score. And you couldn't score on the power play. 0 for 4 again. But then having a Tom Wilson get in the overtime, that's the punch in the gut if you're a Ranger fan. But you still got a point.
Peter Rosenberg
But that is the perfect. Last night at the Garden is the perfect example. A year ago, the Rangers were the President's Trophy winners. They were Washington, and the Caps barely made the playoffs. It's going to be the exact role reversal a year later. The Caps are probably going to go into the first round as the President's Trophy winner, and if not, they're barely going to miss. And if the Rangers get in, they're probably going to be the eighth seed. A complete role reversal in one year. Why? Take a look at what the Capitals did. Made all the right moves during the offseason, and now they've built up a team that can win a championship. You know, the Rangers, they were kind of stuck with the cap, didn't make the big splash and took a significant step back. And Chris Drury saw it and said, we're not good enough. Rangers lost last night. You know why? They're not as good as the Capitals. They lost all three games to the Capitals. That's the team that's in your division. You've got to try to keep up with the Joneses. And that's what the Rangers are trying to do. Just like that, guys, in a snap of a finger. President's Trophy winners are barely making it. The Capitals barely making it to now President's Trophy winners. Why? Made the right decisions. Go out and get Mangiapani. Go out and make the deals that you need to make to get better. Get Chickering on the blue line. You know, see young players start to develop and become overachievers like. Like produce and like McMichael. And you lock down your goaltenders for not for a pretty inexpensive price. And now you go out there and you go and Try to win, not keep doubling, tripling and quadrupling down on the same players that have told you by their play it's good, but not good enough.
Alan Hahn
Mm. Yeah. And the no move stuff is also really. That put you in such a bad spot as an organization. But look, there's. The deadline is tomorrow. Jury continues to make moves. It's just. Is it trimming fat the wrong way to put it? But it does feel like that, right? Just kind of moving out pieces that just aren't going to be part of what you're doing going forward. Getting, you know, getting young players, getting some draft picks and still trying to stay competitive enough to at the very least make the playoffs. Because at least if you're just keeping the string of playoffs appearances, even though it's like, what's the use? You're not going to win a championship. It doesn't matter. You're still a standard of winning, still exists. And that also was a conversation we had about the Giants.
Peter Rosenberg
Charlie Lingren. What I would ask Charlie Lingren, I know you're defending your brother, so I'm not even going to give you any shade for that. Yeah, but logically, Ryan was a free agent. The Rangers were not going to resign him. Jimmy Vesey was a free agent. They were not going to re sign him, get something for them. And not one deal had the Rangers made so far that has devalued their chances of making it this year, but has definitely upped their chances of being better in the future. And everybody, Yankees should pay attention to this too. You got all these good young players. Doesn't matter. If you can't play them and you refuse to trade them, then what good are they? You think Chris Jury's in the business of having the Hartford Wolf Pack win the AHL championship? Or does he want to have these kids either a be used as pieces to make his team better or give them the opportunity to come up and play. That's how it works. Like the Yankees have all these good young players we're seeing in the spring and they only get used because Stanton gets hurt. So it makes it work. But if you're not trading them and there's no place to play them, then exactly what are you doing? Is Brian Cashman trying to get Scranton to win the title and Somerset win the title every year. What good is that for an organization? You gotta, you gotta draft these players, either trade them or play them.
Alan Hahn
Completely agree and we'll see where it goes. But with the Rangers, it was something. Again, what you love is that there's passion. What you love is that the fans care. What you love is angry. Anthony appears because he does care. He's not emotionally detached like he is with his Giants. It bothers him to see people reacting the way they react to moves that feel like the six weeks. What, what January, right. What was. No, before, before December, before Christmas. Were they not begging to be blown up? That roster was begging you to blow them up. And so that's what the GM did. Okay. This is. You told me with your play what I need to do, and he's doing it. And now we'll see where it goes. Certainly from here. All right.
Peter Rosenberg
Lots of calls to get to me that Anthony should be the fourth. Fourth part of the show. They're very impressed with Anthony's point.
Anthony Pusick
How could he not be?
Alan Hahn
I like that. That's very good. We like that.
Anthony Pusick
I got news for you. They're gonna be days when, when you guys are feeling everything's fine and he's gonna sound, he's gonna be filled with just as much, you know, what in vinegar and, and make you want to kill yourself. But listen, it's all part of the experience.
Charlie Lindgren
Thanks, I think.
Alan Hahn
Absolutely.
Anthony Pusick
That's right.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks.
Alan Hahn
Thanks.
Peter Rosenberg
I understand the high pitch.
Alan Hahn
There's nothing better.
Peter Rosenberg
By the way, where you get your.
Alan Hahn
Podcast, Don, I was right there. You can get more this and more on game misconduct. You can get that anywhere. You get your podcasts and maybe a little bit of Anthony Pusick on there as well. All right, your calls coming up on this and more 800-919-3776. Speaking of the Yankees, Brian Cashman did speak today to address their injury issues. And there's, there's never good news. But is the timing better? Like, would you prefer to know this stuff in March than in July? That we'll discuss and more. Don Han Rosenberg 880 ESPN Peter.
Anthony Pusick
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Alan Hahn
Companion that does the heavy lifting so.
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Alan Hahn
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Peter Rosenberg
Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to The Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
Anthony Pusick
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. The Yankees put out a lineup today for their spring training game against the Twins. And when you look at it, it had a very opening day kind of feel to it. A lot of the regulars were in the lineup and Garrett Cole got the start. The Yankees are getting smoked eight to one. I don't know if it doesn't matter. It's. I completely understand that it is spring training, but stop of the seventh, two outs. Cole, in just two and two thirds, gave up six runs on five hits. But we're not going to panic. We are not. We're not going to panic. Instead, let's discuss which is always seems to be the topic of conversation during spring training, and that is, of course, injuries. Brian Cashman gave some updates on. On all the players. Wasn't great. So Stanton, they don't think he needs surgery yet on the elbows, so there's that. DJ lemayhue has a grade one or two left calf strain, so he's going to miss several weeks. And Luis Heel, last year's pitcher, the rookie of the year, he's going to miss with a lat strain. Three months.
Peter Rosenberg
Yes.
Anthony Pusick
Great.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. So. So there's three levels of frustration when it comes to injuries to key players and key pieces. Now, Brian Cashman talked about all of these injuries and their impact on the team here. First is Cashman talking about the timeline for Giancarlo Stanton.
Monica McNutt
Ultimately, he was dealing with it in the end of last year and, you know, obviously thought we were in a good place and I think he was feeling like in a good place. But then it reared its ugly head, you know, about three weeks before camp and is my understanding. And so now we're dealing with it. So, you know, give it the time it needs and, you know, clearly look forward to getting him back at some point. But obviously in the near term that won't be the case.
Alan Hahn
Not in the near term. So again, was surgery considered?
Monica McNutt
Can't rule out a surgery, but I know it's not recommended in the front end of this thing, but obviously if you had a number of different failed attempts, then obviously then you start looking at different ways of intervention.
Alan Hahn
And now here's Brian Cashman talking about DJ LeMayhue, who was in the mix to be your starter at third base.
Monica McNutt
Not much. He's just gonna go through the breast and recover. I don't have the exact result of the MRI yet.
Peter Rosenberg
I know.
Monica McNutt
I think he said it's anywhere from a grade one to grade two, but we haven't gotten it named yet, you know, so I'm just waiting for the results on that. But ultimately he's down. He's going to be down for a period of time and not much we can do other than help, you know, give him the recovery time he needs.
Alan Hahn
And Cashman then was asked about the impact this has now on the plan for third base.
Monica McNutt
That means one less through the competition. So, you know, and then so obviously Bodega will play with what he's got and either an individual will emerge or he'll multiplayer it.
Alan Hahn
All right, so Boonie will play with what he's got is basically him saying we're not going to go find someone and stop asking me about Arnaudo.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, let's see. That's what's so interesting about Stan. Forget about lemayhue. They have options at third. They might not be great, but I'm not sure lemayhue was the best option anyway. So they're down to now two options that I think both were better than LeMayu Stanton for a multitude of reasons. Kay brought this up on his show. This guy's a lock to get a lower body injury, if not once, but twice during the course of the year. So that's still coming. So after he recovers from this, now you're down to like 90 games with him. And now how many of those 90 games will he play? Because he's bound to at least once go on the il because of a lower body injury. So really, how much of Stanton you're going to have? Even with a healthy Stanton? They needed another right handed bat. So now they need two right handed bats. If this guy's going to miss almost half the season. And with some of the financial constraints that they seem to have, it doesn't look like they're that interested in Arenado. And even if they are, I don't think. I think they're going to need a better right hitter than him at this stage of his career. A plus defender. But I think they're looking for a bigger bat because Stanton may not check a lot of boxes, but he could sure hit and he can hit with power and you're not replacing that. So that the stand thing to me is 10 times worse than Lemayu and even heel, because heel. They have options too. And you wondered about the sophomore jinx with him and at some point, because it's just the lat they thought it might be Worse that they will get him back sometime in May or June. I think the Stanton thing is a major problem.
Alan Hahn
I agree. Now here's Cashman on the heel injury.
Monica McNutt
The Hill News was difficult, as any of them are. Obviously, if you lose any of these guys, you know, that are important to your club, he's certainly important to us. But thankfully, as long as we handle it right, we'll get him back sometime in the summer. But he's going to be down for a long time. Obviously, being a starter, he's got six weeks minimum of no throw and obviously, you know, it could be longer. If it takes longer, you know, they'll reimage and re MRI it and see where he's at during that rest period. So is it six, is it going to be seven weeks, is it eight weeks, whatever. And then they'll get him going and then he's got to go through black brown throwing program and all of a sudden bullpens, rehab games. So it's. We're talking three months, you know, so we're not gonna see him. And that's unfortunate, but it's also part of the existence of pitching. So, you know, we'll have to hold the fort while he's gone.
Anthony Pusick
I just. Here's the question I have that I feel like I have every year, guys. If we were to go look through the roster of other major league. Do you think it's common and the average MLB organization has this many crippling injuries per year?
Peter Rosenberg
No. Yeah. Oh, yo. Talking about pitchers. No, beyond that, though, this is.
Alan Hahn
I think just look at the Mets.
Peter Rosenberg
The Met with the pitching. But I think Peter's right. It's. Overall, this is not ongoing since Girardi of it seems like injuries have been the number one problem for the Yankees. More so than any, I think.
Alan Hahn
Can I tell you why? Can I tell you why?
Anthony Pusick
Please.
Alan Hahn
My reason why is that he spent a number of years targeting players who either were hurt or had a history of being hurt with the notion of maybe the injury issue is behind them and we can, you know, get a great deal. Like we can get a player who just had to get through some injuries during his career and then he gets healthy again and boy, he could be special. And look at us and how smart we were. He did that with a lot of different players. There were guys who came in who you were like, oh, another guy that always is hurt and they're hoping he'll. He'll just have that one year where he's not hurt. I think that's just been a real Thing and Stanton as we know, like you just said it, Don, is. Michael's right. Stanton will come back at some point. Like, I'd rather have. This is what I was saying before. I'd rather have the Stanton injury out of the way early. I don't want the. Because he's the guy you want in September and October. I think he's proven that already. Yeah. Need is probably the better way to put it. Yeah, but. But when it comes to players in general, I just feel like they had a block of years where it seemed like they were fixated on these reclamation projects. Or just look how smart we are. This guy. This guy's a steal. Because he had been hurt and people forgot about him and we gave him an opportunity. I mean, think about it. Trevino, right? Trevino.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
Which. Which. Which was the pitcher that he never benched? Efros.
Peter Rosenberg
Like, I don't remember. Yes.
Anthony Pusick
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
It just feels like every time they would get somebody, I would always look. It's like, oh, this is a guy that's always hurt.
Anthony Pusick
And by the way, can we throw this out here? This isn't the team for players who have had regular injury problems. Don't give us your sick and you're broken, okay? We, The Yankees can barely manage players who are healthy here. The last thing you want to do, Don, is bring in someone who's kind of already been beat up. You know what you do? You end up never seeing them even take the field.
Peter Rosenberg
But it would be a great question to ask one of their analytic guys if any of them ever had the guts to come on and talk. Is it when you look at analytics and they see somebody that's hurt, do they look at it as well, he's pre disastered, so he should be okay. He's already had his injuries. He's gonna be healthy. Or do they look at it and say, I think this guy might be a bit injury prone? Based on how they've gone about it, it's almost like, all right, his injuries are out of the way. He's gonna be fine once he joins us. Because it says 67.3% of the time somebody who's had this injury won't have it again. Like that kind of garbage. Where Peter and I had how many fights with Andrew Gunling about players, are you injury prone? Well, no, he's had different injuries, so you can't say. Or he's had the one chronic problem, so you can't say he's injury prone. But if he's injured all the time, whether it's the same injury, or whether it's a multitude of injuries, whether it's just a fluke of nature or not. You are injury prone, right? You know, some people stub their toe every time they get out of bed to go to the bathroom, right? No matter where they move the dresser, they still stubbed their toe. It's either one of those things, or maybe you're just somebody that's not good at walking to the bathroom.
Anthony Pusick
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
At some point, you just got to say, you know what? You're injury prone, brother. I don't know what it is. Oh, no, Judge isn't injury prone. It's just the weird things.
Anthony Pusick
How many times did I have that fight with Michael?
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, my God.
Anthony Pusick
He would just tell me, he's not injury prone. He's not injury prone because it's the wall. Okay, well, but. Yeah, but it was him and the wall. Like, you can't. You can't separate these things, right?
Peter Rosenberg
Well, you got it. But Peter, he got hit by a pig.
Alan Hahn
How many times have you heard about a guy. No, no, the great point that Peter's making is true, because I was thinking it when that happened is as mad as we were about Dodger Stadium and the fact that they didn't have any padding on that curb, how many times have we heard about somebody doing that? It's not like that happened. If that happened a lot, you could say, well, that. That's notorious for hurting guys. No, nobody ever had that happen, but he did. So I'm not. And again, this is not dumping on Judge, but it is an example, though, of there are players that you look and you say, no, we're out. Because this guy always gets hurt. And we can't afford afford that. We can't afford to get a guy who's always hurt. And again, the Mets are a great example. Montas is a guy that always gets hurt. And if you weren't paying attention to wherever else he played before he was at the Yankees, all you had to do was watch him when he got to the Yankees. And he hid the injury, right? He was hurt when they got him, and then he tried to play through it, and then he got hurt again. And then so they move on from him. He goes somewhere else, and then he comes to the Mets and what happened? He got hurt. And you're like, oh, my God, what a shock. He got hurt. Of course, he always gets hurt.
Peter Rosenberg
But, like, that's the problem sometimes. It's the way they play. And you can. You can do something about that. Sometimes it Is circumstances. Michael Wright, like, who knew that the wall, Chavez Ravine, that would be that way. Or he'd get hit by a pitch. But then sometimes it's just, you're that guy. I don't know what it is. It's juju something. I know we're not supposed to believe in those things, but just sometimes you look at. I don't know. That guy always gets hurt. Jack Hughes. Why does Jack Hughes always get hurt? I don't know. He just always gets hurt. Right. I. That's just. Am I going to change the way the guy plays? Well, I don't want to do that. He's one of the best players in the league sometimes.
Alan Hahn
Is there a player. Is there a player we can think of that always got hurt and then it stopped and he's like. He was, you know, an incredible example of just fitness and health.
Peter Rosenberg
Phil Sims.
Alan Hahn
Give me somebody off top yet.
Peter Rosenberg
Phil Sims. Phil Sims, when he was first drafted by the Giants, just couldn't finish a season. And it was always something wacky like he hit his thumb against the helmet of a defender. It was always something. He lost his job. The Scott Burn. Now, he did have the injury in 90, but then he. They kept him out the entire season, but he found himself and then around 1982 till basically 90, when he tore, I guess what was it towards the kill. Whatever it was that kept him out all of the 90 season, he stayed healthy and became a legendary quarterback for the Giants. There are examples of guys that just have to get over that hump. Sometimes it's just one of those things, you know, sometimes it's an. An adjustment you can make. But they're just some guys that are injury prone. And I was talking about a lot of them.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I was talking more baseball. Because baseball does seem to be the sport where injuries or a big. Or just the biggest story is performance.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, Reyes had the whole leg issues that he went through early in his career. They had to teach him to run. And then eventually he, you know, won a batting title, you know, and then other things happened off the field that were a problem. But you know what I mean? Like that, you know, but guys that are able to overcome it. You're like, yeah, remember when he was injury prone? I'm sure there's examples like the Phil Simmons, the one that pop my head. But you want specific to baseball.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, baseball. I meant because baseball seems to be the sport that has that more than anything we've seen players. You know, I mean, Patrick Ewing went through it early in his career. He had a couple of, you know, injury. Then he just started working on his body. The next thing you knew, he got played every game like he never missed a game. So that, you know, there, there's those stories. But I'm in, in baseball in specific because I do feel like in baseball that is one of those things that it just follows you around forever. It is hard to overcome it.
Peter Rosenberg
Get the injury special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pick pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drinks. Sound good. Participating in restaurants for a limited time Flex your business with an American Express Business Gold card. You'll earn four times membership rewards points on your top two eligible spending categories like transit and electronics each month on up to 150k in combined purchases per year. Plus you can now earn 3 times Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com terms and points cap apply. Learn more at American Express.com business-gold Amex Business Gold built for business by American Express.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Anthony Pusick
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Game time brought to you by Teller Mordu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, boys are out in LA taking on the Lakers. Coverage begins at 9:30 Eastern here on 880 following Ty Butler. Gonna be on the airwaves tonight. The Nets also they host the Golden State Warriors. That's at 7:30 game time. Brought to our telemore due the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a telemore due or try the new telem or do honey during tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly.
Peter Rosenberg
I was at the Garden last night for what was a great game, very fun competitive game. And and when I get there, first thing I do, make a beeline to the suite so I can get some dinner.
Alan Hahn
See Don, I saw dawn.
Peter Rosenberg
She's doing well. Did a little video for the morning show.
Alan Hahn
Dawn, Don and Don. Don and Don.
Anthony Pusick
The way the way Rick talks.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. Where it's basically he says dawn and Don, it's the same. It's really.
Anthony Pusick
No, listen, Rick's pizarro.
Alan Hahn
Don and Don.
Anthony Pusick
The fact that we Rick doesn't get made fun of enough for having an accent like he's in witness protection It's a weird thing.
Peter Rosenberg
It is very strange. But I did get to meet the Tullamore do guys and they are a ton of fun. And if they're all huge Ranger fans and they all love the show, they love what we're doing with the Reed.
Alan Hahn
Yes.
Peter Rosenberg
And then Dave Maloney went down in the second intermission. Met that. They are. They are a lot of fun. So shout out to those guys. They were great.
Alan Hahn
That's great. We need to tell you guys to come out next Friday, hang out with us over at the Irish exit.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
You know, believe me, they're up for Hell yeah. It's always telly time.
Anthony Pusick
Hell yeah.
Alan Hahn
Let's bring them out. All right, so I just want to explain what I mean about the. The LeMayhue injury might be a short term situation at third base. This is why I don't think they need to make any kind of drastic moves. Or maybe they don't think they do because you can probably. You'll have to get away with what they're going to do at their base, which is just, you know, with tape and gum and some hope and prayers. Right. If you've been watching George Lombard Jr. This 19 year old, he's like, he's got the it factor. He's had a really strong spring training Judge. He's caught. He's got his attention. Judge right away is like, oh, yeah. You could see like, you know, like the great players will watch in any sport. Sport will watch a young player who's not ready yet, but they'll like on their own without, like, you know, like sometimes they just patronize and they go, oh yeah, he's really good. And then there's the ones that just unsolicited come up to you go, yo, that kid's different because. Because game recognizes game. And the way Judge talked about Lombards makes you feel like this guy could be the future. Now he's a shortstop by trade, but you see their own already starting to groom him for third base with the idea that you have Volpe already. And if you have Jazz at second and Volpe and Jazz already, how, like the chemistry between the two of them has been a big story in spring training. If you think that, okay, he's 19, there's no ways he. I mean, I think the highest he did was high A last year. So he's got to work his way through the system. But if there's already something special, if he has a little pop, little something, then you got to feel like within the next year or two, he's going to be like what Volpe did in the conversation for, that's our guy for the next 10 to 15 years. At least that's what you're hoping for. That's why you draft players, that's why you develop them so that, that's your answer at a position that you don't have an answer for. Am I crazy? Am I being too optimistic to say I'm fine with this? Because if that kid is the future, I'll wait.
Peter Rosenberg
And that's why when I, when we opened the show with the Ranger situation, I put it to Brian Cashman about, you know, when you go out and you get these guys that are already under contract, it can landlock really good players. And you, you don't want that to happen. So everybody wants them to, you got to address third base. You got to go out and get a big time third baseman because you're in a win now situation. So let's go out and get Aaron Otto and he will solve all of our problems. All right, well, maybe he will solve the problem, but he's also under contract through 2027, which means. And he's also making, he's in the midst of a nine year, $275 million contract in which the Cardinals don't seem to have any appetite to eat the salary. So if the Yankees bring him in, they're going to be obliged to play the high priced third baseman not only this year, but possibly next year and the year after. Well, good luck with this kid getting a chance to play then. Right?
Alan Hahn
So that's what you don't want.
Peter Rosenberg
So, so that everybody wants to go out and get the best players possible so you can go out, get all stars, every position. What do you do with these young kids?
Alan Hahn
You got to play them. You got to play them. 800 now 193776 let's, let's go to some calls, shall we?
Anthony Pusick
I think we shall.
Alan Hahn
Let's go. I think we shall. Let's go to, let's go to Andrew and Newark Ed. Andrew.
Peter Rosenberg
Hey guys, thanks for taking the call. Great show. The previous conversation about the baseball guys that couldn't stay on the field, three pitchers for you. Steven Strasberg, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and then also just recently a couple years ago, Prince Fielder was pretty good but his career was cut short because of his injuries. But we got plenty of guys that have gotten hurt. We need to know guys that were injury prone overcame the other way around. Yeah, right. So we got, we got a laundry list of guys.
Alan Hahn
Strasbourg wears phenom David Wright's a perfect.
Peter Rosenberg
Example with the bag. I mean, there's plenty of examples, but name it. We need a guy injury prone. Not sure we want to have him, but then all of a sudden the next decade, he was cool. In baseball, like the football one I came up with, Phil Sims, but that's.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, no, the baseball one is the one I think you just have the harder time to do because it's always, I always make this joke. It's always like, you know, hey, remember when you had that issue with your elbow? Whatever happened to that? It just went away, right? No, it never ever does. Rick and Neptune. Rick.
Peter Rosenberg
Hey, how you guys doing today?
Alan Hahn
All right.
Peter Rosenberg
I just wanted to make the point that I literally just felt like calling up when, when I heard you talk about George Lombard Jr. And the Yankees and the way that they bring up prospects. You know, if, if you're playing good, just why, why not give him a shot? How many times have the Yankees over the years kept some of these prospects in the minors and. Because they weren't ready and they just didn't pan out for one reason or the other. You know, if you can't, you can't fight the injuries. But if, if a guy could give you a spark, let him win the job. Yeah, but 19, that's not 19, because.
Alan Hahn
He hasn't played even double a ball yet.
Peter Rosenberg
Here, here's the other. I hear what you're saying. Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle, but there's also a very good chance that you can ruin this kid because he's not ready. He slumps, he can't, can't take the media scrutiny. And then you say to yourself, boy, if we just waited a little while longer, he could have had a gem. Instead we rushed him and we ruined him. That's, to me, that's the betting odds. Not that the 19 year old's going to be a savior on a team expected to win the World Series. That's too much. It happens in hockey a lot with young teenagers. We do see it occasionally in the NBA, young quarterbacks in the NFL. Though not to that extent that you got to do the three years of college, but, but no, in baseball, I think that would be a huge mistake.
Alan Hahn
I completely agree. But again, it's, it's something to watch, though. It's the same as, you know, Dominguez, it's the same as Volpe. These are guys that you were keeping an eye on as they were going through the system and at some point you're waiting for the day where they Decide, yeah, he's ready. And that's something. If that's what they're doing here at third base. Now, of course we all know what happens when you bring them up, then that clock starts. That we all talk about. But still, if that's the, if that's the future, then I'm okay with waiting if I'm a fan.
Peter Rosenberg
Let's see, they worked. Juan Soto, what was he, Peter? 19 when they called him up in Washington? Might even been eight. I gotta, I gotta check.
Anthony Pusick
I think he was 19 when they won World Series.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, yeah, he was very young.
Peter Rosenberg
But you know what that is? That's the 1%. Man. That, that, that is the one thing.
Alan Hahn
I'll say though is remember, he, he is the son of a major leaguer. So he, he grew up in, you know, his father's actually still coaching in the league, I think in Detroit, if I'm not mistaken. Like he is, he's, he's grew up in it. So it's not like you're wide eyed going, oh my God, I'm in the show. Like he grew up in the show. So maybe, you know, that part of it isn't, isn't going to overwhelm him. But I'd rather be patient. I'm with you.
Peter Rosenberg
But, but 19, man, think of what you were doing at 19, please.
Alan Hahn
I wish I could go back. 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 LaGreca
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Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Yankees Injuries
Release Date: March 6, 2025
In the inaugural hour of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg,” hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the current state of the New York Yankees, focusing primarily on the significant injury concerns plaguing the team during their spring training. This comprehensive discussion not only highlights the immediate impacts of these injuries but also explores broader implications for the team's strategy and future prospects.
The episode kicks off with a rundown of the Yankees' recent spring training game against the Minnesota Twins. Alan Hahn sets the stage by discussing the team's struggles on the field, particularly emphasizing the pitching woes demonstrated by Garrett Cole.
Alan Hahn [28:00]: “The Yankees are getting smoked eight to one. I don't know if it doesn't matter. It is spring training, but Cole, in just two and two-thirds, gave up six runs on five hits.”
Despite the disappointing performance, Hahn urges listeners not to panic, framing the discussion around the more pressing issue of player injuries impacting the team’s preparations for the regular season.
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the Yankees' injury report as provided by General Manager Brian Cashman. The hosts break down the status of key players and the implications for the team’s lineup.
Giancarlo Stanton, a cornerstone of the Yankees' batting lineup, faces uncertainty due to an elbow strain. Cashman's updates reveal that while surgery isn't immediately necessary, Stanton is expected to miss a substantial portion of the season.
Monica McNutt [29:21]: “Ultimately, he was dealing with it at the end of last year and...now we're dealing with it. Give it the time it needs.”
Another blow comes with DJ LeMayhue's calf strain, which sidelines him for several weeks. This injury further complicates the Yankees’ depth chart, especially at third base.
Monica McNutt [30:10]: “He's going to miss several weeks... we have to give him the recovery time he needs.”
Luis Heel, last year’s Rookie of the Year, is out for three months with a lat strain. This prolonged absence raises concerns about the bullpen's stability and overall pitching depth.
Monica McNutt [32:31]: “He's going to be down for a long time... we're not gonna see him.”
The hosts analyze how these injuries disrupt the Yankees' strategic planning. With key players sidelined, the team faces challenges in maintaining its competitive edge and ensuring a balanced lineup.
Alan Hahn [34:00]: “These are guys that are important to your club...so we're not going to panic.”
Peter Rosenberg echoes this sentiment, highlighting the difficulty in replacing the lost firepower and defensive capabilities without adequate depth.
Peter Rosenberg [35:24]: “The Stanton situation is a major problem. They needed another right-handed bat.”
Drawing parallels with other sports teams, particularly the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the hosts discuss how injuries can derail a season and the importance of effective management.
Alan Hahn [36:00]: “This isn’t the team for players who have had regular injury problems. Don’t give us your sick and you're broken.”
They debate whether the Yankees' front office is handling these setbacks optimally or if alternative strategies might yield better outcomes.
The conversation turns to the broader issue of injury-prone players within Major League Baseball and how organizations like the Yankees manage such risks. The hosts share anecdotes and examples of players who either overcame frequent injuries or continued to struggle despite the team's efforts.
Peter Rosenberg [37:09]: “At some point, you just got to say, you know what? You're injury prone, brother.”
Alan Hahn [38:35]: “Phil Sims...he stayed healthy and became a legendary quarterback for the Giants.”
The hosts express frustration over recurring injuries, questioning the Yankees' player acquisition strategies and their reliance on players with a history of injuries.
Wrapping up the discussion, the hosts reflect on the Yankees' prospects for the upcoming season amidst these injury challenges. They ponder the potential for younger players to step up and the necessity for the front office to make tough decisions to rebuild and strengthen the roster.
Alan Hahn [50:25]: “That's why you draft players, that's why you develop them so that, that's your answer at a position that you don't have an answer for.”
Peter Rosenberg [51:30]: “It's so easy for these players to play general manager, but the guys that are really doing it for real are putting their jobs on the line to do it.”
The episode concludes with a cautious optimism, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments and the hope that the Yankees can navigate these injuries to remain competitive in the forthcoming season.
In this episode, “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” offers an in-depth examination of the New York Yankees' injury woes during spring training. Through thoughtful analysis and candid discussions, the hosts shed light on the immediate challenges and long-term implications for one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Whether you're a die-hard Yankees fan or a casual observer, this episode provides valuable insights into the complexities of managing a championship-contending team amidst unforeseen setbacks.