Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Jeff Nelson & Talk About It (September 30, 2025)
Episode Overview
This episode kicks off with high-stakes baseball talk as former Yankee reliever Jeff Nelson joins Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg to preview Yankees vs. Red Sox in the playoffs. From the electric Yankee Stadium postseason atmosphere to player legacy debates (Stanton, Judge), the crew gets deep into what’s at stake. The second half shifts gears for “Talk About It Tuesday,” focusing on the devastating state of the New York Jets—covering the apathy, emotional exhaustion, coaching critiques, and the psychological toll on fans.
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Yankees Playoff Hype with Jeff Nelson
(Starts ~00:44)
The Yankee Stadium Postseason Experience
- Jeff Nelson shares what it’s like pitching at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs.
“You hear stories about how the upper deck used to shake when it got so loud... you just feed off the excitement.”
(01:23, Jeff Nelson) - Describes the postseason “chill in the air” and the expectation for the Yankees to win the World Series, instilled by George Steinbrenner.
Aaron Judge’s Postseason Pressure
- Don asks if Judge needs an October statement, especially given the lack of big playoff wins vs. the Red Sox since 2003.
- Nelson draws a parallel with A-Rod:
“Alex Rodriguez was always one of the best players in the game. And when it came to the postseason, he struggled. Aaron Judge has done the same thing... you'd love to see him come through, especially… against the Red Sox.”
(03:20, Jeff Nelson)
Lineup Choices & Analytics
- Rosenberg probes about the Yankees’ decision to shake up the lineup—omitting hot hands for favorable matchups versus lefty pitching.
- Jeff Nelson supports it, citing pitching/defense as playoff keys and explaining that “Crochet is nasty… almost keeps some of your better players out of the lineup.”
(04:42, Jeff Nelson)
The State of Yankees–Red Sox Rivalry
- Don laments the rivalry feels watered down.
- Nelson agrees:
“Once they started playing so many times in the division, it watered down the rivalry…”
But still asserts:
“If you’re a player in that locker room… you gotta have that attitude. I think it can definitely ignite the rivalry.”
(06:15, Jeff Nelson)
Bullpen Mentality in Short Series
- Both teams’ bullpens will be heavily leaned on because managers will quickly yank struggling starters—no time to be patient.
“If Freed gets in trouble early, you’re going to the bullpen because game one is so important.”
(07:37, Jeff Nelson)
Emotional Bonds: Yankees vs. Red Sox
- Don asks if ex-Yankees still feel the rivalry.
- Nelson affirms:
“You still cringe. I think more because of the Red Sox... I didn't see myself wear a Mets uniform and I didn't see myself wear a Red Sox uniform for him. I was a Yankee, true and true.”
(10:07, Jeff Nelson)
Giancarlo Stanton’s Playoff Magic
- Rosenberg is “baffled” by Stanton’s habit of turning it on in October despite his injuries.
- Nelson outlines why:
“He gets up for this moment. Nothing ever bothers him… The guys that don't have success, they try to make the situation way, way bigger than what it is.”
(11:29, Jeff Nelson)
Stanton and the Hall of Fame
- Will a ring guarantee Stanton’s immortality?
“I think a ring would definitely cinch it. I think he's probably a Hall of Fame player… he's put up some tremendous numbers.”
(13:21, Jeff Nelson)
2. MLB Playoff Structure & Seeding Frustration
(15:36–22:23)
The Playoff Format Debate
- Rosenberg and Hahn air frustration with the playoff seeding system, arguing that division winners get disproportionate rewards compared to teams with better records.
- Comparison with NFL, NBA, and NHL playoff seeding.
- Hahn’s suggestion:
“Why can't the division winner be the tiebreaker if there's a tie, but if you all have the same amount of wins… you should be the 2 seed.”
(17:42, Don Hahn)
Is Divisional Play Outdated?
- Rosenberg:
“I just think you want the best teams. You want the six best teams to go and be ranked based on their record and whether they won the division or not should not matter...”
(21:39, Peter Rosenberg)
3. Talk About It Tuesday: Jets Therapy Session
(24:47 onward)
Emotional Exhaustion in Jets Nation
- The hosts openly describe a sense of abandonment, numbness, and inevitability from years of failure.
- Don describes dead-inside fandom:
“I have emotional abandonment right now with the team. I don't react emotionally to anything at this point.”
(28:11, Don Hahn)
Jets’ Quarterback Quagmire & Disappointment
- Donnie points to Justin Fields as an uninspired, “half-ass” solution at QB.
- Don Hahn on Jets’ inevitability:
“It's this feeling of inevitability, which is why the Aaron Rodgers injury, when it happened, was shocking for a millisecond and then was, well, yeah, that's what we are.”
(28:11, Don Hahn) - Peter Rosenberg:
“there was never any reason to believe that… If you were sitting there going, I think this team can win eight games… that's on you, man. That's on you.”
(32:36, Peter Rosenberg)
Apathy and No Faith Left
- Hahn:
“I can't get emotional about it. I can't get caught up in it. But I can tell you that it is right now. Disillusionment. There's nothing else to feel. Hope, anticipation. None of it exists. That's emotional abandonment.”
(36:35, Don Hahn)
Aaron Glenn Coaching Critique
- Donnie critiques Glenn’s demeanor:
“[He] seemed resigned to like, I'm done and I'm going to scream at these guys after the game… I did not get the dancing down the sideline… Aaron Glenn, I gotta… I'm fed up. This team sucks”
(39:45, Donnie) - Don Hahn and Donnie agree: Glenn did the right thing showing fire privately, but his sideline persona matters for optics.
Caller Mike from LA: Glenn Not Ready for HC
-
Mike (caller):
“Adam Glenn… he is not a head coach. And you can just tell… when a coach… he's all bark and no bite.”
(44:12, Mike in LA) -
Rosenberg responds:
“He’s never been a head coach… you don’t know. He's never done it before, but that doesn't mean that through four games, you could tell he can't do it…”
(45:28, Peter Rosenberg)
Perspective and Coping Mechanisms
-
Hahn:
“I know I can't. I can't leave my team… I'm just going to sit and observe and see if this does get right at some point… I'm not going to give any more of my emotions to this franchise.”
(37:21, Don Hahn) -
Rosenberg on hope:
“You just hope… that the ship that slowly turns will eventually turn in the right direction.”
(38:13, Peter Rosenberg) -
Donnie on “Talk About It Tuesday”:
“That's talk about it Tuesday. On this Tuesday sponsored by BetterHelp, visit betterhelp.com timeout today for 10% off…”
(41:24, Donnie)
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
“You hear stories about how the upper deck used to shake when it got so loud… You wanted to take advantage of that… You started feeling the postseason coming once September hit. You start smelling the postseason.”
– Jeff Nelson (01:23) -
“There's nothing else to feel. Hope, anticipation. None of it exists. That's emotional abandonment.”
– Don Hahn, on the experience of rooting for the current Jets (36:35) -
On the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry:
“If you're a player in that locker room… you gotta have that attitude. I think it can definitely ignite the rivalry.”
– Jeff Nelson (06:15) -
On fan expectations for the Jets:
“You're doing that to yourself. There was never any reason to believe that… that's on you, man. That's on you.”
– Peter Rosenberg (32:36) -
On head coach Aaron Glenn:
“He tried to lay out a bravado, but none of it means anything until you go out there and you start winning games. And he's been humbled.”
– Peter Rosenberg (47:23)
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 00:44 – Introduction of Jeff Nelson; Yankee Stadium playoff atmosphere
- 02:56 – Aaron Judge’s October pressure
- 04:22 – Playoff lineup decisions, analytics impact
- 06:15 – Red Sox rivalry discussion
- 07:25 – Bullpen mentality in a short series
- 10:07 – Emotional connection to Yankees/Red Sox for ex-players
- 11:29 – Stanton’s playoff mindset and legacy
- 13:00 – Stanton and Hall of Fame debate
- 15:36–22:23 – Playoff seeding, division system debate
- 24:47 – Talk About It Tuesday: Despair among Jets fans
- 28:11 – Hahn on emotional abandonment as a Jets fan
- 32:36 – Rosenberg: On self-inflicted hope
- 36:35 – Hahn: Apathy and emotional abandonment
- 39:45 – Donnie: Glenn’s demeanor and risk of losing the locker room
- 44:12 – Caller Mike: Aaron Glenn not ready as head coach
- 47:23 – Rosenberg: Glenn humbled and the road ahead
Final Thoughts
This episode offers a vibrant blend of classic Yankees playoff nostalgia and sharply honest sports therapy around Jets misery. Jeff Nelson brings authentic insider perspective, while the hosts’ “group therapy” tone on the Jets is raw and relatable—using “Talk About It Tuesday” as a space for both release and reflection. Listeners get both high-level baseball insight and cathartic commiseration, which captures the spirit of New York sports talk at its best.