Hour 2: That Guy Thursday & Volpe Update

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Hour 2: "That Guy Thursday & Volpe Update"

Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Episode Focus:
This episode dives into the joys and struggles of being a New York sports fan, updates on the Yankees’ Anthony Volpe injury, debates over "real" fandom, and features the fan-favorite segment "That Guy Thursday." The hosts tackle the emotional rollercoaster of the current Mets and Yankees seasons, the state of parity in baseball, and respond tongue-in-cheek to accusations lobbed by the morning show about their commitment to football.

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Main Themes and Purpose

• Navigating New York’s sports scene as the Mets and Yankees both struggle, and big football games loom.
• Honest fan debates: what makes a “real” sports fan?
• Latest on Anthony Volpe’s shoulder injury and its implications for the Yankees.
• The camaraderie, bickering, and humor that define the show, showcased in this week’s "That Guy Thursday."

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Game Time Choices & Weekend Sports Slate

[00:13–04:15]

• The hosts juggle what to watch with multiple games on: Mets vs Phillies, Yankees vs Tigers (with heightened security due to the President’s attendance), and big football matchups.

• Alan discusses the practicalities of attending the Yankees game due to tight security.
  Alan: “The president of the United States will be in attendance tonight...be prepared for that, everybody.” [00:21]

• Don admits to “multitasking”—watching multiple games and also attending a back-to-school night.
  Don: “A lot of multitasking. It’s also back to school night...” [02:27]

2. Fan Suffering and the State of NY Baseball

[02:38–05:16]

• Collective misery over the Mets and Yankees’ recent combined losses:
  Peter: “The last two nights, the Yankees and Mets have lost a combined 48 to 6.” [02:50]

• Brief optimism surfaces: Yankees are “only” three and a half games back despite struggles.
  Alan: “As bad as they've been...they’re as bad as they've been. Last night could have been more of a disaster but Boston and Toronto both lost.” [05:06]

3. Caller Perspectives: The Challenges of Being a NY Fan

[05:16–17:51]

• Chad’s Call: Plans to attend the Yankees game with his son, navigating traffic/security, sharing family sports memories, and marking his son’s birthday.
• Moose’s Call: Reflects on the significance of 9/11 before asking about Giants’ betting odds.
• Discussion: Should anyone bet on the Giants in Dallas? Consensus is it’s “not a good idea.”
  Don: “Dallas has been a horror show for [the Giants]...there's certain times—you know what? Don’t look, you can do it, but no, this is not a good idea.” [09:14–09:57]
• Nick’s Call: Asks if manager Mendoza will be back next year for the Mets, and about roster construction.
  • Don’s honest assessment: “If you look collectively over the two seasons...it's very average. That's what they are.” [12:11]
  • Alan: The bullpen “has been a disaster,” but starting pitching is the real culprit.
• Griffin’s Call: Notes the unusual parity in baseball—no dominant team, nobody clinched by September 11.
  Griffin: “Have you seen a year this weird...I have no clue who’s going to the World Series?” [17:11]

4. Debate: Is Parity in Baseball Good or Bad?

[17:51–23:16]

• Alan prefers having a "team to hate"—a dominant, evil empire.
  Alan: “I like having the team everybody wants to hate...it almost is what drives competition. But when it’s parity...this week you suck, and this week I suck.” [19:07]
• Peter and Don counter: complete randomness may hurt interest and diminish the regular season’s meaning.
  Don: “How can we not have any idea what these teams are 145 games into the season?” [21:13]

5. That Guy Thursday: Fandom Accusations and on-air Drama

[23:53–41:38]
Transition to their hallmark banter.

• The hosts digest “accusations” from the morning show DNR, responding to claims about each other’s sports credentials and passions.
• Don is ribbed for “changing” his views on parenting priorities vs. work/sports commitments:
  • DNR's Dave accuses: “Don’s that guy that if you have kids…”
  • Don rebuts: “I was that guy, but I'm not that guy anymore.” [28:58]
• Football fandom put under a microscope: Dave is satirized for being an “over-the-top” fan, while Don is the “moron” for preferring to watch alone: Peter: “Don at least is dressed. He’s not naked with an adult diaper watching the game.” [35:45]
• The hosts push back—vigorously—against doubts about their football love. Don: “You better not say you know more football than I do...You being half-naked for Tennessee-Jacksonville doesn’t mean you know more than me.” [38:27]
• Lighthearted psychoanalysis of extreme fans:
  Peter: “He’s a sexual freak when it comes to football. He wants to make love to the game.” [39:09]
  • Complete with jokes about “pansexuality” (liking football and people equally), references to the movie Her, and playful banter about the line between passion and mania.

6. Yankees Volpe Injury Update and Fallout

[41:53–48:35]

• Major News: Manager Aaron Boone confirms Anthony Volpe has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder—a problem since May.
  • Clip of Boone’s explanation, timeline, and expectation Volpe will play through it. [42:36–43:34]
  • Alan: “That all sounds like malpractice…God, that does not sound good at all.” [44:25]
• Don highlights the lack of team transparency:
  Don: “When he was benched a month ago for two games, the spin was he needed the break…Not once did they ever say, ‘he’s also really, he’s injured…’ And now it comes up in conversation this late in the game. It’s odd.” [44:25–45:19]
• Boone downplays impact of the injury, but hosts are skeptical:
  Boone: “I don’t think it’s been a major factor in his performance…” [45:30]
• What it means for the shortstop’s future:
  Don: “Actions are going to speak louder than words, guys…If they pivot away from [Volpe] at some point…we’ll have to believe that he was not the player we expected him.” [47:48]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter (ribbing Don's football fandom):
  “Don at least is dressed. He’s not naked with an adult diaper watching the game because he can’t leave the screen.” [35:45]

• Don (on extreme football fandom):
  “It’s like put the lotion on its skin territory.” [31:48]

• Alan (on parity in baseball):
  “The real world is there’s one dominant company and we’re all trying to take him out...That’s what drives competition.” [19:07]

• Caller Griffin (on MLB parity):
  “Not one team has clinched by September 11th...I have no clue who’s going to the World Series.” [17:11]

• Don (on Mets’ status):
  “If you look collectively over the two seasons...it's very average. That's what they are.” [12:11]

• Alan (on Yankees/Volpe situation):
  “If you’re telling me that oh, this had no effect...then you’re telling me he’s really bad.” [47:39]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:13–04:15] – Game time choices, President’s attendance, navigating the NYC sports night
• [05:16–13:20] – Callers discuss 9/11, family memories, Mets’ collapse, Yankees’ season
• [17:11–23:16] – Griffin’s point on MLB parity, debate on good/bad of parity
• [23:53–41:38] – “That Guy Thursday” and morning show drama (“real fan” debate, football obsessions)
• [41:53–48:35] – Anthony Volpe’s injury revealed and team’s handling explored

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Tone & Style

True to the trio’s brand: irreverent, candid, and steeped in New York sports culture. The panel juggles hard analysis with personal storytelling and brash, quick-fire banter. Even when discussing serious topics (injuries, 9/11, Mets/Yankees woes), humor and rivalry are never far away, making the show accessible—and relatable—to fans worn down by another tough NYC sports fall.

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Summary for Non-listeners

This episode is a crash course in the pain and pride of NY fandom, featuring spirited debates about what counts as “real” fan behavior, the questionable handling of player injuries by the Yankees, and the strange joys of having no clear king in the MLB jungle. Whether you’re wondering why Anthony Volpe might struggle, or just want to laugh about sports fan pathologies, “That Guy Thursday & Volpe Update” is equal parts therapy session, roast, and sports bar argument—pure New York, no chaser.

Transcript

[A]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[B]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[A]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80. ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[C]

401 in the big city.

[B]

Nay.

[C]

I know. I like it so much I'm gonna borrow it. You know, it just.

[D]

It comes natural, right?

[C]

It does. Well, it's better than if I sit in the greatest city in the world and you guys laugh at me as you did. Ruined a good thing. Hey, can I. Can I give you a game time brought to my Tulla Mardu Irish whiskey. I insist because Don legreco when it's game time, I like when he holds it. Mets closing out their series with the Phillies. Coverage immediately follows us right here on 8:80 at 6:35. Note the start time. Yankees Tigers. Now that's a 705 first pitch. But they're opening the gates at 4. The president of the United States will be in attendant tonight. So you know that obviously traffic to the Bronx and getting in the building is going to be a challenge. So just be prepared for that, everybody. The Liberty are also visiting the sky. I believe that's in Chicago, Peter. Right. That's right. At 8:00pm Tell them I do the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a telemardu or try the new tolomor do, honey, during today's action. Glasses up to enjoy.

[D]

Can we just. Can we just be real about game time?

[C]

Whoa.

[D]

We know what the best game cooking tonight is.

[C]

There is a good game.

[D]

I mean, let's. That's not just me. It's not just me. Now that's good football tonight.

[C]

Full disclosure, Cam Schlitler on the mound tonight. All right, so I. And who gives a shit? No, you got to win this one. I. That's got to be my. My main screen.

[D]

No, but he's lying.

[C]

If the game goes the way like the last couple have been. First pitch, 7o out 7:05.

[D]

So yeah, by 8:20 you might be good.

[C]

I might be already fair by kickoff. It hasn't gone bad until the seventh inning. Usually you're about nine something by the time you really are.

[D]

Don, what's getting your primary screen tonight?

[B]

Well, I, I can. I can manage both. But the prime screen, I, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go low, probably Mets until it's over. Until it's over. So top of the third, I'll flip over to the Yankees.

[C]

You got. You got homes tonight. Who, who's tonight?

[B]

No, it's Peterson oh, that's right.

[C]

At home's last.

[B]

You got to have. He's going for his 10th win of the year. No. A lot of multitasking. It's also back to school night, so hopefully everything will be.

[C]

Oh, you got to go to the. The parent teacher thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Not parent teacher. Open school.

[D]

I just want to say God bless you both and God bless all the Yankee and Mets fans out there who from a pure sports standpoint.

[B]

Not. Not.

[D]

I'm not talking about fanship. I get it. But from a sports standpoint, are going to choose.

[E]

No, no.

[D]

The last two nights, the Yankees and Mets have lost a combined 48 to 6.

[C]

It feels like it.

[D]

No, no, I think it's close to. It's like 20 because the. The opposing teams have been like 20 some runs the last two nights and they've added up to like four runs total. And, and, and I could be wrong. Maybe I look like a fool tomorrow, but from what it looks like on paper, the football game should be fantastic.

[C]

Yeah, but. But this is going to be a great game. Hackers Commanders is.

[B]

That's.

[C]

That's might be the game of the week. I mean, there's some good games this week.

[D]

Well, you also got the super bowl rematch this week.

[C]

You do.

[D]

Although we don't know what the Chiefs could be. Chiefs are weird till October. November. Something.

[C]

This. This does feel like. Like last week, too. The appetite. The way to begin the week. What a hell of a way to begin the week. This is a game like this.

[B]

This is a great game. But. But for what we do. And also I'm a Met fan. Alan's a Yankee fan. So I got to watch.

[D]

No, that's why I said God bless.

[B]

You and it's tough.

[C]

And by the way, also, I might. I might dabble tonight. He's.

[D]

Alan's considering dabbling. By the way, I. I have a hankering. There's a chance. I dabble.

[C]

No, I have more than a hankering.

[D]

You're a dabble.

[B]

You're in.

[C]

I'm. I'm like, I'm. I'm. I got the menu in hand. I'm waiting for the waiter.

[D]

Well, you know how, you know how Don feels about Thursdays.

[C]

No, no, I'm. Look, crossover. Step back. Oh, no, it's going up.

[B]

Yeah, but the dabble is not the way to describe.

[D]

Yeah, it's more than that.

[B]

You're saying it's up and I, I may be in. You guys are all in. I can't think of a better way to make it Thursday to have all three of us in on this game.

[D]

And I know but you've already tipped your cap so I already know where you're going.

[C]

See that?

[D]

Do you remember, do you remember Alan.

[B]

He told us on the I tip my hand.

[D]

He told us you like the Packers.

[C]

He did tip his hand and I'm.

[B]

Just, just, I'm going to take it, I'm going to peruse the lineup to see if there's another three point play because again I'm.

[D]

These first couple weeks are weird so if you like something you got to.

[B]

Go three points on.

[C]

No, I know that's your rule, which is why I did all my research. This morning was the morning I, I, I sat, I watched all the proceedings here downtown and then I did my research while doing that and you feel good. I, I've got my picks already. I'm, I'm ready to go.

[D]

You think I like your pick? You think I won't like your pick?

[C]

I don't know. We're going to find out. We'll discuss it later in the show.

[B]

Also, just to add more intrigue to the Yankee game, Toronto's up three nothing on Houston in the bottom of the fourth so.

[C]

Well, you got three and a half back. Think about it. As bad as they've been. You're right. Three and a half back. They're as bad as they've been. Last night could have been more of a disaster but Boston and Toronto both lost.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So that was helpful. Lots of calls. Let's get to the calls boys. 800 now with 93776. Chad's in Long island. Going to the game tonight. Chad, I imagine you've probably on your. Are you there yet? Because you should be.

[F]

We are. We're on the Bruckner. It's not great here but it's been great. On the lie out from Rocky Point. I'm with Andrew, Peter and my son Sal. You guys may remember we called my uncle was not was honored at the game for military. It was raining the first time then.

[D]

We went oh yeah, yeah.

[F]

And I spoke to you guys about it. So now my son got his ball signed by Jazz Chisholm that that night it was incredible. But now we're heading there and the president's going to be there of all things.

[C]

Maybe he'll sign the ball too. Yeah, it's getting in. It's going to be a process but man from Rocky Point. So you, you guys must have Left it what two?

[F]

We left at around 2:30. Yeah, yeah. And we're heading over there but we Knew it was going to be something. But I heard that the President was at the US Open recently and security was up so, so intense that people weren't able to get in until, like, way after it started. So we figured, let's get out there. Let's make sure we have enough time to get in the stadium without any issues, you know?

[D]

Well, also, I mean, first, it's. It's a crazy sort of confluence of events. So you have nine, 11. The president being there and given what happened yesterday.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

It all in one could be legitimately one of the worst. It feels like entrances of all time.

[C]

It feels like. Like there's got to be a little bit of tension.

[B]

Like.

[C]

Right. Like they.

[D]

Like.

[F]

I mean, it was weird, I'll tell you. It's just, you know, we're going there and. Yeah. After what happened yesterday, I mean, is the President going to be out on the field addressing the crowd before.

[C]

He'S on the Bruckner?

[D]

It's too far to turn around.

[C]

Oh, absolutely. He's. He's minutes away.

[F]

It's my son's birthday. It's birthday.

[B]

Happy birthday.

[D]

You know, you celebrate your son's birthday on a couch with some pizza, watching the luxurious Sanders game. What are you doing?

[C]

No, they're at the game, Peter.

[F]

I'm a Cowboys fan. In the car for two Giants fans and a Jets fan. And he's saying Michael Parsons in my ear over here. The Giants fan saying, oh, my composting. You know what? I can't handle it.

[B]

I don't even want to talk about it.

[F]

I'm not talking, guys, now we got another hour drive.

[C]

Chad, have a great time tonight. Be safe. Glad to hear from you. Let's continue with the calls. Let's go to Moose in Jamaica. Hey, Moose.

[G]

What's going on, fellas? How are you?

[C]

Good.

[G]

First things first. Acknowledge the day. I spoke about this in detail on the previous iteration of the Michael Cage show. Quick synopsis. Was 12 years old at the time of so and so to the rest of the day. Kids, parents picking them up. The tension was so dark, you could feel our prepubescent hairs off our bodies move in because everybody was just completely stopped in horror. But yeah, my. My point for the call now, so my acknowledgement for the day it struck me changed my life. I. I never looked at anything ever the same. But, Don, your chances. The Giants cover the spread this weekend.

[B]

What is the number?

[G]

I couldn't tell you. I'm assuming tomorrow will go up.

[B]

Again. I can't tell you if I. I'm.

[C]

Just trying to number was five.

[B]

And a half.

[C]

And a half.

[B]

Listen, I think the chances I picked them last week. Now, the Cowboys are the complete opposite. They do not play well against the Cowboys. They haven't played well in Dallas since Eli was there. So I listen, you can't bet on them. I mean, how can you bet on them? Because listen, you got to score points, right?

[C]

I got to argue with you, Don. Well, if there's ever a week to bet on him, it's this week.

[B]

Yeah, but if I'm going to advise somebody where money's on the line and it's the Giants covering a number, how could I in good conscience say that? Yeah, there, there are people that can run across 208 and make it on the other side. I wouldn't advise doing it right. There's certain times. You know what? Don't look, you can do it. You can make it. But no, this is not a good idea. It's a. It's been a hard. Dallas has been a horror show for them. I, I agree with you. And we'll get into it. Damian Woody's going to join us at 5:30 and we got Jordan Ron on in Studio 5. A lot of football coming up that I, I can see where points can be scored here. But would you advise somebody? Would you pick them? I think. Will they be in your five pack or are they going to be.

[C]

No, I, I wouldn't. I'm never going to put the locals in my five pack. Never. No.

[D]

Oh, five.

[C]

No, I'm not this year. I don't trust either team this year.

[B]

Well, you agree with me then I.

[C]

Could trust him to lose maybe.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

But this is the number saying was.

[C]

If there was ever right a week this season.

[D]

I'm telling you right now, I don't have a lot yet this week. I'm leaning towards pounding the cowboys.

[B]

Wow, that's interesting. Pounding cowboys.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

See, I love pounding cowboys. Well, it's better being than being pounded by a cowboy.

[B]

That's the name of your next porn movie.

[D]

Well, then you put the word buy between pounding and cowboys. But listen, I, I don't like.

[C]

I don't like so freely.

[D]

I don't like Russ taking the Giants on the road to Dallas right now. No, no.

[C]

We're going to discuss this later because.

[D]

Dallas played a good game.

[C]

There's things I found in the numbers.

[B]

You got your own Zoltar machine.

[C]

I might.

[D]

He's gonna be like Michael. Every, every week Michael would come in with all the stat and then he gets so mad at me. Oh, Peter's just an idiot. He just looks at the games and picks. I'm like, well, yeah, if you watch the league week to week, just go with the games. You like?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

He's reading everything you can find. I'm like, it's all a crapshoot.

[C]

No, no, it. It. Once you get into the season. That's true.

[D]

Early on, this early, you got to look for little things you're looking for.

[C]

You know, I might have one or two things.

[D]

The thing I'm looking for is how the Giants play football. And it makes me not want to take them on the road that I.

[C]

Will acknowledge as well.

[D]

Or at home, for that matter.

[C]

All right, let's go to Nick in Staten island on the Mets.

[F]

Hey, guys.

[G]

What's going on?

[C]

What's up?

[G]

So I was just gonna ask about the Mets. How did we get to this point to where now we were playing so good the first two months of the season, like, phenomenal ball. Reminded me of last year. How great was that? And then now we're in the final month, the final stretch, and treading water. Treading water just. Just to stay afloat. So I just want to ask, is it a problem with the players, with the management? Stearns, Mendoza? Do you think Mendoza is going to be here next year if they miss the postseason?

[B]

I will answer that this way. We all, including myself, overrated how good this team is. Because if you look at the sample size, what happened last year got off to an awful start. Then they make some moves, they get hot, and it's hot enough for them to be able to make the playoffs and go on a run. Then this year, house on fire. Now they're now off again. So if you look collectively over the two seasons, what is it? It's very average. That's what they are. There's enough of a sample size to say, you know what? They're not as good as the team that went all the way to game six of the league championship series. They're not as bad as the team that right now is the fourth worst team in baseball since June 12th or 13th or whatever. So the answer, if it's somewhere in the middle, guys, it's, you know what? They're kind of an average team. And this is what average teams do. They go on runs, they win a few games in a row, they get you to believe, and then it collapses the next month. If you look at these two seasons, guys, what other conclusion can you draw? It's enough of a sample size to tell you that they're kind of a team that's, you know, slightly above average. They're a, they're a, they're an 85 win team.

[C]

They're a very incomplete roster with a rickety foundation of success. Right.

[G]

So off that I have one more question.

[B]

Yes.

[G]

Do you rebuild around say Alonzo, Nimmo, Soto, Lindor around there or do you different like uproot the bullpen? Because I've seen a lot of games they've lost with a great lead because late in games the bullpen, for lack.

[C]

Of a better Halesley has been a disaster. That, that really he's cost you so much and this, it's not like him, like they did something with them. Trading for him and taking him out of his routine as a closer might have just totally screwed him up. And that might have been the first big mistake they made thinking and we saw a lot of teams, the Yankees did it. The Yankees got two closers and tried to put them in other roles. How's Duval doing? How's he doing? Not in a closer role. He's been a mess. Right. So I think that's been an issue for a lot of teams but especially for the Mets and what they did. So he's, he's blown a lot of leads himself. But there's their issue Nick is not necessarily as much as blowing leads. It's their starting pitching gives them nothing. That's what I think. They've got to reconsider and maybe they're just waiting. As we tried to speculate and thanks for the call. We've tried to speculate this Don before is did they know these young guys are coming up and they didn't want to invest in a lot in pitchers that could have maybe given them length, they could have done more. Maybe they just said why do that? And we know these three guys, we really have a good feeling about them. Stearns has talked about it. He has acknowledged that they don't want to throw big money and big contracts at 30 year old pitchers.

[B]

It's really one screw up that he made one colossal screw up.

[C]

What was that?

[B]

And that is maniah.

[C]

He messed that up.75 million to bring him back.

[B]

Yeah, because I mean listen, Montas didn't work out either.

[C]

You could see with the second half he had, the way he played in the playoffs.

[B]

Right. But, but, but you thought the arm.

[C]

Angle was like oh wow, he found something. Maybe he's a read, maybe he's a.

[B]

Changed pitcher now and Montas was a screw up but maybe he got it right. Like hey, I Don't want to landlock these three kids. I got three kids coming up. Looks like Peterson could be a keeper as well. But maybe the experiment with Holmes works out right. It bottomed out because of his innings. He started out first 17 starts, he was absolutely terrific at an earn average under 3. Since then he's got an ear on average near 5. So maybe as he gets more stretched out, he could become an option. But where he really screwed up is Maniah, who's giving you nothing, and Montas, who gave you nothing. So how much would the season look different if Montas gave you what he thought and if Maniah gave you what he thought? But at the same time, let's not, let's not take. Lindor has been wildly inconsistent. Soto's been great, but he got off to that really slow start. McNeil, there's a lot of guys that haven't lived up to the back of their baseball card either. And the young kids. It took a while. Vientos finally got going, but it took a long time for that to happen. Beatty's Beatty, Mauricio, nothing. No great. Alvarez has been crazy and he's been hurt. So there, there's holes everywhere. Bullpen, starting pitching and, and, and also the, the order where at times, if it comes together, it's good. But being a championship caliber team means being consistent and they're just wildly inconsistent, which tells you that they're just not good enough.

[C]

Griffin's in Connecticut. Hey, Griff.

[D]

Damn right he is.

[H]

Hey guys, before I get to my baseball point, I don't need numbers to tell me that the Ravens will cover at home and it's the Cleveland Browns. I just look at the Cleveland Browns. Joe Flacco, 40 year old, growing up against the Ravens.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay, give me the race tomorrow when we do the picks. I hope you'll be listening as that's one of my games.

[H]

My, my baseball point is I'm not saying either one of these teams are going to make a run. I don't think neither one of these teams are going to make a run. But I just want to ask you guys a question. When's the last time you guys seen a year where it's been this weird and this crazy? We're at September 11th. Not one team has clinched a playoff spot. And I right now, he literally have tell me. I have no clue who's going to the World Series. Normally you have one dominant team that you're like, oh, they're gonna go, I don't think we have a dominant team at all. This Year. And that's how weird of a year it's been. I'm wondering what you guys think.

[C]

It's a good point, right, Don? Like, can you think? And then maybe that's the parody we talk about. It's a really good point, Griff.

[D]

Like, there's not the team.

[C]

There is. And I've kind of been saying it is. There is no evil empire this year. There's no team that's just. They spent all the money, they got all the players, and they're just dominating the league. And all you're wondering is if, can someone take them out?

[B]

Well, this was supposed to playoffs. This was supposed to be the Dodgers. They became the new evil empire. Now, as Peter would say, are they just playing with their food?

[D]

I mean, by the way, they're still pretty good. I think it probably is still them. If we're being honest.

[C]

Division is still there for them. It's not like they've fallen out.

[B]

Oh, listen, if the Dodgers play the Yankees again, people will go, well, that's kind of the way it's supposed to be. But remember the year before that it was, you know, the Texas, Arizona, like so kind of baseball's been trending this way. Haven't had a Repeat champion in 25 years.

[C]

That's crazy.

[B]

And you're starting to see the parody really taken effect here. And we've talked about it. The NFL and the NHL have become the dynasty. Sports where you've, you, you now have the. The Florida Panthers are that team, right? The Kansas City Chiefs, now the Philadelphia Eagles have become that team. But in basketball, seven straight years with a different champion. Baseball, same thing, you know, so what do you like? Do you like the dominant team and chase after them or do you like where anybody has a chance to get it done?

[C]

I personally, I like having the team everybody wants to hate the team everybody's trying to be. I know everybody loves the idea of parody. And everybody gets a chance to win their championship. And that's so cute. We all get our chance. It sounds nice, but that's not the real world. The real world is there's one dominant company and we're all trying to take him out. We're all trying to be better, right? You're all trying to. I mean, that's like that, that's. It's. It almost is what drives competition. But when it's parody, it's sort of like now, this week you suck, and this week I suck. And if we put it all together.

[B]

The whole season sucks.

[D]

Funny, Don. I want to disagree with Alan on this take.

[C]

But I'm not wrong.

[D]

I really. Because. Because I do find it like Don and I, we disagreed with Alan at the Super Bowl. Don and I desperately hate the Chiefs and we're done with it and we're sick of it now and love the greatness.

[C]

Yep.

[D]

But, Don, I'll say this. Allen's point, like, proves itself sometimes in the NBA, like post warriors and post LeBron dominant, you know, teams, it's kind of like, what are we watching? You know, like, as much as you want to see everyone be good, you think that would lend itself to storylines, and it doesn't.

[C]

Did you watch the NBA Finals?

[D]

No.

[C]

And say to yourself, stop. You didn't even let me finish. No, I didn't even watch because my, my question was going to be simply, did you watch that? And go, wow, this is the highest level of basketball we're watching right now. Did you watch the World Series last year and think that's the highest level of baseball we're watching?

[B]

Well, but, but, but it was sexy, though. But, but wait a minute.

[D]

Baseball was there.

[B]

If it's Lakers, Knicks, and you, you would have watched it. Not, not, not because of dominance, but because it was. It would be dead sexy. You know, Thunder, Pacers is not sexy. But hey, listen, we all, we didn't have a problem with Warriors, Cavs, every single year. That never got boring, because those are the two.

[C]

Well, but that was unbelievable basketball.

[D]

How crazy is this, though? The NBA ends up getting you this random middle America matchup. It goes seven. It was one injury away from maybe having a classic game seven to decide a series. And yet no one feels it didn't.

[B]

No one cared because nobody cared. Because you know what? It wasn't. It wasn't sexy. There's always going to be more. Like the Rangers and the Diamondback. That's not sexy. You know, but there's no randomness to Dodgers, Yankees, they're supposed to be dominant. But, you know, it was, it was a sexy matchup. But what I'm saying is I don't want it to be Cavs, warriors, every year. Give me a little variety, but at the same time, at least give me teams where I could say, that's the best team and that's the best team in the sport. Or at least there's five or six, seven or eight, a few teams that are really good. Because if you're getting this randomness in the middle of September, what you're telling the world is your regular season doesn't really mean a lot because I've watched 145 games. I've watched 95% of the season. And I don't know who's good. Like, so don't you want there to be value in your regular season to go, that team's really good. They might get picked off, they might not make it as far, but that team's good. I watch a whole season. I know the Florida Panthers are good. Right? I know that team is good. And it shows. They. They go to the playoffs every year. They've gone to the finals three straight years. There's. There's value to watching them play. I get the parody and everybody's excited in the smaller markets, but how can we not have any idea what these teams are 145 games into the season? So can we find a happy medium at least where it's not the same team every year? But gimme. Give me a little bit of variety, but at least give me some. Some dominant teams, some really good team. You know, the Yankees could go to the World Series this year, and you've got announcers on the team stay and they stink, but there's a realistic chance they can go to the World Series. Is there something wrong with a team as flawed as the Yankees where most Yankee fans can't stand the general manager? They can't stand the manager. They hate their shortstop. They hate this guy. Oh, my God, the Yankees blow it up. And yet that team still could go to the World Series and win the whole damn thing. Isn't there something wrong with that?

[C]

There's absolutely something wrong with it. That's the issue that I keep trying to talk about when it comes to the idea this, this, this, this Shangri La called parody. It's not what you think.

[A]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[D]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[A]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We all have that one friend.

[B]

I'm talking about the Yo Yos who set themselves on fire and bathe in.

[A]

Pork and beans or know that one.

[B]

Person I'm here with, my family who.

[A]

Can'T help but be.

[C]

He's not cool.

[D]

His voice is weird. He's kind of a dork. His brother's a tool. His girlfriend's annoying that guy.

[I]

I didn't know it was banner night.

[D]

We won't be out for that.

[A]

It's time for that Guy Thursday.

[C]

Hey, guys. Anyone want to play some ball with.

[A]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg?

[B]

He's just being that guy.

[D]

It's the best intro we have.

[C]

That's very good.

[D]

Nothing's better than that.

[C]

That is very good.

[D]

Anthony Brown Shirt Jacob, whoever did that, that is. It's the best one we have going. I love it.

[C]

That guy Thursday and we did not know that the accusation, the finger would be pointing right back at us on this day.

[D]

I didn't.

[C]

That guy Thursday. There's some accusations flying. I think we got to get right to it and let you know what was said the morning show DNR in regards to one of us having a conversation. Remember the conversation we had about Rick. And we're gonna do the, you know, the couch cast which we all are excited about. It's gonna be a lot of fun and we're gonna watch the Monday night game, the jets and the Dolphins and we're all gonna sit in the outside the studio here. We have a great set up and we're gonna sit and watch the game and you're gonna be able to watch it on YouTube. Us watching the game live and interacting and carrying on and having a great time. And I was saying, well, there's gonna be a couple of us who are actually invested in the game. Myself as a Jets fan, Rick is a Jets fan. And of course Don kind of said that Rick was a Jets fan of Jace because he's not fully invested. He came in later in life. But that, that, that's what you said.

[B]

You know, you completely.

[C]

You said he came in and he didn't put in the full time.

[D]

I kind of said that more.

[C]

No, I thought.

[B]

I never called him a fraud.

[D]

Peter called.

[C]

I didn't say fraud. A J. You said a Jace.

[B]

But all I said was is that for the average 43 year old jet fan, he doesn't have the same scar tissue because he missed a lot of the suffering when he jumped in at, you know, 19, 20 years old, whatever he was. So he's, he's, he suffered with the team. He's a die hard fan of the team. But our, our pinhead suit, John Winthrop is the same age and he lived through 96 and he lived through the championship loss in 98. That's all I was saying. So don't make it seem like I said he's not a fan. Okay, Misrepresentation.

[C]

Well, hang on a second. I mean I was sitting right next to you. I had to defend the guy because I said no, I know he's a true fan. I've been with him. We've gone to game. We went to a lot of games together.

[B]

Yeah, but you misinterpreted that. I said he wasn't a true fan. He is a true fan. Okay, just. But he. But anything you pick up later in life.

[C]

So he didn't suffer nearly as much as myself or John Winthrop, who's had the watch.

[B]

My interest.

[C]

Everybody should understand. My introduction to the jets was the mud bowl. That was my introduction. That's how I was baptized. And I didn't know I. By mud. I didn't know I was. I was sunk right in the mud and Orange bowl. I looked up and I said, jesus, this is my team. So here's DNR going back at Don saying, don's that guy.

[J]

Well, what's amazing, though, is, like, how. How Don's perspective has changed so much.

[E]

Don is that guy that if you have kids and he doesn't.

[B]

I can't believe you.

[E]

You took off a win. Don crushed me. Crushed me. When Ben graduated pre K and was going into kindergarten and I took a night off to go to his pre K ceremony, and Don's like, it's ridiculous.

[D]

How could you do that?

[E]

It's pre K. That's not even a real thing.

[C]

Now.

[E]

Don will drop anything if his kids makes an enormous, you know, bowel movement in the toilet. All of a sudden, don't. He's taking the day off.

[J]

That's a big moment.

[E]

Me like that.

[J]

It's a big moment.

[E]

Ticulus.

[D]

Wow.

[B]

Now, wait a minute.

[D]

Is that. Is there truth there?

[B]

I. I thought.

[D]

Is there truth? Is the question.

[B]

I thought this because they. They had. They did a whole thing. Well, there's more this morning.

[C]

This is how when they called you that guy. And since it's that guy Thursday, we decided to start with that. There's other things that they said.

[B]

We'll address each one as it goes. A lifelong segment.

[C]

Address this. Do you recall doing that to Dave? Calling him out for missing a game or a show one night because he had to go to pre K open school?

[B]

First of all, the guy, his wife's bleeding out. He's not missing a Giant. Believe me, he would not miss a Giant game or a football game. For pre Craig pre K graduation, he took the day off from work. And me, being a workaholic, took exception that he took off from work on something that Peter and I have had conversations about. Is it really a thing? The kindergarten graduation. This is pre K graduation. So to me, it was more of a stance on really. You're taking off from work now, obviously now having kids. Yeah, I would take off in a second, but, you know, that was a long Time ago. As a different human being.

[D]

I mean, that's it. Well, it's different. He's a different human being.

[C]

It doesn't feel like a defense. It almost feels like that's who. I know.

[B]

But. But I was under the impression. No, this is. You even made the mistake that I was getting on him for missing a game. No, I was talking about missing work.

[C]

Well, I didn't know the context. Okay, so that's why I asked you to explain. Okay, so. But all right. So you're basically saying, okay, I was that guy, but I'm not that guy anymore.

[B]

Exactly.

[C]

All right, well, they continue. Because remember you know how we were talking about Dave and his desire for football and you feel like it's a bit much? Right?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

So Dave took exception to that as well and decided to fire back.

[E]

I love football. They don't.

[J]

I think Badge of Honor.

[E]

I think that's. That's the nicest thing.

[D]

I. I don't know why I always.

[E]

Have to be content shows. I love football, in fact. So I used to work at Cablevision 20 plus years ago, and as a cable guy, I installed cable. Yeah. And the guys I used to work with sent a group text last night, hey, guys, one Sunday, let's get together, go to a bar, watch football. And I responded like, this is crazy talk. What do you mean, get together? Watch football on a Sunday. I said, how about like gentlemen, we get together for. During the week, one night or.

[B]

Or even a Saturday.

[E]

They're like, why can't you go on a Sunday? Like, no, that's. I'll apologize to nobody.

[J]

I could see you in front of like your seven TVs, maybe tucking it in like Buffalo Bill did and just little dance in front of the tv. The Giant score touchdown.

[E]

Doesn't happen. No.

[J]

In the rare chance they do score a touchdown.

[E]

Yeah, right. I love football. I'm not gonna apologize.

[J]

Yeah. I mean, yeah, I think you take it too far on occasions.

[E]

Okay, that's fine.

[J]

Like, wouldn't prioritize it over the family necessarily.

[E]

You don't have to. I'm not judging you.

[J]

No, I mean, I mean, how about that?

[E]

Supposedly adore me. That's what they say. Oh, we love you. We love you. They don't. They don't. And we're going to attack him because he loves football. What kind of station is this? Espn. It's a sports station.

[B]

Right.

[E]

And they. More one of the morning drive guys loves football.

[B]

Oh, God, how awful.

[E]

Oh, he loves football too much. He watches all the games. Well, there's A. How about that? How about you guys watch some of the games? No.

[C]

Here come the accusation.

[E]

Turn on. Turn on some football.

[D]

Fox.

[E]

Fox. It's Channel five locally. You turn on Channel five locally during a Sunday, you know what you'll find? Don Peter. Football.

[B]

See?

[E]

Right.

[C]

No, he's not done.

[E]

They're looking for the Pastor Jenks, whatever that guy's name is. Turn it on. Channel 5. Football. CBS Football tonight. Hey, Peter. Washington's playing. Yeah, he likes them. Amazon prime has the Thursday night package. You could turn it on, you know, you can watch then. Football. Yep. I understand that I'm the outlier. Works at a sports station, loves football.

[B]

This is crazy.

[E]

Unbelievable.

[D]

Not reasonable.

[E]

I will not apologize.

[J]

No.

[E]

Whatsoever.

[B]

I love football.

[E]

And. And to hell with everybody else.

[D]

Talk about. Talk about changing the argument completely.

[B]

Yeah. Because in his own. His own teammate, Rick is on our side. All we were saying is, is that he's so over the moon for football. It's. It's like dangerous territory.

[D]

Right?

[B]

It's like put the lotion on its skin territory.

[D]

Right. That was the quote.

[B]

Right. He wouldn't deny that. But how does it flip to. Because we won't. Because I might actually take Marco to the ER if he cuts off his finger in the fourth quarter of a Giant game. Or that I would take my wife to urgent care during a preseason Giant game. That now I'm not a fan. Like you can only be a lunatic to be a fan. He's a bigger fan than I am, but he's also a maniac. And that's all we're saying.

[D]

We're not.

[B]

We're not criticizing him for being too in love with football. We're kind of making fun of the fact that he's over the top with it. But now it gets turned on us that we're. Because we don't bleed out our wives during the game. That we're not real fans. Come on. That's offensive to me. It's offensive to me that he has set a bar of moron maniac. That that's really only a true fan. He has done most deplorable things. Dumping. What was it? Dumping salad dressing on his wife's computer. Breaking the pictures of their wedding.

[D]

The video.

[B]

That's what I have to do when the Giants lose to the Cowboys. Right. I have to be able to punch my television screen, throw my wife out of the house and disown my kids to prove to him that I'm a fan as big as he is.

[E]

Go screw.

[G]

It's wrong.

[B]

Stop it. Don't spit it on me like I'm doing something wrong because I'm not an idiot. He's an idiot for football. Forget about it. He's an idiot. For some of the stories that we've heard, Peter, they're not exaggerated, they're not performative. They've actually happened. Is moron territory. Be honest. I love the guy. He's a singular sports radio talent. I consider him a very good friend. But where, but where he has gone with his love for football is absolutely, positively moronic.

[D]

The fact that you and we know that Don's preference for a big game, like a really important game is alone. And I often agree if it's a big important game. The fact that at no point when he was working with people, he could even get together to watch football on a Sunday because, like, well, no, I need to be alone. That means it's sexual. You need to be without your clothes. Like, for example. I'm not sure if he's able to do it. He may have to cancel depending on his lady's schedule. But like, Ballard's a Packers fan, I'm a Commanders fan. We are very close friends. The plan is for him to come over tonight, we're going to have a couple of drinks, we're both going to care deeply who wins, but we're going to hang out like normal people and watch the game.

[B]

But even, even he would never consider.

[D]

That because he takes it too seriously.

[B]

You don't think he can consider like, the response was like, he would never get together with his friends on a Sunday. Even though the Giants have a buy. The Giants have a game. The Giants have a Monday night game. Like, so you couldn't tell me. You couldn't. Your response couldn't be, hey, as long as the Giants are playing on Sunday, I'm in. But no, because it's not just about the Giants. Like any Sunday, he's not going to do. He's not going to socialize with you. I'll go if the Giants aren't playing, if I'm not invested in the game, I'll hang out.

[D]

But you're telling me, Don, if it was like, picture a different time in your life. I don't mean now, because you being social now is an unlikely scenario no matter how you cut it. But let's say things went a different way and you and Nancy don't have the kids, right? A random week nine and you have buddies, some of your friends who are, some of which are also Giants fans, who go, hey, we're getting together in one of our basements. We're going to hang out and have the Giants game on. It's week nine. You're saying no, I need to be alone. Or you could. You could do that.

[B]

No, I would say no.

[C]

You.

[D]

Really? Even on a random regular week?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

I don't, I don't want to consume the Giants with a bunch of people. But hey, if that. If there's people out there that think I'm a moron for that, fine.

[D]

I think you're close.

[B]

But. But. All right, fine.

[C]

But Don's.

[B]

Anywhere the level of the stories we've heard. Not even close.

[D]

Not even. You're. You're a light level moron.

[C]

Don at least is dressed. He's not naked with an adult diaper watching the game.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Because he can't leave the screen.

[B]

There's no chance that the NFL would be with child after being with me, right?

[D]

Well, Don, the way Dave is it would be pregnant with twins.

[B]

Triplets.

[E]

That's right.

[D]

He completely reversed your. And then, well, he flipped it as.

[C]

If you're the one that's wrong. Which is. Which is a brilliant strategy.

[B]

That's what makes him that guy through.

[C]

The distraction in of. Oh, well, that's my job. Which this is.

[B]

That's what anger is it to no end now he's calling me out for my professionalism, right? Yeah, that he's a better talk.

[C]

Oh wait, there's more, Don.

[D]

Wait, wait, there's more.

[C]

Oh, there's more. So speaking of this is my job. I'm supposed to do this. He then throws both of them. I think do accusations at this show.

[E]

They don't like football. They're not interested in the sport.

[J]

Alan likes football. Allen loves football.

[E]

And he tried to defend you. But don't steamroll him like he was a construction worker. I mean my over back and forth. Yep. That's terrible Tentacles. It's terrible.

[J]

I don't even think Peter watches sports. So for him to say that I'm a. I'm a low key fraud, right. What sense would it make?

[E]

And he has teams all over the country. But how is the argument Celtics and commanders, Right. God knows who he even roots for the Penguins.

[J]

Like, how am I like if I was drafted by Washington. Well, if I didn't have a team.

[E]

Growing up now, I will say this. If you were a Patriots fan growing up, right. Move to New York and jump ship. I'd kill you. I'd crush you.

[J]

I would kill me.

[E]

I'd crush you.

[J]

I would kill me.

[E]

But you didn't have a team you were of free agent football fan. You were introduced to the Jets.

[B]

Yes.

[E]

You fell in love with the Jets. Who would choose the Jets? Nobody. What kind of a psychotic would be like, you know what? I want to jump on that.

[J]

I mean, I was born in Maine, moved back to Boston, then moved to Chicago, then back to Boston, then to Michigan. My first jersey was a Walter Payton jersey. My dad is not a football fan.

[E]

You were a football fan, by the way. Your dad not being a football fan is a sports fan. Is really bizarre.

[J]

We were also talking about a marriage where dad didn't necessarily get to like control the remote. It's like, hey, let's watch sports. And mom's like, no, we're not watching sports.

[E]

And you had one tv. Yeah.

[B]

It wasn't a great.

[E]

It doesn't sound like it was a great home.

[J]

Like, I mean, I apologize for like being busy.

[C]

So you guys get the point though.

[D]

It's just very.

[C]

Point is, is that the show accuses two thirds of our show.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Of not caring about the football, by the way.

[D]

Respectfully. And I think you love football.

[B]

I love.

[D]

I would put you as last in the three of us. Football.

[C]

No, it is. No, no.

[D]

What's your number one sport?

[C]

No. Well, I'll be. Basketball. Thank you.

[B]

That's it.

[D]

Thank you. Don, what's your number one sport?

[C]

Hockey.

[B]

Hockey.

[D]

Peter, what's your number one sport? Football.

[C]

You don't have one.

[D]

No, I do. Football is my number one.

[C]

It is. It's now that you have a quarter.

[B]

Football's very.

[D]

It's always big.

[C]

It's now the other.

[D]

Don't do that.

[B]

He's challenging my knowledge. If you want. If he wants to have a trip. We've played trivia and I beat him on a football question. So don't go there about that. You know more than me.

[D]

You're better talk.

[B]

And watch a Tennessee Jacksonville game by yourself half naked means you know more football than I do. No.

[D]

Or is more committed to the professional part.

[C]

That's the.

[D]

See, this is what bothers me.

[C]

That's the point.

[D]

You know what it would be? It would be like tonight. I won't even try to claim that when I'm watching the game tonight. It's because of the show. No. If I was doing it for the show tonight, I'd have eyes on the Yankees and Mets game. And we'll get to the commanders later.

[C]

You under.

[B]

But we know that's your.

[C]

But that's your team.

[E]

But I'm not a fraud.

[D]

I'm going to tell you the Truth. No, I'm personally committed because what I want, that's what Dave wants. Personally. It's not a professional interest. He's a sexual freak when it comes to football. He wants to make love to the game. It has nothing to do with his professionalism. And he's lying through his teeth.

[C]

That's got to be kind of confusing to have that kind of emotion for it, you know, like it's not a tangible.

[D]

Know. It's weird, right?

[C]

Like to want to have physical. A physical connection to something that's not tangible. It's almost like falling in love with AI.

[B]

It's.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

What was that movie she. They should make or her. That was the movie her with Joaquin Phoenix. That.

[D]

That should be that he should consider himself pansexual. Like he's into women and he's into football.

[B]

And the thing that's really scary is like so into it that he can't. It's over before it starts.

[D]

And by the way, real quick, if he had to choose between his wife and football.

[C]

Oh, don't. No, it's trouble.

[B]

No, he would choose football. She. He would not take her to the urgent. These are true stories.

[C]

Well, he would have the game on the phone. He would probably have the game on.

[B]

No, she was bleeding. Said no.

[D]

He said no.

[C]

He did not say no.

[D]

No, he did.

[C]

That happened.

[D]

He said he's Anthony.

[C]

Oh, hi, Don.

[B]

I can't confirm these stories.

[C]

Feels after the break.

[D]

After the break. Confirm it.

[C]

Yeah. All right. Well, because we have actually. We have big Yankee news.

[D]

Really?

[C]

Yes. Volpe update.

[D]

Well, and I have the perfect.

[C]

Before you go.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Just. People understand we have to go to break. Otherwise I tell you, you do not want to miss this.

[D]

All right, so that's next. And I have the perfect thing to tell you. And that's an ad for BetterHelp which. Dave, please listen close. We turn to some funny places for support, but not everyone is a therapist and not everyone is the one to help you find your right match with BetterHelp. BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 10 plus years of experience in industry leading match fulfillment rate means they typically get it right the first time. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient too. You can join a session with A therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Find the one with better help. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout that's better. H L P.com timeout thanks for listening.

[A]

To the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[D]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[A]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

All right, so we began the show talking baseball. We'll get into a lot of football at the 5 o' clock hour. Jordan Renan going to join us momentarily, talk some Giants and more. But so the Yankee news of the day was first. There was reports about him having a left shoulder issue. Getting a cortisone shot to help it after. Remember, this is the shoulder that he heard a pop back in May. Well, there is more to this now and Aaron Boone gave an update on what now has become a partially torn labrum in that shoulder. So here's Boone seeing how long this now could keep him out.

[I]

So the timeline of it is obviously he had the incident in May where, you know, he dove and, you know, hurt his shoulder a little bit, but felt it at that time. We MRI'd it. He had partial labrum tear that I think they felt like was an old injury. And really it was more just aggravating it and kind of probably more the swelling of it. So once that got out of there, you know, he was, he was good to go. He's aggravated it maybe a couple times, Sunday being one of them. And each time it's kind of added to some, you know, I think it's just a swelling issue. So he said something the other day about it. We MRI'd it shows a little bit more of a labrum tear, but nothing that we think is gonna land him on the IL or nothing that he can't continue, continue to play through. He already feels better today. I don't expect it to be an issue. But that being said, like, if he goes out there and aggravates it again, we may have to, you know, look at it more. We'll MRI it again regardless at the end of the season. But right now it looks like he should be good to go in the next couple days.

[C]

This now it sounds like small tears cause clearly it's not like really torn. There's no way they'd let him play if it was seriously torn. So let's as much as you want to say that sounds terrible, that In May, they MRI'd it and saw tear and they what do you take one day off, one game, if I'm not mistaken, it was one game and then once it calmed down, they put him back out there. And then throughout the course of the season he would aggravate it and then the next time he aggravated it or the last time he aggravated it, he said it was bothering enough to get another mri. And yeah, he tore it a little more. That all sounds like malpractice. I totally understand it. But even as much as we want to kill the Yankees, I cannot believe this is like this was significant tear. But God, that does not sound good at all.

[B]

No, it doesn't sound good. And when he was benched a month ago for two games, the spin was he needed the break because he was struggling. Yeah, there was never the conversation that's happening now. That was never. We knew about the injury back in May, but the injury injury never came back up again as much as he was struggling. People asking what's wrong with Volpe? Why can't he hit, why can't he field, why can't he throw? What's happened? They defended him. They defended him. Not once did they ever say, well let's. He's also really, he's injured. It's not serious enough to put him on the il, but you know, we're watching this labrum. It's an issue. Wouldn't that have at least let it up a little bit? It's to stop him from getting killed. At least there be a built in excuse for why he was struggling so much. And now it comes up in conversation this late in the game. It's. It's odd it ends up becoming the excuse. Right? Well, he had a torn labor mole year. That's why he struggled.

[C]

Well, Boone did was asked exactly that. What you're suggesting, Don, how much of that shoulder then did affect him this year? How much of that now is leading to the fact that he's having such a bad season?

[I]

Not much. I feel like he's been in a good spot physically. You know, I think everybody deals with certain things. It's impossible to say like this event affected something this much or didn't at all. How could you possibly know that? But I don't think it's been a major factor in his performance or his ability to swing the bat or his ability to kind of go to the post every day. That's my sense.

[C]

No, he said that's my sense. I'm guessing that's what he is being told either from Volpe, from doctors, from both. Because otherwise he's just speculating. How would he know? So he said, that's my sense at the end there. That's the key phrase there. Because I don't want everybody to kill Boone. I know that's our first thing we're gonna do is we shoot the messenger all the time, right? This is not fair to Boone. I don't think this is. Boone is basically the messenger. He is. He is telling you what he's been told. And that's my sense is him saying, I don't think this affected him because this is what they told me, that whatever the injury was shouldn't be bothering him. But, my God, the numbers tell you it must be.

[B]

The only thing a manager does is can my. Is my player available? Can he go, yeah, and then they tell him, yes or no, that's it, he's not a doctor. And he's going to go by the people that know. But why do I have a feeling, with the way it's phrased, that when the season's over, no matter how it turns out for him and the Yankees surgery, that this injury is going to be thrown out there as one of the reasons why they didn't win?

[C]

Oh, well, they didn't win.

[B]

You know, when we talk about, well, listen, it was a tough season for us. Remember, we didn't have Stan for a while. Judge was on the il. We didn't have Heel for half the season. We didn't have Cole for the entire season. You know, Volpe was playing shortstop with the torn labor. Is that going to be thrown out there onto the heap of why we didn't win or why we had to settle for the wild card or why we weren't as good as we needed to be? Because the way it was said was, no, we don't know if it affected his play.

[C]

I think we know. Come on.

[B]

But what are they saying? They're saying that they're not sure. They don't think so.

[C]

They're saying that then what they aren't telling us is that he's. He's not as good as they thought he was.

[D]

That's the problem.

[B]

Well, that.

[D]

What's the.

[C]

If you're telling me that, oh, this had no effect on him, on him physically, his ability to play, the position, his ability. His ability to hit. Well, then you're telling me that he's really bad.

[B]

Well, let's see. At some point they're going to be cornered into having to give you the answer. And even if they don't give you the answer who's the shortstop next year? Right. Because Caballero's got another year on his contract. They can go in and pivot to a different direction if he's not the player. So actions are going to speak louder than words, guys. Ultimately that's going to be the case. If they keep trotting him out there at shortstop, then they obviously would tell you it was probably the injury. He's still a good player. But if they pivot away from him at some point Allen, then we're have to believe that he was not the player we expected him.

[C]

Well, and then here's, here's now the opportunity the doors open for Caballero and again to see what they are going to have in the playoffs. And does Volpe become sort of a guy that now is a backup going into the playoffs and they can use the shoulder as the excuse.

[A]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.

[A]

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.