Podcast Summary – Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 2: Yankees Offense Disappears
Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Main Theme: The episode zeroes in on the New York Yankees’ recent offensive collapse, the growing concerns over the bottom of their lineup, and broader conversations about managing slumps and building ballparks for the modern fan experience. The second half includes the signature “That Guy Thursday” segment and lively calls from frustrated fans.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Yankees’ Offensive Collapse

Timestamps: [00:44] – [17:18], [43:15] – [52:26]

• Opening Lament:

  • Rosenberg opens with the harsh reality: “No runs, one hit. Dreadful outing again for the Yankees who all of a sudden have come crashing back down to earth.” [00:44]
  • The team’s hot start (8–2 record before the A’s series) is now overshadowed by offensive struggles, especially against the “lowly” A’s.

• Bottom of the Order a Black Hole:

  • Don breaks down grim batting averages: Caballero (.135), McMahon (.069 after 0-3), Wells (.167).
  • “The days of the circular lineup where everybody can beat you, I mean, you got some holes.” —Don [01:27]
  • Peter bluntly chimes in: “When have they had that? They haven’t had that in years.” [02:46]

• Lack of Timely Hitting & Top-Line Struggles:

  • Judge and Bellinger are expected to be fine long-term, but the slumps are conspicuous when the bottom is weak and no one’s hot:
    “You can't have Judge grounding out with a runner on late in the game…that’s your best player…those are moments, you got to come through, man.” —Peter [04:31]

• Pitching the Lone Bright Spot:

  • Both starting pitching (Weathers: “gave you eight innings, all he did was give up one run” —Peter [03:37]) and the bullpen have been solid, but get no run support.

• Boone’s Postgame and the “Baseball Jargon”

  • Boone’s language of “quality at bats…not a lot of balls on the screws…creating traffic,” gets roasted:
    “A lot of it is fancy jargon for we’re just not hitting, you know, screws and traffic and so many things…No offense.” —Rosenberg [14:34]

• Yankees’ Reliance on Defensive Players:

  • Don suggests the team can survive a light-hitting third baseman if the rest of the offense hums, but that’s not the case:
    “In his world, this offense should be able to sustain a light hitting third baseman...it can’t right now.” —Don [44:51]

2. Managerial Decisions & Philosophy

Timestamps: [11:07] – [17:18], [21:45] – [22:56]

• Boone’s Handling of Slumps and Lineup Choices:
  • Peter questions whether Boone is managing for player confidence or by analytics: “Is this him managing the player instead of the game?” [13:06]
  • Don contends the organization wants McMahon to succeed, invoking their investment in him over gut feel: “We want him to figure this out.” [13:50]
  • Peter: “I was texting Anthony...I can’t believe they’re not pinch hitting for him.” [16:36]
  • Raul (caller) echoes: “Having McMahon play every day, even when he’s not producing, they’re just trying to build his confidence up.” [21:45]
  • Don: “You wonder the stubbornness of Brian (Cashman)...like, I want McMahon to be my third baseman. Let’s make this work.” [22:07]

3. Vegas A’s Ballpark News & MLB Modernization

Timestamps: [06:59] – [10:27]

• A’s Relocation Details:
  • Don shares the A’s will play in Sacramento for 2026 and 2027 before moving to their Vegas stadium in 2028. New ballpark capacity: 33,000 (far lower than typical MLB stadiums).
  • “Imagine building a brand new baseball state...33,000. And you know what? I like it. You’ve got a better than average chance of being sold out every night.” —Don [07:46]
  • Discussion on creating demand: “That’s what some of these markets do. You’re creating a demand.” —Peter [09:32]
  • Financial skepticism: Peter highlights the stadium's funding is still shaky, “That’s not nearly enough.” [09:12]

4. Fans’ Frustration and Calls

Timestamps: [20:58] – [22:56], [43:15] – [52:26]

• Fan Raul on Repeated “McCann” Mistake and Stubborn Management:

  • Light-hearted correction: “It’s Ryan McMahon, not McCann.” [21:05]
  • Insights into lineup frustrations and historical context.
  • Don: “Sometimes Brian gets stubborn. Like, I want this to work.” [22:20]

• Fan Jonathan on McMahon’s Presence in the Lineup:

  • “Every time I see him, the drop of ‘Allen if he was that bad’ comes up into my head while he’s batting. And he is that bad.” [43:44]
  • “But once again we’re in April. Great show as always fellas.” [44:36]

• Fan Subi on Missed Opportunities:

  • “They’ve been winning. I’m not happy about them not looking at Marakami who was on the White Sox right now…At least we’d have something new and exciting.” [50:49]

5. "That Guy Thursday": New York Driving Grievances & Humor

Timestamps: [27:06] – [39:48]

• Rosenberg’s Rant Against E-bikes and Scooters:

  • “I find it to be incredibly dangerous...I have no patience for people who ride these electric bikes 30 miles an hour on the sidewalk. They are all that guy.” [28:43]
  • “There was A guy on...electric stand up scooter...between cars. If you accidentally nudged this guy — he gone.” [30:03]
  • City bikers with no helmets taking risks: “Lamond isn’t out there on a Citi bike. The real bikers don’t ride Citi bikes.” [30:52]

• Don’s Driving Etiquette Pet Peeve:

  • “My goal in life in those situations is to so annoy the person...they’ll never drive again...Because I can’t let things go, Alan.” [32:32]
  • Riffs on considerate vs. inconsiderate drivers, the fantasy of a two-tiered car horn for different situations, and self-deprecating humor about being “too nice.”

• Unique Lighthearted Moments:

  • Goofing on old “Northeast white guy voices” in movies: “That used to be the white guy voice and it’s gone.” —Rosenberg [40:21]
  • Imagining Don singing death metal during increasingly dramatic lighting at the studio: “I just need Don to start singing death metal right now.” —Peter [39:08]

6. Yankees’ History & Team Construction

Timestamps: [47:18] – [49:11]

• Best Yankees Lineups as a Standard:

  • Discussion of how current bottom-of-the-order woes contrast with “circular lineups” of franchises like the 1998 Yankees or 1986 Mets:
    “The worst batting average of that lineup was .243...you had a lineup loaded with guys hitting over .300.” —Peter [48:17]
    “A light hitting shortstop…but it didn’t matter because guys like him were running harder and Hernandez, and it didn’t matter.” —Don [49:00]

• Macro vs. Micro Perspective:

  • Peter: “Trends early are always going to be amplified because they haven’t played 10 games...But it’s not great.” [49:11]
  • Appreciation for a more aggressive base-running game and flexible management, referencing Weathers’ rare 101-pitch start. [50:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Offensive Futility:
  • “Yankees have struck out 20 times in the last 17 innings...This feels like this...what it’s felt like to be a Yankee fan in general over the last decade.” —Rosenberg [10:27]
• On Managerial Style:
  • “This is April. This is managing with your gut, is it not?” —Peter [13:06]
  • “I don’t think it’s his going by his gut. I think it’s the organization looking at it and saying, we’ve invested in McCann.” —Don [13:50]
• On the Use of Modern Baseball Lingo:
  • “Whenever I hear quotes from Boone using all the baseball language that did not exist until 2016...a lot of it is fancy jargon for we’re just not hitting.” —Rosenberg [14:34]
• On Frustration in Close Games:
  • “If everybody’s hitting to the way that they should be, you should be able to survive with McMahon being a .220 hitter…Problem is he’s way worse than that and so is everybody else, at least lately.” —Don [45:04]
• On Urban Driving Woes:
  • “There should be two horn buttons on your car. One is get the hell out of the way, and the other is just a little hey.” —Rosenberg [33:04]
• On the A’s Vegas Ballpark:
  • “33,000. And you know what? I like it...There should be an energy in that building.” —Don [07:46]

Segment Timestamps

• Yankees' Offensive Struggles: [00:44]–[17:18], [43:15]–[52:26]
• Manager & Organization Philosophy: [11:07]–[17:18], [21:45]–[22:56]
• A’s Vegas Relocation/MLB Business: [06:59]–[10:27]
• Fan Calls & Frustration: [20:58]–[22:56], [43:15]–[52:26]
• That Guy Thursday/Humor: [27:06]–[39:48]
• Yankee Lineup History: [47:18]–[49:11]

Overall Tone

• Engaged sports banter, frustration over the Yankees’ inconsistency, and self-deprecating humor. The hosts blend knowledgeable critique with lively riffs and fan interaction, keeping the show relatable for longtime New York sports fans.