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- [00:01]
Michael K
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
- [00:27]
Don LaGreca
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:30]
Alan Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:32]
Don LaGreca
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
- [00:40]
Alan Hahn
Game time is brought to you by tellamardu Irish Whiskey because when it's game.
- [00:43]
Don LaGreca
Time, I like when he holds it.
- [00:56]
Alan Hahn
The Mets open up a series with a Giants coverage immediately following us right here on 880 at 6:30 and the Yankees will visit the Marlins at 7:10 while the Liberty face the sun at 7:30. You should never look directly into the sun. Hurt your eyes. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. You of course hear him from 1 to 3 here on ESPN New York and of course on the yes Network. Calling the Yankees.
- [01:28]
Don LaGreca
We lose Don for a second. Oh, we'll get him back. Yeah, but we'll, we'll get Don back here in a moment. But we have Michael, so let's bring Michael in with us right now. We have some technical difficulties today, Michael, so it's a good thing that you.
- [01:39]
Michael K
Oh no.
- [01:40]
Don LaGreca
Yeah. That you took the day. But we're glad we have you here. We'll get Don back here momentarily. But let's, let's delve into some things that Don and I have been talking about in this first, in the first hour. And I love the fact that you want to jump in on this because we've been referencing you enough that we might as well just talk straight to you about it first and foremost. Just comes with the feeling. Coming out of yesterday's trade deadline was at least from a lot of different places, not necessarily from the Yankees, but from a lot of other people. It's like the Yankees have done enough to now win a championship and if they don't, it's a failure. I feel like every year that's kind of the sense anyway. But do you look at it like this is a much better team now and all the mistakes and the problems and troubles of the last six weeks will now go away because the bullpen is better.
- [02:30]
Michael K
I thought we were going to talk about the McKell Bridges extension. This is news to me. They told me, let's talk about that extension.
- [02:36]
Don LaGreca
That'll be a 30 second conversation. $150 million, you don't say no to it.
- [02:42]
Michael K
Absolutely. Well, let's put it this way. I thought Brian Cashman had a great trade deadline, but like David Stearns, he missed on one thing that he needed and that was to get a starter. But as I've been saying this whole time leading into this, there were a lot of holes to fill. So he filled the third base hole. He felt he vastly improved the bench vastly by Slater, Camino and about Rosario. Really, really good job there. Carrying three catchers. Left handed catchers didn't make any sense whatsoever. And I thought the bullpen moves were extraordinary. Now, does that mean that it guarantees them a World Series? No, but I think that they're as good as anybody in the American League. They should get to the World Series. And there are still things that they clean up. They have to play cleaner baseball. But if you look at the losses that have taken place since the middle of June to today, August 1st, much of it has been because of the bullpen pitching to a close quarter, close to 70 ra and lighter going down and Cruz going down. Now that bullpen is really a weapon for them and they can have starters go four innings and still cover those 15 outs. That that's the heavy lifting that Brian did yesterday.
- [03:56]
Alan Hahn
But, you know, cleaning up the defense is still a major priority. And even though McMahon's a good defender at third, you had a good defender at third in Paraza, so you increased more offense than defense by including him in third. So did they give you any confidence that that's an area they can clean up to try to compete for a championship?
- [04:17]
Michael K
Well, McMahon's much better defensively done than Perazzo. Perazzo was a shortstop that was playing third. He had great hands, but he made some bad throws, which I think got the Yankees attention. So McMahon's much better there. And if you look around the infield, obviously Goldschmidt's an outstanding first baseman. Jazz Chisholm is a plus defender. And the history of Anthony Volpe is that he's played very well, Won a Gold Glove his first year, finished in the top three last year. This year's been awful and he's got to clean that up. The one defensive thing that you have to worry about is in left field and Jason Dominguez. And with the additions that they made, they can now clean that up and take him out after the seventh inning and have guys out there that are really good defenders in order to. To make the outs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning. I just think that this gives Boone a lot of options. And one of the things that I complained about all year, I think you guys have heard me say it was a very clunky roster. It was a roster that didn't fit and didn't give Boone a lot of things to really play around with. That changed now. Now he's got a really viable bunch of options that he can go to off the bench. And for defense, you can also get a guy like Caballero, who leads the major leagues and stolen bases. The Yankees have never really had that sort of guy. So now they'll add some speed into the dynamic as well. And one more thing. If Anthony Voltmann continues to struggle at shortstop now, they do have a legitimate shortstop in Caballero who could take over and play a game or two and give Anthony some time to, you know, hit the reset button.
- [05:48]
Don LaGreca
What you just said there to me is like that. That's what leads us to what feels like a conversation that's now being had today that, you know, Connor wrote about in the Times and talked about earlier today as well on our air. And that is what Brian Cashman use these words, gives our manager more choices, more choices to play with, more choices to mix and match, a depth of the roster. All the things it is, if it's saying, and I'm not saying the Cashman is saying it himself, but when you read the quotes out of context, it certainly sounds like we gave the manager everything he needs now. We expect now this team to go ahead and win a championship. And if he does, and if this team fails, he's the one who failed it. Do you get that sense? Because Ian suggests in what he wrote and what he said on our air is that if this team doesn't win a championship this year, coming off of last year's appearance in the World Series, that he could be fired. And I completely disagree. How do you feel?
- [06:50]
Michael K
I don't think there's a chance. I know that Yankee fans just sunk down in their seat right now because Don and I had 20, you know, at least seven years of this. You know, it's Boone's fault. It's Boone's fault.
- [07:00]
Don LaGreca
Right?
- [07:00]
Michael K
The thing that Ian said that I agree with now there's so many options, and it's on the manager then, because it's never the player that you put in that doesn't perform. It's not his fault. It's the manager for putting in the wrong player. So this, there's so many levers to pull in the bullpen. Does he pull the right ones? I remember Don Mattingly once told me the hardest thing for a manager is bullpen management. He said, and you could make the absolute right choice. And that guy does not perform that day. It's your fault. It's not his. So Boone's got that against him. But I can assure you of one thing. He is not getting fired. The Yankees are not in the habit of paying people not to work. They just gave this guy a two year extension at the beginning of this year. Now they're going to fire him and eat that money. That doesn't make sense. I mean, barring a total collapse. I didn't think a total collapse wouldn't get him fired. He has done everything this organization wants him to do. He's a great representative of the organization. And this is a collaborative effort. And I have said this over and over, Don and Alan, that any analytic team that is collaborative with its manager that ends up firing the manager is full of hypocrisy. That's all there is to it. Because, I mean, what, are you not going to blame yourself? Because there's all these things coming from up top, information coming down. This is the lane we should. You think that Aaron Boone, and he might even deny this publicly, you think that Aaron Boone was the one who decided in those pre World Series meetings? Yeah, let's go with Nestor Cortez in that spot with that lineup coming up for the Dodgers, not Tim Hill. Let's go with Nestor. Cortez doesn't pitch in two months. That was a collaborative thing that came from up top and obviously Boone agreed with it. So I don't see Boone losing his job. I'm sorry, I just don't.
- [08:50]
Don LaGreca
Just jump in, Dom, real quick, just to follow up, because I need to on this because of the Boone thing. And how much then, Michael, do you put on Boone for the fundamental issues that we've seen from this team when it comes to, you know, the Volpe stuff, the, you know, what Wells did on the base pads, anything that we have seen that they have not played fundamentally sound baseball throughout the majority of the season, especially the last six weeks, is that strictly on the manager?
- [09:17]
Michael K
Well, I know that this always used to aggravate Don and it aggravates me too. If You're a longtime baseball fan. It was easy to always blame the manager. I don't think you could do that anymore. I think there's so many tentacles out there that control things. And I'm sorry, the, the Austin Wells thing, I think I said on the play by play, unforgivable, you know, whatever the first base coach, Travis Chapman said, okay, this is the guy's move. This is his time to home. This is the pop time. On the catcher, by the way, there's one out. I mean, how's that on Aaron Boone? I mean, it was a brain cramp by Austin. Also, maybe you're picking guys that are not articulate in the art of baseball, that they're just physical specimen that could do it. Even Austin Wells said, the only thing I could blame is me. I was an idiot. That's not on Aaron. Boom. The fact that Anthony Volpe is. Had 16 errors more than anybody in baseball other than Ellie David Cruz, is that on Aaron Boone? So I guess some of it has to fall on him. I know that people are always going to say, well, he's not a taskmaster. He doesn't yell at his players. Well, that's just the way baseball is right now. That's the way sports is right now. I guess he got to accept some of the blame, but all of it, I just don't think you could do that.
- [10:29]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I don't want to talk in the negative because they could turn around and win the championship this year. But like, who does get held accountable when things do not live up to expectations? We live in a town where Thibodeau gets let go after going to the conference final for the first time in 20 years or 25 years. And then, you know, Pete DeBoer gets fired in Dallas after going to what, seven of the last eight conference finals, but didn't get to the Stanley cup final, didn't win a cup. So he's out of a job with the Rangers, have done with their coaches. Despite making runs in the playoffs like we see in sports now, either an organization or general manager or head coach, somebody is held responsible. Except for the Yankees, there never seems to be any accountability for failure. And I think that's what frustrates fans the most.
- [11:15]
Michael K
I hear you, but your definition of failure might be completely different.
- [11:19]
Alan Hahn
That's what I've been right, Allen? Haven't I been saying that now for the last couple of days? Is they're sitting in their ivory tower laughing and saying failure. What are you talking about, failure?
- [11:29]
Michael K
They, they've got to Change the mission statement that's handed to the public. So I don't blame the fans for getting upset. You know, World Series of busts, and that comes from Derek Jeter and it's him and handed down to Aaron Judge. I think it's got to stop. Can you honestly tell me, both of you guys and everybody listening, that getting to the World Series last year was a failure? If you get to the World Series and you don't win, it's a failure. I can't accept that and I don't. And I always thought that George Simon was wrong about that too. I, I understand. You should say every year we try to win the World Series and every year the Yankees put a team that's representative, that should be able to win the World Series if things go right. They went to the World Series last year. If you look at the total run scored, the Dodgers outscored the Yankees by one run in the five games. So it looks like a blowout. But if you watch the Series, they should have and could have won game one. They obviously should have and could have won game five. So then you're talking about going back to L. A and losing or winning in game six or seven. Again, it's a very difficult needle to thread. It really is. And I understand when people say it's a failure, but I can't look at going to the championship of a league and then winning that and then going to the championship, the sport, and losing that and say, well, what a failure. What an absolute failure.
- [12:42]
Don LaGreca
I've always said, Michael, actually I've had front office guys say this about their. When your team reaches the final four of your sport, and that's in baseball at the lcs, you've had a successful season because you're among the four that have a chance to win a championship and that's successful overall. But for the Yankees to look the way they looked at times, especially in that game five, as we know, at home, to play like that is the lasting impression. That's, I think, the part like that, that bad taste in the mouth all off season that a lot of fans were feeling, and then the way the Dodgers or select few Dodgers carried on about how they, you know, embarrass the Yankees and what they did with that ball, the judge didn't, didn't catch the auction, that off like those things to me are damaging to the brand. I think that's why there was so much anxiety among the fan base. And with a lot of people around this team going into the season thinking, all right, Come into the season with a chip on your shoulder. And yet we have to be fair, we have recently seen some of the same type of play that kind of pissed everybody off last year in that World Series.
- [13:50]
Michael K
I get it. It's hard to argue that. But I think what I would go to is you said that most front office people, you say if you go to the Final Four, it's considered okay, we did our job.
- [13:59]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [14:01]
Michael K
And. But the Knicks just fired their coach and they went to the Final Four, and I think that they fired their coach because there was a disconnect between the coach and the front office and the players. Yes, there's no disconnect here. The Yankees and Boone Cashmere in his front office, they're on the same page. They really are. The players love Boone. Does it look good when they make boneheaded plays? Of course it doesn't. But I've always said this over and over in all sports. When do the players get blamed? When is it Austin Wells is fault for getting how many out there were? When is it Volpe's fault for booting balls at shortstop? I mean, Boone can't do everything. He's got to give them a mindset of playing hard. I think they play hard for him. I don't think they ever. Dog. It's. Again, I understand why people are upset, but, you know, just getting back to what we started with. Brian Castro did what he had to do yesterday other than pitching, picking up the starting pitcher. And now it's on the players to execute, and it's on Aaron Boone to make the right selection each night. Who's going to pitch the seven, who's going to pitch the six, who's going to close the game? So it's a lot. It's a lot on the plate of Boone now, and it's a lot of responsibility. But again, that will all be collaborative. All right, let's look at the lineup today. Once the computer spit out. Okay, that's the best time to bring in Doval. All right. Okay, that's the best time to bring in Bedar. Here's where we bring in Weaver. I mean, Boone's not just sitting there winging it. There's a lot of information that he's handed and then he executes it in.
- [15:19]
Alan Hahn
The dugout talking to Michael K. Here on Don Han and Rosenberg. Yankees start a series in Miami with the Marlins. Let's talk about the elephant in the room, and that's Aaron Judge. Everything is pivotal on his health. Yes, he's going to come back, but can he play the field. And if he can't play the field, what are you going to do with Giancarlo Stanton?
- [15:40]
Michael K
I don't think you're going to see him in the field for a while. I mean, people. People tell me I'm wrong, but you cannot re aggravate that flexor tendon. I actually thought that he should have been the DH this whole time, but then I was told that, you know, the grip on the bat, whatever, that that's problematic. But he's been swinging a bat for the last three days underneath the stadium. So that was one or two days where the grip was an issue. And, and I really believe that part of the thing of that was if you did have the dh, you know, without putting him on the il, then Stanton becomes a non person. And I believe that when he comes back, if he comes back at the end of the Texas series or comes back against the Astros on Friday at the stadium, he's going to be a DH for a while. They cannot afford to have him blow out that arm. Usually flexor tendon injuries are a precursor to UCL injuries, so they don't want that by any stretch of the imagination. I think at least a couple of weeks, I'm looking at it at least through August. He is the guy that's going to be playing right field. He's going to be playing dh. And when they talk to me about Stanton being the outfield, I just shrugged my shoulders. I don't see it happening. So Stanton becomes a very well paid pinch hitter. That's all there is to it. So that's one of the things that I would tell Ian if I was talking to him. They're not at full strength because full strength would be Aaron Judge and Wright and Stanton as a dh. But you're losing one of your big bats in the lineup by having Aaron Judge after dh.
- [17:06]
Don LaGreca
Now, one way that I think you can, because now you have way better depth in the. On the roster. Could you see a scenario in the postseason where Stanton still has value game to game? Because let's say there's a rally going in the seventh. I can pinch hit him for somebody that might. Might not be a good matchup or might, you know, not have a good game going, knowing that I've got somebody that I could just replace him with to finish the game in the field. Does that does give you that option?
- [17:35]
Michael K
Absolutely, it does. But remember what that. What you're saying is he's becoming a DH for one at that. Now you're going to pick me A bat that's best suited for him in the game in the biggest moment. But those four swings are not going to happen. So that's going to be an interesting dichotomy for the Yankees. When do you pick to pull the lever on Stanton and if they had that same situation last year, let's all be honest with each other. Do they even get to the World Series without what Stanton did against Cleveland? So, I mean, he's a big postseason performer. So what the Yankees have to hope is that by October, Judge is able to play in the outfield and then he becomes a moot point.
- [18:14]
Alan Hahn
I love what the Mets did. I'm with you. It would have been nice to maybe get another starter, but they addressed center field, they addressed the bullpen. That was really dragging. I love Rogers. We'll see what Soto can do. Housley's been a guy with great stats. So it begs the question. And it was fired out by our social media. I wanted to get your thoughts right now. Who's got the better pen, Mets or Yankees?
- [18:38]
Michael K
I think the Yankee pen is longer. I think it's a little bit deeper. And I think that what the Yankee did with their correction is the Yankees had, I think, one of the softest throwing bullpens in baseball. So they didn't have a lot of swing and miss. Now they've had it. Swing and miss. You know, Bednar is a swing and miss guy. Doval is a swing and miss guy. You add them to, you know, Devin Williams and the Kid Bird. Although he doesn't throw hard, he's the swing and miss guy as well. I just think it's deeper. Like, you know, during the rain delay yesterday, David and I were sitting there going, who do you let go? I mean, because there's too many. You can only carry eight guys in the bullpen. They've got so many arms. So I don't know if the Mets have eight guys that you'd say, wow, that's top flight. You might. They might have five. I'm not sure if they have eight. They might have. They might have six. But you know, right now, when you look at it, the eighth guy on the Yankees is going to be Mark Leiter. Especially when Cruz comes back. That's pretty good to have a guy like Mark Lighter be your eighth inning guy or, you know, your, you, you got it. You bring him the third inning if a starter is getting slapped around. So I say, I'd say the Mets did great work at the, at the trade demo. I just think the Yankees a little Bit better. But the best bullpen in baseball to me is the Padres. What they did.
- [19:52]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [19:53]
Michael K
And that's the way they think that they could beat the Dodgers.
- [19:55]
Alan Hahn
And they, and they almost had them last year. They won the first two games in that series. They very easily could have knocked the Dodgers out in the first round and they just couldn't fit finishing lost three in a row. So they're not that far away. And you saw what they did to the Mets the last few days. The one thing I will say though is, you know, you got a closer in Diaz. I mentioned it yesterday and it was talked about a little bit today. I mean listen, I love Bednar, his stats are great. Duvall, I saw him in San Francisco also very good. You just don't know until you get there. Michael, you know better than anybody how these guys are going to handle the bright lights and the pressure of New York in that moment. And you're not going to know. I don't care what the stats, what he did in Pittsburgh, San Diego, what was done in San Francisco. You're not going to know until that moment happens whether these guys can handle it.
- [20:40]
Michael K
You're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. And I was surprised yesterday when Boone said with such conviction that Devin Williams still is closer. Now I know he's pitched well since he lost the closure spot and then came back played very well. But he did blow that game against Tampa Bay and the Yankees came back to win it, which was a very important win. But I think it's going to be on a game to game basis. I really do. I think that bullpen is going to be used a lot. That's why they got them. And you know the Yankees have a weakness when it comes to starters and you know they, to make room for the relievers. Today they already released Marcus Stroman so they are eating that salary. But they have a big decision to make. So when he'll comes back on Sunday, who's going. Is it going to be Slitler? Is it going to be Warren? Warren's pitch very, very well. So I thought that both the Mets and the Yankees, the only thing on their checklist that they didn't do was to get a starter and it's hard to really get on them for that because there wasn't a big time starter that was, that was traded.
- [21:34]
Don LaGreca
No, I wouldn't have, I don't think this, this was the type of market that you give up a top end prospect for a star. Again, even Shane Bieber, he hasn't pitched all Year like you don't know what you're getting.
- [21:44]
Alan Hahn
Alcantara, I don't know. Last couple of years with him.
- [21:46]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, so, so that, that I, I'm, I'm complete agreement there. But you brought up heel. So let me how this is going to sound so trivial. How big though, like how much emphasis is on his start Sunday. Not that he's got to be lights out because it's his first start of the season, but what he can be as the number three guy because we know once you get to the playoffs, it's really freed Rodin and heel. That's really what you're going to be putting out there. How much emphasis is being put on his return and the importance. Importance of what his return can be when it comes to starting pitching.
- [22:22]
Michael K
Well, I mean, I know it sounds cliche and fans don't like to hear this, but his return could be the trade that you didn't make. So obviously you need three stout starters in the postseason. Warren, you know, might not see any action in the postseason, maybe working out of the bullpen. So you just need three. And you know, if he'll can return to what he was in the first half last year when he took over when Garrett Cole was out, that would be a home run and maybe he could even move to the number two spot. So Carlos Rodan starting tonight, but his first 13 starts were lights out. He struggled a little bit in the last eight starts, so he's got to get back to what he was. He still got has really good numbers. He made the all star team. But the bottom line is even Max free to stumble a little bit, come back down to earth. So you need heel to be that guy. Okay, this is, this is the beginning of the season for him. He is not going to have any August doldrums. He's not going to have any June swoon. This is how he starts the season. He's got to give them eight or nine great starts in August and September to get them into the postseason, make them really viable options.
- [23:24]
Alan Hahn
Doesn't have a great weekend, man. I appreciate giving us a couple of minutes.
- [23:28]
Michael K
Well, I just want to ask one thing. If I could, please. Why has Peter been so quiet? I listen to the show a lot. I never hear him talk. He didn't have a question. Today we're talking baseball.
- [23:38]
Alan Hahn
So he's like, yeah, that's the thing. You just exposed us. We said that he was awful. Month of July, he's been here every day. We talking a lot of baseball.
- [23:47]
Don LaGreca
It's actually because We've done four hours.
- [23:49]
Michael K
A lot of baseball.
- [23:50]
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
- [23:50]
Michael K
Yeah, it's a lot of baseball. Wow. I wonder what he's. I mean, hasn't even been talking today about Terry McClure, and that's probably bothered him a lot.
- [23:59]
Don LaGreca
Oh, you'll hear a lot of that next week, I think.
- [24:01]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, Alan and I are both off and we're happy about that. I just didn't know about this.
- [24:09]
Michael K
He's going to bring him again.
- [24:11]
Don LaGreca
We probably did. We're going to, you know. So one of our interns, we had intern day yesterday. So we had our interns come on and have a segment each, which was a lot of fun. And one of them is Lily, and she's from the DMV area and a big commanders fan. I am. I'm going to predict that before they're done next week. This last week, I think Lilly makes another cameo just so he can talk Commander's football.
- [24:34]
Michael K
Well, I hope for Peter's sake next week is that after the President is forcing their changes and they change the name Back to Redskins, McLaurin is traded and then you got wall to wall Washington football. It's going to be great.
- [24:48]
Alan Hahn
Michael, did you know about the paternity leave when we had our kids?
- [24:52]
Michael K
No. Funny thing, Don. I'm glad you brought that up. So I told Jody last week, I said, let's have another kid. And she said, why? I said, just to get a month off with pay. I mean, how great would that be? I tried, but it's another kid. It's another kid, Michael. I said, I know, but it's a month off. She's not in for it.
- [25:11]
Don LaGreca
No, I tried. Stephanie said, absolutely not. She's like, you're going to work.
- [25:14]
Michael K
I do wonder, though, if I have a baby with another woman, I mean, does it out of wedlock baby, would I get that month off?
- [25:21]
Don LaGreca
It should. What if you just donated, Michael? What if you donated?
- [25:25]
Michael K
Technically, I'm 12 months off.
- [25:30]
Alan Hahn
Well, that's the thing. I hate to tell you, Michael. It's actually two months, not one.
- [25:36]
Michael K
Wow. Unbelievable. Listen, I don't want to get myself into trouble, but.
- [25:39]
Don LaGreca
Unbelievable. Here's the problem, though, because the way our wives are looking at it is they're saying it's nine months for me and you get two months off. No, that's not happening. It's bad.
- [25:48]
Michael K
Don will tell you, though, when we had Cali driving back from the hospital, I stopped in a hotel to do the show and interview Rex Ryan.
- [25:56]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I remember.
- [25:57]
Michael K
There was no month off.
- [25:58]
Alan Hahn
No, no. Yeah, there's barely any time off at all.
- [26:01]
Don LaGreca
I worked the Nick game the next day after Cali was born. The next day I'm on the air. Come on, that's just.
- [26:08]
Michael K
That's different. Very cold by you then. You didn't have any skin to skin.
- [26:12]
Don LaGreca
Well, come on. It was, it was. It was also 2015. That was when I really should have taken time off. You remember that season?
- [26:20]
Michael K
Yeah, absolutely.
- [26:21]
Don LaGreca
Yeah. Phil Jackson.
- [26:23]
Alan Hahn
All right, Michael, thank you so much, man. Enjoy the weekend.
- [26:26]
Michael K
Bye, guys. You got.
- [26:27]
Alan Hahn
You're on these games, right?
- [26:28]
Michael K
You're not off.
- [26:28]
Don LaGreca
Good stuff.
- [26:29]
Michael K
Yeah, I'm in Miami right now. Good.
- [26:31]
Alan Hahn
Enjoy, man. That was a nice strategic day off by you today. And even when he took off, you couldn't.
- [26:38]
Don LaGreca
You could not let him hang up the phone without dropping that Don. It's unbelievable.
- [26:42]
Michael K
But you know what? I'm going to tell you and I'll tell you guys up here, there was also some mechanical issues. Why this day was taken off.
- [26:49]
Alan Hahn
No, I can imagine.
- [26:52]
Michael K
No, let's just leave it at this. It has something to do with something called the cradle point. And I know we're talking about babies, but this is not a baby thing. But there was a mechanical issue as well. Why this was ended up being a vacation day.
- [27:05]
Don LaGreca
Oh, yeah, I totally understand.
- [27:07]
Alan Hahn
Don't feel bad about it. You've taken less vacation than you usually do.
- [27:11]
Michael K
No, but it's terrible that I didn't do the show after the trade deadline. I felt really guilty.
- [27:16]
Don LaGreca
But on the air.
- [27:17]
Michael K
But.
- [27:17]
Don LaGreca
But Don just took another shot at you. That's two shots in the last.
- [27:20]
Alan Hahn
What shot did I just take?
- [27:23]
Michael K
What shot? I missed it.
- [27:24]
Alan Hahn
Oh, you know, there was no shot.
- [27:26]
Don LaGreca
Anthony, you heard the shot, right? He took less time.
- [27:29]
Michael K
What was the shot?
- [27:29]
Don LaGreca
Usually he said you. You've taken less time off, but that was a compliment.
- [27:33]
Alan Hahn
You have taken less vacation this summer than you ever have.
- [27:36]
Michael K
Yes, absolutely. You know what? I don't even look at it as a rip. No, sure. I think I've worked more than anybody.
- [27:43]
Alan Hahn
It wasn't meant as a rip at all.
- [27:44]
Don LaGreca
Let's be honest. You feel like you're really on vacation every day now. Because.
- [27:47]
Michael K
Because, you know, I love my show. Love it. I actually miss when I don't do it. I really do. Yeah.
- [27:55]
Alan Hahn
No, but he's talking about it doesn't.
- [27:56]
Michael K
Even seem like work. I love it so much.
- [27:59]
Alan Hahn
Like what? What's bigger?
- [28:01]
Michael K
I took 10 weeks off.
- [28:02]
Don LaGreca
No, I remember, remember.
- [28:05]
Alan Hahn
But what's. What's big before we let you go? What's bigger? Two less hours or no Peter.
- [28:11]
Michael K
All right, have a good weekend, guys.
- [28:15]
Alan Hahn
That's Michael K, everybody. He's got the game this weekend in Miami, so that should be a lot of fun avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today the McDonald's Snack Wrap is back.
- [28:50]
Don LaGreca
You brought it back.
- [28:52]
Alan Hahn
Ranch snack wrap, Spicy snack wrap.
- [28:55]
Don LaGreca
You broke the Internet for a snack?
- [28:58]
Michael K
Snack wrap is back.
- [29:01]
Alan Hahn
Ba da ba ba ba. Gatorade is the number one proven electrolyte.
- [29:06]
Michael K
Blend designed to hydrate better than water.
- [29:10]
Don LaGreca
So you can lose more sweat.
- [29:13]
Michael K
And raise your game. Gatorade is it in you?
- [29:19]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [29:22]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [29:23]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast.
- [29:29]
Alan Hahn
Bradler Friday one of my favorite times of the week and it hits different when you're going on vacation, so I'm looking forward to this. Anthony, what do you got buddy?
- [29:38]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh hey guys. We've got some calls, we've got emails. We stick to the why did you.
- [29:45]
Don LaGreca
Give us a Jonathan?
- [29:46]
Michael K
Why did you.
- [29:50]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, it really is Friday, isn't it?
- [29:52]
Don LaGreca
You get spicy on us.
- [29:53]
Peter Rosenberg
It's been quite the week. It really has. I guess Jacob will have to repurpose that because I don't think I did anything there.
- [30:01]
Alan Hahn
But maybe I did.
- [30:02]
Don LaGreca
That's coming back at ENN for sure.
- [30:05]
Peter Rosenberg
Let's go to Zach via email dhrespnmail.com if you want the Honorable Donald Marco LaGreca to determine your fraudulence. Hey Don Allen Peter, that's nice of him. My name is Zach and I have a theoretical fraud alert Friday question that I came up with and need your guys judgment input on if I was in such situation. I'm 27, I live in Central New York. Big area for Bills fans all my life and and I've been a die hard fan of the Seahawks since I was 7. I'd like to know more about that story. Living in this part of the state, I know very well about the four straight super bowl losses and witnessed the down years and up years from the Bills. With the team now a perennial Super Bowl Contender. Every year I've started to think, uh, oh, if there was ever a day that the Bills played the Seahawks in the super bowl and won, would I be a fraud Seahawks fan for celebrating a long awaited first super bowl for the hometown team knowing that my favorite team has a Super bowl of their own. Let me know what you guys think.
- [31:05]
Michael K
Now.
- [31:06]
Alan Hahn
If they won a Super bowl against anybody else and you wanted, they'd be happy for them and kind of celebrate because you're from that area, but it coming at the expense of your team. No, no, no. You got to be disgusted that your team lost the super bowl and not celebrate team that beat your team. Fraud.
- [31:28]
Don LaGreca
Don. This is, this is where it really gets difficult for a lot of people who are fans out of market Ryan. Because if you ever have that moment, you almost feel like you're, you're not invited to the party because if your team wins, everybody's mad and depressed and sad and you really know like, like you can't over celebrate like you want to because everybody around you is like, you know, a nozzle. Dial it down.
- [31:54]
Alan Hahn
Right.
- [31:54]
Don LaGreca
But if they win and your team loses, you're not invited to the party. They're having a great time, they're having parades, they're celebrating and you can't. And you know you can't, but you so bad want to be part of the party because it looks like a lot of fun. So that's the hardest part of being an out of market fan.
- [32:13]
Alan Hahn
But it's not. That's why I would give him if, if the Bills beat anybody else.
- [32:19]
Don LaGreca
So. So you're saying if the Bills beat the Eagles, he's fine to celebrate someone else's championship.
- [32:26]
Alan Hahn
Not celebrate it, but like just be happy for them and think it's, that's.
- [32:30]
Don LaGreca
A different story now.
- [32:31]
Alan Hahn
But to celebrate, but to celebrate if it comes the expense of your team, because as you're celebrating, they're going to talk about the great play against your team, the tackle that your team didn't make make on Josh Allen.
- [32:44]
Don LaGreca
Right. Did you see that pick? Wasn't that awesome? And you're like, yeah, that was an awesome pick. No, no, your quarterback just threw that pick.
- [32:50]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, that's why you can't do it. But if you want to like, hey, it's, I'm happy for the Bills that they won. That, that's fine.
- [32:58]
Don LaGreca
Okay.
- [32:58]
Alan Hahn
But not if it comes at the expense of your team. So he's a fraud.
- [33:01]
Don LaGreca
Okay.
- [33:01]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, it sounds like, it sounds like he might be trying to get out.
- [33:04]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And he's got to get out.
- [33:05]
Peter Rosenberg
He's trying to get out.
- [33:06]
Don LaGreca
That's what this is.
- [33:07]
Peter Rosenberg
It could be.
- [33:08]
Don LaGreca
This is his escape.
- [33:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen, he's already thinking about a hypothetical that would take a lot of things to work out. The Seahawks are a good team.
- [33:15]
Don LaGreca
Yeah. But the legion of boom days are old, Right? It's clear.
- [33:19]
Peter Rosenberg
So that's interesting. Let's hear from Kalyn. I'm a New York sports fan, but was late to hockey. I just pulled a Dom with the hockey. I got choked up. It's been an interesting segment for me. It really has. I got into hockey back in 2014 and became a Montreal Canadiens fan because of a YouTuber I watched was a and did a playthrough of the NHL video game. Oh, that's kind of cool. I even have a Max Pacioretti and Carrie Price jersey.
- [33:43]
Don LaGreca
That's real.
- [33:44]
Peter Rosenberg
However, now I'm old enough where I feel I should have an allegiance to local teams, but can't land on Devils or Rangers and usually default to which is doing better. Am I a fraud? Thanks.
- [33:53]
Michael K
Oh, sure.
- [33:54]
Don LaGreca
Now, how old were we when. Okay. Sorry.
- [33:57]
Alan Hahn
No, go ahead. No, that's all right.
- [33:58]
Don LaGreca
I just needed the more detail. So there's no age of when Caitlin became a Canadian Span.
- [34:04]
Peter Rosenberg
But I'm not even worried about that. No, but I'm not even worried about.
- [34:07]
Don LaGreca
That particular, like, the key phrase there. I'm older now.
- [34:11]
Peter Rosenberg
He says I'm old enough where I feel like I should have an allegiance to a local team. But I don't think you should.
- [34:15]
Don LaGreca
Okay.
- [34:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Personally, I don't think you should have to feel that way.
- [34:20]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, why should you have to feel that way? Exactly. Now, this is not back in the 1950s where your team moved or it was impossible to follow your team. You can follow the Canadiens as easily as you can follow any of the local teams. Maybe you can't go to the game, although Montreal is a great trip. But you can get the package. You can watch the games. Sirius satellite radio airs all the games. So you've got Internet. You can stream the games. I don't know why she feels this obligation. I should start to follow a local team. No, you've committed to the Canadians now for the last 11 years.
- [34:51]
Don LaGreca
Own it.
- [34:52]
Alan Hahn
Own it. So if you decide to desert the Canadians because it's easier to follow one of the local teams, then you're a fraud.
- [34:59]
Peter Rosenberg
Also, let's not. And let's not forget the I usually default to, which is doing better. That alone is more fair weather than anything else. You seem like you have a connection to the Canadians in kind of a cool way. So, yeah, I think. I think that's fair. We have one more email and I think we have to get to Bernie in Virginia because this is. This is interesting.
- [35:19]
Alan Hahn
I agree. I agree with you.
- [35:20]
Michael K
Yeah.
- [35:20]
Peter Rosenberg
Hi, honorable Judge Don. I like how we've made this a thing.
- [35:24]
Don LaGreca
This is already. Julian to the judge.
- [35:27]
Peter Rosenberg
I'm a die hard jets and Knicks fan, but never really got into my baseball as a sports fan. A few years ago, my friend asked me to give it a chance. So I watched a few games and I really enjoyed the intensity of certain pitching matchups and how cool the atmosphere of playoff baseball was. I liked it and my friend told me I had to pick a team. I eventually landed on the Dodgers. This was the year. This was a year or so after the COVID championship. Long story short, after being an avid listener of ESPN New York and being in the New York, New Jersey area, I can't stand the Yankees or Yankees fans. I watched the Mets playoff run last year and found myself one wanting them to beat the Dodgers and gravitated to how much of a fun team they are. In the past few months, I decided to pack it up and take my fanship to Flushing, Queens. I even plan on going to Mets games at some point soon since I've heard great things about Citi Field anyways. Am I a fraud? This is an interesting one.
- [36:18]
Alan Hahn
Here's the reason I'm going to say no fraud. It sounds like it's very fluid after the COVID championship. That was 2020. It's 2025. So around 2122, he decided to try the Dodgers. It didn't seem like the outfit fit and now he's trying the Mets. He's still in a very transitional phase since he's so new to baseball. So I think I'll allow it.
- [36:42]
Don LaGreca
I think it's fair. I think that's very fair. It does. I do think this is almost like dating. Like, let me just see. Like, like what, what, what team can I really get into here? And I don't really like the Dodger thing. So let me try this. And the Mets. Boy, that's a vibe. Let me try that. But at some point, there needs to be. You got to put a ring. Yeah.
- [37:01]
Alan Hahn
As soon as you've made that call and say, I'm a Met band, then you got to shut it down.
- [37:05]
Peter Rosenberg
I definitely feel like there is a line of demarcation because I could already tell somebody's gonna say, well, you just said Kaelin wasn't a fraud. Well, Kaelin was a fan for 11 years.
- [37:13]
Alan Hahn
11 years.
- [37:14]
Peter Rosenberg
And nobody promised, pressured them into making a decision on you have to pick a team. Saw a YouTube clip of a Canadian playthrough of an NHL game and said, I think I like this team. And then stood with it for 11 years.
- [37:26]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, 11 years.
- [37:27]
Peter Rosenberg
Julian didn't like baseball. Jumped into it late, jumped into it during COVID when nothing was going on. So you had to latch onto something.
- [37:34]
Don LaGreca
And they were winning kind of like.
- [37:35]
Peter Rosenberg
In a year after the Dodger Covid championship. All right, I like the Dodgers, but he's a local. Local kid, local guy.
- [37:42]
Alan Hahn
It was brief enough where like I use the analogy, it just didn't fit. You were trying an alpha on didn't fit. And now you try the Mets. And if it fits, then that's it. That's what you got. That's what you wear forever.
- [37:52]
Peter Rosenberg
All right, now we, I think we can get to the calls. What do you guys say?
- [37:55]
Alan Hahn
All right, Virginia, what do you got, man? We've been waiting on you.
- [38:00]
Michael K
Okay, so as we all know, Ray Santiago loves the Cowboys.
- [38:04]
Alan Hahn
Yes, Very much so.
- [38:05]
Michael K
He, he does not complain about a coach. Coaches can get fired. He doesn't complain about the players. They come and go. He complains non stop about the owners, and the owners aren't going anywhere. So would Ray be a fraud if he left his Cowboys fandom behind due to his hatred of ownership and became a Jets fan because we all know he's not going to be a Giants fan?
- [38:34]
Don LaGreca
Well, you know, I think the only.
- [38:35]
Michael K
Non fraudulent thing he can do is change teams. If he complains about ownership, he's a fault. If he remains a fan.
- [38:42]
Alan Hahn
Well, no, no, see, I don't, I don't, I don't look at it that way. Complaining about ownership is kind of just a rite of passage. Jet fans are complaining about ownership forever. Matter of fact, how ridiculous would it be for Santiago to jump ship on Jerry Jones and go to Woody Johnson? That'd be a lateral move, wouldn't it? As far as complaining about ownership is concerned, Listen, the only time I'd have the conversation is what Peter went through with Daniel Snyder. Daniel Snyder was a bad guy and there's a lot of bad things happening with the commander Slash Redskins that can make some people nauseous and not want to follow the team anymore. Jerry Jones I don't think is a good guy. But, but race. Ray Santiago's complaints about Jerry is that he's incompetent, he's not doing a good enough job. That just comes with the territory, man. That's no reason to. To switch allegiance because of ownership. And I think the question is, though.
- [39:32]
Don LaGreca
If he wanted to, if he got so fed up that he's like, you know what? I renounce my. I can't be a fan of team while he's.
- [39:40]
Alan Hahn
Then you don't. Then you're out.
- [39:42]
Don LaGreca
But is he a fraud for being out?
- [39:45]
Alan Hahn
No, not if he doesn't. If he. If he decides I'm just not gonna root for anybody.
- [39:48]
Don LaGreca
No. Oh, okay. He can't now. He can't change affiliation.
- [39:51]
Alan Hahn
No, no, no. Because then what happens when Jerry passes away away and maybe his son decides to sell the team?
- [39:57]
Don LaGreca
Well, this is the Blackhawks thing, right? Oh, the Blackhawks thing.
- [39:59]
Michael K
Yeah.
- [39:59]
Don LaGreca
When the words. You know, when old man Wirtz passed on, the Suns took over and they started winning again because they spent money and they built the team.
- [40:06]
Michael K
Right.
- [40:06]
Alan Hahn
Well, what's happening now with the commanders where Schneider sold the team and now they've got solid ownership.
- [40:11]
Don LaGreca
Okay.
- [40:12]
Alan Hahn
No, you. Because if he wanted to walk away and then when ownership change, walk back, that. That would. I would stand by that.
- [40:19]
Don LaGreca
So it's official. You're not allowed to renounce fandom and become a fan of another team. You can renounce fandom and just not root for anybody, but you can't become a fan of another team. That is the law.
- [40:30]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. You got to take the good with the bad. So that was fun. I appreciate that. We can continue in the next segment. We also have sound from the newest Mets that we want to be able to play for you.
- [40:40]
Don LaGreca
Sure.
- [40:41]
Alan Hahn
How fraud alert Friday started will be repurposed at the beginning of enn. I'm looking forward to that with Anthony Pusick. Oh, I can't wait to. And we're taking you up until 6:30. Just wanted to throw this out. Time now for the weekend weather report, which is brought to you by Shoahoffer. Which is tomorrow sunny with a high of 82, and Sunday will also be sunny with a high of 84. That was the weekend weather report brought to you by Shoahoffer Shoahofer Grapefruit. Here comes the happy.
- [41:10]
Michael K
Your backyard barbecue has some new RSVPs. Just tap Target. With the grill raring to go, your personal shopper is tackling your same day delivery order at Target, babe. So Bob and Lynn are bringing the kids after all. Pro tip. You can change your same day order with a quick text to your shopper.
- [41:25]
Peter Rosenberg
I'll have her add popsicles. Ooh, and some sidewalk chalk.
- [41:29]
Michael K
Your shopper texts, a thumbs up. You text five exclamation points and life is good. Text with a personal shopper and get it all delivered asap. Just tap Target.
- [41:39]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [41:43]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [41:44]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand with whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast.
- [41:52]
Alan Hahn
Now time for the Leaderboard update which is brought to you by Schweppes Play suspended in the second round of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- [42:00]
Don LaGreca
Oh no.
- [42:00]
Alan Hahn
Before the reigns came, Cameron Young was your leader 14 under. He's played through 15 in the second round. Aaron Ray is a stroke back. He's through 13 in round number two. That's the leaderboard Update presented by Schweppes. Schweppes offers a hole in one refreshment experience and is proud to sponsor PGA of America. Enhance your summer with Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger Ale. That's the latest with the golf. So the Mets introducing some of their new players today as they're going to take on the San Francisco Giants start of a three game weekend series. And let's hear from Tyler Rogers who came over in a trade with San Francisco and he talked about the Mets.
- [42:42]
Michael K
But everybody's very excited.
- [42:44]
Alan Hahn
They're matching my excitement to be here and everyone just said, you know, whatever.
- [42:48]
Michael K
You need, let them know.
- [42:49]
Alan Hahn
And just so welcoming so far. I am very excited. This is from looking across the dugout a week ago. This is a team where you're like.
- [42:58]
Michael K
Man, this team is the complete package.
- [43:00]
Alan Hahn
So I'm very excited to be a part of it. Just whatever, whatever they need from me. Now the Mets swept San Francisco last week and that's who's in town today on the what the Mets expect from him, someone who loves the pitch. I love to try and be available every day. Hopefully a reliable pitcher. Ryan Helsley came over from St. Louis. His initial reactions to being traded to the Mets, yeah, Mets were mentioned kind.
- [43:25]
Michael K
Of from the get go and at.
- [43:26]
Alan Hahn
First I was kind of surprised. Obviously you have Diaz here but you know in the play playoffs you'll take.
- [43:30]
Michael K
As many good arms as you can.
- [43:31]
Alan Hahn
Get excited. You know, obviously spent 11 years in St. Louis and with the organization but you know, excited to be here and be on such a great team. And he talks about, yeah, right.
- [43:40]
Don LaGreca
Interesting what he said there.
- [43:41]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, right. Also the potential of the Mets bullpen.
- [43:45]
Michael K
I think starters can go five innings, you know, have a pretty good chance of Winning the game. You know, you got a lot of.
- [43:49]
Alan Hahn
Guys back there that have pitched, you know, in the postseason and pitched late in games, gotten a lot of big outs in their career, you know, so it's definitely something to be excited about.
- [43:57]
Don LaGreca
What'd you think of what he said? They're mentioning Diaz. They kind of knowing, like, well, I'm a closer, and they already have one. So guess what? I'm.
- [44:05]
Alan Hahn
I. I think that.
- [44:08]
Don LaGreca
I don't think. I'm not saying he sounds disappointed, but it is like, he's. He kind of, like, you know, kind of surprising. They had a closer, but they're bringing me in, so I guess I'm not gonna be a closer. No, I think it's personal, man.
- [44:21]
Alan Hahn
It's like. No, but it is an introduction to the media. I mean, you're letting everybody know, hey, I am a closer, but I. Diaz is here, and I'm not here to take his job, but I'm here to. To set up and be there just in case.
- [44:33]
Don LaGreca
He just sounded like. It's surprising that they would go for, like. You know, I've heard from the Met. I've heard about the Mets from the start, and I'm kind of surprised by that, considering they have Diaz. Yeah, it's like saying, like, it's like another, you know, having a host. Oh, we're going to bring this guy in, too. It's like, well, you don't. You already have a host.
- [44:48]
Alan Hahn
What do you need me for?
- [44:48]
Don LaGreca
Oh, I guess I'm not gonna be a host, then.
- [44:49]
Michael K
Well, but.
- [44:50]
Alan Hahn
But it's just as interesting that. And what Michael said about how Devin Williams is still going to be their.
- [44:55]
Don LaGreca
Closer, which I'm surprised.
- [44:56]
Alan Hahn
So you got two closers in, Duval and Bednar coming in saying, wait a minute, neither of us are going to be the closer. You're going to stick with the guy that was here. But I guess what it tells you, Alan, is that, hey, bullpen by committee was always a pejorative thing to say, man. You didn't have a closer. But sometimes, if. Having multiple closers could be a good thing, too. And maybe. Maybe Diaz is off or Williams is off. I have other options of guys that can close for me.
- [45:26]
Don LaGreca
Well, think about. Think about the situations when it's tied in the ninth.
- [45:31]
Michael K
Yeah.
- [45:32]
Don LaGreca
Right. So the pressure's still there. You're not closing, but you're trying to hold.
- [45:35]
Michael K
Right.
- [45:36]
Don LaGreca
Give me a guy that can handle that pressure, too, and two closers to give you that ability.
- [45:40]
Michael K
Right.
- [45:41]
Alan Hahn
So, like, if you're home and you blow the Save. Later on in the extra innings, there may be another save opportunity and I could bring another guy that's got the stomach for it. So I do find it really interesting. All right, we got a bunch of people with the Fraud Friday. Let's try to squeeze in another one here. Matt in the Upper east side. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Matt?
- [46:01]
Michael K
What's up, Don and Alan. How you guys doing?
- [46:03]
Alan Hahn
Good.
- [46:05]
Michael K
Yeah. So I have a. Not a specific instance, but it's more of a fraudulent act I see happen quite often. So what's your take on someone who's not necessarily a fan of a sports team that goes to, let's say, for example, they're a Mets fan that goes to a Yankees game and they use and they wear a Mets jersey. To me, that's not a testament to, like your fandom. This is more of you trying to be that guy. And for that reason, I call fraud.
- [46:29]
Alan Hahn
Well, it depends.
- [46:30]
Michael K
Like if you.
- [46:31]
Alan Hahn
No, but you said if you.
- [46:32]
Don LaGreca
If you.
- [46:33]
Alan Hahn
Well, let me. Let me rule on this first. Rule on it. Because you had said if you're a casual, then you just being that guy. Yes, but if you're. If you're a die hard fan and you do it, I kind of admire the punk in you that wants to kind of start trouble.
- [46:46]
Don LaGreca
Seriously.
- [46:47]
Alan Hahn
Well, think about it. Because I'm a Met fan, right? But I've gone to Yankee games as a fan. You know, matter of fact, the first game I ever went to as a kid was a Yankee game before a Met game. I mean, I enjoy baseball. I can't go watch baseball live now. I don't have that kind of punk in me to go with a Met jersey. I think that is disrespectful. But it doesn't make you a fraud if you do it. It just saying, hey, I'm a Met fan who wants to go out there and enjoy the game. Now if there's a big Met game going on at the same time, be like, why are you here?
- [47:16]
Don LaGreca
That's my point.
- [47:18]
Alan Hahn
But if there's an off day.
- [47:19]
Don LaGreca
Oh, stop it.
- [47:20]
Alan Hahn
Well, let me ask you this.
- [47:22]
Don LaGreca
So you're just randomly going to a Yankees game as a Met fan. The Mets aren't playing in the game, but I'm wearing my Met jersey anyway.
- [47:30]
Michael K
It's a problem.
- [47:31]
Don LaGreca
I agree with the call. You're just being that guy. You're being a fraud. You're a fraud.
- [47:34]
Alan Hahn
I think both could be true. You could be that guy and not be a fraud. Oh, come on now. I would Call you a fraud. If, like, it's a playoff game and the Mets are also playing and you're missing the Met playoff game to be that guy, then you are a fraud.
- [47:48]
Michael K
But if I.
- [47:48]
Alan Hahn
Let's just say for sake of argument, the Mets are off and I got invited to a Yankee game, does that make me a fraud? I'm not missing the Met game and I just enjoy baseball. But I want to be that guy and wear the jersey.
- [47:58]
Don LaGreca
I don't know. Or I feel like you'd be in that guy or what if. Need to know.
- [48:01]
Alan Hahn
You're definitely that guy. But that doesn't make you a fraud. Makes you a bad guy. Okay, fraud's not bad guy, Allen.
- [48:09]
Don LaGreca
No.
- [48:09]
Alan Hahn
Well, you could be a bad guy and not be a fraud. We found that out last week.
- [48:14]
Don LaGreca
That's a good point. We did find that out last.
- [48:16]
Alan Hahn
You know.
- [48:16]
Don LaGreca
All right, I. I retract myself.
- [48:18]
Alan Hahn
So now, now where do you stand?
- [48:20]
Don LaGreca
What's worse, being a fraud or being that guy? I do think there's that.
- [48:25]
Alan Hahn
Being that guy.
- [48:25]
Don LaGreca
That's worse. Yeah. Being that guy is a higher punishment than fraud.
- [48:28]
Alan Hahn
I. I agree. Also, what. Where do you stand on. All right. The Mets are playing, but the regular season game.
- [48:34]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [48:34]
Alan Hahn
And I just happen to be Miami on business. And I'm like, all right, you know, we're all going to go to the Yankee Marlin game tonight, and I'm gonna wear my Met jersey, represent the Mets.
- [48:44]
Michael K
But why?
- [48:45]
Alan Hahn
Because I'm a really bad guy and I like irritating people.
- [48:49]
Don LaGreca
Now, you have two fan bases that hate you. Right.
- [48:51]
Alan Hahn
But not a fraud. Just a bad guy.
- [48:55]
Michael K
Yeah.
- [48:55]
Don LaGreca
Just a bad guy.
- [48:56]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. I don't like people because I do. I do believe in being respectful. Like, if I'm. If I'm in hostile territory. Not that I'm scared. I'm a big enough guy to handle myself, but sometimes, like, you know what? I'm not going to be disrespectful. I'll root for my team, but I'm not going to wear all the garb or if I. Or just I'm going to go watch the game that doesn't have my team in it. But not going to wear the Mets jersey or Giants jersey just to be like, I don't want to do that.
- [49:22]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, that. Yeah. But, yeah, maybe that. That's more of a that guy thing. And maybe that's a new thing. Fraud Friday. But how about, like, that guy Thursday?
- [49:31]
Alan Hahn
That guy Thursday could be good. Are you willing to sacrifice the Thursday rewrite for that?
- [49:35]
Don LaGreca
Yes. Because your idea. Because if we get stories about somebody being that guy and can decide whether or not it's the level of yes, you should be punished for being that guy. Right? Boo this man. Like, come on. That could be good. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter.
- [50:00]
Michael K
Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.
- [50:02]
Don LaGreca
80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.