Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Hour 2 – Baseball Struggles & The NFL Binge

ESPN New York with Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg
April 13, 2026

Episode Overview

The second hour of the show centers primarily on the recent struggles of New York baseball teams, especially the Yankees, combined with listener frustration over years of postseason disappointment. Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg debate what’s wrong with the Yankees' core, the team's philosophy under Brian Cashman, and whether anything will really change. Later, the crew dives into an "NFL Binge" segment, touching on Giants and Jets draft needs, the state of the Mets, Islanders' collapse, hockey trades, and some classic banter about music and video games.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees Lineup Frustrations and Organizational Philosophy

(00:44–15:05)

• Lineup Weaknesses: Alan recites the Yankees’ starting lineup and notes absences (notably Ben Rice getting a rest and others underperforming). Discussion of outfield struggles, particularly with Gritchick and Grisham.
  • Alan: "Once that's done, like I'm telling you, I am...that's why I love the cable last channel button. I'm out. What am I looking for? The bottom of this order has been really bad. It's cavernous." (02:42)
• Recurring Disappointment: Alan frames the team as stuck in a rut—good enough for the playoffs, never good enough to win it all.
  • Alan: "It's more frustrating to me to fall right before the finish line than it is to fall halfway through the race." (05:55)
• Don’s Counterpoint: Don pushes back, arguing that regular-season struggles don't guarantee postseason failure and that Yankees fans' standards are uniquely high.
  • Don: "...at the end of the day, they're going to be sitting there, 94, 95 wins, probably winning this division." (05:11)
• Fundamental Flaws: Alan cites a recent game as symptomatic of larger issues—poor baseball IQ, inability to adapt, and recurring fundamental mistakes.
  • Alan: "Death by a thousand cuts games where fundamentally the other team looks just way smarter at the game than you do..." (05:55)
• Calls for Change: Alan and a caller argue for a shift in front office philosophy, rather than a focus solely on the on-field personnel.

2. Cashman, Roster Moves, and Trade Philosophy

(09:45–15:05)

• Prospect Protection: Discussion of reluctance to move on from highly-touted but underperforming prospects like McMahon.
• Front Office Criticism: Alan criticizes Brian Cashman's "run it back" philosophy, questioning if the team is doing enough to truly build a championship squad.
  • Alan: "It's the philosophy thing that has been here for 20 years...for 15 of them, they've been good, but not good enough." (10:49)
• Caller Justin adds: Team lacks 'winning plays' and urgency, especially from the front office:
  • "It feels like a movie that we've seen three times and we're expecting a different outcome." (21:24)

3. Baseball’s April Apathy – Fan Experience & Modern MLB Critique

(16:24–20:49)

• Rest Days and Load Management: Both Mets and Yankees criticized for sitting healthy players early in the season, sending a signal to fans that April games "don't count."
  • Don: "Baseball is begging you not to watch...We're just making the food, right? We're just warming up the pots. Come back when the food's done." (17:45)
• Season Length & Urgency: Hahn and Don both bemoan the “it’s early” mantra, arguing that every game should matter, particularly divisional matchups.
  • Alan: "I don't care how long your damn season is...Especially division games, you gotta value those." (19:13)

4. The NFL Binge: Giants, Jets, and Ravens Draft Talk

(26:32–35:25)

• Giants and Dexter Lawrence: Jordan Raanan (via clip) discusses the deep need for defensive linemen if Lawrence leaves.
• Jets Draft Strategy: Matt Miller (via clip) suggests a shift in the Jets’ draft focus from constructing a future team to “win-now” defensive help.
  • Matt Miller: "The Jets are a team that's building for the future... But I think Bailey is the preferred pass rusher in that building because they need someone that can help Aaron Glenn keep his job right now." (30:26)
• Fun Stat: Don and Alan share a tongue-in-cheek Jets stat:
  • "Rory McIlroy has won two Masters since the Jets last had an interception." (31:18)
• Ravens QB Future?: Mel Kiper’s hot take (via clip): Baltimore could draft a quarterback in 2027 if Lamar Jackson doesn’t succeed; the hosts debate its plausibility and laugh at Kiper’s “running out of material” ahead of the draft.

5. Mets, Islanders, and Hockey Deadline

(16:13–51:52, intermittent)

• Mets’ Disarray: Alan and Don compare the Mets’ mismanagement and woes to the Yankees, noting that sometimes major changes make teams worse.
• Islanders’ Collapse: Caller Glenn in Smithtown decries the team’s free fall post-deadline, poor trades, and star players (e.g., Barzal) struggling to uplift the team’s culture.
  • Alan: "Your best player has to have some type of impact on the culture...he’s an all star, but when does he give you the bump that a star player gives a team in certain situations?" (48:11)

6. Lighter Moments & Banter

(41:11–end)

• Music & Parenting Talk: The crew swaps stories about how fatherhood changed their music listening habits, with Rosenberg’s daughter favoring Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders as a lullaby.
• Video Game Nostalgia: Don nerds out about replaying GTA: Vice City and Half-Life, surprising the crew with his gaming cred.
  • Don: "I loved Vice City when it came out like '02..." (44:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The State of the Yankees

• Alan Hahn [02:42]: "Once that's done...I'm out. The bottom of this order has been really bad. It's cavernous. There's nothing in there."
• Don LaGreca [05:11]: "At the end of the day, they're going to be sitting there, 94, 95 wins, you know, probably winning this division."
• Alan Hahn [05:55]: "When you see another one of these death by a thousand cuts games where fundamentally the other team looks just way smarter at the game than you do…"
• Caller Justin [21:24]: "It feels like a movie that we've seen three times and we're expecting a different outcome."

Fan Apathy & Team Decisions

• Don LaGreca [17:45]: "Baseball is begging you not to watch...We're just making the food, right? We're just warming up the pots. Come back when the food's done."
• Alan Hahn [19:13]: "I don't care how long your damn season is...Especially division games, you gotta value those."

The NFL Binge

• Matt Miller [30:26]: “This team I talked to a week ago thought maybe it would be ARVL Reese because the Jets are a team that's building for the future. And I'll tell you that the tide has turned on that.”
• Don LaGreca [31:18]: “Rory McIlroy has won two Masters the last time the Jets had an interception.”

Islanders & Hockey Culture

• Caller Glenn [46:14]: “I think Sorokin was just so good. He was covering up so many defensive mistakes…And then they just traded for Carson, Susie. Like, come on.”
• Alan Hahn [48:11]: “Your best player has to have some type of impact on the culture...he’s an all star, but when does he give you the bump that a star player gives a team…”

Classic Banter

• Don LaGreca [44:43]: "I loved Vice City when it came out like '02...a couple years ago I found an app and you can play it authentically."
• Peter Rosenberg [44:56]: "Vice City is the kind of game, you could still keep playing it for years and years and years."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:44–04:17 – Yankees lineup breakdown and early season frustrations
• 04:17–08:16 – Core debate: are the Yankees stuck in a loop?
• 16:24–20:49 – MLB’s April “apathy” and fan frustration
• 21:23–23:20 – Caller Justin: Yankees’ postseason futility and leadership problems
• 26:32–35:33 – The NFL Binge: Giants, Jets, and Ravens draft chatter
• 46:14–51:52 – Islanders collapse and fan anguish; hockey culture
• 41:11–45:35 – Hip-hop and video game nostalgia (Mobb Deep, Vice City banter)

Tone & Style

The show is lively and opinionated, blending informed sports talk with classic New York banter and humor. The hosts are candid—especially Alan in his frustration with Yankees “sameness.” Don plays devil’s advocate and brings veteran perspective, while Peter injects levity and pop culture references.

Summary Takeaways

• Yankee fans and hosts alike are feeling burnt out by the repetitive “good but not great” cycle, with fundamental issues that persist year to year.
• There’s distrust in Brian Cashman’s approach and doubts about meaningful change without philosophical shifts at the top.
• Across New York sports, from Mets to Islanders, there's a common refrain: good enough isn’t good enough, and fans are growing tired of patience.
• NFL topics center on anxiety and urgency, especially for the Giants and Jets.
• The show keeps it fresh with songs, video game nostalgia, and quick-witted ribbing—a must-listen for those who want NYC sports and classic banter in equal doses.