Hour 3: Captain Judge

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary: Hour 3 – Captain Judge Release Date: April 14, 2025

In the third hour of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the current state of Major League Baseball, focusing primarily on the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. They also explore the significance of Aaron Judge’s role as captain of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and touch upon related topics in the NBA, particularly the performance of the New York Knicks. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by the hosts throughout the episode.

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I. Mets' Surprising Performance and Future Prospects

Peter Rosenberg initiates the conversation by expressing unexpected optimism about the New York Mets' performance:

• Peter Rosenberg [00:17]: "I didn't expect it. They're in first place despite the fact that Philadelphia has been hot."

He highlights the Mets' strategic advantage over struggling teams like Atlanta and emphasizes the potential uplift from key players:

• Peter Rosenberg [00:25]: "Soto's going to be a lot better. I am telling you, he is going to carry this team offensively at some point."

Despite recent setbacks, such as a disappointing loss where the Mets struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, Peter remains positive about their resilience and pitching strength:

• Peter Rosenberg [02:48]: "I really love where the Mets are right now. I do. I think it's only going to get better."

II. Yankees' Run Differential and Season Outlook

Transitioning to the Yankees, Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg discuss the team’s impressive run differential despite a middling record:

• Don Hahn [07:22]: "The Yankees have the Highest run differential plus 18 than any other American League team."
• Peter Rosenberg [07:10]: "They continue to be the all or nothing we talk about."

Peter points out the Yankees' inconsistency, where explosive hitting days lead to blowouts, while off days result in close losses:

• Peter Rosenberg [07:30]: "They're losing close games, but they're losing."

III. Pitching Concerns and Team Dynamics

The discussion shifts to pitching concerns for both the Mets and the Yankees. Issues such as injuries to key pitchers like Stroman and the overall pressure on the bullpen are highlighted:

• Don Hahn [07:22]: "Stroman now being hurt... the starting pitching remains a concern and the pressure on the bullpen continues."

Peter underscores the dependency on players like Judge and Soto for offensive production:

• Peter Rosenberg [09:24]: "But I keep circling back. Who's taking advantage of it? Nobody."

IV. Aaron Judge's Role as Captain of Team USA

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Aaron Judge being named captain of Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. The hosts analyze the implications of this appointment and its potential impact on the sport:

• Don Hahn [16:55]: "Aaron Judge has been named captain of Team USA."

Peter Rosenberg elaborates on why this is a pivotal moment for MLB, drawing parallels to other sports' international tournaments:

• Peter Rosenberg [17:14]: "He is doing all the right things... I think the writing was on the wall. Making him captain, entice him to do it."

Don contemplates whether naming Judge as captain was a strategic move by MLB to encourage participation:

• Don Hahn [18:43]: "And so to get him to play, they named him captain? Is that what you're trying to suggest?"

V. The World Baseball Classic: Significance and MLB's Approach

The hosts discuss the broader significance of the WBC and MLB's efforts to elevate the sport's international appeal:

• Peter Rosenberg [24:39]: "You're not gonna get Dodgers, Yankees every year in the World Series... baseball needs something like that."

Don Hahn reflects on past international moments in baseball and contrasts them with other sports like hockey and basketball:

• Don Hahn [43:50]: "Miracle on ice, 1980, beating the Russians."

Peter argues for the importance of national pride in sports, emphasizing how the WBC can boost baseball's global profile:

• Peter Rosenberg [26:42]: "I want to play. I want that magic. I want to face Ohtani in a big spot and take him out."

VI. NBA Insights: Knicks' Performance and Game Significance

Shifting gears, the conversation touches upon the NBA, specifically the New York Knicks' approach to "meaningless" games:

• Don Hahn [27:06]: "We need to fix it and we gotta fix it fast."

Don recounts a particular game where the Knicks almost forfeited, highlighting issues with team motivation and management decisions:

• Don Hahn [27:34]: "They kept pushing. And then Garland took over in the fourth quarter, they won the game."

Peter draws parallels between player motivations in baseball and basketball, stressing the importance of meaningful competition:

• Peter Rosenberg [30:39]: "The players want to play because this gets back to the tanking conversation. Fans seem to think that you can just win, lose, it doesn't matter. It does matter."

VII. Concluding Thoughts: Growth and Challenges in Modern Sports

In their concluding discussions, the hosts reflect on the challenges modern sports face, such as player injuries and maintaining competitive integrity:

• Don Hahn [26:47]: "Fans have become scared in this generation. I've never seen anything like it."

Peter emphasizes the need for sports leagues to balance player safety with the passion and competitiveness that drive fan engagement:

• Peter Rosenberg [26:01]: "But Aaron Judge is excited about representing his country and playing because now he's taken the dare."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Peter Rosenberg [00:25]: "Soto's going to be a lot better. I am telling you, he is going to carry this team offensively at some point."

• Don Hahn [02:31]: "Aaron Judge has been named captain of Team USA."

• Peter Rosenberg [09:24]: "Who’s taking advantage of it? Nobody."

• Don Hahn [18:43]: "And so to get him to play, they named him captain? Is that what you're trying to suggest?"

• Peter Rosenberg [26:01]: "But Aaron Judge is excited about representing his country and playing because now he's taken the dare."

• Don Hahn [27:06]: "Fans have become scared in this generation. I've never seen anything like it."

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Conclusion

In this episode, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg provide a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape in Major League Baseball, focusing on team performances, player dynamics, and the evolving role of international competitions like the World Baseball Classic. Their insightful discussions shed light on the complexities of managing team expectations, player responsibilities, and the broader implications for the sport's growth both domestically and internationally. Additionally, their foray into NBA discussions offers a multifaceted view of sports management and fan engagement in today’s competitive environment.

For listeners seeking in-depth sports analysis and lively discussions on New York's premier teams, this episode delivers valuable perspectives and thought-provoking commentary.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You guys know I hate the. Oh, it's early, but I'm really loving the Mets right now. I am.

[Alan]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't expect it. They're in first place despite the fact that Philadelphia has been hot. They completely taken advantage of what Atlanta is going through right now. And I take a look at them and I see flaws, guys, but the thing that we were worried about has not been a problem, and that's been the pitching. Now, if you say, well, Don, the pitching is going to come back down to earth, but this team is eventually going to hit. Right now they're getting carried by the first three guys in the order, right? Nimmo, Soto and Alonzo. But guess what? Soto's going to be a lot better. I'm telling you, he's going to be. He is going to carry this team offensively at some point. And they're not really getting anything out of the. The bottom half of the order which carried them last year. You mean Vientos is eventually going to hit a Beatty? I don't know. Probably not. But they're going to get more production. They're going to get Francisco Alvarez back. I'm really feeling good about this baseball team. There are plenty of reasons for them to be 5 and 10 right now to start the season. Considering how they've hit and that they're 10 and 5 tells me that when they start the hitman, this is going to be a really good baseball team. So let's see how it goes out. They lost on Saturday. That was disappointing. Again, didn't hit. They're not hitting it all with runners in scoring position, but yet still finding a way to win. When I say not hitting with runners in scoring position, it's as bad as Vientos batting average. Like really bad. But yet they're finding ways to win games and they're pitching much better than I think anybody had thought. You know, they're equipped to improve this team at the trade deadline. I really love where the Mets are right now. I do. I think it's only going to get better. And I love the fact that the Braves have just four wins and it's gotten away from them and the Mets have been able to take advantage of it.

[Don Hahn]

And Pete Alonso has been one of the best hitters in the sport to start to see.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's. Darren pitched to me and they got in there.

[Don Hahn]

He's 101, 109 1. I mean, yeah. And it's, he's making them pay. Like, the Alonzo thing is still, to me, like just an incredibly compelling story because it's working out so perfectly for, Is it not for everybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Great. And you know, Senga looked terrific yesterday.

[Don Hahn]

18 RBI. That's crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just really like where the Mets are right now. And if you're a Yankee fan, I don't see how you can be happy.

[Alan]

How well, you know, you're happy that you're in a crappy league. Besides that, Don, there's not a lot to be happy about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've caught some breaks because people, I think, thought Boston would be very good. And what happened to them in Chicago? I mean, the White Sox are the worst. One of the worst teams in baseball and couldn't get the job done. I guess the Rockies are the worst.

[Don Hahn]

Do you see?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Rockies got swept by the Padres and didn't score a run in the Series. I find it hard to believe they're 3 and 12. But Boston hasn't been great. Nobody's running away with anything. So the Yankees are still in very good shape, to Peter's point, because I don't think the American League's very good. Baltimore's off to a bit of a sluggish start. Yankees are going to be fine. But Alan, I, I, I sense the frustration watching them and to see the way that ended last night or yesterday. You know, Walker's been a nice closer for San Francisco, but for Judge, get caught looking on the final out. Gorgeous pitch right on the outside corner. Nothing to complain about from the umpire standpoint, but you know, Judge gets caught looking and leaving runners on base and again, so relying on the home run as it seems like. And they've kind of wasted what's been a great start to the season for Goldschmidt. So both teams are, you know, similar in 8 and 7, 10 and 5 is only a two game difference, but boy, does it feel a lot different for the Mets than it does for the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

It does, does it, does opponent matter? Like, does it, you know, did you factor that in at all? Like, I'm not trying to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And the A's, you know, like you're playing in a, like that must have been some experience just playing in a tiny little mark.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It looked cool, though. It had a little, like, I kind of relate to it because I, to the Somerset Patriot game. So it can't be much different than that. And, but both teams are playing on it. Right? But I tell you what? Give Met Fran fans credit because they have not been drawing in Sacramento. Like Sacramento doesn't seem to care about it. I would, you know, it's only temporary. They're eventually going to go to Vegas. But tons of Met fans made the trip. Now you've been to Sacramento. I have not. Yeah, but the way, it's kind of a cool town, good little sports town.

[Don Hahn]

You know what I mean? Like it's, it's, it's not big again, it's the capital, but you know, it doesn't feel like it. Right. It doesn't have that kind of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Most capitals are like that. Like Albany's the capital of New York. Right. Like a quaint, it feels like a quaint little town.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Sacramento's similar to that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's got that old rush feel to it. Like an old timey.

[Don Hahn]

Got one block where the bars are good, the restaurant seems good, everything closes at 10.

[Alan]

I mean, let's be honest, guys, you already know from the nickname Sacktown, it. Could it leave something to be desired?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Naptown. Yeah, exactly.

[Alan]

You know, no one's the one, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, you're right. Listen, the Giants are good. I mean, I tell you what, that National League west with the Giants, Padres and Dodgers and the Dodgers have hit the skids a little bit here. That's why it's going to be important to win the division, man, because I could see two teams coming out of.

[Don Hahn]

Them all in double figures already. Padres 13 and three. Giants 11 and four. Dodgers, by the way, 11 and six after starting. What were they, five, zero to start.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Do you realize that at this moment.

[Don Hahn]

In time, six and six since.

[Alan]

Do you realize that at this moment in time, when you factor everything about it, there could be nothing in this world more opposite as it's supposed to be than the American League east and the National League West Literally as far apart as humanly possible. Different leagues, different parts of the country, different teams. I mean, the west is a monster and the Al east is putrid.

[Don Hahn]

Blue Jays at 9 and 7. Fugazi. Like when you look at them being. I mean, again, 9 and 7 is probably what you would think they'd be. The Yankees at 8 and 7 was probably what you didn't think.

[Alan]

Well, Orioles at 6 and 9 is not what you were thinking about either.

[Don Hahn]

That's the other one that doesn't make sense at all.

[Alan]

But you have to remember, see, is this, is this messed up? I believe more in the Yankees 8 and 7 than the Red Sox 8 and 9 or even the Orioles 6 and 9. Like, I believe the Orioles and Red Sox are starting slow. Yeah, I believe the Yankees are this team. I just. They are not very talented because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you waiting on? If I told Garrett Cole, Gary, well, listen, not coming back. He will come back, but that's not until another couple of months now. But they can't bury themselves, guys. I mean, take a look right now. The Blue Jays, nine and seven, that's the. That's your first place team a half game. So nobody's been able to take advantage of being average.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. We know the American League Central, they fold up anytime they even hear the word Yankees. All right. Seriously. And they've got two of the worst teams in baseball, Minnesota and Chicago. Your American League Western Division leader are the Angels. Texas average, Seattle average, Houston, below average. The A's are not a good team.

[Don Hahn]

But here's what here, the part about the Yankees, as you look at them again, macro view, right? Because micro view, as you said, it's early and you hate to say it. I don't hate saying it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the only reason I hate saying it is because then what are we talking about?

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no. And you're right. What I'm saying is I hate saying it because there are little things that you want to pay attention to that could lead to big, you know, the bigger issues. And the starting pitching is certainly one of Stroman now being hurt. Like it just keeps happening where the starting pitching remains a concern and the pressure on the bullpen continues. The Ben Rice story is a great story and it's one you want to see continue. Did they find somebody that could lead off? But if I told you that the Yankees have the Highest run differential plus 18 than any other American League team. The Mets are plus 20. The Yankees are plus 18. It's the highest run differential. The second highest is the Dodgers at plus 15. Yet they're only 8 and 7. It tells you they are. They continue to be the all or nothing we talk about. And on the days they're hitting bombs, they blow teams out. And on the days they can't hit, they are losing. They're losing close games, but they're losing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's. Why do you take out that Milwaukee Series? And that's a lot different, right?

[Don Hahn]

Of course it is. As was it 20 to nine is one of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's 11 of the 18 really raked. And of course they'll get heel and Schmidt back. They are going to need help with that rotation because Stroman, even before he hurt his knee, couldn't get out of the first inning, looked like he was going to get pulled anyway because of how ineffective he was. Rodin continues to be frustrating because, you know, he's got great stuff and he always has just well enough to get by, you know, so you're missing that ace Cole's not coming back. You know, this team is going to hit and this team is going to go on a little bit of a run. But let's not forget last year with Juan Soto. There was a good hunk of the season where they were just eh. Right. And listen, they bring in Goldschmidt, they bring in Bellinger and they've been fine, but they're not Soto, you know, and a lot's resting on Judge's shoulders. And let's face it, when Judge doesn't hit, they don't score a ton of runs and they lose. So. But I keep circling back. Who's taking advantage of it?

[Don Hahn]

Nobody. Who's running away again?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody.

[Don Hahn]

The leaders 9 and 6. The Tigers, Angels 9 and 6, Blue Jays 9 and 7. Those are your division leaders. That's it. It's right there. You could, you could have a slow start and recover and they could do what they do. The Yankees always have this like May into June where they just suddenly just start mashing the ball and then you look up and you're like, wow, how are they seven games up? They do that. And then of course we always have the August which goes the other way. And whatever you just ground you gained in May, you give it back in August. That has been the formula the last couple of years. So we'll see if when May comes, the warmer weather comes, does it. Does it start to turn? And that's also when Clark. Clark Schmidt will be back and then we'll see if he'll heal's June now, right? Isn't that what they're projecting?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what it looks like, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So they're gonna have to figure it out some way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're going to have to figure it out. And way too reliant on the bullpen, which could be. Which is great, but can be a problem if you're doing it every single day. But right now, even with the Yankees being very mediocre, there's not a team in the American League that I would say they weren't the favorite against in a series.

[Don Hahn]

Does this put pressure on Brian Cashman? That because it's just doors open like there is. See, the easiest thing that can happen is you have a slow start. Two other, three other teams just get off to massive starts and there's just no catching them. Right. And you could then make the argument of, we're not going to spend any more at the deadline. We're not giving up prospects at the deadline. We're going to just try to get a wild card out of this and then we'll reset in the off season. But if it's as wide open, like, if it's still, you're half game out and you haven't played well, you need some pitching and there's, you know, who knows who's available. Do you have. Do you almost feel the pressure of, listen, it's wide open in the American League. Get back to the World Series. If you just get that starter that you can put there, you know, with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Free, he's always going to try to improve because it's not just about making the World Series by winning the World series.

[Don Hahn]

That, that three, that $308 million budget is like, that's, you know, that. I don't think that they want to blow that thing. I'm telling you. That's why, like the Kyle Tucker stuff, they're not going to get involved in that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think so.

[Don Hahn]

They're not going to do it because his price keeps going up. And you could trade for him. The Cubs aren't going anywhere. Like, you could trade for him at the deadline and get another bat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And all players in baseball to add.

[Don Hahn]

That, that's what you want to get them before you have to pay. Like, you see if you get a half a year out of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the cost, now it's going to cost you. But now we see why Vegas had their odds so high. Because even with a mediocre start, they're stolen a half game out of first place. They're coming out of the American League unless something really drastic happened. Let's all of a sudden one of these teams now, Texas, has been, okay, not great. They're nine and seven. Texas does have a pedigree of a champion, but I don't know. Houston didn't look great last year. They're so far off to a slow start. Is Houston now done?

[Don Hahn]

I'll give you the team I'm worried about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

If there's a team in the American League that I look at and I'm like, I. That's the team I worry about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Baltimore.

[Don Hahn]

No, the Red Sox are one, but I don't put them at the top of my list.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay?

[Don Hahn]

The Detroit Tigers are legit. Like, that's a legit, good team. And I know we're not used to saying that. That's a legit, good team with real starting pitching.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why. That's why.

[Don Hahn]

An ace, that can shut you down. I do not want to see them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why. You made a good point about, like, who they played.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now they've lost four out of the flash five.

[Don Hahn]

The Tigers are good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Giants are good. Tigers are good. Now the Pirates aren't very good. And they lost that series.

[Don Hahn]

That was Heaney. Just. That game with Heaney was one of those where I think they were just so. Just jumping out of their shoe swings. It was not. That wasn't a great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They got Kansas City. You know, it's a real chance for both the Mets and the Yankees to. To have a big start to the week. Right. The Mets are in Minnesota now. The weather's not great, but Minnesota's off to an awful start. Yankees have the Royals number. So I would not be surprised if we're having a conversation on Thursday about the Yankees being, you know, four games over.500, feeling better about themselves. But I. I just really been impressed with them at start. I have considered I should take it back. I've been impressed with their record. I haven't been impressed with their start because they're, you know, there's a lot of guys not hitting. Beatty's not hitting, Vientos isn't hitting. And, you know, you wonder if their bullpen is going to be able to stay up. And Diaz has been not great. But they're finding ways to win. And I think there's a lot of things that can get better.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they've taken advantage of Atlanta's problems. And listen, do I say the Braves are done? No, but they are 4 and 10.

[Don Hahn]

They're not a good place.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, you're six games ahead of them. That. That's not nothing.

[Don Hahn]

And I also think they're a deadline team as well, to think about in July. Where are they? And is there something out there that helps them in that weakness area? Whether it's the bottom of the lineup or bottom of the order or something like that, like, you have to feel confident that they would make that kind of move. Let's take Dave in the car on the Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dave. Hey, Dave. What up, fellas? What's going on, man? You guys have to be waiting today.

[Don Hahn]

But it's all good, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got to work the way. Wow.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks, buddy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, sir. I got, like, two points. I'm gonna make them real quick, real quick, while my daughter bothers me. Number One, Don, I agree with. I agree with you big time. Our method, doing really good. The bats aren't hitting. Beatty actually played some really great defense and he got a double. But, you know, hopefully this progresses. When it goes Vientos, I have more patience with him, but I know we'll come around. But, you know, I'm really waiting for Frankie Montage to come back and, you know, to see how if our pitching, you know, stays consistent. Last but not least, I wanted to say this. Hollywood Han, man, make sure you go get Bart, because Bart was talking smack earlier, talking about decoy gonna do it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know, he's a 313 guy. He's always been a Pistons guy, so he's gonna, he's gonna juice it up. And thank you, Dave. He. He. I know Bart's gonna juice this thing up. And really, he's. He's been. He's been wanting a reason to root for the Pistons for the longest time, and he's finally got a reason. They're finally good after being really bad.

[Alan]

For a while, they might be good.

[Don Hahn]

Marvin is Barda. Marvin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's up, baby?

[Don Hahn]

What's going on, fellas? Hope you had a good weekend. I just wanted to piggyback off with Don with the Mets. And listen, I love the Yankees, I love the Mets, I love the Commanders, and I love the Knicks. And I feel like at this point in my life, they're all doing well around the same, you know, and especially about the game yesterday, you know, I feel like we're getting the Sega that we hope we would have had last year. They didn't mention saying good outing. Yeah. And I kind of would have wanted your opinion. Like, what's the whole deal with the 77 pitches?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. It was just funny how they did on the bucket. They did not want him to throw more than 70. I think it was 80, I think was the number they went in. 80, 85. They had a four nothing lead going to the eighth inning. Why have him start the eighth? Maybe get in a little bit of trouble, throw more than they wanted him to. So they're protecting him a little bit early here. I think things would have been different had that game been a little bit more competitive. And it didn't matter anyway. They tacked on four more runs and made short work of it. I think that's why they didn't send him out for the eighth. But still, seven innings, that's the most any Met starter has gone this year. And you're 8 and you're 10 and 5.

[Don Hahn]

That's actually pretty impressive. Yeah. We had some other baseball news today. It involved the World Baseball Classic and the fact that Aaron Judge has been named captain of Team usa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's quite the turnaround from not wanting to do it the last time to now being the captain.

[Don Hahn]

You want to hear why it's important?

[Alan]

Oh, I would.

[Don Hahn]

Aaron Judge, why it's important for him to represent Team usa.

[Dave]

You know, just getting a chance to represent this country. You know, what this country means to me, honestly, every game during the national anthem, God bless America. Getting a chance to sit out there and just for me, honestly, it's the time to reflect about all the brave men and women that have fought for this country and, you know, give me the opportunity to step on a baseball field and play a game that I love. So, you know, not getting a chance to have USA across my chest and all, you know, the great people, I.

[Alan]

Mean, you're not going to war, Aaron. You're playing a baseball game. Let's all settle down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm going to call. He's doing all the right things. Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All the right things. There in my mind, two reasons why Judge is doing this. Number one, and he hinted later on that you saw the way the last time with Trout versus Ohtani, it became a bit of a thing, the World Baseball Classic, and I think he even admitted watching it, that he wanted to be a part of it. I'm sure Major League Baseball is putting a ton of pressure on him to play. You don't think Major League Baseball saw the attention the NHL got from Four nations, where 9 million people are watching a championship game between Team USA in Canada, and they're like, we could do this. We've established the World Baseball Classic. We're partners with Fox. They're airing the games. We're not going to get any traction if our best players aren't playing. Connor McDavid played for Canada. The Kachuk played for Team USA. How does Judge not play for the USA? So I'm not saying that they threatened him, but I'm sure they probably told him, dude, you're the face of our sport. You got to play in this.

[Don Hahn]

And so to get him to play, they named him captain? Is that what you're trying to suggest? Like, all right, what's it going to take? How about we make you captain? Will that make you want to play? We'll make you the lead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll tell you what.

[Don Hahn]

Apparently, Mike Trout is the one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Talking about the taking the sea away from Trout.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Here.

[Dave]

So that's what it's all about, you know, the recognition from your peers, you know, especially from Mike Trout is, you know, the greatest player in the game, you know, and has been for, you know, since I came into the league and before I came into the league. So, you know, hearing that from the best, I'm still hoping he's on the team. He better be out there patrolling the outfield with me. That's what I'm hoping. I know we both play right field. That's what it's all about. Just recognition from your peers. You know, they go through the grind on a daily basis. They know what it's all about. So it's pretty special.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not something I think Major League Baseball offered him. I just think everybody looks at it and says, make him the captain. He's. He wasn't here last time. He's here this time. Don't you think the players are all like, give him the seat?

[Don Hahn]

Well, Trout's the one that said it, apparently, because if you're the captain, you're the one that has to be the one that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To give up the right. But you'd understand Trout saying, listen, I was the captain last time. I want to be the captain this time. But I think he understands having Judge there. So do I think anything was said by Major League Baseball? No, but I think the writing was on the wall. Making him captain, entice him to do it. But there's an aspect of this that really just drives me up a wall.

[Don Hahn]

What's that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll let you know coming up.

[Alan]

Don's like teasing Timmy over here, really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'm just doing my job, brother. Like, we want me to lay back Layout.

[Alan]

I wanted to know.

[Don Hahn]

He's leaving us blue a lot today.

[Alan]

Whoa.

[Don Hahn]

But, Don. And then if you don't want to give us your take on that until later, why don't you give us your take on something else?

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Marvin]

If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple Shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place. From inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple Shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify is the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify shopify.comnetwork. go to shopify.comnetwork shopify.comnetwork TaxAct knows filing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your taxes can be complicated, and that's why we have live experts to help you with any questions. They can hold your hand through the process, beginning to end, metaphorically of course. I mean, they can't actually hold your hand in person. I suppose you could hold your computer mouse while you chat with the expert.

[Don Hahn]

About capital gains or whatever, which is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sort of like holding hands. Sorry. Point is, our tax experts can make filing easier. Tax act let's get them over with.

[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

It's GNC, baby.

[Don Hahn]

Visit your gnc or gnc.com thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the Captain Aaron Judge is going to play for Team USA and this is not until 2026, but every time we talk about the World Baseball Classic, how good it is for baseball, kind of get people excited about the sport and other markets besides New York and Boston is, what if he gets hurt? What if what happened to Diaz happens to judge? Then how are you gonna feel about it in this glorified exhibition we saw in the Four nations, how all of a sudden hockey mattered for just a couple of days, it mattered. Baseball needs something like that because I got news for you. You're not gonna get Dodgers, Yankees every year in the World Series, all right? A lot of times you're gonna get Rangers, Diamondbacks, and nobody caring if baseball, which is way more popular than hockey, can put together an international tournament the way they have with the World Baseball Classic, where the best are playing a best on best, you can get the magic that the NHL got from the Four nations. And baseball needs that.

[Don Hahn]

Don, you did, you did get it right. But we had it a couple of years ago. It was phenomenal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know you had it, but nobody cared because they're all like, I don't want, I don't want anybody to play in that. They're just going to get hurt. It's an exhibition.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's a good ass.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Met fans were ticked off because Diaz celebrated hurt his life.

[Don Hahn]

He's celebrating. He didn't get hurt because of the game, but that got hurt because if.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He could celebrate in the head, but if something happens to him, there's a good chance it was going to happen during the season anyway. But every time you've got a chance to do something really cool that can grow the game that needs to be grown, the first knee jerk reaction is, well, what if he gets hurt? I don't want him playing in that. I'm telling you, if you're a baseball fan to see best on best representing your country instead of watching meaningless exhibition games, I'm telling you, you could really love this. But if the best players don't play, then nobody's going to care about it. And if all you're going to do is worry that somebody's going to get hurt. What has happened to sports now where we don't have all star games because somebody might get hurt, you know, don't play. They've already clinched up the position. They've already locked in a two seed. Don't play anybody. Wrap these guys in bubble wrap. And now the end of regular season games are like meaningless.

[Don Hahn]

You got guys who's not playing now. CC, Pat Connington went for 40 something points for the bucks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean if that's going to be the case, let's just take the knee on the rest of the regular season. You just get to the playoffs. Tap it in the hockey now too.

[Don Hahn]

Sim rest of season I don't want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To play anybody else because I don't want to get anybody to get hurt. And I, when I grew up, that was never the case. Everybody played. Now do I think that in a meaningless game you should go out there and play all 48 minutes? But Aaron Judge is excited about representing his country and playing because now he's taken the dare. All these guys have gone out there and played. I want to play. I want that magic. I want to face Ohtani in a big spot and take him yard. Yeah, it's not the World Series, but you know what? It's representing my country. I want to do it. And instead of it being celebrated saying that's cool man, I can't wait. It's good. He might get hurt and ruin our season. You really take the fun out of everything, man.

[Don Hahn]

Fans have become scared in this generation. I've never seen anything like it.

[Alan]

Well, it's because it's a sport. The sport has coached it. All the sports they've all coached the reasons to be scared. We had football, we don't. No one should play preseason games in basketball. We should limit all the minutes. Every sport but hockey has essentially taught you and the individual sports has taught you your players will get hurt if they do anything extra.

[Don Hahn]

The fragility of your players and it's only okay if he gets hurt in a game that mattered and he comes at a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like you mentioned, football. It's come at the price of the first month of the regular season being awful because nobody is prepared to play. And basically September is glorified exhibition because nobody plays in the preseason games. They've cut them down to three. You're lucky that you play maybe a half of the three games if you're a starter. And these guys are ill prepared when we kick off for real.

[Don Hahn]

Take the example of like you just said, game 82 yesterday around the NBA, only one game really had real matter to it. And that was an unbelievable ending. The Clippers and the warriors, right? But you saw on Friday night and guys, I'm telling you, I walked out of the garden and I was like sick to my stomach.

[Alan]

As you should have been.

[Don Hahn]

Like I was worried what I saw that night because the Cleveland Cavaliers were ready to pack it in. They were down 23 early. The game meant nothing to Them and they were ready to just shut it down, right? And they had. During their timeout, because I'm near their bench during their timeout, they had, like. Because four of their starters played, only Donovan Mitchell didn't play. So the four of their starters were actually in the game. And there was a conversation about, you know what? You know, if you guys don't want to bother, like, we'll just play the kids and you guys wrap it up. We're fine. And they're like, let's see what we can do here at the half, and we'll figure it out from there. And they cut the lead down to like 12 or something like that at halftime. Then the third quarter, I was like, all right, let me see if he plays his guys or if they're just going to let it. Let go of the rope. Four guys were out there. And what happened? They kept pushing. They kept pushing. They kept pushing. And then Garland took over in the fourth quarter, they won the game. And they walked off the court like, holy crap, we won. Like, they were a little like, those guys were kind of like, they were happy about it, but they did not expect it. The fact that the Knicks laid down in that game. So post game, I'm in the locker room doing what I always do for mst, the interviews and the guys, from Brunson to Hart to others all sounded like even though Sunday didn't matter. Game 82 didn't matter. You heard them all say, no, we need to win this game. We gotta win. Like, I want to win that game, is what Jalen Brunson said. I want to win that game. It's in my head. I'm like, I think Jalen's going to play. Josh Hart also said the same type of thing about how, you know, like, we're not playing our best and we need to find it. Tom Thibodeau, it's the rest versus rhythm argument. You know, if I sit guys. And now we don't play for a whole week till we get out of rhythm. We gotta find rhythm. We're not in any kind of rhythm right now. And so I went into Sunday going, I think they're gonna play. And then they didn't. And the reason was because, as Thibodeau said, the medical. He always says, the medical team said, we got to protect these guys. Like, like, let's not risk anything with this team. We got a whole week to get right. But for a minute there, I thought they were going to play because it sounded like they wanted to play. And that's the one thing that we don't get enough of in the sport is players who are like, I know the game's meaningless, but we're not in a good place right now as a team and we probably should play that game. But they didn't. And I'm sure more fans were happy that they didn't play. And Bridges played six seconds so he could get his streak continuing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Streak. Two things, you know, working with Dave Maloney, working with Greg Buttle, and they played around the same era, so it's going back a long time. I think they both came into the league in 76 is that there's no such thing as meaningless games to players. Maybe. Maybe doesn't mean anything for the standings.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there's still meaning there's still people in the stands. I'm still getting paid. I get paid to play.

[Don Hahn]

And they're keeping score effort.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So there's no. You should see their face when I'll slip and say, well, like, like in the pre game tonight, if I were with Dave, that game is the guard. Meaningless game. You roll his eyes or he take exception. Like, yeah, you don't know because you're just a yo, yo announcer.

[Alan]

Which by the way, I could push back on some of that. But it was whatever, let's keep going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's the medicals. We get it. But the players want to play because this gets back to the tanking conversation. Fans seem to think that you can just win, lose, it doesn't matter. It does matter. Losing does matter. Confidence matters. And I think that when you lose and you play enough meaningless games, to quote the fans, just thinking, you can flip the switch now when it all of a sudden means something, you want to get into rhythm. It means something. Now obviously the team saw the medicals and said, you know, we're not going to play you. But the fact that the Knicks wanted to play, I still think is a good thing. Mark my words. I'm telling you, I brought it up on my game misconduct podcast which came back today is watch out if I'm time. By the way, watch, watch. I watch Washington. They haven't played any meaningful games for like a month. Was all about Ovechkin. They've rested players down the stretch. Now, a team that Columbus playoffs barely made the playoffs last year, now all of a sudden is that a one seed that they're just going to easily flip it on and you're going to take on Montreal? That's played out of their minds because every game's been a playoff game. They're going to get a running start. Game one, and you lose game one and you give up home ice advantage or in basketball, home court advantage, you can end up costing yourself the series. So this idea. And the Knicks haven't done any. Knicks aren't a championship caliber team, as Peter would say. Boston could play with their food. They can turn it back on and off. They've proven that they're a bunch of veterans, guys that have won, they got rings. The fact that the Knicks can just all of a sudden flip it on after you mail in games or play poorly, maybe they can. But you're really asking a lot, Don.

[Alan]

We all know that. As much as we hope the Knicks team, we wished they would be at that level, there's not a fan alive who believes the Knicks are at a level yet of they can just turn it on and off willy nilly. I don't think anyone thinks that they were good with those losses last week. I think they, they seriously, I promise.

[Don Hahn]

You, I promise you that that locker room, like, I've, you know, like this group, this core, I've been around them closely, especially even more this year because of doing sideline of being in the locker room a lot and traveling a lot more than I have this year and last year, that this has always been a really good group. Like, even after some losses, like, you get the good, solid answers, you get the responses. Friday, Friday, like, despondent. It was, yeah, like, I walked, like I said, I walked out of there, I saw a couple of security guards and I was just like, I don't like where this team is right now. How could you. Like, there was something missing. And, you know, the way Tom Thibodeau said, we gotta fix it and we gotta fix it fast. When does he ever say something like that? He never talks like that. I asked Brunson, I was like, what is this hit he's talking about? He goes, it's. You guys see it, we see it. That's what it is. It's what you see. And I'm thinking to myself, there's a lot I see that I don't like.

[Alan]

Well, think about like this. The Boston game was brutal.

[Don Hahn]

They should have won that game. They know they should have won that game. They were pissed that they lost that game and it messed with them.

[Alan]

But listen to this, though. But that game, it really was an annoying loss because they were right there and it was theirs for the taking. But in the end, like I said, I almost thought Tatum was like, felt no pressure and just beat them late and they, and they collapsed late. But they come back against Cleveland on Friday at home.

[Don Hahn]

Remember, they had Detroit in between and Detroit, they're running them off. They're running them out of their own.

[Alan]

Gym, by the way. I forgot. So sorry.

[Don Hahn]

And then whatever happened that I called that game, then something turned and all of a sudden Detroit went from looking like meager and like, you know, not uncertain to all of a sudden their chest is out and they're like. And the Knicks did nothing about like we're like almost caught off guard by this young team that was suddenly trying to get physical with them as if they weren't sure. Like I'm looking like, is anybody going to punch back?

[Alan]

So I skipped that. You have the Boston one. That's pretty bad, but not a huge deal.

[Don Hahn]

Double figures.

[Alan]

Would have liked to have got it. Then you get Detroit double figures lost again, both games. Low double figure leads.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Loss.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. 11 against Boston. I think it was 13.

[Alan]

I think Detroit 23 against Cleveland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, exactly.

[Alan]

So then, so then you get, you get Detroit. You go, well, that's a tough one though because it's at Detroit. We're going to have to play at least two games in Detroit. So that doesn't make you feel great. All right, we're going to play Cleveland at home on Friday, who we haven't beaten all year. Let's get a feel good game.

[Don Hahn]

And they don't need the game and they know no Donovan Mitchell.

[Alan]

So you get up 23 points in front of your home crowd. That was the worst thing that could have happened. That was a worst case scenario loss. I would have probably rather had them get beat from the beginning, pull everyone and say we're not even playing. Instead you're up big and you blow it emotionally. It's almost the worst trajectory they could have had.

[Don Hahn]

And they couldn't stop the bleeding in the second half. Once it started to slip, they couldn't stop it. And this is a team, guys, 70 straight games when they had a 15 or more point lead. They won 70, 70.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a lot.

[Don Hahn]

You know what the, the second highest streak was in the, was in like the 20 something. It was OKC, like 70 games. We're talking three or four seasons of 15 point leads that they did not blow in an NBA where the three point shot, no lead is safe. And they always found a way once they went up 15 to make sure they held on and won the game. And now all of a sudden they.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can'T do it now of all times.

[Don Hahn]

So yeah, that, that was alarming. Friday. Which is why, like I said hi, I was like, I think these guys want to play, even if it's just like the first half against the Nets. But you know, the. They got overruled.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wonder if how badly they want to play was the reason that they didn't play them. Maybe, maybe they're like caged animals. I'm like, listen, we don't want them going out there and going like, let's do them a favor and let's take it out. And I do think the bridges thing is a joke.

[Don Hahn]

Six seconds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you want to play, play. If you don't want to play, don't play. But if you want to keep the streak alive, dude, six seconds foul. Get off the court. That's not in the spirit of a, of a Ironman streak.

[Don Hahn]

Here's what he explained. No, I need my page.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, it's just asked to see.

[Don Hahn]

What I want to do. Pretty much it's really for young guys.

[Dave]

You know, because I could play a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Quarter, play a half or. But nice take away from young guys. Park and Kev, you know, guys that play well today too, but just for their minutes to come out there, you know, Landry coming out there playing more. So it's more just taking minutes with. From them, which is just like take.

[Don Hahn]

A lot of minutes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All 81 prior. So I think just give them guys a chance.

[Dave]

Give them a shot to play, you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Know, play right away.

[Don Hahn]

Now I understand when we come back if you want to discuss this a little further because this is a streak for him. It's like 583 or something like that. He's straight games. He has not ever missed a game in the NBA in his entire career. So it's important to keep that streak going. Important to him. But it's when it's six seconds, like does it count?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does count, but. But does it in the spirit of it?

[Don Hahn]

That's my point.

[Marvin]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Real quick. When I was doing my read.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I was. I teased during the read. I tell you what was happening. Cause I was laughing is Alan just took, like, a spongebob and just threw it right at Peter's head and was very disappointed. He missed? No.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the whole idea. Cause he was walking past the. The glass by the control room, and I thought I'd throw it right at. Right in front of him to startle him. And I aimed for Jake because obviously Jake's on the other side of the glass. It's not gonna hit him. So I'm aiming right for Jake. And it. I mean, Peter, it came really close. Closer than I wanted it to come.

[Alan]

That's what I'm told.

[Don Hahn]

I just wanted you to, like, get startled by it. But he. He was so mad. He grabbed the ball and he just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what I'm in the middle of in my read, like.

[Don Hahn]

And Don's trying to do a read a week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a fight going on here. It's awesome. But I misread it. I thought you wanted to hit him.

[Don Hahn]

No, I was just trying to startle him. Why would I want to hit him? That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

That would have been wrong.

[Alan]

Thank you.

[Don Hahn]

Can't hit a man with glasses.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's by the way. Why?

[Alan]

You know how I feel about that. Can you turn my drops up?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[Don Hahn]

That's one way to do it. 800-919-3776. A lot of calls to get to. Let's get to them. Dave and Wes Caldwell. What's up, Dave? Hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's it going?

[Don Hahn]

Good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, you were talking about the World Baseball Classic and The four nations and everything. But, like, I think for hockey, we've been desperate for best on best for so many years. Like, we would have been projecting the top lines for Team USA for the Olympics for forever. I could probably name maybe five people on the USA baseball team, like, at a guess, because it's not really that. Like, it hasn't been prevalent to the sport. Well, that's why basically trying to change that. And they're seeing how the other sports have been able to take advantage of that. And they've had the World Baseball Classic now for a few years going back. I think it's been going on for, like, 15 years. I went and saw some games in Arizona back in 2013, but you saw Ohtani versus Trout. That deserved more attention than it got. And if you get judge playing, you get some of the best players, and then you'll be. Because I understand, like, all right, who's American? Who's Dominican? Like, you know, sometimes you don't know. It's not like it is in basketball and hockey, where it's kind of a thing where you're from.

[Don Hahn]

Everybody talks about it, but same in hockey, too. Hockey, you know, where everybody's from.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the doctor takes it so seriously in Puerto Rico and Japan. And you say to yourself, well, maybe we should take.

[Don Hahn]

That's exactly it. What we learned in baseball is the nationalism with certain players, especially the Dominicans. They're very proud, Right. And we notice that as Americans, we don't have that same kind of national pride of, like, the best players come from the U.S. you don't get that. But I also think what the World Baseball Classic brought a couple of years ago was it was okay to celebrate because a lot of the Caribbean teams and, you know, like, they. When they play together for their country, it was just. It was a cultural experience, but, you know, different that we're used to in baseball. And I think it told people, like, you know what? This is kind of fun. Maybe you should allow more of this in the sport.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now. He's right. Baseball doesn't have that international flavor the way basketball and hockey does. But let's say you didn't even know about how international hockey is. You don't follow the Olympics. You never watched a World cup, whatever. And you watched the way Brady Kachuk celebrated his goal and how into it he was to represent his country. How, as an American, you not get caught up in that, and all of a sudden you're like, wow, it means so much to, like, how cool is that? This is not an exhibition. These Guys are living and dying. You can get caught up in that.

[Don Hahn]

Can I tell you? And I get what you're saying. But I think it's different because we've never needed to have that in baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Hockey as a country, that was, that's one of the great moments in sports. Miracle on ice, 1980, beating the Russians.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're not the underdog in baseball, but.

[Don Hahn]

Well, but, but what I mean though is that it was a moment that just felt like, like the whole country got involved in it. So anytime hockey's involved and it's the US Team, you just, I mean, how many references are they going to make to that team? They just always do it. So that's different. I think in basketball you still get this sense of nationalism because of the dream team that was 30 years ago and the redeemed. There's just this feeling of dominance, of wanting to win like that. But with baseball, it never felt like a country type thing except for the pastime.

[Alan]

Well, it is relatively new to not only have players from a few different countries but have really competitive international teams.

[Don Hahn]

And I mean that they're better than you.

[Alan]

That could be better than that never.

[Don Hahn]

Used to be a thing until maybe the last 20 years or more where all of a sudden like Dominican players are literally better than most American players.

[Alan]

So I would say that there's a chance for the US team and the WBC to fall somewhere between US hockey or soccer and US Basketball.

[Don Hahn]

You're right.

[Alan]

Somewhere right there in the middle of like we could win or not. Guaranteed to win.

[Don Hahn]

Not. Not a total underdog, but. But not the favorite.

[Alan]

No, not necessarily the favorite, but here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What a lot of Americans were saying watching the World Baseball Classic, it's like, yeah, let them have their fun. We don't have our best players in there anyway, so we don't care about it. But now all of a sudden, if Aaron Judge is playing, you know, and Trout comes back and plays and you see the best and Cole's pitching and you say, now we've got our best, let's have at it. And that means it might hurt a little bit, it might sting national pride wise if you lose. Which invests even more into why you want to see this team be successful. 1-800-919-3776 more your calls. Take capital. Seven o'clock. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30 all wheel drive only 209amonth or buy and get 0.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title, registration 0 security deposit fin sm 811-332 0 MSRP26490 ends 43025.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. 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.