Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 3: Injuries & NICU Music
Release Date: February 24, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York, New Jersey App, Smart Speakers

1. Yankees’ New Beard Policy and Aaron Judge

The episode kicks off with a focused discussion on the New York Yankees' recently implemented beard policy, highlighting its implications for team dynamics and leadership.

• Aaron Judge’s Leadership Role

  • Peter Rosenberg ([00:56]) emphasizes Judge's pivotal role as a team captain:

    "Judge is playing that role of the other guy because he knows the fans respond to that because he's the captain."

• Maintaining Team Discipline

  • Alan Hahn ([02:13]) reads Judge’s statement underscoring the importance of discipline:

    "It's all about discipline, especially playing with the Yankees. This is a disciplined group."

• Personal Impact and Team Standards

  • Don Legreca ([04:35]) connects Judge’s conservative personality to the policy:

    "The way, it kind of does go with Judge's personality... he's a pretty conservative guy."

  • Peter Rosenberg ([04:45]) discusses possible future changes, expressing skepticism about major alterations:

    "They're gonna put names on the backs of the jerseys. They're not gonna do that."

2. Yankees and Mets Injuries

The hosts delve into the injury challenges facing both the Yankees and the Mets, particularly focusing on pitching rotations.

• Giancarlo Stanton’s Elbow Issues

  • Alan Hahn ([05:11]) updates on Stanton's elbow problems, noting their personal nature:

    "The situation is, quote, personal in nature, and I'm going to leave it at that for now."

• Mets’ Pitching Struggles

  • Peter Rosenberg ([06:02]) discusses injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, highlighting their impact:

    "That's putting a lot of pressure on guys like McGill to now be a part of the starting rotation."

• Rotation Depth Concerns

  • Alan Hahn ([08:08]) expresses worries about the Mets' pitching depth and the necessity for new acquisitions:

    "You're really starting the season compromised with your starting pitching which as we..."

3. Knicks’ Performance and Mitchell Robinson’s Injury

Transitioning to basketball, the conversation turns to the Knicks' disappointing performance and the status of Mitchell Robinson's injury.

• Knicks’ Recent Struggles

  • Alan Hahn ([05:11]) highlights the Knicks' losses to Cleveland and Boston, remarking on their diminished contention:

    "They got smoked by Cleveland, they got smoked by Boston... they're nowhere."

• Mitchell Robinson’s Recovery

  • Peter Rosenberg ([10:24]) and Alan Hahn ([12:21]) discuss Robinson's progress in the NICU and the uncertainty surrounding his return:

    "He did multiple full scrimmages over the last several days and he's going to..."

  • Concerns are raised about upcoming matchups, particularly against Joel Embiid ([13:10]):

    "What do you think Hal would have done?"

4. ESPN Personalities: Stephen A. & Work Ethic

A humorous critique arises around ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, questioning his relentless work presence and discussing his value to the network.

• Stephen A.’s Constant Presence

  • Don Legreca ([14:36]) marvels at Stephen A.'s ubiquitous presence:

    "I always have Stephen."

• Value vs. Effort Debate

  • Don Legreca ([15:00]) argues Stephen A.'s financial value to ESPN juxtaposed with his work ethic:

    "Stephen A. is the main reason we get eyeballs during the day... the bread and butter of first take."

• Workload Observations

  • Alan Hahn ([16:55]) and Don ([10:00-10:10]) engage in light-hearted banter about host workloads and Stephen A.'s relentless schedule.

5. Listener Calls on Yankees Policies

Multiple listeners call in to share their perspectives on the Yankees' new policies, particularly the beard regulation, sparking a debate among the hosts.

• Support and Skepticism

  • Caller ([18:26]) labels the new policies as a "nothing burger," arguing they lack substantial impact:

    "They put some sort of... but let's not lose our heads here."

• Uniform Customization Debate

  • Peter Rosenberg ([44:10]) strongly opposes potential changes like names on jerseys or "City Connect" uniforms:

    "People would hemorrhage from the eyes."

• Tradition vs. Modernization

  • Alan Hahn ([46:10]) speculates on the Yankees possibly maintaining their iconic pinstripes despite market pressures:

    "They've never done that unless they're being forced by the league."

6. Personal Anecdotes and Banter – Music in the NICU

The episode takes a heartwarming turn as hosts share personal stories about playing music in the NICU for their premature children, blending humor with heartfelt moments.

• Playing Music for Premature Twins

  • Peter Rosenberg ([28:10]) recounts playing metal music for his child in the NICU and facing medical staff's disapproval:

    "I had it on the iPad... I was playing something aggressive."

• Singing Lullabies

  • Don Legreca and Peter discuss their attempts to soothe their babies with songs like "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" ([29:52]):

    "I'm gonna get it. I'll rejoin the next segment."

• Hosts’ Reactions and Humor

  • The hosts joke about their infants' indifferent reactions to music, adding a light-hearted element to the episode.

7. Future Changes to Yankees Uniforms

Further exploring the theme of tradition versus change, the hosts debate the potential introduction of names on Yankees jerseys and "City Connect" designs.

• Opposition to Naming Jerseys

  • Peter Rosenberg ([44:10]-[46:50]) vehemently opposes adding player names to the jerseys, predicting negative fan reactions and loss of brand identity:

    "They can't put name on the back... people would go nuts."

• Debate on "City Connect" Jerseys

  • Alan Hahn ([45:08]) considers the possibility of "City Connect" uniforms but recognizes resistance:

    "They are doing the giveaways... but people would die."

• Historical Context

  • The hosts reflect on the Yankees' historical resistance to major uniform changes, emphasizing the brand's iconic status ([46:00]-[47:40]).

8. Concluding Segments

The episode wraps up with the hosts sharing final thoughts, engaging in playful banter, and teasing upcoming topics, ensuring listeners leave with a mix of insights and entertainment.

• Final Banter and Teasers
  • Peter Rosenberg and Don Legreca exchange humorous remarks about the show's content and future segments ([47:40]-[48:14]).

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg ([00:56]):

  "Judge is playing that role of the other guy because he knows the fans respond to that because he's the captain."

• Alan Hahn ([02:13]):

  "It's all about discipline, especially playing with the Yankees. This is a disciplined group."

• Peter Rosenberg ([44:10]):

  "People would hemorrhage from the eyes."

• Don Legreca ([15:00]):

  "Stephen A. is the main reason we get eyeballs during the day... the bread and butter of first take."

• Peter Rosenberg ([28:10]):

  "I was playing like some metal and they told me, you know, you shouldn't do that. Your child will grow up aggressive."

This episode provides a comprehensive look into the current state of the Yankees and Mets, the Knicks' ongoing challenges, and the personal lives of the hosts, all delivered with the trademark humor and insightful commentary that listeners have come to expect from Don, Hahn & Rosenberg.