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.

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."

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]

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]

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

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.

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.