Hour 2: The Volpe Dilemma

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: The Volpe Dilemma

Date: August 27, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe and the growing dilemma over his prolonged struggles at the plate. The hosts debate whether the organization has mishandled Volpe, what accountability looks like for the Yankees, and contrast their approach with other New York teams. They also dive into the nature of competitive edge and leadership in sports, before launching into a lively ranking of New York’s greatest “one-hit wonder” athletes—a segment driven by listener calls and passionate debate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Volpe Dilemma: Is It Time to Bench Him?

(Starts ~00:44)

• Ongoing Slump: Volpe is 1 for his last 39 at-bats, went 0 for 5 in a blow-out win where every other Yankee reached base.
• Attempts to Fix: Volpe’s two days off did not help. The crew argues the pressure and public scrutiny are exacerbating his struggles.
  • Quote: “Two days off is not fixing this. They’ve ruined him now.” – Alan Hahn (01:05)
• Who’s at fault? The hosts blame Yankees’ management (especially Brian Cashman) for not sending Volpe down when he was struggling earlier, comparing the situation to how the Mets handled Alvarez.
• Team vs Player Needs: Emphasis that the priority must be the team’s playoff push, not “fixing” Volpe in the lineup.
  • Quote: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few right now.” – Hahn (05:21)
• Solution: Bench Volpe, let him rehab out of the limelight, use him in pinch-hitting or as a defensive replacement only if needed.
  • Quote: “Let him disappear for a while in the background… just work on his swing. There could come a time in October when you're going to need him.” – Hahn (05:21)
• Contrast with Mets: Praising Mets' decision-making with struggling players ("Performance matters. We're at a point now where we've got to see performance.").
• Critique of Yankees’ Process: Frustration with Yankees' collaborative, analytics-driven roster decisions instead of decisive, performance-based moves.
  • Quote: “They’re going to look at the analytics… instead of just someone stepping up and going, ‘He’s not good enough. We have a better shortstop.’” – Hahn (18:15)

2. The Yankees’ Identity: “Soft?”

(Starts ~09:25)

• Offense Reliant on Homeruns: Yankees have games with huge home run totals, but rarely achieve similar success against good pitching or playoff-caliber teams.
  • Quote: “They’re beating up bad teams as they should, and they’re pounding bad pitching—which you never see in the postseason.” – Hahn (09:25)
• Lack of Edge: Hosts debate if this Yankees team has any “edge” or fight, especially against rivals like Boston.
  • Quote: “They’re soft. Is that crazy for me to say?” – Hahn (09:25)
  • Don: “I can’t argue with that. Where’s the fight? Where’s all the big… Can there be a little bit of fight?”
• Collective Mentality & Accountability:
  • Yankees are “soft collectively” because the environment is overly protective, stifling accountability.
  • Quote: “The way they are with this team almost creates a soft environment.” – Hahn (14:01)
• Contrast with Old School: Citing Parcells, Joe Torre, and Herb Brooks—sometimes public criticism and heat from leadership galvanizes a team. Is today’s environment too coddling?
  • Quote: “Sometimes it’s good to just get dirty… Criticize me, rip me, don’t always protect me.” – Hahn (14:01)

3. Leadership in the Clubhouse

(Starts ~17:17)

• Caller Tom (Brooklyn): Wants more visible leadership from Aaron Judge, says team lacks urgency and energy, especially in rivalry games.
  • Quote: “I need [Judge] to step up a little more… take more accountability being the captain of the Yankees.” – Tom (17:17)

4. Organizational Decision-Making & Accountability

(Starts ~18:15)

• Yankees’ Process: Management makes decisions “collaboratively,” relying heavily on analytics, rather than simply putting the best player on the field.
• Critique: Calls for bolder, performance-based decision-making, not “crapshoot” playoff hopes when the team’s payroll and ambition demand more consistency.
  • Quote: “That’s no way to build a baseball team, have a $300 million payroll and say 'hey, let’s see what happens.'” – Hahn (22:49)

5. The List: New York One-Hit Sports Wonders

(Starts ~27:12)

Criteria

• Player captivated New York, had a singular burst of greatness, then faded.
• “Not a great player with a few great moments;” focused on meteoric, fleeting runs.

Don’s Top Five

(Picks and debate run from 29:33 to 36:54)

1. Jeremy Lin ("Linsanity") – Unmatched international frenzy for a brief period.
   • Quote: “[Linsanity] felt worldwide, not just in New York, not just the NBA.” – Hahn (36:09)
2. Odell Beckham Jr. – The one-handed catch against Dallas, meteoric attention, but much drama and little sustained greatness in NY.
3. R.A. Dickey – Mets' knuckleballed his way to a Cy Young in 2012, then quickly faded.
4. Matt Harvey – “Harvey Day” era, All-Star start, World Series run, but career fizzled.
5. Shane Spencer – 1998 late-season power binge for the Yankees, but never again repeated.

• Debate & Honorable Mentions:
  • Callers suggest Tommy DeVito, Victor Cruz, Gary Sanchez, Jose Iglesias, Kevin Maas.
  • Arguments for and (mostly) against each, depending on how wide their impact was and whether their fade was dramatic enough.

6. Listener/Caller Engagement

(Scattered through 37:02 – 53:22)

• Odell Beckham Jr.: Listener questions if he belongs as a “one-hit wonder” due to sustained production, but hosts argue his peak was so far above what followed in NY.
• Victor Cruz: Universally beloved, but ending was positive, not the “flame-out” usually seen in one-hit wonders.
• David Tyree, Jose Iglesias, Kevin Maas: Names suggested and discussed, generally concluded either their peak wasn’t long enough, or not broad enough in city impact.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Volpe’s Struggles:
  • “He’s seeing ghosts now… swinging with his eyes closed. The hips are flying all over the place. They have ruined him right now.” – Hahn (01:49)
• On the Yankees’ Softness:
  • “No edge. Soft. That’s the part that bothers me. They just don’t seem to have an edge to them.” – Hahn (09:25)
• On Old School Coaching:
  • “Sometimes it’s good to just get dirty, be involved. You build up your immune system. You thicken your skin.” – Hahn (14:01)
• On Management Decisions:
  • “It’s all going to be analytical… instead of just someone stepping up and going, ‘he’s not good enough. We got a better shortstop.’” – Hahn (18:15)
• On Performance-Based Decisions:
  • “The only thing that matters is winning… Play your best lineup, not what the numbers tell you, what your eyes tell you.” – Hahn (20:58)
• On ‘One-Hit Wonders’:
  • “Jeremy Lin’s got to be number one… those two weeks felt worldwide.” – Hahn (36:09)
  • “Odell was a really good pull… now that we know that really was more of that meteoric rise and then we kept waiting… and it really never happened.” – Rosenberg (33:16)
• On What the Yankees Should Do with Volpe:
  • “My obligation… is to put the best team on the field… you can’t say that with a straight face if Anthony Volpe is your shortstop and he’s a 1 for 39.” – Hahn (19:59)

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Key Timestamps

• Yankees/Volpe struggles, handling, and philosophy: 00:44 – 21:35
• Caller: Tom in Brooklyn, leadership & accountability: 17:17 – 18:15
• Caller: Dan in Saratoga, the “crapshoot” playoff argument: 21:35 – 22:52
• “The List”: One-hit sports wonders: 27:12 – 36:54
  • List construction and debate: 29:33 – 36:54
• Callers suggest alternative one-hit wonders (Odell, Cruz, Tyree, Iglesias, Maas, etc.): 37:02 – 53:22

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Conclusion

This episode combines classic New York sports talk with big-picture questions about leadership and accountability in high-pressure environments. The Volpe discussion highlights both tactical and cultural problems within the Yankees, while “The List” segment brings nostalgia and levity, showing the hosts’ sports knowledge and connection to their listeners. The tone throughout is passionate, sometimes satirical, but always rooted in clear expectations for New York sports excellence.

Transcript

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[B]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

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[B]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.

[A]

On 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New.

[B]

York app, and your smart speakers, Don.

[A]

Hahn and Rosenberg with you until 6:30. Then it's a Mets baseball. Yankees pretty much over. They're up 11 1, but Volpe 0 for 5. So what is that one for his last 39? Something like that? Was it a 1 for 34 going in? He's 0 for 5, couple of strikeouts. Actually went 0 for 2 in the third inning when the Yankees put up a nine spot, got two at bats and retired in both.

[B]

I hate to laugh, but it's just amazing to say that, that he got two of the three outs in the same inning and the second half, by the way, he just had an at bat. That really does show you that two days off is not fixing this. They've ruined him now to a point where he probably. They need to let him just sit it out for a while. They mishandled this don and everybody wants to get on the kid. And I understand it. The kid's doing nothing but working his ass off. Like that's not gonna fix it. But you can't get mad at the kid at this point. They're booing him. Don't boo him. Boo Cashman for keeping him out there for 29 out of 130 games.

[A]

But now that's what he's doing. Now that's already happened game after game after game.

[B]

And what the Mets did, like I said, what the Mets did with, with Alvarez when he struggled is they sent him down and just get right. Get your confidence back. Just fix your swing, whatever it is, and get right. Just get away from this noise and get right. And the Yankees wouldn't do it. And so now he's complete. Look at him. Look at that last. That bat. You got to watch it back. It was abominable. Swinging at things that he's seeing ghosts now with the pitches that he's just swinging with his eyes closed. The hips are flying all over the place. They have ruined him right now. And two days off is not fixing this thing.

[A]

But see, even the two days off to me was kind of just like, yeah, we're just going to do that. It didn't. Did it mean anything? Because then you put him right back in the lineup again. And now since you brought him back in the lineup, he's over nine. You won the games, so I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. You won both games going away, right? With him out of it, with him in the lineup.

[B]

Yes. So I think he's the only Yankee to not reach base in this game.

[A]

But Allen, at this point, forget about where he's from, the Gold Glove, rookie of the year, all the things what the shortstops you could have had, how it was handled, let it go. Now you're at the point where you have to ask yourself as an organization, can I continue in good faith to my team to trot him out there and play shortstop for a team trying to compete for a championship? When I went on and got myself a shortstop who can play just as well defensively, he's not a great offensive.

[B]

Player, but he's better than Volpe Caballero.

[A]

Why am I continuing to send Volpe out there? I can't now. Now, you had your worst nightmare. You gave him two days off. You bring him back against a soft competition, better matchup, and now you're over nine. Now what do you do you bench him again or do you just come to the conclusion, all right, the benching didn't work. It's beyond benching you. He's not a good ball player right now.

[B]

He has to sit right now.

[A]

Is my shortstop moving forward?

[B]

That's. Yeah, I think you have to make that decision. They should have already, but you have to make that decision right now after all of this. And what you do with him is you just have him continue to do what he's doing because he has been working and you just let him work on his swing and get right. You get somebody with him that's just going to fix it and then, you know, do you use him in a pinch hit situation once in a while. But I just don't think you can play him. You can't do it. And look, use what Mendoza said as the exact reason why this is not the time to get right as a, you know, get your players right. Performance matters. Mendoza said about his Mets and his Mets starting pitching performance matters. And we're at a, we're at a point now where we've got to see performance. So if you're not performing, I don't care if you're 24 years old or 34 years old or 44 years old, it is the time now to play the players who are going to help you win games.

[A]

And that's what. That's what. And that sends the message.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Around the team.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

That, hey, it doesn't matter what we thought of you, where you were drafted, how much money you're making, the best players are going to play. Caballero is a better than Bulpy, and that's it. Period. Doesn't mean you're throwing them away. Doesn't mean he'll never play for the Yankees again. We'll reset at some point. As far as what his role is going to be moving forward, well, he'll be a defensive replacement late in the game because he does cut down on his errors. And maybe at some point something will happen where he'll get another opportunity to shine. But right now, can't be done. Sorry. Can't go for 1 for 39 on a team trying to win a championship. Can't do it.

[B]

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few right now. That's the approach you have, and you don't apologize for it. And the kids already had the Face of Music once, and he's talked about his issues and all that stuff he said all he had to say. Now let him just disappear for a while in the background, and you just have to have your coaches reminding how important he is. And here's how you show him how important he is so he never loses his confidence or belief. Is that you? You do. You. You know what you do? You have a daily schedule with him because you know he's not playing. You take all the pressure off. We're just gonna work on you. We're gonna get you right. And every now and then, you might want you to be ready for a couple of pin shots, a couple of opportunities to step in in games, just to get some more live action. But you've got to get right because there could come a time in October where we're going to need you.

[A]

And what I want to see, because we watched every at bat together pretty much today. I want to hear what Aaron Boone has to say. I want to. I liked his approach. I think he barreled up a few. No, no, no. He, he, he looked lost.

[B]

He looked lost on.

[A]

Aaron Boone knows more baseball than I do. He's supposed to. He's the manager of the Yankees But I don't think anybody that watched those at bats saw any value anything, you know, at what, at one point he was up 3:1, I think was a second at bat, fouled up a couple of pitches and eventually lined out.

[B]

He had a line out in the first.

[A]

That was probably the best at bat of the day.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because obviously a few feet either way, that's a single.

[B]

He lined out the second and the third, that was more of a two.

[A]

That wasn't like a little hit so far.

[B]

Right. And then he struck out again that.

[A]

Same inning, then the ground out to short and then he struck out again.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So if you want to give me.

[B]

And the strikeout was that last strike, that fifth at bat, that was the worst looking at bat of all, even though the other strikeout was pretty ugly too, to end that inning.

[A]

So maybe one good at bat. But listen, there's a lot of work to be done with this kid, but I just don't think you can actually send him out there in good conscience. And you can evaluate during the off season how it was mishandled, how was misplayed, this, that and the other thing. But right now you can't tell me you're trotting the best team possible out there. If Anthony Volpe is your starting shortstop, can't do it. But the Yankees do win. Bunch of bombs. Judge hits a home run and Rice should be your everyday catcher. Can we, can we agree on that? Yes, because he's hitting, he can catch. Because Wells did, you see Wells did.

[B]

Get a home run in this game as well. He's been hitting like he's starting to get his power back lately. And they, they just, they love Wells behind the plate. They love how he frames. I mean, again, Rice isn't great.

[A]

Well, you know, I guess get, get the framing out of the way now. Right. Because eventually the framing is not going to mean anything.

[B]

It's good point.

[A]

You're not going to be able to fool the computerized umpire in time. What was the sharp stat, Anthony? I heard Jake talk about it earlier that for the first time in franchise history, The Yankees have two players that have had over 300 at bats in the season batting under 210.

[B]

Yeah. Volpe's at 204, Wells at 206.

[A]

I mean, and we're talking about a history that's over 100 years old. A lot of good Yankee baseball over that span of time, but never two players both hitting under.210. And I know the batting average doesn't mean what it Used to, but still, it's pretty embarrassing.

[B]

And by the way, McMahon's at.216.

[A]

Well, he had a home run today, but he hasn't been hitting. He hasn't been hitting.

[B]

Well, how many home runs they hit today? Remember, they've had like these crazy. One, two. They've had six. They have six home runs in this game.

[A]

Yeah. Well, it's over now.

[B]

They've twice hit nine this season.

[A]

That's six. And this is how they score, Alan. And I'm sorry, Aaron Boone can talk all he wants about home runs still in the postseason. They're not going to come that, that many times during the course of a postseason series that you're going to be able to win. Because when they hit the nine home runs the other night was against the Rays. You're not facing the Rays in the postseason. So we're all facing the Nationals in the postseason. Now the other time they hit nine was against the brewers, but it's a much different Brewer team than you're going to face if you face them in the World Series this year.

[B]

Now, again, I'm being framed as like this negative, you know, so called Yankee fan who's just negative all the time. And it's like, look, it's, I've just told you, I don't like the way it looks. It's not being negative. It's what I see. So when you say things about this team and talk about October with any type of confidence or belief that it's all going to turn around, I keep asking, what is your evidence? And don't give me numbers because we know what they're doing is beating up bad teams as they should, and they're pounding bad pitching, which you never see in the postseason. And don't tell me, well, the teams that hit home runs, they're the ones that get to the World Series and win the World Series, that's what history shows you. I understand that. But look at what they do against good teams. They don't pound them, they don't hit home runs against them. And I would argue a word that no team ever wants to hear. They're soft. Is that crazy for me to say? The part that bothers me about them is they just don't seem to have an edge to them. Stanton does. This is not. Again, this is a blanket statement. So it's not about individuals, because what Stanton showing you is a guy that dialed in this late in the season when he got healthy, and he's basically carrying this team. He had all the, all the runs last night. And so I'm wondering, Don, is it wrong to say, or am I accurate, that collectively, when you consider how they look against good teams when they go to Toronto, but when they've played Boston, they're soft team.

[A]

Well, clearly, how can I argue? Because you know the ability this team has, they just, you know, bash the Rays, bash the Nationals. They'd get swept by the Marlins. But the Marlins aren't that bad of a team.

[B]

But still the Marlins aren't. Marlins were playing well at the time. They.

[A]

We know what they're capable of doing, but yet we don't see it against the really good teams. Now, because I was, I was prepared for this argument because you can hear like, I'm not giving the Yankees credit for sweeping the Nationals because they're the Nationals.

[B]

Yeah, they just.

[A]

And then a Yankee fan can counter and say, well, Don, the Mets just lost two out of three to the Nationals. Yeah. But now they've bounced back and taken two against Philly, who's in first place. Like, you've seen the Mets step up against good teams and play them well. They played well against the Dodgers. They, they've owned the Phillies at Citi Field. Right. There's at least been moments where the team that they're competing with, they've, they've been able to play well against the Braves are a problem. But good thing the Braves are not a team that you got to worry about this year. Yeah, but you know the Yankees beating up on the Nationals, but they just came across losing three out of four to the Red Sox, a team they're chasing for the wild card. That's the difference is. So I can't argue with you because when you say soft, it's like, what happens to them? Where's all the big. Granted, you're not getting a bunch of home runs against the Red Sox because the Red Sox are good. But can there be a little bit of fight? Like, at least the Mets showed you some fight against Philly. They didn't play well. They fell behind, but they showed some fight. That was a good closer they hit off yesterday.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So it wasn't like Philadelphia is gifting them anything. So it makes you feel like, at least from a fight standpoint, that the Mets have a little. There's at least examples where they're giving you a little fight. Do the Yankees have examples of giving you fight?

[B]

The example, I think the argument that, again, the most optimistic Yankee fan will make is, well, Sunday night, you know, they pounded May and they got that win. They didn't get swept.

[A]

Okay. They showed something that after eight straight losses, sometimes the worm just turns. Right.

[B]

But I'm talking about some of the at bats. The one nothing loss. Some of those at bats were almost like. It was like meager. That's. That's the stuff that bothers you is. Is that kind of stuff? Is that like you're not. You don't look dialed in at all. Some of the decision making when it comes to the fielding, it doesn't look like a team that's locked in, dialed in. And that's my biggest issue. And again, it's not all on players. I don't think this is a soft team individually. I think collectively they are because of the approach, the strategy. I think the environment has made this team soft on and the way they approach everything, that they don't want criticism and they're very careful with what they say and they'll never reveal injuries and all that other stuff. The way they are with this team almost creates a soft environment.

[A]

Yeah. Because there's a lack of accountability.

[B]

And then when Volpe's getting booed and getting all this stuff, like, where's the protection there? No, I keep trotting them out. Like, it's almost contradictory the way they.

[A]

Do things every once in a while. Because parcels used to do this with the Giants. Call a player out in the media, even if you rip them behind closed doors, it's like, just make it public, stir it up a little bit. Get these players about, you know, nervous for their jobs. Let's get them. Let's thicken their skin a little bit. Instead of protecting. If you protect them, it's like, if somebody's like a germaphobe and they don't want to deal with any germ, when they do finally get hit with one, they get really sick because they don't have. They didn't protect themselves. They don't have the immune system to fight it. Like, sometimes it's good to just get dirty, be involved that way. You've built up your immune system. You've thickened your skin. Criticize me, rip me, don't always protect me. Because it's easy for them to shut out the booze and not look at social media, not read the papers, not listen to the sports talk radio.

[B]

How do you think they.

[A]

But when you know, my coach has got my back no matter what, it's going to be human nature to kind of lay back and figure, oh, I got this. I don't have to worry about losing anything.

[B]

How do you think they would have handled David Wells in this environment versus how Torrey handled them in the late 98 especially. Right. Tory was always putting, like. Tory was constantly having to fight David Wells on everything.

[A]

Yeah, they really got his team still to this day.

[B]

Yes. Publicly tough on him publicly. And you know what? You forget David Wells is one of the best pitchers in the sport that year, but yet Tory was constantly having to deal with him. In fact, to a point where David Cohen was like, all right, we're not staying at team hotel anymore because we can't deal with curfews and rules, and we got to get him away. So he. And he and Cohen would stay in their own hotel just to keep him away from the team because he just knew, like, they had to get him out of the environment. They handled it. They figured it out, but they handled it. And then when they got to the playoffs, who had some of the biggest performances for the Yankees? Yeah, David Wells. Why? Because that whole year, it was a constant struggle, a constant fight. But there was that at least that respect of understanding that there's a standard that I have to live up to.

[A]

The best example that was important, the best example of that was USA Hockey 1980.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Just get it. That they hated her. Brooks, get to the point where it's us against him. Yeah, let's prove him wrong. Let's shut him up.

[B]

What was the line? If they. If they. If they are. If. If they're. If they're angry at me, they can't be mad at each other or whatever it is. Yeah, like, let them. Let them be mad at me more than they are at each other. Because it was all Minnesota, Boston, guys who don't get along.

[A]

Yeah. So.

[C]

But.

[B]

But it would unified them.

[A]

But. But it was also just, hey, let's show him. He's getting. He's ripping into me now.

[B]

Again, that can work against. You know, that doesn't always work. But the point, I think is I know times have changed, but I don't think athletes have changed that much.

[A]

Maybe they have. I don't know, because this is the way it's going. But just every once in a while, there'd be some level of accountability. Let's go to Tom in Brooklyn. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Tom?

[C]

Gentlemen, how we doing? You guys stole all my thunder on Volpe there. You know, I'm watching this game. Everybody's reaching base but him. He looks awful. That last swing was just ridiculous. And, you know, I'm looking towards the future. They're going to make the playoffs just by default, because the schedule is just very weak. And they beat up on these good teams, on these bad teams, which I'm not buying. You know, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, they are soft. Allen. You know, when it comes down to Boston, the rivalry, and they come in Yankee Stadium and just whoop us amazingly, there's no energy, there's no urgency. You know, I hear judge at the end of the game supposed to be the captain. You know, he says. You know, I speak for me when I say I'm angry. No, no, no. Speak for the team. We're all angry. I need him to step up a little more. I know he's a great player, but he's got to take some more accountability on being the captain of the Yankees. But moving down the road for the playoffs, you. You cannot have Volpe as you're starting shortstop. And I want to know who makes that decision. Can Boone just say, that's it, Carbonaro's coming in, or does he have to go to Cashman? They have to sit down. Come on.

[A]

Everything's collaborative. You know that. Everything is collaborative. They're all going to get together. They're probably going to sit down today as they head to. They're heading to Chicago, right? So those games are in Chicago. They're going to sit down on the flight to Chicago. They're going to discuss it. They're going to look at the analytics, and together they're going to come up with a plan on whether Volpe plays against the White Sox. And it's all going to be analytical. It's all going to be who the pitchers are, how he's done against them in his lefty, instead of just somebody stepping up and going, he's not good enough. We've got a better shortstop who's sitting on the bench.

[B]

Can't be serious.

[A]

Let's get him in the game.

[B]

You can't be serious. There's no.

[A]

Am I wrong, though?

[B]

After that.04, 5 and 2 strikeouts, he is he himself, he's not doing his game. Is begging you to sit him down for a length of time that can allow him to decompress and just work on his swing because it's a mess. And I truly believe that his offense was affecting his defense. I truly believe it.

[A]

Well, now the defense has been better, but. But you just can't hit. So at what point, with everything that we've seen and going on three years, Don, you're right. Now he's just not that good a player.

[B]

Well, no, he. Look, he won a Gold Glove. He's a good player, all right, but he's not a bad player.

[A]

But right now he's bad.

[B]

You've made him.

[A]

All right, well, now you made him a bad player. What do you do about it?

[B]

You gotta fix him.

[A]

But you don't fix them by sending him out there and go over five in a game where everybody and their mother's got like a home run or a double and. And he's the one guy that didn't get on base.

[B]

He didn't get on base. I'm with you. They have to do something. Right.

[A]

But again, I'm just telling you, that's what they're going to do. It's going to be collaborative. They're going to get together. How should we do this? And they're going to look at the numbers. And when I think, Forget about. I wouldn't even look at any numbers. I don't care if he smoked every white sock pitcher that's in this series. I would just say he's not playing. There'll be another opportunity. Where they got 29 games left. There'll be another opportunity. He'll come in as a defensive replacement. Somebody's bound to get hurt. Maybe he'll come up and pinch hit and hit home run and get it all back, but right now he's not playing. My obligation as Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the brain trust of the New York Yankees is to put the best team on the field to help me win on a given day. And you can't say that with a straight face if Anthony Volpe is your shortstop and he's a 1 for 39.

[B]

And here on August 27th, you are tied for the first wild card spot and you are four games out of your division. That's it going into tonight's action.

[A]

Now, if we're talking up the Mets being still alive, then the Yankees are still alive.

[B]

This is why you can't mess around like you've got it again. I'll keep going back to Mendoza. Performance matters. We're at a point now. We've got to see performance. This is no longer about worrying about feelings or emotions or any of that garbage. Right now the only thing that matters is winning games because there is the doors open for you to win your division, which, my God, would help at least create an easier path to the World Series. It's there. Play your best lineup. Not what the numbers tell you, what your eyes tell you.

[A]

For once. Dan in Saratoga. You're on espn. New York.

[C]

Hey, what's going on, guys? How you doing?

[A]

Good, man. What's up?

[C]

Hey, so, yeah, about the Yankees, I mean, to be honest, I blame Cashman for this because I'm just kind of just, eh. I mean, I just don't see other juggernauts in the league. And I still think we're going to possibly win a division again. To the Cashmen, I just mentioned the playoffs are a crapshoot, man. I mean, anyone. Any team could get hot. It's a long season. There's ebbs and flows. I just think there's no juggernauts in the AL especially. I mean, even in the nl. I mean, there's good teams, but there's no one juggernaut like the, like the Dodgers last year. The Yankees got a shot just like any other team, you know? Yeah, Volpe struggling, but there's ebbs and flows to this, man. I mean, you guys know it's baseball season.

[A]

Well, but. But that's. But that's no way. I like the same with the Mets when Pierre called. That's no way to live. Hey, you never know. You just got to be in it to win it. Crapshoot. Well, what do you. What do you do to not make it a crapshoot? What do you do to find the consistency? What do you do to say, we're now the team that's being chased down? Hey, I don't believe in the brewers either, because they've never done it. But they're the best team in baseball right now. They're proving it day in and day out. They were historic.

[B]

Run.

[A]

They're a really good baseball team now. We'll see. Blue Jays, too. They've played amazing baseball. They deserve to be in first place. Dodgers just won a World Series. Houston not that far removed from World Series. So some good teams out there. But that's no way to build a baseball team, have a $300 million payroll and say, hey, let's see what happens. We'll roll the dice. Anybody can get hot. That's not. That's not sustainable. That's not. That's the. You know what? That's what the Reds are thinking right now. Maybe we'll get hot. Maybe the Mets will cool off. We'll sneak into the playoffs. Yeah, you know, the Marlins were thinking that, like, hey, maybe we'll get hot. Leave it for those teams, but for the big boys with the $300 million payroll and the All Stars at every position and the future hall of Famers and the record breakers, they shouldn't be sitting there going. Maybe we'll get hot. The Mets did not acquire Juan Soto for hey, maybe we'll just hang around and we'll just get hot at the right time. No, they're trying to build something that's sustainable. You don't get Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, go get Bellinger on pivot and get Bellinger, give an eight year contract to Freed to go. Maybe we'll just sneak it to the wild card and maybe we'll get hot. That's, that's no way to live, man. The way to live though is with a list that's coming up next, it's Don Hanna, Rosenberg. Hang with you till 6:30 and it's Mets baseball here on ESPN.

[B]

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[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[A]

Just made the list, buddy.

[B]

This is the list with Don Hahn and Rosenberg. I'm fired up for this. I'm excited for this. We had a great conversation during the break. A little bullpen sesh.

[A]

Now the list is driven by Ramsey Mazda. So here's the deal. You know, with the Tommy DeVito getting released by the Giants, we started talking.

[B]

About picked up by the Patriots, by the way.

[A]

Absolutely. That, like, what would be the top five New York one hit wonders? Now you got to be able to disclaimer all this by. We're talking about somebody that they're in the best moments of their career. So it wasn't like a great player who had like amazing moments like Jalen Brunson last year. No, Jalen Brunson's a great player. He's a great player for a few years. He's gonna be a great player in the future.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

We're talking about players that captivated the imagination of New York. And it was clearly their best moment. And I mean really captivated. Does Tommy DeVito make the list?

[B]

Ooh. All right. So you're already teasing that Tommy Cutlitz might not have done enough to who you're taking out.

[A]

What's the famous phrase?

[B]

Who you taking out?

[A]

That's right. So we'll see if we ever do in this book. Who are you taking out? Yes, we're Gonna do. But the summer kind of got away from me. Something happened, both of us. Something happened at the Rock.

[B]

Something big happened.

[A]

But listen, when I'm on the road.

[B]

And stuff, although it's the perfect time.

[A]

To do it, the national schedule came out. I noticed. Devils, Hurricanes, Carolina, ESPN plus. I'm out.

[B]

You're out.

[A]

So my first game will be the Devil's second game in Tampa.

[B]

So feed up. It's on the road.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

At Carolina. So you'll have to be there.

[A]

No.

[B]

Oh, you're going to fly steps later. I don't necessarily have to be going down to Tampa.

[A]

Yes, I could be there. But now, why make the.

[B]

Do they still have one elevator in that building? Amalie Arena.

[A]

Well, at least the freight elevator where a bunch of people can get on. Had pizza, but it's the longest elevator ever.

[B]

Oh, it's unreal. Had pizza with Scotty Bowman in that elevator.

[A]

They probably had a whole pie and finished it.

[B]

He was holding the pie in his hand and offered me some while we were taking forever.

[A]

It is one of the absolute gems of going to a game in Tampa or Buffalo, but when he lived in Buffalo.

[B]

But he's.

[A]

Since now he's to sit and talk hockey with Scotty Bowman. It is. It is. It is amazing. But anyway.

[B]

Okay, let's go.

[A]

All right, so number five.

[B]

Number five.

[A]

R A D. Dickey. Oh.

[B]

Oh. How about that? That's a good book.

[A]

That's a good pull. All right. That's all the. The great story. The Tommy John. They saw it on the.

[B]

The.

[A]

The. The. The magazine for Team usa. And then he becomes a Met. And then out of nowhere in 2012, his only All Star appearance, he goes 20 and six, wins the Cy Young Award. Everybody's talking about. R.A. dickey leads the league in game starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, the pitching ninja. And never won more than 14 games after that. Go. You know, parlayed into a contract in Toronto is. Okay, not great, but R.A. dickey. Everybody taught 2012 boy was all about R.A. dickey and the story. Yeah, I got him at number five. All right, number.

[B]

All right already. All right, already. You're setting the bar.

[A]

Number four. All right, number four. We're sticking with the same team.

[B]

Two Mets.

[A]

And that's Matt Harvey. It's Harvey Day. Oh, we gotta see him pitch. He's posing nude in New York Post. Remember? With his shirt off. Everybody's talking. It's all we talked about on the Case show. Front row at Nick games.

[B]

What show was it? Letterman? Whatever. The show when he was at Bryant park asking people about Matt Harvey. They don't know who he is.

[A]

Yeah, but. But it was all. It was hard. That's where Harvey day started, you know, before DeGrom and for anybody, it was Harvey. And listen, he never, he had a moment. He had the all star game in 2013. Started the all Star game.

[B]

The biggest thing was him was when Terry Collins wouldn't take him out of the World Series.

[A]

It was game five, six, whole game six. No, they, they lost in five.

[B]

Okay, so it was five. Because remember he had pitched a gym and the crowd was like when he. When, right when he went and he come back out and we all were like, he shouldn't come out. But we. He should come out again.

[A]

I had no problem.

[B]

What a moment.

[A]

But, but I got Matt Harvey.

[B]

That's pretty good. That's pretty good.

[A]

Number three.

[B]

Okay, he was a good player.

[A]

But Odell Beckham Jr. Oh, I forgot, you know, you know the one handed catch against Dallas. Oh my God, Odell. And it never really materialized. And he ends up going to Cleveland, gets hurt, bounce around. I did win a Super bowl. But he was never. That was at his best when he.

[B]

Was a giant hurt in that game.

[A]

He won a Super Bowl.

[B]

Remember? He didn't finish the game.

[A]

I know, it's amazing. But he was.

[B]

That's a good one.

[A]

That's all anybody talked about. It was a stupid one handed catch and the Giants lost the game to the Cowboys. But it's all anybody talked about.

[B]

They showed that Odell so much. And then if you remember, it changed the league because everybody was trying to do that. The one hand catch became that thing. We saw it everywhere. You talk about a perfect. That's the perfect definition of this list. Odell Beckham Jr. Because he was a meteor. And then just poof, gone.

[A]

And we could debate the order, but like that's where I throw in Shane SPENCER because in 98, 27 games, 27 RBIs, 10 home runs on a team that was outstanding. And yet everybody was talking about Shane Spencer and what he was able to do. And then of course, number one, of course Linsanity. Incredible, incredible time. So I'll probably put. I would pro. I probably pop Spencer. So this is the way I'm gonna do the order. Jeremy Lynn's got to be number one.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And then I would put R.A. dickey 2.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Harvey 3. Odell Beckham Jr. 4. Shane Spencer 5. That sound fair?

[B]

I was gonna argue that Odell should be two.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Because I never even thought about Odell until You said it. And because of everything. Now that we know that really was more of that meteoric rise. And then we kept waiting for like, okay, all right. That was cool. Now what? And it really never happened. Injuries were part of it. Then they were blaming Eli. There was a lot of ways. And then he's doing the kicking, that stuff, and it just got out of control.

[A]

So it Never peeing on the Eagles end zone, that whole thing.

[B]

And Tom Coughlin's disgusting him. So. Yeah. What was he.

[A]

Find Josh Norman. Oh.

[B]

Oh, yes. Odell was a really good pull. Who we missing? So who are you taking out?

[A]

So. So the. Tommy DeVito. So would you take any of those five out for Tommy DeVito? It's.

[B]

It. No.

[A]

Remember, it wasn't a great Giant season.

[B]

No, there was nothing compelling. Again, Rory Dickey won the Cy Young.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Matt Harvey got to a World Series was a key component. Matt Harvey woke up late in some supermodel's apartment for practice before the nscs.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Or the playoffs itself.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So the stories. He was on page six all the time.

[A]

All the time.

[B]

And he was a very good pitcher at the time. The Dark Knight now.

[A]

So listen, deGrom. DeGrom was big, but deGrom's good pitcher.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He still is a good pitcher. And so, you know, listen, you could. That's part of that. So those are the five. There's other guys, honorable mentions, but Peter Pruka coming out of the lockout, he was amazing for the Rangers. You had mentioned Wade Dubloid today for the Islanders. Guy I was even thinking about, even though he's not a player, I was even thinking of throwing Rex Ryan out there. Right. Like, talk about the swagger. He wrote a book, and it was really just the two seasons going to the championship game. Never did anything really before as I head coach and then went to Buffalo. Didn't do anything. But I'm like, I. I'm comfortable with these five. So those are. Those are really good.

[B]

Those are good. I'm trying to think of some other names. It just. It just pales in comparison because you've got guys that, again, Dickey wins the Cy Young, Matt Harvey goes to a World Series, Odell to the NFL. And it changed the wide receiver position and the way guys were catching footballs. Shane Spencer was on the 98 Yankees, the best team in the history of the sport. And they didn't have a single guy hit over 30 home runs that year. In the year that everybody was hitting home runs, Remember, that was the Sosa McGuire thing. And the Yankees I think the highest home run total was 28. And Shane Spencer came in and hit 10 in 27. In 27 games. And I think a couple of them were grand slams. So that is just significant because that also woke up an end of a year for that 98 team while they were on a run, a historic run. Remember September, they, they went into a little lull, as if you talk about batting the bunny, let's get to the playoffs. And then Jeremy Lin.

[A]

Jeremy Lin's won.

[B]

I said that was. That felt worldwide.

[A]

Well, Sports Illustrated would prove that, right?

[B]

It's unreal that those two weeks felt worldwide, not just New York, not just even the NBA. It felt like everybody was caught up in that for those two weeks. And so how do you. So how do you compare to anybody else? And I can't think of anyone else that would come into like you could think of some other one hit wonder type players, but I don't think anything would come close to those five names.

[A]

No, it's, it's. I'm proud of it.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good list. Look at you. Would you do this in one one commercial break?

[A]

Well, we were batting it around, but I got to tell you during the break was when R.A. dickey came up. I was proud of that.

[B]

That's a good one.

[A]

I was very proud.

[B]

The minute you said it, I totally forgot about him. But the minute you said it. Yes.

[A]

All right, let's go back to the phones. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Mike in Orlando. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Mike?

[C]

Hey, guys, how are you?

[A]

What's up?

[C]

I hate to go against the Don list because I know you're very passionate about it. You put in a lot of time and you get mad. I don't think Odell belongs anywhere near that list. If the list is about maybe players who had a meteoric rise and then at some point it kind of piddled out or they fell short of major expectation. But he had a very strong career and it was more than just one year with the Giants. He had a small stint, but he had a really, really strong run.

[A]

That is, that is true, but it just never seemed to be as big as that. That moment that with the one handed catch, it felt like there was a.

[B]

Lot more that he could have. He could have. Like, it felt like there was more there and there was. We didn't get any more.

[A]

But, but I understand what you're saying because in the next year, you know, he actually had more yards and one more touchdown. And then he had another 1300 yard season in 2016 when they made the playoffs and the boat trip and all that.

[B]

Yeah, that's what I mean. Like, but nowhere all that way.

[A]

It just. It just. I guess the, the fight with Josh Norman, it just. It just seemed to be a lot of all the positive. Mike, from that one handed catch and how he kind of owned the town, even though the stats were good and he went on to win a Super bowl and stayed in the league 10 years. He was rookie of the year, but.

[B]

He was never a pro.

[A]

There seemed to be all the negative, you know, with the net and the peeing in the end zone, the fight with Josh Norman, then the boat cruise in 2016 after Coughlin had left, it just felt like even though the stats were there, it just felt. It all just seemed to feel like it went downhill from the picture with him where it looked like he had the blunt. Remember, it just. There was just nothing but negative around him. So from a sheer stat standpoint, I think the caller is right. But as a Giant fan, it just felt like after that rookie season, it all was negative in New York.

[B]

He was the biggest star and the biggest story, and it didn't last because then he became notorious for all the things you just said. He got caught up in the life and the fame and it was stopped being about football because all the histrionics that we saw on the sideline and everything else, like, that's. I think what we're trying to explain here is that what you saw, that rookie season was a flash of, oh, this, this guy's got. He's, you know, special. And then that special turned notorious. So I do think it's still the same kind of a deal because it's.

[A]

Funny to compare it to this next guy. Jose in the Bronx. You're on ESPN New York. What do you got?

[C]

Hey, guys, what's going on? Listen, I love the list. Love it. Listen, when you say, all right, Dick. It was like, of course. Like, dude, I didn't even sink into me literally until you mentioned it. I was like, wow. But a fan favorite, Victor Cruz. Now, the reason I say that is because there was a stretch where everybody was doing a salsa. It was a phenomenon. That. That's the whole stretch of the 2011 season. When he started popping off, it was. He was, he was the. He was the guy before Odell came.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And then once he saw his Patel attendant, it was literally. And he's a fan favorite even now. Like, people still Love him everywhere he goes and listen. Love him to death. I hope he's not even listening.

[A]

And I guess that's why because let's face it, this list is kind of pejorative in the sense that how poorly it ended. Jeremy Lynn captivated everything he's in Houston. Shane Spencer never developed anywhere at any kind of a player. Same thing with Matt Harvey. R.A. dickey out the door in Toronto the very next year. Odell, well we just listed all the negative even though very similar statistically with Odell. Like his best season by far was 2011. Had a thousand yard season and 10 touchdowns in 2012. He almost had a thousand yards in 2013. And then you said he got hurt.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But it's overwhelmingly positive. Right. Like everybody loves Cruise. So even though it was a flash in the pan, it just, it didn't end poor. It ended with everybody on our list. That's why we say one hit wonder. It's like Victor Cruz still is still a giant, is still beloved, is still working off that moment and there is an ounce of negativity about it where every other one it flamed out. Yeah, I agree badly but it's still a great. It's still a great debate. So quickly this one from Nick in New Orleans. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Nick?

[C]

Hey guys, how about September call ups 2016? Judge came up that year, didn't do much besides that hit on his or that home run his first day. But then Gary Sanchez, 20 home runs in 300. I mean I think he had a solid year. The next year he was injured for a part of it but I think he still hit like 280, 30 home runs and we all thought that he was the next Johnny Bench, you know and really nothing since then.

[B]

Yeah, he did end up playing though for a while but I don't he was a regular in the lineup among.

[A]

Yankees I Yankee fans I think was big. Remember that 26 season they had sold off brought those guys up and they did, they were good. But Judge kind of bounced out.

[B]

Remember every time I run it's a good one.

[A]

It's a good one. Who you take it out. That's what I mean.

[B]

It's a good suggestion but these guys, the resumes here are just wow.

[A]

Oh, that's the list driven by Ramsey Mazda. It's the experience of driving a new Mazda and buying a new Mazda from Ramsey Mazda. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. More of your calls. Got some Joe Shane sound as well. It's Don Hanna Rosenberg. It'll 6:30, then it's Mets baseball on ESPN New York Vandal is giving you a reason to lock into the college football season early. Right now, new customers can bet just five bucks and get 300 in bonus bets if your bet wins. That's right, bet$5 on any bet and if you win, you'll walk away with 300 in bonus bets to use all over the app. You can use those bonus bets on week one lines, highs, futures over unders, player props, whatever you've got circled on the college football calendar. Vandu is easy to use, safe, and when you win, you get paid instantly. No waiting around, no hassle, just straight to your account. So if you've got a team, a take or a gut feeling before kickoff.

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I didn't listen to anything you just said.

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[B]

Tate McCray and Jacob just confirmed that he is now a big fan by.

[A]

By seeing her or the music.

[B]

I'm officially Canadian.

[A]

Yeah, I'm just telling you that's, that's, that's, you know, that's, that's Alberta, man. I can't say I'm a big Calgary Edmonton guy. Alberta beef. Talking about the steak. Well, disclaimer that after what we make sure I'm. I know it's the planes and everything but you know, go get to Calgary. That's a Chinook. You ever get. You ever have to deal with a Chinook? No, never. Chinook in Calgary. I never experienced it. Maybe Alan has where it's 30 which happens in Canada and then a wind will blow over the Canadian alps and it's 65.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

For like an hour at 65. And have you ever blows out again now it's 30.

[B]

Have you ever been there in the summer?

[A]

I was in Edmonton during the Stanley cup final in 06.

[B]

Okay. So we've done the same thing.

[A]

We're roaming around at like 10 o' clock at night and the sun's up.

[B]

Unreal. So again the 04 Stanley Cup Final which was an unbelievable seven game battle.

[A]

The Red Mile.

[B]

The Red Mile was unreal. Then it was also in 2000. Yeah, it's DiPietro's draft was in Calgary.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And the night before the draft is when they made the. They didn't officially announce it but I was tipped off that Luongo was being traded and they were going to draft Rick and it literally was like 11 o' clock at night. It's June, late June and it was light up and I was so like I fast wrote a quick story last I filed it and I needed to just like that was a lot. Like that was my first year. It was a lot and I just needed to get out and I remember leaving the hotel and just being like, like this. It's not. It's still daytime, like it's still daylight. So that's an experience. And it's warm, gorgeous weather. Yeah, that was, that was a lot of fun.

[A]

I'm a western Canada guy. I mean I, I was up Vancouver. Well no, Vancouver's special but even like Calgary and Edmonton.

[B]

Edmonton's way up There I'm a big fan of Calgary. Edmonton. It. You know that beer's like moonshine. Yes.

[A]

Oh but I just like the whole, you know, Canadian hockey vibe of the whole thing.

[B]

Oh yeah. And the people are great.

[A]

The Edmonton. Joe Micheletti was telling me because he played in Edmonton when they were in wha. That it's one of. It was one of the only major cities or major adjacent. It's the capital of Alberta. But that the. That the airport was downtown there. There. There weren't any tall buildings to worry about. They could still land jets then eventually. But he was there back in the. And it's built up now where they've. They've moved the airport like they do everywhere on the outskirts of the city. But like there it was like they didn't have anything over three stories.

[B]

Did you ever have to do the. Because I know some teams bust. But did you ever do the Calgary to Edmonton flight post game?

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Treacherous.

[A]

The flight or the drive?

[B]

The flight.

[A]

I took the flight. I don't remember it being anything.

[B]

We. This is commercial. I mean I swear to God they were almost asking us to stick our arms out the window and flap. Oh boy, it was. And then the way the wind was howling and blowing like we got. We bounced around. I swear to God I did the rosary until we landed.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I did not think we were landing.

[A]

I did it a couple of times. I don't remember there being anything. I just remember the one time wind.

[B]

Snow, ice, all of it at once.

[A]

We were flying Vancouver to Edmonton and Nancy's. Nancy because Nancy's obsessed with the northern lights. Like she's got a. There's a. There's a website she goes to to see and she's like it's raging up that you'll see it. Look out the way I didn't see it but I was like all excited to possibly see the northern lights up there. That's how far up we are.

[B]

It's true.

[A]

But it's pretty cool. But we're doing the. The one hit wonders. A lot of people want to chime in about this. Let's go to Brian in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Brian?

[C]

Hey guys. The person I was thinking was more so like David Tyree. He only did one big play in one game. Not a bad Jeremy. Jeremy Lynn actually played multiple seasons. He got a ring. He was a role player. But you still got a ring.

[A]

Yeah, but he owned this town for like a month.

[B]

We're trying to talk about like just a moment where you were the hottest thing in the sport or at least in the city.

[A]

And that's all anybody talked about. Now Tyree had a. You know, he had two touchdowns in that super bowl. And of course Catchetti iconic. But you know, we're just talking about like all anybody's talking about in sports in New York. Yeah, we're that player. Somebody who's. This is a good one. Roland and West Orange. You're on ESPN New York. What do you got?

[C]

Hey guys, I'll make it quick. How are we having this conversation? Omg Jose Iglesias. He owned the city last year.

[A]

I don't know if he owned the city. Oh, Met fans love them. I love them. OMG and everything. It's Clyde. It's not bad.

[B]

He helped turn the season around.

[A]

Who would you take out though?

[B]

Who would you take out? I can't think of a Yankee fan that was caught up in that. Spencer, how old are you? Shane Spencer, how old are you?

[C]

Yeah, I'm 45.

[B]

All right, so you were there fewer there that was understand that was the greatest team in the history of the sport.

[C]

I could talk about this whole. He went on a chair. He came from nowhere.

[A]

That's true.

[C]

How did you forget this guy?

[B]

It's a great story. How could you forget him? Don, you really a Met.

[A]

That's the thing that bothers me about the list. They never give me credit for just saying, you know what? I thought about it, but I didn't put them in. It's like, how did you forget? I'm sorry, I'm not who you think I am. Not taking out Shane Spencer for Iglesias. Iglesias was a really a big time player for them last year. Turn the season around. I agree. And the OMG and the song. But I think it was a Met thing. I don't know if it carried over outside of the Met fandom.

[B]

Would have Met fan argue that Shane Spencer didn't move the needle for them. But you have to know the story. Shane Spencer was like buried in the minors. The Yankees were constantly just toying with him, calling other people up. Understand the core four. He came up with them in the minors. They all knew him. So when he came into the clubhouse, he saw guys that he had come up with in the minors, but they had already been established as full time Yankees. He never had his opportunity. So that year he gets called up and he just. You talk about a tear. He was just. You couldn't take him out of the lineup. And it was unreal. What an amazing story. And then it was gone as fast as it came.

[A]

Yeah. And it was kind of the Mets that chose not to bring Glacias back. So. Yeah, they almost, they. They almost didn't buy into it. It was, you know, it was. It was a really cool moment.

[B]

Are you getting another Yankee? That was very similar. Do we have any calls on that one? Very similar to Shane Spencer? No, because my good buddy Adam Zagoria suggested Kevin Moss. For those who are older, remember when Don Mattingly was out for the end of the. Is it 92? I can't remember now. 91. He. He comes in first baseman with a very interesting batting stance. It looked like he was sitting in a chair. And he mashed home runs at the end of that season. But it was like a meaningless.

[A]

I remember. I remember as a Met fan, Kevin talked about.

[B]

Yeah, it was. It was interesting, but it wasn't to the level.

[A]

Again, Spencer, I would ask who you taking out?

[B]

Yeah, that's it.

[A]

These are good ones. We love it.

[B]

Thanks for listening to Madonna and Roasted Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good. 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.

[A]

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