Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – ESPN New York
Hour 3: Gerrit Cole + List Reaction (March 18, 2026)

Episode Overview

This lively outing from Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—broadcast live from Calandra's Bakery in Caldwell, NJ—spins a classic mix of New York sports debate, caller engagement, and signature banter. The main themes of the hour are:

1. Reaction to Aaron Judge’s perceived lack of clutch playoff success—bolstered by detailed statistical and emotional analysis, fan calls, and comparisons to other athletes.
2. Discussion of Gerrit Cole’s much-anticipated return to the mound post-Tommy John surgery and expectations for the Yankees' pitching strength in the coming season.
3. A running tally of “all-time greats who weren’t clutch”—soliciting additions and spirited debate from both hosts and listeners.
4. Side flavor: Announcements of Jay Z concerts at Yankee Stadium, casual digs at the Mets, passionate food talk, and plenty of classic New York sports humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Jay Z–Yankee Stadium Doubleheader

[03:22–04:46]

• News breaks of Jay Z playing Reasonable Doubt (30th anniversary) and Blueprint (25th anniversary) on back-to-back summer nights at Yankee Stadium.
• Host excitement (“For a certain kind of New Yorker, the Yankee/Jay Z Venn diagram… there’s gonna be a very happy group of people”—Co-host, 04:14).
• Light ribbing comparing musical guests (Jay Z vs. Timmy Trumpet, Baja Men) and playful shade toward Mets attempts at similar events.

Aaron Judge and the “Clutch” Debate

Statistical Frustration and Fan Perception

[06:02–13:29]

• The guys revisit their "all-time un-clutch MVP" list, with Aaron Judge’s woes in big moments as the focal point.
• Hahn admits, “Stats will tell you throughout his career he has had moments... But World Series, big moments—those are the things you’re looking at. And I thought yesterday was an opportunity for him, once again, to close that conversation. And instead it opened it.” (07:16)
• Callers and hosts spar over fair criticism, especially given the game in question was a WBC "exhibition."
• Rosenberg riffs on the theme, drawing a “Rocky IV” analogy: “Might I remind you that the fight between Apollo Creed and Drago was an exhibition… You know how that ended? It started with James Brown. A man died.” (08:17)
• The underlying point: For Yankees fans and haters alike, Judge’s big-stage at-bats feel like familiar heartbreak, echoing old postseason letdowns.

The Eye Test and the Psychological Side

[13:29–14:36; 29:48–32:16]

• Callers and hosts discuss “clutch energy”—does Judge seem nervous in the box? Does he “want it too much?”
• Anecdotes compare Judge to stars like Derek Jeter (clutch moments throughout career despite not being best on team), and Eli Manning (businesslike disposition, but “all he did was beast mode in clutch, and that was Eli Manning”—Co-host, 19:16).
• Rosenberg jokes Judge might need the “mom’s spaghetti” moment—referring to throwing up for nerves à la Rod Strickland or 8 Mile.

Notable quotes:

• “There is a fear, a dewiness, a nervousness that you can see when he gets up to that plate. It’s like he has the yips.” —Caller Nas, 30:21
• “Clutch moments, statistically, in analytics and clutch moments in what we remember are two different things.” —Hahn, 18:22

Is It Fair?

[09:14–13:29]

• Plenty of calls and opinions: Some say the criticism is overblown (“The Yankees would be absolutely nowhere without this guy”—Caller Vinnie, 20:41), others cite his actual postseason slumps (“That’s nine for 60 with a .150 batting percentage in the Final Four”—Caller Bobby, 15:39).
• Debate: Is it about lifting a team solo, or sharing the clutch burden (as past Yankees squads did)?

The Question: Would You Trade Regular Season Greatness for Postseason Clutch?

[17:53–18:22]

• “Would you take Aaron Judge, who batted 25 points lower, had seven to ten less home runs a year, but seemed to have more moments where he stepped up in like the big spot?” —Co-host, 17:54
• “Wouldn’t everybody?” —Hahn

Gerrit Cole’s Return: What It Means for the Yankees

[26:23–28:13]

• Cole pitches one inning against the Red Sox in his first game action in 53 weeks post-Tommy John. Fastballs averaged 97 mph, topped at 99.
• The hopes: If the pitching delivers, Judge and the lineup may need to generate fewer runs in the postseason, perhaps alleviating pressure.

Notable moments:

• Jokes about bunting as the first batter back from Tommy John (“Can you imagine? The guts of a guy—you know he’s just coming back, and you’re going, ‘I’m gonna bunt.’”—Hahn, 27:08).

The Great “Un-Clutch” MVP List

[29:48–47:44]

• Ongoing, interactive list prompted by both hosts and callers; requirements: MVP-level greatness, but notorious lack of postseason delivery.

• Names debated:

  • James Harden (worst 4th quarter playoff shooter per Bobby, 15:00)
  • Billy Wagner, Armando Benitez (relievers; discussion if Hall status alone is enough)
  • Dan Marino, Patrick Ewing (great moments, but missing “win it all”)
  • Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre (enough wins? Just one ring each but multiple playoff slip-ups)
  • Carmelo Anthony (Caller Jay, 44:12: Consensus—Melo did all he could, not enough supporting evidence for lack of clutch)
  • Josh Allen (Caller Nas, 29:48: “deserves honorable mention,” but hosts feel he has his share of big playoff wins)
  • Eli Manning is used as the positive counterexample (19:16).

• Through all, the bar for “un-clutch” is set at the all-time/MVP/Hall of Famer level—borderline Hall guys don’t quite make the list.

Notable quote:

• “There are compilers who make the Hall of Fame, but they were never close to the best in the game.” —Co-host, 47:22

New York & New Jersey Sports Flavor

• Local energy is ever-present—live at Calandra's with fans, callers, and personalities like Ken Daneyko and Rick DiPietro popping by.
• Knicks and Hornets ticket giveaway announced ([25:01–26:23]); Knicks recent form and defensive record celebrated, with signature skepticism about their postseason ceiling.
• Closing segment teases Rangers-Devils watch party (also at Calandra’s) and winds down with food talk and upcoming ENN (ESPN New York Now) headlines.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Throw up, throw down!”—Hosts workshop potential NY Post headline if Judge ever puked for nerves (33:13).
• “But every—Maybe that’s what Judge needs. A little vomit on the pinstripes.”—Don Rosenberg (32:41)
• “Clutch moments, statistically, in analytics and clutch moments in what we remember are two different things.”—Hahn (18:22)
• “There is a fear, a dewiness, a nervousness that you can see when he gets up to that plate.”—Caller Nas (30:21)
• “It’s the same as Lamar Jackson. Just win one and everybody’ll shut the hell up.”—Hahn, on pressure to win a championship (21:00)
• “You watch sports, there are clutch moments you’ll never forget. Shots you’ll never forget.”—Co-host (18:56)
• “He literally was just phenomenal. Phenomenal.”—Hahn, on Eli Manning’s calm clutch (19:18)
• “We're so deep in our Calandra show. Don't forget, Drop Madness starts tomorrow.”—Hahn (48:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:22–04:46] Jay Z at Yankee Stadium: Announcement, banter
• [06:02–13:29] Aaron Judge clutch woes: Stats, analysis, first calls
• [14:46–20:11] Historical Yankees clutch debate, player comparisons
• [20:41–21:22] Caller Vinnie: “Just win one and everyone shuts up”
• [26:23–28:13] Gerrit Cole’s comeback performance
• [29:48–32:16] Caller Nas: “Yips”/psychology of clutch
• [33:13–34:01] “Throw up, throw down!”—Judge, nerves, headlines
• [36:21–37:59] Marino, Ewing, Favre, Rodgers: Who truly belongs on the un-clutch list?
• [44:05–47:44] Melo, Wagner, Benitez: Final clutch list additions and controversy

Final Takeaways

• The third hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg is New York sports radio at its best—combative but fraternal, hilarious, and obsessed with both numbers and narrative.
• The question of Aaron Judge’s “clutch gene”—and the psychological baggage of New York fandom—remains fiercely open.
• The Yankees' fortunes, particularly with Gerrit Cole’s return, are a summer-long soap opera in the making.
• Whether it’s debating clutch, razzing the Mets, or breaking news on Jay Z concerts, there’s always a uniquely New York twist.

For devoted fans or new listeners alike, this hour captures the blend of insight, humor, and city spirit that defines DHR.