Hour 3: Rick DiPietro & the Mets

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Episode Summary: Hour 3 – Rick DiPietro & the Mets

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 3: Rick DiPietro & the Mets
• Release Date: July 21, 2025
• Description: Hosts discuss New York sports, focusing on the New York Mets, Yankees, and broader sports topics, enriched with insights from guests and notable personalities.

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1. The New York Mets: Championship Caliber?

Current Performance Analysis: The hosts delve into the current state of the New York Mets, questioning their viability as a championship team. Concerns center around several key deficiencies:

• Offensive Struggles: "If you can’t hit with runners in scoring position, you don’t make runs in the postseason." – Don LaGreca [05:03]
• Bullpen Issues: "The bullpen's a mess." – Don LaGreca [03:15]
• Starting Pitching Limitations: "Starting pitching outside of David Peterson isn’t giving you any length." – Bart Scott [03:53]

Key Figures and Performances:

• Mark Vientos and Jose Alvarez: Expected to be pivotal but have underperformed. Alvarez was sent down, leading to his return and improved performance.
• Clay Holmes: Transitioned from starter to bullpen, though his effectiveness in longer innings remains questionable. "He can give you seven, eight easy innings." – Peter Rosenberg [05:03]

Management's Strategy: David Stearns emphasizes the need to bolster the bullpen: "We will improve our team. Specifically, we’ve been hit with injuries in the pitching staff, I think specifically the bullpen." – David Stearns [09:03]

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2. Trade Deadline Strategies and David Stearns’ Approach

Bullpen Reinforcements: Stearns acknowledges the importance of the bullpen and plans to be active in the trade market to secure quality relievers. "Providing our group some reinforcements in the bullpen would be great." – David Stearns [09:03]

Prospect Utilization: Discussions highlight the balance between utilizing prospects and maintaining a competitive team. Concerns include:

• Relieving vs. Starting Roles: "Once you shorten someone up to give them a chance to be a member of our pen, really tough to build them back up if you need them as a starter." – David Stearns [09:03]
• Potential Trades: The dilemma of trading promising prospects versus developing them internally, with caution against long-term repercussions.

Player Development: Alvarez's journey from being sent down to making an immediate impact reflects Stearns' strategy of fostering talent through less pressured environments. "He worked extremely hard... and he improved very rapidly." – David Stearns [10:45]

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3. Comparing the Mets with the New York Yankees

Yankees’ Current Challenges: The conversation shifts to the New York Yankees, drawing parallels and contrasts with the Mets:

• Bullpen Concerns: Similar to the Mets, the Yankees' bullpen is under scrutiny. "If I got to get 12 outs with this bullpen, I'm in trouble." – Don LaGreca [06:37]
• Managerial Leadership: Aaron Boone's handling of criticism and team morale is a focal point. "Boone has the job and deflects negativity away from the players." – Don LaGreca [17:17]

Potential Trade Moves: Discussions speculate on Yankees' possible moves, particularly targeting Federico Suarez:

• Trade Implications: "Are you willing to hurt a little bit to get exactly what you want." – Bart Scott [40:16]
• Prospect Management: The Yankees' reluctance to trade valuable prospects like Volpe highlights their focus on long-term team building over immediate fixes.

Fan and Media Dynamics: The impact of fan criticism and media pressure on team dynamics and player performance is examined. "Sometimes it brings the worst out, but sometimes it does bring the best out." – Don LaGreca [17:45]

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4. Player-Specific Discussions and Performance Insights

Chris Volpe:

• Performance Issues: Struggles with hitting in crucial situations. "He struck out a lot over the week." – Bart Scott [06:22]
• Positional Versatility: Limited by his performance, Volpe is confined to specific infield positions.

Clay Holmes:

• Transition to Bullpen: Although effective, there are concerns about his suitability for high-pressure roles. "He had good stuff but lacked the mental capacity to be a closer." – Peter Rosenberg [14:07]

Jose Soto:

• Clutch Performance: Improved performance is noted, but inconsistencies remain. "He was the definition of clutch for them last year." – Bart Scott [06:29]

Alvarez:

• Comeback Success: After being sent down, Alvarez's rapid improvement underscores his resilience and potential impact. "He improved very rapidly." – David Stearns [11:30]

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5. Major League Baseball Parity and Playoff Implications

Competitive Landscape: The hosts discuss the increasing parity in MLB, making playoff predictions more uncertain. "There is parity, no question." – Don LaGreca [05:03]

Playoff Readiness: Concerns are raised about team deficiencies translating poorly into postseason scenarios. "Their deficiencies don't work in the postseason." – Don LaGreca [05:03]

Potential Team Movements: Speculation on how parity affects team strategies and the importance of making effective mid-season moves to secure playoff positions.

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6. Upcoming Games and Team Matchups

Yankees vs. Blue Jays: Anticipation around this marquee matchup, with the focus on building momentum post-sweep losses. "They have to win these. They have to sweep." – Liam [30:32]

Mets vs. Angels: Highlighting the Mets' struggles and the return of key pitchers like Kodai Senga. "This is one of those you’ve got to put on your big boy pants and be an ace kind of start." – Peter Rosenberg [29:15]

Key Players to Watch:

• Carlos Rodon (Yankees): Expected to play a crucial role in upcoming games.
• Sunrise Hire Et Cetera: Various performances influencing the outcomes of these high-stakes games.

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7. Community Engagement: Tee it Up Challenge at Colonial Springs

Event Highlights: The hosts reflect on hosting the Tee it Up Challenge at Colonial Springs, Farmingdale, featuring notable guests and participants. "It was a great event... a lot of fun." – Don LaGreca [35:15]

Audience Participation: Engagement with listeners and local community members is emphasized, showcasing the station's commitment to local sports and events.

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8. Miscellaneous Discussions: Long Island Hockey and Local Sports Development

Hockey in Long Island: Brief discussions on the state of hockey in Long Island, highlighting the talent pool and infrastructural challenges. "There is so much talent on Long Island, hockey wise." – Bart Scott [22:22]

Future Prospects: Attempts to develop local hockey through initiatives like building rinks and supporting Division 1 college players, despite financial constraints. "It's all a shame." – Bart Scott [23:50]

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9. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Show Teasers

Final Thoughts: The episode wraps up with reflections on upcoming games, the importance of strategic moves, and continued analysis of team performances.

Next Episode Teasers: Hosts hint at future discussions, including Mets vs. Angels coverage and more in-depth team analyses.

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Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [05:03]: "If you can’t hit with runners in scoring position, you don’t make runs in the postseason."
• Bart Scott [03:53]: "Starting pitching outside of David Peterson isn’t giving you any length."
• Peter Rosenberg [14:07]: "He had good stuff but lacked the mental capacity to be a closer."
• David Stearns [09:03]: "Providing our group some reinforcements in the bullpen would be great."
• Bart Scott [40:16]: "Are you willing to hurt a little bit to get exactly what you want."

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Conclusion:

In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, the hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of the New York Mets' current season challenges, juxtaposed with the New York Yankees' strategies and struggles. Key discussions revolve around pitching deficiencies, bullpen reinforcements, and the intricate balance between nurturing prospects and making pivotal mid-season trades. The episode underscores the parity in Major League Baseball, making playoff predictions increasingly unpredictable. Community engagement through events like the Tee it Up Challenge highlights the podcast's local relevance. As the trade deadline approaches, both the Mets and Yankees face critical decisions that could shape their postseason aspirations.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Some say the three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game.

[Don LaGreca]

Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history. And I think I will be successful.

[Don LaGreca]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series Chasing basketball heaven. Available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Rick DiPietro]

This is the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Rick DiPietro]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Game time is brought to you by K Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Foreign.

[Don LaGreca]

Time, the metos the angels with coverage immediately following us right here on 8:80 at 6:30. And the Yankees visit the Blue Jays at 7:07 TU the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly. Another celebrity in the house, Rick DiPietro.

[Bart Scott]

Hey, you better protect that voice. This whole Tully time business.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that was. That was recorded pre Devil's Play by play guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Now I shut it down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you're not doing that anymore.

[Bart Scott]

Keep that thing lock and key.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Lemon water from now.

[Don LaGreca]

Gotta be careful, but sometimes I get caught up, you know? How are you?

[Bart Scott]

I'm doing fantastic. How you doing?

[Don LaGreca]

Good. Howard, did you shoot today?

[Bart Scott]

Michelle, will you. Yeah, we shall. I got a good group.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What did you guys do?

[Bart Scott]

14.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, okay. So we've had some. Yeah, that's really good.

[Don LaGreca]

You might win. Maybe.

[Bart Scott]

I was told five minutes ago that someone ate someone aced the par 4 today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, we were there.

[Bart Scott]

It's unbelievable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We were there. We were on the. The next tee box. The guy's a lefty, by the way. HE290. Couldn't find it.

[Bart Scott]

It was in the hole.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the guy's like. Just for the hell of a check in the hole, he's like, it's not going to be in the. He screamed, he went crazy. I'm watching, just laughing.

[Bart Scott]

There's a real chance if I did that today, I would be doing the breaststroke naked in that pond right there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you see, in the pond, I was telling the story that that thing in the Middle.

[Bart Scott]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I asked the guy working him, like, what is that? He said, it's a gong. And you can. I guess they line up here.

[Bart Scott]

Oh. And try to hit the gong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they all try to hit the gong.

[Bart Scott]

That's awesome. Yeah, I can imagine there's some wild.

[Don LaGreca]

Bolts in that water.

[Bart Scott]

That could be fun on this patio.

[Don LaGreca]

We're at Colonial Springs, Farmingdale, Long Island. We had the tee it up challenge, so we had a chance earlier today. Talk to Greg Buttle, John Starks, Bart Scott, and now Rick DiPietro. Nice enough to join us Here we open the show. Rick, your partner Dave Rothenberg is on, and we both are in agreement. Want to see if you're in agreement right now, as presently constituted, the Mets are not a championship team. They're not. They. They have just too many holes right now. They can't hit with runners in scoring position. Starters don't give you length. Bullpen's a mess. This deadline is so important you agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How can you say that in. In a. In a. In a parody, Major league base. You're nodding in agreement, Rick.

[Bart Scott]

Well, no, I think when you look at the division, I think a lot of us, myself included, I'll raise my hand, thought that Atlanta was going to be a big problem. Turns out they're not. So as bad as it's been, and it hasn't been good, and Don's not wrong. I mean, hitting with runners in scoring position has been a problem all season long. They're only a half game out as far as the holes. I mean, you have some internal answers, but those guys need to prove that they can do it. Mark Vientos was supposed to be a big part of this. That hasn't worked out. Alvarez was supposed to be a big part of this. Now they sent him down, which I think was, I mean, in his best interest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He got right, and now he's up.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, right.

[Bart Scott]

But, I mean, let's see how right he is when all of a sudden you're facing major league pitching again. Bullpen, they could use some work. Guys are right. A lot of work. But, I mean, it was a chicken or the egg, right? Bullpen was great. Starting pitching was great. Now with the injuries and everything else, starting pitching outside of David Peterson isn't giving you any length. Now you're asking these guys to give you 12 outs every night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, your bullpen attacks because of the fact that you starters, A, were hurt and B, couldn't go give you length. So now you got to replenish this. See, to me, it's All Stearns has to do and everybody at the trade deadline does the same thing. All the good teams do what they all go after relief, pitching, everybody needs it.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so you know he's going to get one or two arms. You're hoping one of them turns out to be a guy that in October you go, that was a good move. Look at that inning. He just.

[Bart Scott]

I'll say this though. Here's what I think that David Stearns is going to have to be willing to do. And Cashman does this, and I think why he was playing Jazz at second, excuse me, at third, was because there may be a better chance at the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Deadline to get a second base.

[Bart Scott]

Right. I think you got to look at Clay Holmes and say to yourself, if the price tag on a reliever is too high or it's someone we don't feel like is worth giving up what we need to give up. We can take Clay Holmes, who isn't giving you any length anyway now and put him at the back of your bullpen.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He can give you seven, eight easy. He can give you seven or eighth inning.

[Don LaGreca]

I know it sounds dramatic when I say I don't see a championship caliber team. You could look at only a half out of first place. Well, you can't tell me that all 12 teams to make the playoffs have, have an equal chance of winning a championship. There is parity, no question. But right now their deficiencies don't work in the postseason. If your bullpen is exposed, you don't make runs. If you can't hit with runners in scoring position, you don't make runs in the postseason, you just don't. Over 162 games. To your point with the parody, I can make the playoffs, I can win enough games to get it done. But right, rigging in the postseason against good pitching every night, against good bullpens every night, the way they're constituted right now, it's not going to work.

[Bart Scott]

Right. But I also think though, when you look at, when you look at what this team was supposed to be, this team was not built on their pitching. It wasn't. I mean, it was, hey, I'm going to go out and bring in Frankie Montas. We bring back Mania Senga. Peterson's been great, but it's not something that David Stearns does. He's not going to go give an eight year deal to a Max Freed. We don't have like, we don't have that guy. It was built around Lindor Soto, Alonzo, Nimmo and Vientos.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The top and interchangeable arms, no matter where it's starter or relief. Right.

[Bart Scott]

The offense hasn't. The offense hasn't held up there into the bargain yet.

[Don LaGreca]

They have not.

[Bart Scott]

Like Pete got off to an unbelievable start. Lindor was good to start and he's usually off to slow starts. He's been awful lately.

[Don LaGreca]

Was he like over his last 21?

[Bart Scott]

He's been awful lately.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what's funny is that Soto, who was bad when the team was winning, is now playing like high level ball.

[Don LaGreca]

Although you say that, but he struck out a lot over the week.

[Bart Scott]

Well, he's another one with runners in scoring position.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Bart Scott]

And that wasn't the case at all with him with the Yankees last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Bart Scott]

I mean, he was the definition of clutch for them last year.

[Don LaGreca]

Now you could say it's one of those things it's been all year.

[Bart Scott]

All year.

[Don LaGreca]

Like the pitching has kind of come back down to earth. But it carried them early. You're right. Because if you get, and I think there's a big difference between five innings and six innings. If I got to get 12 outs with this bullpen, I'm in trouble.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So do you.

[Don LaGreca]

Nine. I might be able to navigate.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so by July 31, you two are both the Mets guys. By July 31, Stearns needs to get. If you're going to prioritize two things you have to have on the other side of the deadline. What are they?

[Bart Scott]

I think bullpen's number one.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's. I think you're good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's easy.

[Bart Scott]

I mean, you'd like to upgrade center field if you could. But I mean, listen, mid season. Well, listen, I mean, I love Tyrone Taylor on a championship caliber team. Is Tyrone Taylor your starting center fielder? Probably not. But if Alvarez was hitting and Vientos was hitting. You know what I mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can live with someone because you're getting good defensive.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, if I'm getting nothing out of catcher now, nothing out of center.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Base. I can live. I can live with it at third base because at least he's given me.

[Bart Scott]

You can't though, because Volpe's not hitting. So now the whole left side of your infield can't hit. You know what I mean?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Both of these teams have holes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's really amazing.

[Don LaGreca]

We started the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Dodgers are what, the lost 8 of 10. Like, they're a mess.

[Bart Scott]

Oh, the hottest team right now is Milwaukee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But may. But maybe before that it was the Dodgers. Maybe the Dodgers are playing with their food because they at least have the pedigree they won the World Series.

[Bart Scott]

Look at Mookie Betts right now.

[Don LaGreca]

Stinks. It's so it's just baseball defensively, which is ironic. I mean, listen, parody. When you look at how long we've gone without repeat champions, how up and down, you know, the Diamondbacks and Tigers are. Diamondbacks and Rangers are playing in the World Series two years ago. You know, one of them is under.500. The other one's 50 and 50. You know, both missed the playoffs last year. It's crazy. So, yeah. But the good news is you can, you can get hot and you can make the necessary changes. So it's bullpen or to Rick's point, if you want to find another starter to move homes into the bullpen, I don't know where you find another bat that's going to situationally hit. Like that's a tough thing to find. Although I'd like to find another bat. But bullpen is. If I got to see Stanek again in another big spot, it's going to be tough. And listen, even Diaz, who's an all star, but still the four out save, he can't.

[Bart Scott]

He's been great, though.

[Don LaGreca]

He's been good. But I don't want to have to get four out saves on a consistent basis. You saw that didn't work all the time in the postseason last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so you guys want to hear David Stearns, who spoke a little bit earlier today, want to get some of the latest from him? All right, Jake's got it back in the studio. So, you know, will he. Will a position player prospect? A lot of things that fans love to talk about so much. Will one of those guys make an impact this season? He said this.

[David Stearns]

I think on the position player side, more likely than not, it's the grouping that we've seen here. I think it's the grouping of our veterans and then the younger players who we've seen throughout. Right now, I think it's probably less likely that we see the. The position player prospect make a make an impact again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you're a championship team, you're not really looking for a young player to step in and make an impact.

[Don LaGreca]

Even though Alvarez has been here. You're hoping that's a young player to make an impact.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but you were expecting that. All right, how about the obvious thing that Rick was just talking about? David Stern's on the Mets and being active in the bullpen market.

[David Stearns]

First of all, we will improve our team. We like upgrades everywhere and so I think we cast a pretty wide net and we'll continue to do so. Specifically, you touched on, we've been hit with injuries in the pitching staff, I think specifically the bullpen. And so we will be active there. And I think providing our group some reinforcements in the bullpen would be great. There are generally relievers traded at the deadline and so I'm sure there will be some this as well and we'll be involved in that. I think if, you know, ideally we'd find deals that we think make sense, bring guys in who we think could help us. If that doesn't happen for some reason, then we probably have to begin to think about some of the arms at AAA and whether those guys at some point can impact us in the bullpen. The challenge with doing that in season is once you do that, you can't reverse yourself in the same season. We can certainly reverse ourselves over the offseason, but once we shorten someone up to give them a chance to be a member of our pen, really tough to build them back up if you need them as a starter. And so we want to be very cautious if we're going to entertain that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, last one before you guys want to react. This is now Alvarez, who was called back up after getting hot down in aaa.

[David Stearns]

I think first and foremost we wanted to see how Alvi was going to respond to the challenge that we gave him when we sent him down. I've seen this go both ways. I've seen players sulk and ask, why is this happening? Why me? And then I've seen players turn the corner and look to get back and look to work and look to work with the instructors in a less pressurized environment. And from day one when Alvi was there, that's what he did. He worked extremely hard. I think he understood and recognized that the way he was performing at the major league level on both sides of the ball was not who he was. And he took the opportunity away from the bright lights and the cameras and the pressure of a major league environment to work and he improved very rapidly.

[Don LaGreca]

This.

[David Stearns]

This happened faster than I would have envisioned when we.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When we optioned a. Alright, so bullpen, clearly, yeah, I'm gonna be at the top of his priority list.

[Bart Scott]

Well, the problem is it's at the top of everyone's priority list. Yeah, Yankees priority list. So I don't know. Here's the thing for David Stearns is if you're not gonna go out and spend big money on legitimate aces, the only way you're gonna get someone like that is through your system. So how like how willing to get one of these pieces that we're talking about are you gonna be to trade us, you know, one of these, you know, big time arms in your farm system because you're hoping those guys eventually graduate up to the big team and can be those aces that you're not going to spend money on the tongs of the world. McLean, like those guys, you know what I mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you see notice too when they called, what's the kid they called up a couple of weeks ago, he's like, he was like the third or fourth best pitching prospect versus leaving those guys, especially McLean. They left them down there because I don't think they wanted to take them out of being starters and turn them into bullpen guys.

[Don LaGreca]

No, they don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think they wanted to be careful and to not mess with them for a short term fix. Fans were losing their minds about that. But yet it's the smart thing to.

[Don LaGreca]

Do because you're like unless, like what Rick said, you bring one of them up to be in the rotation and move Holmes to the bowl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bart Scott]

Well listen, here's the thing with Holmes. You got to just explain to him, hey, we want you to be a starter right now. We're dealing with, you've pitched the most innings you've ever pitched before. You're not giving us any length. You've had success, especially in the postseason, you know, in the bullpen. This is not a one year deal. Like you're not playing like you'll be back being a starter next year. But we need you right now in the bullpen.

[Don LaGreca]

And the reason it makes sense, Rick is because, you know, because he's not giving you length and he's in the back end rotation come playoffs. He's probably coming out of the bullpen anyway, right? Who you get you're going to have starting a series is going to be your ace, Manaya, Peterson, Montas Peterson. You don't have a fifth starter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Think about it. In the playoff series you need three. You just need three reliable starters, maybe.

[Don LaGreca]

Four, but especially in the best of five, you're using the three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But your fourth and fifth guy generally become long. Relief guys don't.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. Yeah, but usually depends on like how the schedule works itself out. But once you get to the league championship series, it's all outlined for you anyway, right. You have, and you have those three games of the wild card that you. Then you're not going to use your fourth starter obviously. So, but, but Homes right now would probably be your fifth starter. So you go into the bullpen anyway. So right now, let's make sure we. We can win this division. Not just win the division, Rick. But you want to be one of the top two seeds to avoid the wild.

[Bart Scott]

Right. I mean, just having the versatility to do that. That's why when they made the decision to bring, you know, Clay Holmes in and say we're going to try to transition him to a starter, well, what's the worst that can happen if he can't be, you know, if he can't be successful as a starter? He's been really good in the bullpen, especially if you're pitching him in the eighth as opposed to the ninth, you know what I'm saying?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So totally. He does have that stuff. What I always thought about Clay Holmes with the Yankees was that he had good stuff. What he didn't have was the mental capacity to be a closer. I always felt like that was a guy that when it was tough, when the going got tough, he for some reason melted down. Which tells you that's a better guy to, for the eighth inning or seventh inning, just come in and get through something but not feel like the game is on the line in your hands.

[Bart Scott]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't you think he's better suited for that?

[Bart Scott]

I think you're probably right. But I also think that if you're the Yankees now, when you have a guy who is. Because we used to always hear if he was blowing a safe. Oh, it's soft contact. Well, if that's the case and the guy's going to pitch the soft contact, we'll have some defense behind.

[Don LaGreca]

The Yankees don't play great defense.

[Bart Scott]

I thought we cleaned that up. And then, you know, coming out of the Ulster break, you got your captain going. Yeah. You know what? Body language is bad. We really weren't dialed in. Everyone's like, what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, here's. Here's the thing. The kid Vivas, what happened on Friday, like, think about this for a minute. He's known for being what he's a Johnny Hustle.

[Bart Scott]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And yet he doesn't. Like I always say, you're either coaching or allowing it to happen. And I'm telling you, sometimes guys who are known to be hardworking hustle guys, if you're in the wrong environment, you'll slip. And he slipped right there. He got okay. Did he get rooked? Maybe by that, by the play or by the deke, but that's the kind of shove. Of course, it was an amazing throw, but it's always what it looks like.

[Bart Scott]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you guys are Just talking about the Mets and whether or not you see the Mets as a championship caliber team. I look at the Yankees and you look at an easier path in the American League and I just keep saying. But it doesn't look right the way they.

[Bart Scott]

I don't know how easy that path is now either, though.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it is changing, isn't it? Lose Boston's good.

[Bart Scott]

Toronto now has your number. I mean, you're 10 and 16 in division.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we're going to find out starting tonight if Toronto.

[Bart Scott]

It's a big start for Radon tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Huge.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

Here's the thing. Here's the thing, though, I would say, because people like you guys take phone calls on this too, and I can imagine if they didn't win two or three and it was as ugly as it was that fire. Boon, he stinks. Cashman stinks. The whole, like every, you know, every year, every year we get that. But it's like, I think I also recognize that if I'm a manager in this city, if I'm, you know, Aaron Boone especially, just how heavy that Yankees jersey is. I got sports talk radio every day. I got, I mean, fans every day, social media. It was so bad for. I mean, Joey Gallo wouldn't leave his apartment because it was so bad. Like, do I need to, you know, do I need to pile on top of that? Like, it's hard enough for these guys. Am I gonna be the one? I'm gonna air them out on the media to appease the fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's funny, you know what I mean? Nobody thinks of it that way, but it is interesting to think of it that way because that is sort of the pound of flesh thing that used to be the norm.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody always goes back to the Billy Martin Yankees and all that stuff. It's something, I think that does appeal to fans, but how much does that turn off players and how much can that ruin a clubhouse? Well, how about a club?

[Bart Scott]

It's just about the player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like. Like you're. You're both. Yeah, all right, but. But still, the other guys see it. If you're booing, you're almost like, I'd rather them come at me knowing I'm probably. I know I have.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that's why he has the job, you know, and the other thing we talked so much about, like Girardi, maybe a little too negative. You saw it war on him, hasn't worn on Boone. He's the perfect guy for the job in that sense. Let everybody come down on him, deflect away from the players. The negative byproduct of that is does it create an atmosphere where you have, what Judge said, complacency going into the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Coach you're not allowing to happen.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. You're. Because you now have built up the, oh, we know we're good. Well, we're going to be fine. Sometimes you played Rick having a little bit of a sense of urgency, accountability, having a little bit of nervousness about your job. Yeah. Sometimes it brings the worst out, but sometimes it does bring the best out. That's how you want to find out. It all can't just be perfect all the time. Everything's great. I don't want to hear compliments all the time. After I do a show, I want to hear some criticism.

[Bart Scott]

Hold on one second. Hold on one second. Here's the thing, though. So you tell me this because you. I mean, you've been around sports your entire life, Alan, you two. Your son plays Division 1 college hockey. Is it more impactful for John Winthrop to come up to you after a show and say, hey, Don, you should have done this, this and this, or for Allen and Peter to pull you aside and hold you accountable?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, it's Alan and Peter.

[Bart Scott]

Right. It's the players inside that locker room. So Aaron Judge, I think, does do that. But I think that, I mean, front.

[Don LaGreca]

Of the world, not in front of.

[Bart Scott]

The world, I get that's as. I mean, vocal as he's been, where he actually said, like, to the media that we weren't, you know, we weren't locked in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But we did get a little bit of a taste behind closed doors. When Jazz said that Boone said, you're still the best team in baseball. So it gives you a sense. Is that happening?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a rah.

[Don LaGreca]

Are you being taken.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you ever watch in the dugout, after certain situations, positive and negative, like a good hit, like, like Volpe home run on Saturday. And the first guys that go up to him after, like, because, you know, you do the high five thing, but then you're alone and you, you know, whatever you're doing, you're. You're taking the towel, you're drying off whatever it is. And then all of a sudden, Judge will come by and pretend like he's got to do something with a bat. And you see, like, he just. He's talking to him without looking at him. And then Stanton comes by and he gives him, like, a pat on the back and keeps. It's those little things that happen that you don't have to see it, but it's Also after a mistake. Volpe made a mistake in the. Actually, I believe him when he threw the ball at him, hit him in the face. It's Judge doesn't walk up to him. Judge walks by him, stops, pretends he's doing something here, talking to him. So now the cameras don't say, oh, look at Judge going nose to nose with him. No, he's having it out with him, but it doesn't look like it. And that's really smart. That I have noticed in the dugout.

[Don LaGreca]

And Steve Young used to tell us on the case all the time when he was a weekly. The best teams, the clubhouse polices themselves.

[Bart Scott]

But we actually had Oswald. We actually had Oswaldo Cabrera on one of the rare Yankees guests that we've had until, like, Dan Grass completely ruined the interview. But I asked him, I said, hey, just because we take so many phone.

[Don LaGreca]

Calls on a second, is.

[Bart Scott]

Is, is Aaron Boone someone that will pull you aside? He's like, oh, yeah. What you see from Aaron Boone in front of the media is different than what you're going to get.

[Don LaGreca]

Whether it's Boone or whether it's the players, they still, they got to clean it up.

[Bart Scott]

Yeah. 100.

[Don LaGreca]

So it's nice that they have each other's backs and they police themselves. It's still not working. They don't run the base as well. They still have mental errors.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The minute the Dodgers started mocking you that if that didn't send off the alarm bells, if that wasn't something that you walked into spring training looking around going, we're going to make them eat their words. Like, we're going to be the most disciplined, fundamentally sound team this season. We're going to make sure. And yet, no, it's.

[Bart Scott]

Well, beginning of the season. They were cleaning those things up at the beginning of the season, and they.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Started creeping up again. They started creeping up the bad base running.

[Bart Scott]

There's no excuse coming out of the All Star break, though. Like, I got to think that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I agree, right?

[Bart Scott]

Like a team that's expected to win a World Series Series or at the very least, stink.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's still the Braves. I get it.

[Bart Scott]

But I mean, tell me, like, you don't have a conversation before everyone leaves for the All Star break, fellas, by.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The way, going into the break, that's what I'm saying. They were already going into the break. A team that looked like they wanted to go on vacation. They, they punted that last game.

[Bart Scott]

But if it's, if it's Boone, if it's Aaron Judge whoever it is. Like, fellas, hey, we all know what the expectation is here. Let's get away. Clear your minds. Relax. But the second we step back on this field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

We better be dialed in.

[Don LaGreca]

What did Dan do?

[Bart Scott]

Wow. I just got into like. I just finally cracked his shell where he was gonna, like, give us some inside stuff. I was like, so, what you guys doing your day off? And he just gets into like, it was me, Soto, this guy Glaber, and they were in Detroit. And then Dan decides that he wants to throw in a. Hey, did you guys go buy Little Caesars as well? The Cabrera had no idea.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And then it just took him off track. Now he's like, I don't know what you're talking about.

[Bart Scott]

Story was done. That was it over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sucks.

[Bart Scott]

I was like, really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then can we do a little hockey?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the Islanders have now made a third number one overall pick in the last 25 years.

[Bart Scott]

What a job. They stole the draft. What they did. What they did for him with his mother's initials.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The fact I was balling was shown on the jersey is the classiest thing I've ever seen.

[Bart Scott]

Balling, if you know the story, it's killed the draft.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

Killed it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So you're happy with it? You're happy with that choice? Well, they had three choices to make, and they went with the defenseman.

[Bart Scott]

Because we remember when we had three choices the last time we went with the Varys. He was great. But we could have Victor Headman.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

So they try to get back up and get Hagens, which would have been cool, but I would tell.

[Don LaGreca]

It would have been cool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wanted that story.

[Don LaGreca]

So I have not heard a negative about this kid.

[Bart Scott]

I told him the other day, I saw him over at Siosa. He was skating. I said, listen, it may not feel like this was the best thing for you right now. It's the best thing for you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know what you're saying.

[Bart Scott]

You want to come back and do that. As you're like, I've already established yourself.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

You're staying in Boston. You went to bc. Good. You're fine. Relax. Like, it's good. It's drivable. It's a good distance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And you're probably right. It takes away the pressure and the attention that might not be necessary out of the gate. Especially because he's a really good player. He's not a superstar kind of talent player that everybody like. If he doesn't immediately put up numbers, maybe the criticism comes. Right.

[Bart Scott]

He's not going to Be like, hey, he's a Long island kid. Hey, come save us. But it's like, I would also say, I think there's a big difference between playing against men in college than playing junior hockey.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, does he have a relationship with McAvoy? They had to cross paths, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bart Scott]

They know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They all skate.

[Don LaGreca]

They all skate together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

That's gonna help.

[Bart Scott]

There is so much talent on Long island, hockey wise. Oh, there really is. I do. We're just. I mean, we're wasting it with all these kids having to leave and everything else. This once, this. This. This pro skate, it was like, this guy's D1, this guy's D1. This guy plays Brussels.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, the league that they. It can't Superior. They have that league where it's just. It's crazy talent on top of talent. But we've talked about this. We tried it at St. Anthony's it just didn't work. We were going to put a rink in, and we're going to make it, like shattuck out of Minnesota and keep all the kids here. Instead of going up to prep, like, Zach had to go play prep. It's like, keep everybody on the island because there is a ton.

[Bart Scott]

And now we got D1 hockey. I mean, it's just a perfect transition.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Bart Scott]

Got LIU right there. But I don't know. We'll figure out a way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Make it happen.

[Bart Scott]

I had a rink done and everything. It's all said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What happened?

[Bart Scott]

Money.

[Don LaGreca]

Money. It's always the problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's funny.

[Bart Scott]

It's always a good time if you start asking for money.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What were you quoted?

[Bart Scott]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm curious to see if you had a number for the rink.

[Bart Scott]

Oh, it was a lot because it was three rinks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I see. That's the problem. I had a number for a rink that we were talking about @ Liu.

[Bart Scott]

Was it that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Higher? Higher.

[Bart Scott]

Yeah. Mine was way higher than that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And because they had to do something else with the facility to appease somebody else.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they said, oh, we just got to raise this number. I go, you're never raising it.

[Bart Scott]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're just not doing it.

[Bart Scott]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's a shame.

[Bart Scott]

It is. LIU football opens up in Florida, by the way. In Florida.

[Don LaGreca]

That's something you're doing a great job with, Dave.

[Bart Scott]

I appreciate that. Yeah. You see that? How'd you like the earring today?

[Don LaGreca]

Actually, it didn't look bad. Doesn't look bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it come. It was. It was. It was jarring. He turned. When he turned to say hello to me, I was Like, I thought it.

[Don LaGreca]

Would be a lot. I thought it would be a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It really caught me off guard. Like, I had a lot to say, and I decided not to say any of it. And I just went, wow, that's cool.

[Bart Scott]

Oh, Renan killed him the other day. We're all saying that. It looked good. I was like, that's horrendous.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. We're running labor. You should have saw him.

[Bart Scott]

Who cares about the Rock?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're running late.

[Don LaGreca]

It's Tuck. Like, Tuck could have asked him to just give me all the money in your wallet. And he put a hand at it. To him, okay.

[Bart Scott]

It was just.

[Don LaGreca]

Just. He was in, like, just awe.

[Bart Scott]

Okay, so I never told you the story. So you're a Jets fan. I'm a Jets fan. Like, if it was anything for the jets, we were Giants training camp. This would have never happened. So we're. We're doing jets training camp because the show starts at 6 that Dave decided he's going to stay over in, you know, closer to the facility, right? So we get there and he's like, dude, you wouldn't believe what happened me yesterday. I was like, what happened? He's like, I was at Chipotle and I was standing in line. And he didn't know at the time who it was, but he was just. He was just big, humongous guy. He's like, he must play for the Jets. So he starts talking to him. They get up to the front. Dave orders whatever he orders. The guy behind him, the place for the jets orders a burrito. They're not taking any credit cards. It's only cash. Okay, so guy doesn't have any cash, looks at Dave and he's like, hey, you got any cash? And Dave's like, well, we'll be over at the facility tomorrow. It was Michael Clemens, by the way. We'll be over at the facility. How will you find me to pay me back? I was like, what? You asked Michael Clemens to pay you back for a freaking burrito, knowing we're going to be at training camp? That if you had bought him a burrito, what that would have done for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Us inside that locker room?

[Don LaGreca]

The whole room?

[Bart Scott]

Well, how can I. How can I find you to get the money back?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. Where are you going to be?

[Bart Scott]

Yeah, right.

[Don LaGreca]

That's bad for him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the other thing, if that's a.

[Bart Scott]

Giant, could you imagine what he would have done with that burrito?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, listen, he would. He would have fed it to him like a baby bird.

[Don LaGreca]

It would be unedible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After that. Listen, but you got to believe. I'm sorry. Your show is great. You got. I told you this. You guys are the standard now, the station. We all got to live up to what you guys have done. But him saying that there's nothing that, that Sherry, right. That she could do to pry him away. And. And Winthrop had one of the best lines when he said, everything's on the table, maybe even the table, like, which was a great line. And him steadfast saying, no, I don't believe it.

[Bart Scott]

Dude, I'm telling you, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I physically can't believe it.

[Bart Scott]

There's a battery shortage in Westchester because of this, right?

[Don LaGreca]

The lights dim and it's the best time every day. The best is you go, don, you.

[Bart Scott]

Know what I'm talking. You know what I'm saying? Doug goes, no, I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't. Oh, yeah. That was fun.

[Don LaGreca]

It's like, you get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was the mic drop for us as well.

[Don LaGreca]

Love you, man.

[Bart Scott]

Thank you, guys.

[Don LaGreca]

Rick D. Pietro, you can listen to him. DPietro and Rothenberg, 6 to 10am right here on 8 80, ESPN New York. Lots to do. Take your calls at 1-800-919-3776. Special Jacob Perry, 6 o'. Clock. ENN as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

It's all happening here on Don, Han and Rosenberg on ESPN New York. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda for selection, customer service and savings during the Mazda More. To move you sales event, lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30 all wheel drive only. 239 for 33 months. Start shopping now at RamseyMazda.com. choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax title, registration, zero security deposit, fin SM804627 MSRP, 29,040 and 730.

[Jacob Perry]

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[Rick DiPietro]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Rick DiPietro]

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

[Don LaGreca]

How big this series is with the Blue Jays and I know it's only July 21st and I know there's 60 plus games left in the season, but after getting swept by them four straight a couple of weeks ago, you get you'd like to take the series if you're the Yankees, kind of build some momentum, you know, and I don't think they're going to get swept. The Blue Jays got to lose at some point. But you know, if we're staring at having a conversation on Thursday of this team being six out, that's, that's an issue. That's a problem. So let's see what the Yankees can do against the Blue Jays team. And really everybody in this division seems to have had the Yankees number. But you know, Blue Jays right now just don't lose. They just swept San Francisco Yankees took two out of three from the Braves and still lost the game in the standings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Rick said it, you know, for Carlos Rodone, like this is one of those this is why you're here starts, right? Yeah, this is one of those, you know, this is one of those you got to, you know, put on your big boy pants and be an ace kind of starts because you don't have Max Freed right now.

[Don LaGreca]

Looks like he's going to go Wednesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so you have him, but I'm saying you don't have him like out of the gate. He didn't have him to start out of the out of the gate either. He had the blister. You were given some time off also to make sure that that all star appearance didn't have any effect on your ill effect on you. But you talk about a stopper type of situation because you do get the insane comeback game on Saturday and then you get the good win on Sunday to get the series win against Atlanta. You want that momentum to continue and that momentum can start with, can continue with you. That's it. And this has to be for o', Don, one of those you can Trust me, in the playoffs kind of start. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And let's see. Because it's, it's not the playoffs, but it's pretty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feels like it.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, you only get so many games against these divisional opponents, right? 13. You just came off getting swept by them in four straight. Got a play up in Toronto again. Kind of a quirk in the schedule that the two straight times you faced them both in Toronto, see if they can get the, you know, get some work done here. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Liam. He's in Vegas. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Liam?

[Liam]

Hey, I was gonna talk about the Acuna play, but what I've just been listening over the past 90 minutes. Yes, really going to be an important series for the Yankees this week to get back into the area. AL contention for their division. Yeah, it's gonna. They have to win these. They have to sweep. No, no fans or buts about it. They just have to sweep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I kind of agree. Like, I almost feel like, look, if you, if you're any team, you want to win every game, right? But this, these are some of these moments in a season, are these what are we about moments. And you would think that as a group, the mentality is, is let's, you know, what happened in Toronto was embarrassing. Embarrassing to lose four straight. Right, Embarrassing. And so this is one of those, what's our response going to be? Let's take it back. Like, I've been waiting for this Yankee team to answer what the Dodgers were mocking them about. I've been waiting for them to always answer what people say about them and they haven't yet. And this is one of those, what kind of answer are you going to deliver to this Toronto Blue Jays team that took the division from you and now is making you chase them? And you know, on paper you're better than that. You know it.

[Don LaGreca]

Agreed. But to say you have to sweep, you don't have to sweep. You take two out of three, you're within two games now. That's back to back series wins coming out of the break. I mean, you're going to take that. If you're a Yankee fan, the Blue Jays have been red hot. Yeah, you'd love to sweep them because that would answer back the sweep against Toronto. A couple of weeks ago you'd be tied first place and now it's on, you know, but this has been one of the best teams in baseball. You know, I think you can. But to say you have to just win series. That's what you want to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're a really good home team, right? Yankees are a mediocre road, but the Blue Jays are a really good home.

[Don LaGreca]

Very good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But as you're saying, they're streaking. They've been on a good run, but over the last, like the Yankees, after going through that lull in June, they also have won 7 of their last 10. Same thing as the Blue Jays. So it's not as if they are a hotter team than you are. You're both sort of, you know, in a. Where the Yankees were when they were last in Toronto is not where they are now. And that's what you want to see is can they now play up to their potential and let a team know? Like you might have the vision now, but you're not having it full on.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it'd be nice to have a statement, but you know, are the Yankees, you know, playing well enough to make that statement? But yeah, you feel a lot better about them if they go out there and sweep. But the old adage, take a one game at a time. You got Rodon on the mound. Gosman's been good for Toronto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's been all right.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, he's been a good pitcher. He's under.500 with a 4.19 earn run average. You're right, he's been all right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He hasn't been there. Springer's killed.

[Don LaGreca]

Springer's killed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First of all, he's having a great year, but he has killed the Yankees. And that's something that you have to keep in mind also. What kind of approach do they have with Springer? Like what do they. Do they keep going after him? Do they, do they give him a little bit of a different approach because of the fact that he has. I mean, you remember that series, that four game sweep? It felt like every big hit came off his mat. Or he was the guy.

[Don LaGreca]

He had a RBI game, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, he did, but he was. Then he also have like a three home run game and. Oh yeah, whatever it was. But. But he, he's either the guy who had the hit or the guy rounding third heading for home. It always felt like every run they scored he was involved in.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. So hey, nobody thought it was on the table. The Blue Jays would sweep a series. The first time they ever done that sweep a four game series at home against the Yankees. So see if the Yankees can bounce back tonight.

[Rick DiPietro]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Rick DiPietro]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Church is coming to Barclays center on Saturday, September 20th. ESPN New York has your chance to score tickets on the ESPN York app and espnewyork.com just find the contest tile and submit your entry. Tickets are on sale now. Head to ericchurch.com for more information. Don Leg Greco.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, cool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Enn's coming up at six. I haven't heard Jacob do one probably since last summer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are they good? I have never heard of Very good. He did an audio files for us back in the day and I think, I think he would tell you that he would want to do it again. Yeah, I know get that second chance because I think he got choked up during it. But I'm believing in him today. This is not an easy show to produce, of course, because we're all over the map. Guests are just hopping in, we're talking about all different topics and we're out here in beautiful weather while he's stuck inside. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And it's a great event that we do every year, the Tee it Up Challenge. And it just worked out that we were able to do the show from here. Alan was playing. Michael wanted to be here, but he's in Toronto. But to have Rick and Dave and Chris and Bart, we had almost the whole station here. It's so rare because of the day parts that we're in to all be together at the same time and to be able to see people like Justin Tuck and John Starks and Greg Buttle was really cool. And all the listeners that participate in this and a lot of the clients that drive, obviously our station and the weather held up. It did drizzle just a little bit about an hour ago. It wasn't much. It actually was pretty welcoming. How hot it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What a gorgeous day. Honestly though, don't. When you consider what last week felt like where it was not you weren't, it wasn't. You couldn't be outdoors last week. The weather today was. Was perfect for a day like this. And it was, it was a lot of fun.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it was just a really nice show today. And Matthew Welling to catch up with him after getting a scholarship to Syracuse and everybody here at Colonial Springs in Farmingdale, New York and some people are still hanging out as they just finished serving dinner. Just good to see Barry Watkins was here again. I never.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's been so long.

[Don LaGreca]

He's. He's an awesome guy. I've known him for a while, so just catching up with a Lot of different people was a lot of fun. So thanks for listening today and hopefully you're able to get something from all the different guests.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you got tonight. So again, we're talking a lot of Yankees, Blue Jays because I do feel like that's the marquee game tonight, like Yankees Blue Jays. Radon's on the mound against Gosman. But but for the Yankees is there's got to be some get back now and gain some ground or gain back some ground at least in the division. You know, Mets Angels at Citi Field is not exactly like, you know, you're not, you're not thrilled for it, but you have Kodai Senga on the mound. And it is certainly something, if you're a Mets fan, that you, you know, look that, that was not a great series you just came out of, and.

[Don LaGreca]

It was an awful series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, you know, you got Senga on the mound. You're hoping to get through now to a point where you're starting pitching, especially a guy like him is now back and will be in the rotation for the rest of the way. You know, I do feel like from a Met perspective, tonight's game also is one that I'm not just because it's a, you know, interleague game. I do feel like there's a little something extra to this game tonight. Agree or disagree?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, for sure. Because you just lost two out of three to Cincinnati. Now Cincinnati.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the way you lost those games.

[Don LaGreca]

You'Re both awful throwing the ball around. The bullpen wasn't good. Didn't get any length out of starting pitch. You can't get a big hit. Although they did get a couple of big hits yesterday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they put like it was a lot of late stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

It was too little. But hey, listen, Trout's going to be in the lineup for the Angels. Sanga, as you said, is on the mound. And this is what the rotation is supposed to look like moving forward. You get Montas tomorrow and then you go to Wednesday Manaya. Right. So that's, that's kind of how you're supposed to be. That's where you're supposed to be. So listen, I don't like the way it looks right now, but it obviously can change. And now that you got your rotation back. Let's see, this is how he envisioned this rotation to be, Stearns, when he put it together. Yeah, right. And now we'll see what arms they get out of the bullpen coming up on the 31st. But, you know, start winning some games here. Philadelphia is not going is not disappearing. They've had their struggles. They got beat up by this Angels team. So the Mets are stolen a half game out. So. But that. That looks cosmetically. Right. But you look deeper. Like, you look deeper at the Yankees and say, this isn't a team that I think is going to be able to make a run. See how it looks over the next. What is it? Today's the 24th. We got 10 days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

However many games, eight games, whatever, in that span of time to decide exactly where they're going to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But both GMs, really, in the next 10 days, have a lot to do to get their teams to a point where you can really say it with your chest. Because you do have a lot of parity in Major League Baseball. Because at the very top, there is no runaway team. Even the teams that are. Again, you know, Red Sox went through an amazing run and the like every time, like. Yeah, but I still. I don't buy it. Like, I'm not buying in. Blue Jay. Same thing. I'm not buying in. So there is not that one or two teams that feel like the juggernauts. It does feel like a couple of tweaks here and there, and either one of these New York teams could be. All right, that's the favorite. Now, if the right move is made, Suarez takes third base, and now they bring in a guy who's hitting 30 home runs. You put that in the lineup. Are you kidding me? So there's. There's still things that could happen in the next 10 days that could change the way we feel. But right now, both teams aren't giving us the kind of confidence to say, oh, yeah, one of these teams going to win a championship.

[Don LaGreca]

It's not too often that you have both local teams being that invested in the trade deadline, because both teams are good. Both teams need to make moves. It's going to be a lot of fun that day, just seeing what transactions.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe even competing for the same player.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Well, especially out of the bullpen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Suarez seems like he's the big needle mover. I can't imagine a Yankee fan being upset if they make that move. The only way, I guess, would be is if you had to give up a Lombard Jr. Or a Jones.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No way you give up Lombard, but Jones, maybe you heard Heyman. When we talked to Heyman last week, he said that he had heard from scouts that the sense is the Yankees are going or setting up to do something big.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, if they're willing to part with Jones, they can get the Suarez Thing done and maybe more, you know, because I think there's a couple of players outside of Suarez they can get from Arizona, including starting pitching.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Michael brought this up about Jones. He is tearing the COVID off the ball in Scranton.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Another 6, 7 guy, too. Very judgy.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Hitting home runs. But he is also striking out 40% of the time, which means that when he gets up here, he'll probably strike out more than half of the time. There can be an adjustment there, you know, does that fit? Like there are flaws. There's flaws, you know, so. And that's one thing about the Blue Jays. They don't strike out. And that's why they're playing the way they're playing Yankees. Strike out. Are they going to add somebody that is going to hit a lot of home runs but strike out too much? So there's no perfect player. I don't think they want to part with them. But you know, the Cubs are hard for Suarez. There's other teams that are going to be in the running and if one of them is willing to give up a big time prospect, is Cashman willing to go that extra mile to get it done or is he going to play it like he usually does, wait for that perfect trade where he gets what he wants but doesn't have to give up too much for it. He usually finds a way. There's this fallacy he doesn't do a lot of the deadline, he does a lot of the deadline and he's usually able to do without giving up something that hurts. Outside of King in San Diego, there really hasn't been many prospects or any players they've traded away that have come back to haunt the Yankees and go, boy, I wish I had that guy. Back when I was growing up, there was a laundry list of guys, whether it was Jay Buhner, Doug Drabek, there was always Jose Reyo. They don't do that. But at what point does he feel like, you know what, I'm going to have to hurt a little bit to be able to get exactly what I want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's funny too, you mentioned the Cubs. The, the Pete Crow Armstrong thing does hover over New York, right? Like that. I know it's not a Yankee related one, but it's still like that's the cautionary tale of making a move that you feel like, hey, this can really put us over the top and instead it doesn't work out and then you give up somebody that ends up becoming an all star caliber player.

[Don LaGreca]

Because that's what Brian means When he says, I don't want to win a championship, I want to win championships, meaning that he's thinking two, three years down the road. But what I would answer, my retort would be, are there a place for all of these guys, you know, and do they all live up to expectations? Remember, Volpe was the guy they could not part with. Three years in, there's been a lot of warts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. But they are hugging him tight, like.

[Don LaGreca]

You could feel you have to. Because now you think of all the things you could have had because you didn't let him go. So you're going to be patient.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he's only in mind, though keep in mind all the people that think they should give up on Volpe. Now, you got to understand something. Look, first of all, George Lombard Jr. Is not just a third baseman, he's a shortstop.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if things with Volpe don't improve to a point where they realize, okay, it's time to make a move, they're still not going to go out and spend on a shortstop, a veteran, because they know this guy. No, I can't play if he's not going to play third, because Volpe's not good. We'll put him at short there. Like, that's a real thing in the organization, they have options, and it's buying them time right now.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not. I'm not suggesting giving up on Volpe for all the reasons you said. It's that you hold on to him even tighter because you look back and go, if we let Volpe go, we might. Or sign this guy or that guy. Things might have been a lot different. And I think they believe in him. And it's only been three years and he's already got a Gold Glove. And with the Rookie of the Year, like, he's done things, but they're. Because what happens is by holding on to these guys, you maybe sometimes create unrealistic expectations for them. Because what happened, like with the Martian, all the Martians coming? Well, you know, he's been good when he's been healthy, but playing out of position, not exactly what was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see him at center field.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If I'm. If I'm remembering right, Don, your memory is better than mine when it comes to this stuff. But if I'm not mistaken, it was a couple of years ago they wouldn't trade Volpe for Castillo. Castillo, right. They were trying to get a starting pitch.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They ended up getting Montas instead.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. Am I right? You're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They went with it. Because they didn't want to give up Volpe. And so you know, could. Could Castillo have helped them in the playoffs that come here because Montos obviously was a total non factor. You know, those are the little things that. That's the one time I remember that name came up and they said, no, he's part of our future. We're not giving up on him. And then the next year became rookie of the year. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

So you just want to. It's just fans want to live in the now. Fans don't care about the future. Of course Cashmere has.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they care about the future, but they only care about it after you've real. They've realized it's been a mistake.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, they care. They care about the future when it becomes the present. And they're living in the present right now and they want to go out there and win a championship. Well, I'm excited about this. Jacob Perry is going to take center stage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on, Jake.

[Don LaGreca]

He is going to be handling Renn. So we're looking forward to that. And then we're going to take up until 6:30 when it's Mets Angels right here on 880 ESPN New York.

[Rick DiPietro]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good.

[Rick DiPietro]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.