Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Helsley Struggles & Lists

Date: September 3, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Episode Overview

Hour 2 of today's episode brings the classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg blend: fiery sports takes, classic New York lamenting, tongue-in-cheek banter, and their signature forays into “lists.” The guys dive deep into the latest Mets bullpen woes—especially Ryan Helsley’s struggles, what to do with Kodai Senga, and broad issues with the Mets’ pitching. Later, the trio lightens the mood, riffing on the most iconic football movies of all time, and the all-important "Gentlemen’s Club (Stripper) Anthems" list.

The hour is packed with sharp sports analysis, big laughs, and plenty of memorable moments in true DHR style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Yankees & Mets – Recap & Pitching Analysis

• Yankees & Astros:

  • Yankees get a win in Houston despite some odd choices (bunt debates, questionable execution, pitchers’ health).
  • Max Fried’s performance is dissected, with kudos even though he struggled physically:
    • “Freed was fantastic…he was nauseous…he was making the Astros hitters look sick.” (Alan, 02:15)
    • Noted improved ERA (0.90 over last 3 starts).

• Mets’ Lethargic Game & Bullpen Disaster:

  • Mets lose to the Tigers, failing to sweep due largely to an implosive bullpen outing:
    • “It’s just the way that it is, right? Bullpen gives it up again. I don’t know how you pitch Helsley…” (Rosenberg, 04:30)
    • Helsley’s disastrous line: two-thirds of an inning, three hits, three runs (all earned), one walk—a critical three-run homer given up.

• Worries About Kodai Senga:

  • Mets seem poised to send Senga down to the minors to fix mechanical woes.
  • Alan: “He’s worthless out of the bullpen…He can’t start anymore, Peter. I can’t.” (Rosenberg, 07:46)
  • Discussion around potential rotation shifts for the upcoming games.
  • Holmes also cited as likely destined for the bullpen due to lack of longevity.

• Media & Fan Pressure in New York:

  • Explores the psychological weight of being a closer in NYC:
    • "Now the questions become: Can he [Helsley] handle New York?" (Rosenberg, 19:32)
    • Alan suggests Mets pressure isn’t as intense as Yankees, but scrutiny is still real.

Meticulous Mets Meltdown: Analyzing Helsley's Collapse

• Troubling Stats:

  • Alan: “His ERA with the Mets…over 11.45. 14 earned runs in 11 innings. With the Cardinals? 12 earned runs in 36 innings.” (Alan, 18:42)
  • Further presses the “New York Effect” debate—do certain players just not have the stomach for NYC?

• Don’s Take:

  • Offers real-world examples of New York media/fan intensity.
    • Tells story of ex-Mets GM Steve Phillips receiving death threats and public harassment during bad streaks. (Rosenberg, 23:20)
  • Concludes, “I’m not proud of it…In St. Louis, when they’re mad, they just don’t go [to the games]. Here, they’ll go and they’ll scream.” (Rosenberg, 24:03)

Classic DHR Banter: Chainsaws, Masculinity & DIY

• Tree Removal & Suburban Tools:
  • Spirited, hilarious debate over who’s ever used a chainsaw. Alan shocks the others by owning two chainsaws (“What are you, Leatherface?” – Peter, 11:46).
  • Don shares near-death “timber” story from his youth. (“We’re very, very fortunate to be alive.” – Rosenberg, 11:39)
  • Musings on the satisfaction of manual labor: “If you’re covered in that kind of sawdust—you can’t get it off. But it feels so good.” (Alan, 12:35)
  • Classic DHR: blending sports talk with blue-collar suburban rites of passage.

List Time! – The Legendary DHR Top 5 Segments

[26:05] Don’s All-Time Top 5 Football Movies

• List Format: Peter and Alan try to guess, Don confirms.

• Final List:

  1. Rudy
     • “It’s inspirational… The football—it’s quality!” (Alan, 28:00)
  2. Brian’s Song
     • “TV movie, so it takes a bit of a hit…but it’s good.” (Rosenberg, 27:14)
  3. Varsity Blues
     • “Old school...great movie. I don’t want your life.” (Alan, 29:15)
  4. The Longest Yard (Original)
     • “Original Longest Yard. The remake’s not bad, but the original is a classic.” (Rosenberg, 32:27)
  5. Draft Day
     • “I love that. And I understand it’s controversial…but known for his sports movies, Kevin Costner.” (Alan, 35:31)

• Honorable Mentions: Any Given Sunday, North Dallas Forty, All the Right Moves, Wildcats, Best of Times, Heaven Can Wait, Remember the Titans, We Are Marshall.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “Remember the Titans? Now that we know the truth, that movie no longer holds water.” (Alan, 31:20)
  • “Any Given Sunday—people pan that movie, I get it, but it’s still really cool.” (Rosenberg, 30:54)

[38:01] Alan’s Top 5 “Gentlemen’s Club (Stripper) Songs”

(Motivated by Def Leppard Hysteria anniversary)

1. [39:10] “You Shook Me All Night Long” – AC/DC
2. [39:47] “Closer” – Nine Inch Nails
3. [40:29] “Cherry Pie” – Warrant
   • “They wrote this for that in mind—for the club.” (Rosenberg, 40:44)
4. [40:58] “Pour Some Sugar on Me” – Def Leppard
   • “This comes on and you know, it’s just getting started.” (Alan, 41:04)
5. [41:52] “Girls, Girls, Girls” – Motley Crüe
   • “A song that was literally not just made for the club, but made about the club.” (Alan, 41:39)

• Honorable Mentions: Lenny Kravitz “American Woman”, Poison, Whitesnake.
• Classic DHR Banter: Outlandish jokes and mockery about Alan’s suburban “Leatherface” persona; discussion about the LA glam scene and music videos as formative experiences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What do you need two chainsaws for?” (Peter, 11:53)
• “He’s Leatherface. Allen Leatherface.” (Rosenberg, 11:47)
• "Pour Some Sugar On Me...this comes on and you know, it's still early in the night, but it's just getting started." (Alan, 41:04)
• “They did for Southern accents what The Departed did for Boston.” (Alan, 29:55)
• “You can’t rule out the possibility that maybe he just doesn’t have the stomach to play where there’s gonna be a lot of scrutiny.” (Rosenberg, 23:20)
• “Now the list is Draft Day, Varsity Blues, Longest Yard, Brian’s Song and Rudy…You don’t have Any Given Sunday, North Dallas Forty, All the Right Moves, Wildcats, or The Best of Times.” (Alan, 36:16)
• “We’re very, very fortunate to be alive.” (Rosenberg, 11:39)
• “It was way too erotic for what we were talking about.” (Rosenberg about Alan’s sawdust description, 13:40)
• “City dweller. One day…maybe go upstate and get a place that’s on the mainland, so at least we have one home that’s not on an island.” (Peter, on prepping for global unrest, 15:56)

Timestamps of Core Segments

• 01:00: Yankees & Mets recaps, Fried’s gutsy pitching
• 04:30: Mets bullpen collapse; Helsley’s blow-up
• 07:08: Senga’s demotion debate
• 10:52: Chainsaw, DIY, suburban banter
• 18:42: Helsley’s dire Mets numbers and New York pressure debate
• 26:05: Football Movie List segment begins
• 27:05 – 36:25: Football movie list reveals & debates
• 38:01 – 44:03: Alan’s strip-club anthem list; music, nostalgia, banter

Tone & Personality

• Full of sarcasm, New Yorker honesty, and good-natured ribbing
• Seamless mixing of sports with personal stories and pop culture
• Always keeping it fun, accessible, but with sharp sports insight

For Listeners Who Missed It

This hour is a quintessential DHR experience: hardcore Mets/Yankees reporting (Helsley’s collapse, coach/media pressure, and pitching puzzles) paired with unfiltered, hilarious detours (chainsaws, masculinity, and iconic club rock). The list segments—Don’s top football movies (with fierce debate and sharp NYC takes) and Alan’s tongue-in-cheek strip club anthems—bring variety and laughs, with tons of music and movie hot takes to incite arguments at your next tailgate.

Recommended for: New York sports obsessives, movie/rock fans, and anyone who loves irreverent, thoughtful radio that’s as likely to break down a bullpen as it is to break down Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”