Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Yankees & NFL Binge

Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (Don is on vacation)
Producer: Anthony Pusick

Episode Overview

This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg delves into the current state of the New York Yankees—questioning whether their recent winning streak is a turning point or simply a mirage due to a weak schedule. The hosts discuss the Yankees’ roster, bullpen woes, heavy reliance on analytics, and growing internal and external skepticism. Later, they dive into a lively “NFL Binge”, examining offseason NFL headlines, player controversies, and the significance of star players to their respective teams. The show maintains its irreverent, candid New York sports radio tone, peppered with humor and hard-hitting observations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees — Are They for Real or Just Riding a Soft Schedule?

[03:50–22:12]

• Current Streak & Skepticism:

  • Despite the Yankees’ recent sweep of the Cardinals, Alan Hahn is unconvinced about their World Series prospects. He warns not to be fooled:
    • “This is going to be fool’s gold. The Cardinals have done. They completely gave up ... The Yankees did what you’re supposed to do. They beat up on bad pitching ... But ... I can’t get caught up in series like that and feel like they turned the corner because they got a weekend sweep over a Cardinals team.” – Alan Hahn (04:21)
  • The soft remaining schedule (weakest in MLB) may pad their record but mask deeper issues.

• Emotional Investment Warnings:

  • Hahn argues the team hasn’t “earned” fans’ emotional investment:
    • “I just don’t feel like this team is worth my emotional investment. They have not earned it. And them beating teams like the Cardinals and White Sox ... that’s not going to make me suddenly feel like they’ve turned the corner.” – Alan Hahn (07:40)
  • The real test comes in upcoming series against stronger teams (e.g., Red Sox, Tampa Bay).

• Roster Assessment:

  • Bright Spots: Judge’s imminent return, Volpe improving defensively, third base defense has improved.
  • Lingering Concerns: Key players are banged up (Judge, Stanton), bullpen remains shaky, and starting pitching lacks depth.

• Analytics vs. Feel — Growing Rebellion:

  • Increasing criticism from both former Yankees (Jeter, Girardi, Torrey, David Cone) and around the league about the Yankees’ overreliance on analytics:
    • “Some things can’t be quantified by numbers. Some things are about feel and emotion... And I think him [Cone] saying that lends credibility to it.” – Alan Hahn (08:51)
    • “At some point, Hal Steinbrenner has to hear it and decide, OK, we gotta blow this [analytics] room up.” – Alan Hahn (11:40)
  • The sense is that NYY's rigid numbers-first philosophy is being mocked and resented internally and externally.

• Will Real Change Happen?

  • Scenario: If the Yankees miss the playoffs, would ownership finally overhaul player development and analytics?
    • Hahn is skeptical that owner Hal Steinbrenner would take drastic action unless there’s “an epic collapse” because built-in excuses (“we lost Cole, Judge was hurt...”) will protect status quo.
    • “They’ll just keep on pressing on.” – Alan Hahn (14:30)

• Stanton & Judge Fragility:

  • Rosenberg raises concerns about Giancarlo Stanton’s ongoing injuries, which, combined with Judge’s fragility, create perpetual uncertainty heading into October.

• Intangibles & Chemistry – The 1998 Yankees Example:

  • Hahn shares a story from Jack Curry’s book about how emotional locker-room meetings and veteran leadership (David Cone, Joe Torre) helped the Yankees turn around slumps—underscoring what analytics ignore.

• Fan Apathy Concern:

  • “Apathy is the biggest thing. You worry about fans booing—no, that’s alright. But when you have the apathy ... when nobody’s showing up ... that is the biggest concern.” – Alan Hahn (23:09)
  • NYY fans remain passionate, but genuine postseason belief is waning.

2. NFL Binge – Quarterback Battles, Media Critiques, and Star Value

[27:53–49:58]

• The Dylan Gabriel Media Flap

  • Browns rookie QB Dylan Gabriel caught flak for contrasting “entertainers” (media) with “competitors” (players), implying reporters lack real competitive drive. The hosts are not having it:
    • “That’s not what we do. B, you don’t respect it ... those standing before you are covering your team—they deal in fact and information ... he just basically created for himself animosity that he doesn’t want to deal with.” – Alan Hahn (31:00)
    • “Don’t you love it when an athlete looks at you and goes, ‘You don’t know what it is. We’re competitors,’ and you stare at him going, bud, have you seen how far I’ve gotten in this business? Not being competitive? Are you out of your mind?” – Alan Hahn (34:46)
  • The segment underscores the sometimes tone-deaf athlete-media divide and celebrates on-mic competition in broadcasting.
  • “Some of the people talking, what they can do is talk. It wasn’t that they failed as athletes; it’s that they wanted to talk and entertain.” – Peter Rosenberg (36:03)

• Bengals in Crisis? – Trey Hendrickson & Window Concerns

  • The panel discusses the Bengals’ contract stalemate with DE Trey Hendrickson.
    • Dan Orlovsky (First Take): “No player outside of quarterbacks can change the variance of the floor and ceiling ... like Trey Hendrickson can ... Without him, I do not believe they’re a playoff team ... with him, I think they can win [the] Super Bowl.” (37:28)
  • Hosts push back on the impact, noting Cincy’s ongoing issues with O-line and star QB Burrow’s health—“my biggest concern is about how much longer Joe Burrow will put up with this crap.” – Alan Hahn (39:34)
  • The Bengals’ reputation for penny-pinching is a recurring complaint.

• Jamar Chase vs. Joe Burrow vs. Josh Allen – Subtle Shade?

  • The hosts analyze audio from Jamar Chase praising Josh Allen’s all-around QB abilities, with some interpreting it as downplaying the importance of Joe Burrow, his own QB:
    • “They don’t game plan against Joe Burrow. They game plan against his weapons.” – Peter Rosenberg (44:27)
    • “What he was saying [is] Buffalo ... everything has to orbit this one guy, whereas our guy has these weapons and he knows how to use them.” – Alan Hahn (47:35)
  • Ultimately, consensus is it was probably just clumsy framing, not any deep shot at Burrow, but if this happened in the NYC market, it would cause hysteria.
  • “If that happened here, oh, my God, forget it.” – Peter Rosenberg (48:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn on Yankees Schedule:
  “This is going to be fool’s gold ... I can’t get caught up in series like that and feel like they turned the corner because they got a weekend sweep over a Cardinals team.” (04:21)
• On Analytics vs. Feel:
  “Some things can’t be quantified by numbers. Some things are about feel and emotion.” – Alan Hahn, paraphrasing David Cone (08:51)
• On Yankees’ Emotional Investment:
  “I just don’t feel like this team is worth my emotional investment. They have not earned it.” – Alan Hahn (07:40)
• Peter Rosenberg Hot Take on Stanton in October:
  “They’re never going to win a World Series if [Stanton as best postseason hitter] continues to be the truth.” (20:42)
• Media-Player Divide:
  “Don’t you love it when an athlete looks at you and goes, ‘You don’t know what it is. We’re competitors’... Have you seen how far I’ve gotten in this business? Not being competitive?” – Alan Hahn (34:46)
• Jamar Chase’s Quote about Josh Allen:
  “Honestly, I feel like he has it all. The timing, the accuracy, the placement, the speed, the awareness ... it’s different from Josh Allen’s tape, completely different. People game plan against Josh Allen, not against Joe Burrow...” – Jamar Chase (43:57)
• Alan Hahn on Fan Apathy:
  “Apathy is the biggest thing. You worry about fans booing—no, that’s alright because they care ... but when you have the apathy of like what you have in St. Louis when nobody’s showing up ... that is the biggest concern.” (23:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Yankees Outlook, Schedule, & Skepticism: 03:50–22:12
• Analytics vs. Traditional Baseball Intangibles: 08:46–12:51
• Stanton/Judge Injuries & 1998 Yankees Anecdote: 15:56–19:48
• Fan Apathy & Ownership Concerns: 23:01–25:18
• NFL Binge Segment Begins: 27:53
  • Dylan Gabriel Media Controversy: 29:03–36:25
  • Bengals & Trey Hendrickson Discussion: 37:06–41:01
  • Jamar Chase on Josh Allen/Joe Burrow: 43:30–48:12

Tone & Style

The show bounced between wry skepticism, deep-dive sports analysis, and classic New York radio banter. Alan Hahn’s steady exasperation with Yankees management and analytics obsessiveness contrasted Rosenberg’s provocations and playful ribbing. The conversation flowed naturally, with quick detours for good-natured teasing and sharp takes, always returning with substantial sports insight and a local edge.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

If you want a pulse check on the New York Yankees' playoff legitimacy, ongoing rifts in baseball’s analytics revolution, and an entertaining take on NFL preseason narratives—with all the bravado and self-awareness of the New York sports media scene—this episode is unmissable. The hosts lay bare the doubts, frustrations, and ways fan apathy could shape the future, while also keeping an eye on the NFL's most combustible storylines as the season nears.