Hour 3: Judge v Jeter Reaction

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg - Episode Summary: Hour 3 - Judge vs Jeter Reaction

Release Date: June 10, 2025

In the third hour of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a heated and insightful discussion comparing New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge to the legendary Derek Jeter. The conversation primarily revolves around the criteria for defining greatness in baseball, the significance of championship rings, and how individual performance intertwines with team success.

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1. Introduction to the Debate: Aaron Judge vs. Derek Jeter

The episode kicks off with a passionate debate initiated by Don La Greca questioning whether Aaron Judge needs to win a World Series to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Don La Greca [00:44]: "Allen talked about Judge has to win a title because how can you be considered the greatest in the game if you don't have a ring?"

Peter Rosenberg immediately clarifies his stance, acknowledging Judge's statistical prowess while emphasizing the challenge of swaying Yankee fans' perceptions without a championship.

Peter Rosenberg [00:57]: "Yes. I am not arguing that he is not on pace and what he's doing is historic. He is already. You can make the argument he's the best right-handed hitter in the sport ever."

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2. The Importance of Championships in Defining Greatness

The hosts explore the traditional view that winning championships is a crucial benchmark for greatness, especially within the Yankees' storied franchise.

Peter Rosenberg [01:15]: "But what I'm saying that while facts on paper and all that stuff, you can make this argument in a court of law but the jury are the Yankee fans and I don't think you can convince the jury without a championship."

Don counters by highlighting the Yankees' consistent playoff appearances, suggesting that despite Judge's individual achievements, the team's ability to secure titles is paramount in fan evaluations.

Don La Greca [03:05]: "They are the jury, but I don't think. Why are they the jury? Because, again, they live in this falsehood of we're the New York Yankees and we win championships."

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3. Statistical Analysis: Regular Season vs. Postseason Performance

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Aaron Judge's regular-season statistics compared to his postseason performances, juxtaposed with Derek Jeter's clutch playoff moments.

Don La Greca [05:00]: "What he's doing on the field is something that, you know, Jeter was never going to be someone with 30 home runs."

The conversation delves into Judge's postseason batting average (.205 in 58 games) and his contribution of home runs and RBIs, questioning whether these numbers sufficiently support his case for greatness without securing a World Series title.

Don La Greca [05:53]: "He's a .205 hitter in 58 postseason games. You can't just got 16 home runs and 34 RBIs."

Peter emphasizes the complexity of baseball, where individual brilliance doesn't always translate to championships due to the sport's inherent unpredictability.

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4. Fan Bias and the Yankee Legacy

The hosts discuss how Yankees fans, with their high expectations and historical success, may have a biased viewpoint that prioritizes championships over individual statistics.

Don La Greca [07:15]: "But no other team is saying that because it's baseball. It's not basketball where you control the game."

They compare this to other sports, noting that in basketball and football, individual players like quarterbacks are often judged by their championship counts, a standard being similarly applied to baseball players like Judge.

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5. Comparisons to Other Sports: Clutch Performers and Championships

To contextualize the debate, Peter Rosenberg draws parallels with other sports, citing players like Connor McDavid in hockey and Josh Allen in football, questioning the fairness of equating individual greatness solely to championship victories.

Peter Rosenberg [09:12]: "It's like Connor McDavid right now, watching him in the finals. That's why that game last night pissed me off, because the Oilers just. They were not ready to play and their heads were up their ass."

Don counters by reiterating baseball's unique structure, where the game's flow doesn't allow a single player to dominate as directly as in other sports.

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6. Callers’ Perspectives: Supporting Both Sides

Throughout the episode, callers like Alan Hahn and Mickey Callaway add depth to the discussion, presenting arguments favoring both Judge and Jeter.

Alan Hahn [41:10]: "Aaron Judge is infinitely better than Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter is greater than Aaron Judge."

Mickey Callaway [29:13]: "Aaron Judge hasn't won any championships yet, but his regular-season contributions are undeniable."

These perspectives highlight the multifaceted nature of evaluating greatness, balancing statistical achievements with clutch performances and team success.

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7. Concluding Thoughts: The Need for a Championship to Settle the Debate

As the episode winds down, the hosts converge on the idea that while Aaron Judge's numbers and regular-season dominance are impressive, a World Series title remains a pivotal factor in solidifying his legacy akin to that of Derek Jeter.

Peter Rosenberg [47:07]: "This is the Jordan versus LeBron conversation. You can't win this. It's just going to go on forever. And all what it's going to take is for Judge and the Yankees to win a championship, and then the conversation ends."

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Notable Quotes

• Don La Greca [00:44]: "Judge has to win a title because how can you be considered the greatest in the game if you don't have a ring?"

• Peter Rosenberg [00:57]: "I am not arguing that he is not on pace and what he's doing is historic."

• Don La Greca [05:00]: "Judge and what he's doing on the field is something that, you know, Jeter was never going to be someone with 30 home runs."

• Peter Rosenberg [09:12]: "It's like Connor McDavid right now, watching him in the finals. [...] you feel that way about Connor McDavid."

• Don La Greca [07:15]: "But no other team is saying that because it's baseball. It's not basketball where you control the game."

• Alan Hahn [41:10]: "Aaron Judge is infinitely better than Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter is greater than Aaron Judge."

• Peter Rosenberg [47:07]: "And all what it's going to take is for Judge and the Yankees to win a championship, and then the conversation ends."

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Conclusion

The episode presents a comprehensive examination of the ongoing debate surrounding Aaron Judge's place in baseball history compared to Derek Jeter. While Judge's extraordinary regular-season performance and individual accolades position him among the elite, the lack of a World Series title serves as a significant hurdle in definining his ultimate legacy. The discussion underscores the complex interplay between individual excellence and team success, particularly within the high-pressure environment of Major League Baseball and the unique expectations of the New York Yankees' fanbase.

Listeners who haven't tuned in will find this episode a compelling exploration of what truly defines greatness in sports, enriched by passionate arguments and diverse perspectives from both hosts and callers.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

With a Venmo debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International, Inc. Card may be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Die Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers 503.

[Don La Greca]

In the big city. Don and Rosenberg take up until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball, Mets nationals at Citi Field. All right. So Allen talked about judge has to win a title because how can you be considered the greatest in the game if you don't have a ring?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now can you just make it clear that what I'm saying for those that might be new listeners here, yes. I am not arguing that he is not on pace and what he's doing is historic. He is already. You can make the argument he's the best right handed hitter in the sport ever.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what I'm saying that while facts on paper and all that stuff, you can make this argument in a court of law but the jury are the Yankee fans and I don't think you can convince the jury without a championship. One, just one. Because I think this is going to be a biased jury that is going to have that standard as a necessary check box to check to put you not only in the Mount Rushmore but maybe even put you at the top of the of the mountain.

[Don La Greca]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's all I'm saying.

[Don La Greca]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I believe the Yankee fans of the jury and you have to convince them.

[Don La Greca]

But because the Yankees have had a history of winning 20.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well everybody else has them.

[Don La Greca]

But who everybody else has.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the other members of this Mount Rushmore of Yankee players.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but I just went through how easier it was to win a championship. But look at his contemporaries. Ohtani is his contemporary. Right. It's 1 1A as far as best players in baseball in the game right now. He was not on the 2020 Team Ohtani. He won a ring last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

All right. Hurt his shoulder really didn't much in the postseason. He. He batted.230 in the postseason. Three home runs and 10 RBIs. So he contributed, but not very much. He's got the ring. He's off the hook. So if Judge did everything that he did in this year's playoffs or last year's playoffs, including dropping that fly ball in the fifth inning, but his teammates pick him up, they rally, they win the game, they win the series. He doesn't get a hit the rest of the series. Now he's off the hook.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he doesn't get to hit the rest of the series. It'd be hard to believe they'd rally. He still did have a big home run in the Cleveland Series.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's still a moment, but you're holding.

[Don La Greca]

The Yankees to a standard that I don't think exists anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, well, you don't ask me John Matting.

[Don La Greca]

And they say, well, he had the bad back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And let the fans tell me I'm wrong.

[Don La Greca]

They are the jury, but I don't think. Why are they the jury? Because, again, they live in this falsehood of we're the New York Yankees and we win championships. I'm telling you, you've won one championship in 25 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not the ones who decide your greatness.

[Don La Greca]

Because I'm trying to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's literally what fans do, that you're.

[Don La Greca]

Missing the boat on what true greatness is because you're attaching it to it. Well, you got to win a title because Bear has got 10 and Mantle has, however, and DiMaggio and Garrick and Ruth and Jeter and Mo. But have you paid attention to Major League Baseball and how hard it is to win now? And isn't it possible. Isn't it very possible that Derek Jeter, Rookie year is 2010, okay. And he's in the midst of a Hall of Fame career, doing all the things in the regular season that Derek Jeter did in his life when he played 20 years ago, but this Yankee team hadn't won because the team's not good enough to win. So are you gonna. Are you gonna say, well, Derek Jeter's not a winner? I think separated.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jeter was. There was a lot of times part of the reason why the.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, he was part of the reason. There's no question. But he also was on better. It was easier to win, and he was on better teams. Now, again, I'm gonna concede. No way I can even have a conversation I don't have a leg to stand on to say the Jeter, the Judge is more clutch than Jeter. Doesn't exist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can you play Buster? Only for the new audience, just so they know the genesis of this conversation today.

[Don La Greca]

Here we go. Where he is right now, Derek was not close to that at any point.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm not saying, you know, Derek as a postseason player clearly was at a different level than where Judge has been to date. You know, maybe that'll change.

[Don La Greca]

But in terms of impact, it's not close. Like Judge and what he's doing on the field is something that, you know, Jeter was never going to be someone with 30 home runs.

[Alan Hahn]

I remember asking Darryl Strawberry early in Jeter's career, you know, do you think that that Jeter will ever increase his power, be the guy who can get.

[Don La Greca]

To 30, 35 home runs?

[Alan Hahn]

And Darrell dismissed it like right away, said, no, he swings too much.

[Don La Greca]

You know, he just looks to put the ball in play, hit it the opposite field. Judge, with the power that he has, extraordinary. He's a better defender than Derek was. You know, Derek was a better baserunner. I think the Judge just simply because he was faster.

[Alan Hahn]

But overall at his peak, I don't.

[Don La Greca]

Think they're close to the point that, you know, I do think that we're going to be able to have this conversation about where Judge's place is on the Mount Rushmore of Yankee players. Yeah. And I don't think his place should be thrown out because he might not win a ring. Now, again, I can't argue the numbers in the postseason. Not great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don La Greca]

He's a.205 hitter in 58 postseason games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

You can't just got 16 home runs and 34 RBIs. And he does have an on base percentage of.318. His OPS is 7. 68. Again, not great. The 16 home runs, very good. He's also walked 36 times. He struck at 86. That's just part of his game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jeter batting average, 308.

[Don La Greca]

Look at the number of games. 100.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, 150. It's basically a full season. Yeah. His OPS, 838. But you know, I, I, how many.

[Don La Greca]

Walks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just had that. Where did that go? That can't be right. Number five. No, no, that's stupid. 66.

[Don La Greca]

There you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. 135 strikeouts, 20 home runs.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. No seed, he was clutch. There's no question he was clutch. But they also probably were pitching around Judge a lot. Again, nobody's talking about who's More clutch. But this idea he has to win a ring. No other team is saying that because it's baseball. It's not basketball where you control the game. It's not football where quarterbacks are judged by the number of rings because they have such an impact on the game. But we do. Ted Williams didn't win, so. Ted Williams is not a good ball because he didn't win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got to stop you there in the NFL with quarterbacks. Absolutely.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Of course. That's what I said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The championships.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

I said we. We. We judged them by rings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I said, well, that's a real thing.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, I know. It's a real. And you know, it's hard to win a baseball. Hard.

[Mickey Callaway]

And that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Josh Allen may never win one, and he could be arguably the perfect quarter.

[Don La Greca]

But no, they judge it by rings, whether it's fair or not. I agree. They judge it on rings. Basketball, they judge on rings because you control the game. Quarterbacks control the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the close, calm.

[Don La Greca]

Tony Quinn is one of the greatest hitters I ever saw. Ted Williams is considered one of the greatest baseball players that ever played.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Hank Aaron. I mean, I can give you a bunch of guys. Willie Mays won one ring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're guys. They're really great players. Great. But you are talking about. And it's the same thing as using the Boston Celtics as the example. You're talking about a legacy that is much different. It's just. I know you hate it, but. Don, I'm sorry. It's a real thing. But it's. It's a different thing when you wear pinstripes.

[Don La Greca]

I don't have. But I'm telling you. But. But you're judging it with guys. That was a different world.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, don't.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not. I'm not ever going to say the Yankees are ordinary because they've gone, like 30 consecutive years, finishing above.500. But how much more evidence do you need that that's not how you judge greatness anymore? There's just too much parody. It's harder to win. Way harder to win. And again, you're talking about real estate. You're saying if Ted Williams was a Yankee, he wouldn't have a bunch of championships like DiMaggio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course he would.

[Mickey Callaway]

You know what the problem is, Don?

[Don La Greca]

It's that Roger, a Canadian, he's. He doesn't have 15 rings in his pocket.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Mickey Callaway]

It's just that fans may know rationally that judge is a better player, and they may adore him, but if he Never wins a championship. When he comes around, there's just gonna be a sadness that always comes with it, too. You look at them and you love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Them, but you go, because somebody that good, it just hurts. It's like Connor McDavid right now, watching him in the finals. That's why that game last night pissed me off, because the Oilers just. They were not ready to play and their heads were up their ass. But you watch Connor McDavid and how unbelievably good he is, and all you're thinking is, this guy's got to win a cup. A guy that talented, when you're the best player of your generation, you're supposed to win one. Just one.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but I don't think. I don't think that applies to baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why Ovechkin. Getting one was a big deal. Just getting one was a big deal.

[Don La Greca]

For Ovechkin because you're going to. The more teams make the playoffs, you've got more of an impact. I don't think that applies to baseball. I'm sorry. It doesn't apply to baseball. Because baseball, you get your four at bats and you catch what's hit to you. I can't go out there and play 48, 43 minutes of a basketball game. I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel like you're rewriting the rules.

[Don La Greca]

No, I'm not rewriting. No. I'm just telling you it's a fact. Doesn't count with baseball. You can't do it with baseball, man. It's. It's totally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's too many more.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're saying you can't do it anymore.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's not like it used to be.

[Don La Greca]

No. Because again, only a handful of those teams won, you know, and he's on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of them.

[Don La Greca]

But not anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. But, Don, he's on a team that every year will contend. What do you always say about the Yankees? How it's easy to be a fan because every year you know you're going to make the playoffs, you're going to have a winning record. Think about it. I was 18 the last time they didn't have a winning record in a season. Me, 18.

[Don La Greca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's how long it's been, but. So all you have to do is start with that. He's on a team that every year has a chain.

[Don La Greca]

Right now, he's not on the Kansas City Royals. I understand. You understand.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why it's different. But.

[Don La Greca]

But you are now like the Kansas City Royals because those teams have as much of a chance to win as you do because you don't have the advantages.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't spend $300 million.

[Don La Greca]

But, but, but they also. No, I don't have the revenue sharing. And you see teams like San Diego spending more money than ever before.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have never seen poverty Francis spend $300 million.

[Don La Greca]

No, but that's not always what makes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They didn't even spend it on their stadium.

[Mickey Callaway]

Come on.

[Don La Greca]

But they, but it's still so much harder. We talk about Giancarlo Stan, who has been money in the postseason still not good enough to win. Right. And he hits in the postseason because that's. That's how baseball is. You can go four for four with four RBIs and catch everything that's hit to you still lose five, four. You don't impact the game the way a basketball player does, the way a goaltender does, or the way that a quarterback in the NFL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why do they have WAR as a stat?

[Don La Greca]

Oh, I hate it. No, but it's just. It's the postseason, man. The reason I say baseball, even in the history of baseball, you know how many great players never won? Ted Williams never won. Tony Gwynn never won. Wade Boggs didn't get his title till the end of his career when he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When did anybody say Ted Williams was the greatest player ever?

[Don La Greca]

Oh, everybody. The bad last player to back 406. I mean, the greatest of the game, Ted Williams is mentioned. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. The greatest one of. Right. You're talking about Judge could be at the top.

[Mickey Callaway]

Wait, wait, hold on. Ruth often gets called the greatest of all time today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Mickey Callaway]

Do people even. Does the casual average person even know how many rings Ruth has?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Probably not. I don't assume he has a bunch because they wanted every.

[Mickey Callaway]

You know how many has.

[Don La Greca]

No, I don't. I count them.

[Mickey Callaway]

Alan, you're a Yankee fan. You know how many Ruth has.

[Don La Greca]

Of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't pay attention to that stuff.

[Don La Greca]

You just assume.

[Mickey Callaway]

It feels like a mic drop kind of moment's getting overlooked.

[Don La Greca]

So the greatest of all seven titles, Rud.

[Mickey Callaway]

Seven titles. She's pretty impressive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Same amount as Mickey Mantle.

[Mickey Callaway]

Is that why people say Ruth is the greatest of all time, Don? No, I don't even know if it has anything to do with it. If he had two titles. When anyone view it differently, one title.

[Don La Greca]

You know, Greg Maddox considered one of the great pitchers of all time. One title. So I don't think it's a baseball thing. I don't. It's a Yankee thing. There's no question. It's a Yankee thing But I'm just trying to say over the last 25 years when you've won one title you can't be saying well we're the New York Yankees. It sounds like you're like everybody else in a baseball that's got more parity than any other sport. Forget football. Football, it's Kansas City, Buffalo, Baltimore, it's the same friggin Philadelphia, it's the same four teams. Baseball, it could be anybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well but one thing I do know is that in baseball the Yankees are always in it. Always.

[Don La Greca]

Right. And it's still hard to win because. But they're always in it but unlike Mantle that they're in the playoffs every year that means they're in the World Series every year you're, you've got the wild card or if you win the division you got the divisional round and the league championship round and then you got the World Series three rounds where anytime you can get slipped up and then Judge was just part of a team that won two rounds and they lost to the Dodgers who were clearly better than they were and all of a sudden it's on him because he dropped the fly ball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well it's a bad game they're probably.

[Don La Greca]

Going to guys ever it's a bad moment he's not, he's not as clutch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As G and the Dodgers thought it was so significant they auctioned the ball if it was, if it was Jason Dominguez who dropped that ball. They auctioning that ball?

[Don La Greca]

No, but that's the modern. That's the matter. It's the Dodgers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was significant that it was him.

[Don La Greca]

Who dropped it but yeah, because he's great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah but you don't want to make him great because he hasn't won I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn'T say I didn't want to make him great. It's not what I said I said.

[Don La Greca]

Judge by the jury of the fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The championship is going to hang on.

[Don La Greca]

Fans are Yo, Yoshi. The fact is that over the, over the, over the span of time the judge plays if he continues to play like this, he will be the greatest player of his generation no matter how many rings he might already be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Might already be. Ohtani is the only one that really feels like the true contemporary at this.

[Don La Greca]

Point and he's got to start pitching. He has didn't pitch last year, hasn't pitched so far this year. So when it's just hitting, am I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wrong to say that right? Bryce Harper gets hurt, you know, he's not, he's not like Trout's really falling off.

[Don La Greca]

No, Judge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Judge and Ohtani, the hitting best players of this generation.

[Don La Greca]

The greatest. He might go down as the greatest right handed hitter in the history of baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Don La Greca]

We're talking about the semantics of a championship, like to diminish his greatness. Dave in Port Chester, you're on espn. All right, here we go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, hi, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm on the complete opposite end. I'm on the Jeter side, but just, just hear me out before you hang me up. Hang up. Okay, please. 2012, Jeter didn't have Mariano Rivera. The entire September he played with a crow with a slight crack in his ankle. He brought them to win their division. He brought them to the Detroit Tigers thing got her in the first game, in the 10th inning, they got swept. If Jeter played last year on the Yankees instead of Judge, in my opinion. This is all opinions. You can't prove anything. I think the Yankees win. Okay? I take Jeter one billion times over. Over.

[Don La Greca]

So if you had a draft, you were going to take Jeter over Judge.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me just let me finish. Being a very, very good player, okay, is being, doing things in the clutch. If somebody, if your producer said you got it, Bobby Knight was alive right now and said, you got to get do the best interview with him, we're going to give you a 10 million dollar raise. If you blow the interviewer, you're getting fired. Now if you come through and you do it, you came through in the clutch. There's a million jobs where people have to come through under pressure. Judge has never done it in his life. Heaters done it every time. He would never have missed a ball like that. Never in a billion years. I don't care what you say, he.

[Don La Greca]

Was on a team.

[Alan Hahn]

Judge wins the championship this year. He's never going to be better than Jeter.

[Don La Greca]

If you had a chance to draft Eric Jeter or Aaron Judge and you drafted Jeter, you'd be wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

I want Jeter now, right now. If he was in his prime, overjudge any day of the week. I know what I'm getting. And you would be, maybe he has a swinging bunt. This is the difference. And you would always get a productive at bat with Cheater and you. And it goes three feet. The catcher picks up, throws it in the dirt. The first phase, two runs come in. He had a productive at bat. You always get that.

[Mickey Callaway]

You don't get productive at bats from Judge.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you get swings and misses. But Dave, you're on the outside corner.

[Don La Greca]

And you would be wrong. You were a general Manager in Major League Baseball. I'm going to be very calm and you sound like an idiot for yelling. If you were general manager. If you were, punch the damn screen. All right, Dave, you moron, if you were a general manager and you picked Jeter over Judge, you would be fired.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, you would be.

[Don La Greca]

Absolutely. Well, you're, You're. You're. You don't know baseball. Thanks for the call. Because 162 games do matter. You. Yo, yo. You got to get to the postseason. He's breaking records. But you live in a fantasy land. That Jeter was perfect. Because you never remember he was on the team, this guy, that all he had to do was step on the field and win, Was on a team that had a three nothing series lead against the Red Sox and were the only team in the history of baseball to blow it. He was on that team, Peter. He was on that team. But Brian, whatever the caller's name was. Yo, yo, yo, yo, man. He said all he had to do was snap his fingers and grab his groin and. And instantly a ring appeared on his finger. He didn't have. All he had to do was twitch. Like Bewitched.

[Mickey Callaway]

Just twitch the nose.

[Don La Greca]

Just twitch the nose. And he won. And yet he was on a team that had a three nothing series. No. 1 in the history of baseball.

[Mickey Callaway]

No, I'm familiar with it.

[Don La Greca]

The history. It started in 1869. Everett blew a 30 series lead. He was on the roster. Couldn't do a thing about it.

[Mickey Callaway]

No, couldn't do it. Nothing.

[Don La Greca]

The little tiny ground ball back to the catcher. He couldn't do that. You know why? Because he's not Judge. Now, he might be more clutch than Judge, but if you were a general manager and there's Derek Jeter and there's Aaron Judge, and I picked Jeter over Judge. The owner would fire you instantaneously because that's not smart. And, oh, by the way, if Jeter played today, they would make him into Judge. They'd make him want to hit more home runs. They'd make him change his launch angle. They would make him swing at different pitches because they want the perfect player. You know who the perfect player is?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Couldn't be a leadoff batter.

[Don La Greca]

I'll give you a hint. It's Aaron Judge. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody's arguing the perfect player. They're completely different people. Players like you can't compare them as players. It's incomparable. They're not the same.

[Don La Greca]

Now, if you want to tell me, I'd rather have Jeter up than Judge in the Big seven of the World Series, right? Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Just like I'd rather have Eli manning at the 30 with a minute to go down four in the super bowl over his brother. But if I'm a general manager in football and I pick Eli over Peyton, I should be shot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You really would rather have Eli instead of Peyton?

[Mickey Callaway]

Yeah, I don't even think I would.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On the 30 yard line down four.

[Don La Greca]

Because he did it twice in the Super Bowl. I know, but I feel like won a Super Bowl. You could have told me if I didn't watch the game that he threw left handed in that game. You've said it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it, I get it. But I knew there'd be passion behind this. We got more coming up.

[Don La Greca]

Don Han and Rosenberg on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Mickey Callaway]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don La Greca]

Sam Diaz says recency bias is clouding your minds. Prime. Albert Pujols was a better player and right handed hitter than Judge. So let's go to his prime.

[Mickey Callaway]

I, I, I think this is going to prove out to not be true. I just want to predict that right.

[Don La Greca]

Numbers were were out.

[Mickey Callaway]

Oh he's that. That's Albert Pujols to you and me.

[Don La Greca]

You know, but he, Albert pujols never hit 50 home runs. Judge has hit 60 and 58.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are pool holes? What's his max?

[Don La Greca]

40, 43, 46, 41, 49. Okay, 47, 42.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And don't give me, don't give me the short porch thing either. Don't give me that.

[Don La Greca]

No. Because he hits all fields. Judge now the one year pool. Hulse led in batting average with 359, 331, 330. But that was in that short period he was comparable who was winning MVPs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If he wasn't in those years. He only won one in that span. In that span.

[Don La Greca]

But then he went back to back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how is he second or third with numbers like that? That was a National League, right? He was with St. Louis.

[Don La Greca]

Well, this is 06. It was probably Ryan Howard in 06. And when he finished third in MVP in O4, it was Guerrero. It was no Bonds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Damn.

[Don La Greca]

Bonds was winning all the MVPs and bonds obviously was, was left handed. And when you talk about fielder, pujols was primarily first base. He wasn't a great first baseman, but it's interesting conversation for sure. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go. Let's see. Busy, busy phones. Jacob in Union. You're on espn New York. What's up man?

[Alan Hahn]

How's it going?

[Don La Greca]

Good.

[Alan Hahn]

I have a, I have a cross sport comparison for Judge. Before I get to that, I just want to address the point that Don's making about baseball being a little bit different, which is true to an extent. But this isn't some Mike Trout scenario where he just hasn't had the opportunities. His team has let him down. This guy's played in 58 playoff games to a.205 average. Like at some point that has to matter a lot. I get what you're saying about the regular season matters, but the votes season should matter as much if not more. But my comparison is Joel Embiid. They are both massive humans, MVP caliber regular season players. But we all know when the playoffs come around they just don't perform. So I don't want to hear about Embiid 50 points against the Charlotte Hornets or judges 4 hit game against the Athletics. If he like, will he have one?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jacob, I appreciate the effort but those are two names you never ever associate with each other. One guy is like the epitome of leadership, franchise player, face of a league, everything you would ever want. The other Guy clown shoes, right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Mickey Callaway]

A relative? Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on. You saw his act last year in the playoffs. You kidding me?

[Don La Greca]

I guess, but that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What. Would judge ever do something like that?

[Don La Greca]

But that. That's what kind of frustrates me when they just talk about, you know, I'll take. It's four for four against the Rays. The guy broke the American League record for home runs. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a big deal.

[Don La Greca]

The guy's competing every year for a Triple Crown. I mean, we're not talking about great numbers. We're talking about, like, historic regular season numbers. And I agree. The postseason, bad all. Again, the 16 home runs. I mean, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you want to say he's James Harden? James Harden was winning MVPs and averaging and breaking. He did some things that were insane. Then he'd get to the playoffs and he's heading the sand. Like, I feel that's a little more fair. Although, again, James Harden's not really a leader. He's not really a face of a league type. He doesn't carry that stuff that Judge does. But if you're just doing straight, like game to game, I think James Harden is the closer. Computer.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, for sure. But yeah, that's certainly the name.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Judges.

[Mickey Callaway]

Judge's career is not marred by or missing the playoffs every year, not being available. Yeah, he's had his issues, but not like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not like this.

[Don La Greca]

Richie and Huntington, you're on. Don Han and Rosenberg. Long time, no talk, boys.

[Alan Hahn]

How does Everybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Mickey Francis, 96. I have to respectfully push back on your argument. I'm actually in agreement with Don. And the reason why is what. What metric are we kind of comparing it to? And in my opinion, I would look at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look at the whole thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Players like Ty Cobb. But I will agree with you on one aspect. Yes, I would say win one and then you'll be on the conversations. Like, for example, Cal Witkin Jr. Won a World Series in 1983. And he. That was only one World Series until the end of his career.

[Don La Greca]

You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Aaron Judge hasn't won any. Aaron Judge hasn't won anything yet.

[Don La Greca]

And. And the other thing that I kind of push back on, too.

[Mickey Callaway]

Cal got it very early in his career.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did. Which is. Look, I just want to be clear. I'm just saying it's the prism of being a Yankee. That's the only thing I'm trying to say here is just because your. Your opportunity to win is every single year. No other. How many other franchises can you say every year you're Going to be in it.

[Don La Greca]

Well, every year you're in it, but how many times can you say this is the best team in baseball, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The odds are in your favor.

[Don La Greca]

I get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For you to win because you're always like, it's not 20% of the time you're in the playoffs. It's 95% of the time you're in the playoffs. So your odds go up, increase. Your chances to win are way more than anybody else who plays for any other team.

[Don La Greca]

We can break down. You know, what year was it they took on the Red Sox in the wild card and Cole spit the bit and they lost?

[Peter Rosenberg]

28.

[Don La Greca]

20, 18.

[Peter Rosenberg]

18.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And so Cole didn't pitch well. Yankees lose. It's one and done. It's not a series over. For all we know. If Cole does his job, pitches well, and they win that game, then maybe he, you know, so you talk about that opportunity, not. I know all the opportunities are the same. If you're telling me they've been to the World Series every year and didn't win, now they go to the playoffs pretty much every year. Not every year of Judge's career. He didn't go in 16, went to the league championship in 17. One and done in 18. You know, and then 20 was just a weird Covid year. And then he. He's also was injured. There were times he wasn't 100% or didn't contribute as much as he'd like to, you know, and now that he's actually been healthy over these last three, four consecutive years, we've seen Final Four, you know, beat the Guardians and lose to the Astros, possibly lost to the Astros in 2019. Alan. Because maybe something untoward was going on, right? Like, so I'm just saying, you talk about, like, every year, but not every year is equal. There were some years they made the playoffs, but they weren't the best team. I still contend, even though Judge did not play well, I think the Dodgers are the better team, and I think the best team won the world.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't. I don't disagree with that.

[Don La Greca]

You know, so how many times was Judge on the best team in baseball and they didn't do it? You know, you can make the case the reason they were even in the playoffs was because of Judge's performance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does the best team in baseball always win the World Series?

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Like, no, there's other circumstances and he might win a World Series out. Let's say he goes out there and wins a World Series and his numbers don't Change now you gotta let him off the mat. How unfair is that? He's still batting.205, doesn't hit home run, but everybody else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you got to feel like they'll. That there's going to be a moment.

[Don La Greca]

And he had a moment against the. Against Cleveland, hit a home run. But again, because the Yankees are held with that standard by their fans, if.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That World Series had extended somehow, some way, you had to feel like he was going to have a say if they were going to win. It's the only way they could win is if he had a say. He had a moment.

[Don La Greca]

Right. And there was a lot of things that melted down. And the reason that they didn't win that World Series, not just because of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Judge, but again, I'm only putting this in the prism of the Yankee fan and the Yankee pinstripe, how the standard is different. And I'm saying that the jury is the fan base. And it always sounded like it's the last box. He's gotta check.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it. And then I think it'll be universal.

[Don La Greca]

But it just. It's inarguable. But it is funny to me that he could win the chip, not contribute to it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Mickey Callaway]

It will change everything.

[Don La Greca]

And now all of a sudden it'll be, he's the greatest player of all time. The numbers don't change.

[Mickey Callaway]

He could literally have a playoff zone where he bats 198, does almost nothing. They win it, but he's playing in it. And that changes the whole narrative.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And because anything that he does against Kansas City or Cleveland or in the divisional round, but he hasn't matter.

[Mickey Callaway]

But Don, I will say this. He hasn't helped his case.

[Don La Greca]

No, he hasn't.

[Mickey Callaway]

I understand in that not only do they not have one, but he's yet to have a truly magical playoffs. I think you might find some fans who are like, hey, there was that One year he batted.400 in the playoffs. He hit seven home runs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They just didn't win a Rod 2009, like.

[Mickey Callaway]

But he hasn't had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One time he had.

[Mickey Callaway]

But even if they didn't win, that would help. But he hasn't had that. Yeah, last year was on the better end of it and it still wasn't special. It was passable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. He lights it up, but the rest of the lineup does nothing. The pitching's bad and they lose, but you're like, yeah, but Judge did everything he could, but instead he actually goes away.

[Mickey Callaway]

And that's the unfortunate. I hate that part about his story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I Do, too. That's why I'm saying this is like. It just feels like it's got to happen. And I feel the same thing about Connor McDavid. It's just. It's why I feel that way about Connor McDavid. It's like, this dude's got to win a cup. He's too good to not have his name on that cup.

[Don La Greca]

You know, you go to 2018.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, okay.

[Don La Greca]

2018 was the year that they beat Oakland in the wild card, and then they lose in the divisional round to Boston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Austin, five games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

In that postseason, in 19 at bats in five games. So they lost in four to Boston. Batted 421 with three home runs. Yeah, but they lost to Boston. I think that might have been the game. Was that the series where he started blasting New York, New York out of the boombox? Going by the Red Sox locker room. Remember that? I think that was the year that feels more recent. The point might be, right, like, he did have the moment there. He was a kid only in his second postseason. But it doesn't matter. Didn't win the chip. Now, I can't argue. These numbers are really, really not good. Great. 2019, two 65 batting averages, one home run, two RBIs in nine games. 2020 in seven games, three home runs, but he batted.130.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was also 2020.

[Don La Greca]

That was, you know, weird. You know, the four. The series against Houston. In 21, he batted.250. No home runs, no RBIs. 22 batted.139. Again, these numbers are awful. World Series in 2024. Although last year.100 and 84. Although he did hit three home runs and drove in nine RBIs. I get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look how his strikeouts continued to climb, too.

[Don La Greca]

A lot of strikeout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His first year in the playoffs, too, he struck out a ton.

[Don La Greca]

But he struck out the. He only struck out. Let's see. Strikeout. Strikeout. Yeah. 20 times in the postseason last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was more game.

[Don La Greca]

Second most. Well, he had 13 in his first year. Struck out 27 times. And then 20 times last year in 14 games. I can't argue the numbers, but, you know, you also can't argue the regular season numbers, too. I mean, pretty, Pretty sick with this guy's been able to accomplish so far.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just waiting for more people like Ken and Westchester.

[Don La Greca]

You're on espn, New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, so, you know, I'm a Yankee fan, but you gotta look at the stats. Judge as carry the team to the playoffs, where if you look at the team around Jeter. You had Paul o' Neill, you have Bernie Williams, Tina Martinez, Jorge beside. And look at the starting lineup, pitching, and you had the best closer. You know, Jeter had the clutch moments to clutch plays, clutch hits. But if he didn't, there's other people around to carry it, pick him up and get to the win. Whereas Judge may not have that same opportunity.

[Don La Greca]

Judge has to feel like that he's got to carry this team. Now, Stan is the reason why they.

[Alan Hahn]

Made it the playoff.

[Don La Greca]

I. But I've been saying that, and apparently that doesn't count to a lot of people. They don't care about 62 home runs. They don't care about batting titles. They don't care about MVPs. And I give Yankees credit, they're very consistent because you didn't care about them. When they Rod, had MVPs and led the league in home runs, you didn't care either. It was all about championships. But that was a different era. And eventually a Rod got the chip and now everybody loved him. I get it. It's odd, but I just think it's harder in baseball. He said Connor McDavid. I mean, at least Connor McDavid could say even if he didn't win, he had a couple. I won the Con Smythe last year. I did what I could. I went back to a Stanley Cup Final again. It just. I just. I just wonder, just off the top of my head, how many times did the Yankees have the team that was supposed. I know you always say they're supposed to win the title, but really, when were they clearly the best team? And let's not forget that maybe the two times they lost to the Astros. Definitely one time it was compromised. And it could have been compromised the other time, too. So how many times did you, like. I'm sorry. I know Yankee fans say it all the time. They should be the dot. The Dodgers are better. Sorry, I think they were just better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't deny that at all, you know.

[Don La Greca]

So does it ever feel like you're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Terms and conditions apply. My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius Energy drink then straight to the gym. Pre K pickup back home to meal prep. Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius. Gotta keep the lights on when the three alarm hits.

[Don La Greca]

I'm ready. Celsius Live Fit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate [e-mail].

[Don La Greca]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Mickey Callaway]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don La Greca]

Game Time is brought to you by Teleporter Irish Whiskey because when it's game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like it with the beat. I like when he holds.

[Mickey Callaway]

Really works with the rum shaker.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well.

[Don La Greca]

The Mets start a series of the Nationals with coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6 30. Mets visit the Royals at 740 and the Liberty are in Chicago to face the sky at 8. Tullamore due the original triple distilled, triple Blunden and triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore do or try the new Tullamore Dew honey during tonight's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sun's out, Donnie. Look.

[Don La Greca]

I saw.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See that beautiful glistening off the.

[Mickey Callaway]

Hard to see past all the people watching the show.

[Don La Greca]

The wet mangroves, if you will.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wet mangroves. That's a chapter. Yeah, it's a really, it's a.

[Don La Greca]

It's kind of like a Penthouse forum.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The moist mangroves.

[Don La Greca]

Let's go to Ruben in New Haven. You're on espn. Big rub. What's up, gentlemen?

[Alan Hahn]

How are you guys? I, I, I, I. I'm not huge on comparisons. I like watching what's happening regardless of what happened previously. But I've heard you. You know, I've been listening to you guys for a while here on this topic and I hear the word great and best interchange and I don't think they're the same thing. Aaron Judge is infinitely better than Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter is greater than Aaron Judge. It's the same for me anyway with LeBron and Jordan. Jordan is the greatest. His cultural impact the entire Thing makes him the goat. But the best basketball player I've ever seen is LeBron James. And I kind of feel the same way with Jeter and Judge. Judge might be the best baseball player I've ever seen, but that doesn't make him greater than Derek Jeter, if that makes sense. It kind of ruins the fun of the argument, but it's how I kind of rationalize it in my head. You know, Aaron Judge is the better player. Derek Keeter is the greater player, if that makes sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it, I guess.

[Don La Greca]

But it's. Don't take this the wrong way. It's just kind of lazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feels like a cop out.

[Don La Greca]

It's just like, oh, he's got five rings, so he's better or he's great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Don La Greca]

No, but that's what you say instead of just doing the work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's because of what he did to help win those five rings.

[Don La Greca]

You don't think Judge has helped this team go to the playoffs off of his performances? Yeah, he's 62 home runs. You know what? I just irritate.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what Judge has done is it.

[Don La Greca]

Is a waste of time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not a waste of time. We all know that's not true. Well, Judge, what Judge has done is he's upheld the Yankee standard of making the playoffs all the time. Right. As consistently as you remember since the early 90s. The one thing he and Jeter do have in common is the two of them in their win shares, war, whatever you want to call it, their impact on winning has helped them make the playoffs pretty much all the time. Right.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The years the judges gotten hurt, how the Yankees done. Not good, not great. Same thing. So to me that's the. Where they. But then from October on, things are very different.

[Don La Greca]

They're different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's fair.

[Don La Greca]

Also.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's fair to say.

[Don La Greca]

Here's the. Here's the other thing to factor in and it's really getting in the weeds. But Judge comes up. I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I just, I can't give him a pitch to hit because he'll make me pay. Like, I can give Jeter a pitch to hit. He's not going to kill me. He'll. He'll hit a single. Yeah, he could hit some home runs, but like he could. You, you were giving me an example during the World series where it's 4:1 Dodgers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And Soto singles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Soto. Soto walks, walks.

[Don La Greca]

And then he takes wild pitch, second base.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then.

[Don La Greca]

And then Judge strikes out. Now I'm pitching to Judge. Judge can make this a one run game like Judge is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what are you doing? What are you doing in that epic?

[Don La Greca]

That means I am going to pitch him like it's the end of the world. Even if a first base open. Oh, because you can blow the game over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you mean in a big spot when it's loading away, loading away. Load away, load away. Lay off.

[Don La Greca]

True.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He doesn't.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, he does it because he's trying to make something happen and that's why he gets in trouble.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's.

[Don La Greca]

But Derek Jeter, I don't have to worry about him like damage in that, in that spot. Four one. All right. Jeter gets a base hit. It's four two. I can live with that. You know, I'll just, I'll just, you know, take on the next guy because Jeter's most likely not going to hit a ball 500ft, make it a one run game. He could, but not like Judge. But you got to pitch him differently.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But when you have Stanton hitting after him, which Stan's in playoffs, which is interesting, Stanton was the one that was hitting the COVID off the ball. Because when he struck out, what did Stanton do?

[Don La Greca]

So yeah, you got to make sure scored the run.

[Mickey Callaway]

But also another thing to keep in mind. And I don't know if we've covered this exactly. We have. I would say we've. We've drilled some things home. But it was cheaters. 310 for his career. Judge at this point is 290. If it's not 2025. And Aaron Judge is taught you have to hit home runs all the time.

[Don La Greca]

He's.

[Mickey Callaway]

You guys are telling me Aaron Judge couldn't choose to bat.330?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, no. He's a.

[Mickey Callaway]

And not be cranking out 45 home runs a year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a great hitter.

[Don La Greca]

He.

[Mickey Callaway]

Don't you agree?

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Mickey Callaway]

If Judge. If Judge wasn't instructed your job has hit home runs. He can easily. Because what is Jeter averaging about 20 home runs a year?

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's no arguing.

[Don La Greca]

But you know, it's interesting. Like Nate sent Jeter in World Series versus one of the best pitching staffs ever. 1999. Hit.353 with six hits, an RBI and four runs scored in the four game sweep of the Braves in 1999. 353. Six hits, an RBI, four run scored. The 353 jumps out of you. Judge in what was a miserable World Series in five games hit.184 against the Dodgers. Three home runs, nine RBIs. So because he hit.353 Jeter's the goat. Six hits, one RBI, four run score. Judge in last year's World Series dropped the ball. He's a functioning idiot. Right?

[Mickey Callaway]

A goat. Not the good goat.

[Don La Greca]

Three home runs, nine RBIs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, that's because it's on base all day.

[Don La Greca]

Right. Like, again, I understand Gina probably batted first or second. Like, it's kind of selective, right? Yeah.353, amazing Braves, amazing pitching staff. But. And listen, I'm not going to tell you that Judge was great in the World Series and he did drop the fly ball. But this is why they say batting average doesn't matter as much, because he still had three home runs and nine RBIs and eight more RBI. So. So if I sent a tweet and highlighted the nine RBIs the way the guy Nate highlighted the.363. Interesting stuff, right?

[Mickey Callaway]

I find it interesting.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know, it's just. It's fun to have this conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I refuse to give in.

[Mickey Callaway]

No, no. And I. By the way, I don't think this conversation is going anywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, this is. This is the Jordan versus LeBron conversation.

[Mickey Callaway]

This is the local ve.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't win this. It's just going to go on forever. And all what it's going to take is for Judge and the Yankees to win a championship, and then the conversation ends. Ends.

[Don La Greca]

So I just wanted to end with some humor. So let's go to Anthony in the car. You're on ESPN New York. How are you, Anthony?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, fellas. How you doing today?

[Don La Greca]

Good.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm going to. I'm going to pivot and, you know, maybe stamp it with some comedy. I was listening to your story, Don, about the guy backing into the spot at your kid's school.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Mickey Callaway]

And I was just imagining it being.

[Alan Hahn]

Like your son's teacher and you going into the principal and just screaming, cut his fat ass.

[Don La Greca]

Well, somebody would be cut, and it would be my kids out of that school. You know what it was like. I just didn't. I did not want to be that guy that ends up screaming. I wasn't as worried because I know they're teachers. But imagine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Imagine if you did, but just lose it on whoever it was, and it turned out to be somebody of significance in the school.

[Don La Greca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you just. Dr. And you just couldn't control yourself.

[Don La Greca]

You went, rob that worse. Or if it was like a junior in high school, she's driving for the first time alone to school, she's nervous, and now she's like a puddle like Police Academy. And then she goes to the principal and. Yeah. What was that character's name? That was a great character. And Police Academy. It was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the, the, the. The sergeant who was hilarious.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then. Right. And then the. She had like the high pitched voice.

[Don La Greca]

Yes. And she didn't say anything until she had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But then Bubba Smith didn't like it.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, that was. That was bad for everybody. ESPN New York Speech Bash is back. Friday, June 27th at Bar A in Lake Como, New Jersey. Head down to the Jersey shore and join the Michael K Show and Don Han and Rosenberg live starting at 1pm and an appearance from DPH or Rothenberg, Bart and Carlin, plus more. We'll have plenty of giveaways and fans in attendance. The fans in attendance will get the giveaways and music from Suit and Mai Tai and Overboard. It's all brought to you by Yingling Traditional lager Deep Eddie Vodka Chauffeur Hoffer spiked aid. And also wild fork meat and seafood market. And the New Jersey lottery. Must be 21 years of age or older to enter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sounded amazing.

[Don La Greca]

Which one?

[Peter Rosenberg]

All of it. Yeah, whatever that was. Whatever. Can I just see that real quick?

[Don La Greca]

What do you want to see?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What exactly? Peter, were you listening or you checked out? I was Schen Hoffer Spike spiked aid.

[Don La Greca]

Right. That's what it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know it is. I just. It's.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know if it's supposed to be that. It might be ale.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it. Chauffeur hoffer spiked a. It feels like wild fork meat.

[Don La Greca]

Wild fork meat. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's actually wild fork meat. Wild fork meat and seafood market. Not wild fork meat and seafood market.

[Don La Greca]

It is spiked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No spike dates.

[Don La Greca]

A thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a thing. It's the white. It's the pause between wild fork meat and seafood market.

[Don La Greca]

I feel like it'll be your guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Beach bash drink of choice, refreshing vodka drink, zero sugar, gluten free calories.

[Mickey Callaway]

Kidding me. Like you dream about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're all getting car services, right?

[Mickey Callaway]

Oh, yeah, I'm sure we're getting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely.

[Don La Greca]

You know what? We'll use the. We'll use the service that brought the kids back from the airport the other day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, just make sure you say thank you.

[Don La Greca]

It'll be Alan. The car service is Allen. That would be great if we could get destroyed at the. At the. At the event.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who says we can?

[Mickey Callaway]

Why not live a little bit?

[Don La Greca]

It's Charlie time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those would be epic.

[Don La Greca]

Think about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who says we can't?

[Don La Greca]

I'm out well, we got to get home. It's not good.

[Mickey Callaway]

Yeah, but he's. That's what he's saying is we're gonna have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're gonna be taken care of. Hang on. The first beach bash Rick and I ever did, we. We both showed up, you know, in the really good. Oh, yeah. I think, why am I trashed? Why me?

[Mickey Callaway]

But you know how Rick. You know how Rick does it.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, Rick does it. I just got excited August 23rd, by the way. The Sasso softball. More to come. Canties in. Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, kids like heaters in. Let's go.

[Don La Greca]

Bart hasn't gotten back to me. He hasn't got back to me from the very first one. I invited him to any show. That's troubling, but we'll have more on that later.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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.