Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Jeff Nelson Joins the Show
Date: August 21, 2025
Podcast: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (ESPN New York)
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, with Michael Rosenberg
Guest: Jeff Nelson (Former Yankees Pitcher, Broadcaster)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the New York Yankees’ pivotal four-game series versus the Boston Red Sox, with special guest Jeff “Nelly” Nelson bringing his firsthand insight as a former Yankee. The panel debates the state of the Yankees’ season, psychological factors in big rivalry matchups, roster concerns (primarily Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton), and bullpen moves, while also reflecting nostalgically on the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Later, the show pivots into lively music banter and listener calls.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Bringing on "Nelly" – Setting the Stage for Yankees-Red Sox
[01:19]
- The hosts welcome Jeff Nelson with discussion on the casualness of calling him "Nelly".
- Jeff Nelson: “Everybody calls me Nelly. If somebody calls me Jeff, I don’t even know who they’re talking about.” [02:07]
The Importance of the Yankees-Red Sox Series
[02:20-04:39]
- Jeff Nelson emphasizes the enormous significance of the series as the Yankees face just 36 games left and cannot afford to settle for a split.
- Jeff Nelson: “I don’t even think a split would be very encouraging for the Yankees. I think you gotta take three out of four.” [03:10]
- Alan Hahn and Nelson argue that psychological momentum matters in rivalry games, especially after the Red Sox derailed the Yankees' season in June.
- Alan Hahn: “I still feel like there are some psychological things that go on in this sport that you can’t quantify with numbers... you need a psychological bump out of this series.” [03:26]
The “Psychology” and Fundamentals of Winning
[04:39-06:58]
- Nelson and the hosts express that late August isn’t truly a “long season” anymore; every game matters intensely for playoff positioning.
- Jeff Nelson: “This isn’t a long season anymore. It’s only 36 games...” [04:39]
- They identify that the Yankees’ troubles often stem from poor fundamentals—base running, defense, etc.—reflective of issues from last year.
Stanton and Judge: Health & Role Management
[06:58-11:05]
- The show discusses Giancarlo Stanton’s impact when both he and Judge are in the lineup, Stanton’s clutch home run, and his current role in the outfield.
- Jeff Nelson: “He’s a guy that can carry you for three, four weeks, Stanton can.” [06:58]
- Michael Rosenberg: “What can you say about what you’ve seen from Stanton... what a game-saving home run that was after they blew the save.” [06:43]
- Deep debate about whether the Yankees should risk playing Judge in the outfield at all this year due to injury risk.
- Jeff Nelson: “I probably would [keep Judge as DH]. Because if he hasn’t played the outfield yet, then... it’s probably a little worse than we thought. But he can still hit, so hey, you gotta have this guy in the lineup.” [07:50]
The Playoff Pressure on Judge & The DH Dilemma
[09:30-11:05]
- Rosenberg wonders if being DH-only could actually help Judge focus in the postseason, rather than detract from his game.
- Jeff Nelson: “I think it can benefit him. Some guys have a hard time adjusting to [DH], but if he’s hurt... I much rather have him in the lineup as a designated hitter than I would risking anything in right field.” [10:07]
Bullpen Analysis – Deadline Moves and Reliability
[11:05-13:36]
- The revamped Yankees bullpen is dissected, particularly the closer role shifting to Bednar and Williams’ role, and where the Yankees stand compared to Boston.
- Jeff Nelson: “I really like what Brian Cashman did in the bullpen... Bednar’s got really good stuff and he’s got the mentality to be able to handle that... I think they might have one of the better bullpens in the American League.” [11:42]
Locker Room “Heart and Fire” – Is It There?
[12:59-14:54]
- Panel explores whether this Yankees team has a lacking sense of urgency or emotional spark, especially post-Brett Gardner.
- Jeff Nelson: “Sometimes they lose a sense of urgency... There’s just no sense of urgency, you know, so that, yeah, that’s a concern... now this is the sense of urgency series.” [13:36]
- Michael Rosenberg: “This is the first most important series left of the season.” [14:54]
The Red Sox Rivalry: Nostalgia and Hope for Soto Rivalry
[15:26-16:49]
- Jeff Nelson reminisces about the storied Yankees-Red Sox matchups:
- Jeff Nelson: “All the Yankee-Red Sox memories started coming back... the excitement in both stadiums... I miss that as a player.” [15:26]
- Discussion about whether the current stakes could regenerate some “juice” in the rivalry.
- Peter Rosenberg: “Maybe this could be the beginning of, like, actually building back some legitimate juice between these teams.” [16:49]
Standings, Strength of Schedule & Playoff Outlook
[17:25-33:09]
- Alan Hahn lays out the remaining schedules: Yankees and Astros have the easiest paths; Toronto has the hardest, meaning the Yankees’ division hopes are alive.
- Michael Rosenberg: “Yankees in the American League have the easiest schedule remaining... for the division, they do control their destiny.” [29:24]
- Current AL East odds are discussed:
- Blue Jays: -275
- Yankees: +260
- Red Sox: +1200
- Rays: +20,000
- Peter Rosenberg: “So Vegas believes it’s in play.” [32:49]
Listener Calls: New York Nostalgia and Bobby Brown Banter
[33:21-36:12]
- "Dave from Queens" lists his New York icons (George Steinbrenner, Kenny Anderson, Thurman Munson, John Gotti!) and challenges hosts to name New Edition members.
- The group riffs about Bobby Brown’s career, child stardom and struggles, leading to a digression about 1980s/90s celebrities and New York’s culture.
Side Tangent: Movie Theme Songs Better Than the Films
[40:00-46:14]
- Extended playful debate about greatest movie theme songs that outshone their movies, and Huey Lewis’ place in pop music.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“I don’t even think a split would be very encouraging for the Yankees. I think you gotta take three out of four.”
— Jeff Nelson [03:10] -
“This isn’t a long season anymore. It’s only 36 games...”
— Jeff Nelson [04:39] -
“He’s a guy that can carry you for three, four weeks, Stanton can.”
— Jeff Nelson [06:58] -
“I probably would [keep Judge as DH]. Because if he hasn’t played the outfield yet, then... it’s probably a little worse than we thought.”
— Jeff Nelson [07:50] -
“Now this is the sense of urgency series. I think the Yankees should show. And then... maybe this is a statement series.”
— Jeff Nelson [14:54] -
“Regular season is a regular season... but there’s something about beating them (the Red Sox)... It’s hard to have a rivalry when it’s one-sided.”
— Michael Rosenberg [18:26/19:57] -
“Sometimes they lose a sense of urgency... There’s just no sense of urgency.”
— Jeff Nelson [13:36]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:19 – Welcoming Jeff “Nelly” Nelson for Yankees-Red Sox preview.
- 02:20 – Importance of the series and remaining schedule.
- 04:39 – Psychological momentum and last year’s fundamental issues.
- 06:58 – Stanton’s impact, Judge’s injury and DH debate.
- 11:05 – Bullpen analysis post-trade deadline.
- 12:59 – Clubhouse “heart” and sense of urgency.
- 15:26 – Nelson’s Red Sox rivalry memories.
- 17:25 – Schedule strength and division odds breakdown.
- 33:21 – Listener call: New York icons & New Edition banter.
- 40:00 – Movie theme songs vs. their movies: music detour.
Tone and Style
The episode features the signature blend of insight and irreverence:
- Nelson offers grounded, player-based analysis and a no-nonsense tone.
- The hosts mix nostalgia with real frustration and hope for Yankees fans, peppering everything with sarcasm and playful banter.
- The mood is lighter and free-wheeling in fan call segments and music debates.
For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters
- For Yankees fans: This episode offers both technical and psychological insight into a crucial stretch, especially amid concerns about the team’s inconsistency and health.
- For rivalry lovers: The nostalgia and hope for renewed intensity in Yankees-Red Sox matchups come alive, straight from a player who lived it.
- For casual sports and New York culture fans: Off-topic excursions into music, movies, and city icons make the show as much fun hangout as serious sports hour.
If you want a breakdown of what makes Yankees-Red Sox special, how the modern Yankees stack up, and a dose of New York flavor, this hour covers it all.