Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Yankees & That Guy Thursday

Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (out this episode), Don La Greca
Key Themes: Yankees' season expectations and failures, playoff anxiety, fan standards, Knicks optimism, memorable fan and caller perspectives

Main Theme / Episode Overview

This fast-paced and passionate hour is centered around the high-stakes Yankees-Red Sox Game 3. The hosts grapple with what counts as a "failure" for the Yankees, dive into fan expectations versus organizational standards, and compare arguments from social media and callers. A lighter segment, “That Guy Thursday,” pivots to Knicks fan culture and the excitement (and ridicule) around preseason hope. Throughout, listeners and hosts capture the nervous energy of New York sports in October, blending both anguish and anticipation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Constitutes Failure for the Yankees?

(01:00–06:44, 42:44–47:40)

• Listener Tweets Debate:
  Rob Lowe (not the actor), an engaged social media listener, challenges the idea that the season would be a failure if the Yankees lose to the Red Sox. He questions if developing young players or Judge’s individual season soften the blow, and whether it’s still “championship or bust” for Yankees fans.

  • Don La Greca:
    “So you’re not allowed to adjust your expectations?” (02:23)
    “Listen, you adjusted them the other way, too… when you win eight straight games to close out… you adjusted those expectations.”

  • Alan Hahn:
    “There’s no way that any logical Yankee fan or the majority Yankee fans would accept this defeat… they’ll dust themselves off and try to be the best team in baseball.” (06:25)

• Championship-Or-Bust Mentality:

  • Hahn: “The captain of the team says championship or bust. The general manager says championship or bust. … If we don’t win a World Series, it’s a failure.” (04:51)

  • Don: “It is harder to get to the World Series than it used to be.” (05:41)

• Team and Fan Standards:

  • The hosts dissect the idea that Yankee fans and ownership hold uniquely high postseason standards. There’s an ongoing tension between appreciating regular season success and demanding championships.

2. Playoff Anxiety & Baseball’s Unique Drama

(08:52–13:33, 18:30–24:11)

• Intensity of Playoff Baseball:

  • Don: “Every pitch… it just feels like torture.” (09:57)

  • Hahn: “It’s so weird about sports. It’s not a good time, man. It’s only a good time after the fact, when you win.” (10:00)

  • Contrast with Other Sports:
    Baseball’s slow pace is highlighted as intensifying playoff stress (“so much downtime to get in your own head… makes it so difficult to watch” – Don, 09:28).
    Compared to NBA or NHL, leads can change quickly in those sports; in baseball, a single run feels momentous.

3. Fan & Caller Perspectives: Success, Failure, and Perspective

(11:38–17:08, 18:01–19:00, 33:12–33:22, 42:17–47:40)

• Older Fans on Perspective:
  Larry in West Orange (66 years old):
  “It is difficult to win the whole thing. … To me, this Yankee season is not a success, but won’t be a failure because we lost Juan Soto to the Mets and we still made the playoffs and they didn’t.” (12:00–12:30)

  • Hosts appreciate the rationality but believe most fans will judge harshly if Yankees lose, especially to the Red Sox (13:16–13:42).

• Passionate Fans: Joey in Montclair:
  “…we finished tied for the best record in the American League. …If we lose tonight…this season is a failure. …Yankee fans, get up, get excited, back your team and realize this is a must-win game tonight.” (16:15–17:08)

  Roger in the Bronx:
  “Losing to the Red Sox again…major failure. Enough is enough, they’ve been owning us since ‘04…Thank God it was a Yankees/Red Sox playoff game…You held your breath for every pitch, every at bat. It was just…I can’t even describe it. It was amazing.” (18:04–19:00)

4. The Magical Atmosphere of Playoff Games

(19:00–23:38)

• Crowd Energy:
  Don and Hahn reminisce about truly deafening sports moments: “You almost kind of got dizzy, it was just so deafening.” (21:53)
  Discussion of unique New York fan intensity—Yankee Stadium, The Garden, Coliseum (“New Yorkers get loud, all right? …Those same people are going to be at the Garden for Knicks and Rangers games...” 23:27)
  The current playoff run, regardless of outcome, is celebrated for creating these moments.

5. That Guy Thursday: Knicks Optimism & Fan Ridicule

(25:01–33:05)

• Theme:
  “That Guy Thursday” highlights people being “that guy”—in this case, Bomani Jones poking fun at exuberant Knicks fans after a preseason win.

  • Hahn:
    “They have a functioning high-level championship caliber franchise for the first time in a quarter century. Why can’t they…just be excited?” (29:43)

  • Don:
    “It’s like a man who’s been stranded in the desert for years…You hand him a cup of water…‘greatest thing I’ve ever tasted’…and you laugh at him.” (31:30)

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Leave these people alone. They’ve been through a lot.” (29:03, Hahn)
  • “Let them enjoy this. That’s all I’m saying.” (32:17, Don)

6. The MVP Conversation – Catcher vs. Judge

(33:22–38:52)

• Steven from California articulates why the Mariners’ catcher (Raleigh) deserves MVP over Aaron Judge, emphasizing the difficulty and physical toll of catching:

  • “Nobody puts in more work than a catcher behind the plate…There’s nobody out there on that field doing what he’s doing.” (33:30–35:14)

• Don & Hahn:
  Judge is still the better player, but Raleigh’s feat (60 HR as a catcher) is historic and belongs in the MVP discussion.
  (36:08–37:09)

7. Wrapping Up the Yankees Argument – Is Failure Too Harsh?

(42:17–47:40)

• Rob Lowe’s Call:
  Reinforces his position: disappointed if they lose, but “failure, no way” (42:44).
  Don and Hahn reiterate: fans and organization alike keep postseason expectations sky-high, and the definition of “failure” is a matter of perspective—“That’s your opinion…If you’re coming back at us, come back at me with some facts and some points. Fair points.” (46:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn (on Yankee expectations):
  “The captain of the team says championship or bust. The general manager says championship or boss…I do remember that quote. So they still are setting that standard.” (04:51)

• Don La Greca (on playoff stress):
  “It’s not a good time, man. It’s only a good time after the fact when you win and you can celebrate. But in that moment…it’s three hours and five minutes of torture...” (10:00)

• Joey in Montclair:
  “…If we lose tonight with one of the best records in the league to bow out after three games, it is a failure. So Yankee fans, get up, get excited, back your team and realize this is a must-win game tonight.” (16:15–17:08)

• Don, on winning with Judge:
  “Every year you don’t win is another missed opportunity for Judge. He’s not going to be here forever and he’s also not going to be in his prime forever.” (15:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Debating “Yankees Failure”: 01:00–06:44, 42:44–47:40
• Playoff Anxiety & Baseball’s Uniqueness: 08:52–13:33
• Fan Callers on Success/Failure: 11:38–17:08, 18:01–19:00, 33:12–33:22, 42:17–47:40
• Atmosphere of Playoff Games: 19:00–23:38
• That Guy Thursday (Knicks optimism/fan ridicule): 25:01–33:05
• MVP Debate – Catchers vs. Outfielders: 33:22–38:52

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, often humorous, passionate, and reflective of New York sports angst. The hosts deliver honest, sharp opinions but always return to the fun and community aspects of being a fan—even the agony is proof you care.

Brief Recap for Non-Listeners

This episode is perfect for any sports fan trying to understand the merciless expectations of Yankees fans, the intense stress of playoff baseball, and the ever-present hope and skepticism in New York sports. Whether you want to relive the agony of a must-win, vent about playoff nerves, or just hear insightful, relatable sports banter, this hour covers it all, with listeners right at the heart of the action.

For further details, refer to the individual timestamps for each memorable segment and caller.