Hour 3: Thibs Not in Trouble

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Thibs Not in Trouble

Release Date: April 7, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Episode Title: Hour 3: Thibs Not in Trouble
Duration: Approximately 50 minutes

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Introduction

In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, the hosts dive deep into the ongoing debates surrounding the New York Knicks' head coach, Tom Thibodeau ("Thibs"). The conversation primarily centers on whether Thibs should remain with the team based on their performance and potential postseason outcomes. Alongside this, the hosts touch upon broader topics in sports, including baseball weather impacts and comparisons with other coaching scenarios in different leagues.

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Main Discussion: Tom Thibodeau's Tenure with the Knicks

The primary focus of the episode is the stability and future of Tom Thibodeau as the Knicks' head coach. The hosts analyze the team's performance improvements under Thibbs and debate the conditions under which he might face dismissal.

• Performance Improvement:

  • Alan Hahn highlights the Knicks' resurgence, noting, "They’ve finally found stability. They are winning. They expect to win. The standard is high."
    (Timestamp: 07:07)

• Potential for Dismissal:

  • Rick DiPietro raises the concern, stating, "If they lose in the first round... there is that chance" that Thibbs could be fired.
    (Timestamp: 07:20)

  • Dave Rothenberg echoes the sentiment, emphasizing accountability, "If they get bounced the first round, that's on Thibs."
    (Timestamp: 07:49)

• Counterarguments:

  • Alan Hahn passionately defends Thibbs, arguing against hasty decisions based on playoff losses: "If you look at this, Don, Alan... this is being done here... How do you fix that to say this is... make everything unstable"
    (Timestamp: 08:22)

  • He further contends that Thibbs has transformed the Knicks into one of the elite teams, making it illogical to consider firing him after achieving unprecedented regular-season success:
    "They have finally found stability. Finally, the first thing we gonna do is get rid of the guy that put this train back on the tracks."
    (Timestamp: 08:59)

• Fan Sentiments and Organizational Loyalty:

  • The hosts discuss the mentality of New York sports fans, highlighting a tendency to criticize despite organizational improvements.
    "There are fans who think right now the guy should be fired... but he has done nothing but win back to back 50 win seasons."
    (Timestamp: 14:36)

• Comparisons with Other Coaches:

  • Alan Hahn draws parallels with other successful coaches who were unjustly fired, such as Mike Budenholzer, to argue for Thibbs' job security:
    "Like Mike Budenholzer... you've had a really good season... then they fire him."
    (Timestamp: 15:08)

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Listener Calls and Perspectives

The episode features several listener interactions, providing diverse viewpoints on the coaching debate.

• Listener Joe from Yonkers:

  • Expresses concern about Thibbs being fired if the Knicks don't perform in the playoffs, particularly mentioning the potential acquisition of Kevin Durant.
    "If they're trying to get Durant, that's going to change everything."
    (Timestamp: 28:14)

• Listener Mark from Staten Island:

  • Challenges the hosts by proposing hypothetical scenarios where Thibbs might be fired, emphasizing player-coach relationships and team dynamics.
    "The team that was last year... and they have a new team now... get rid of Tibbs, you can't say that because the team is different."
    (Timestamp: 29:16)

• Listener Josh from Brooklyn:

  • Provides an in-depth analysis of Thibbs' coaching style and its impact on team chemistry, arguing against the notion that Thibbs is inherently flawed.
    "The team that Thibbs built now is not the team he built before... They have been transformed."
    (Timestamp: 31:23)

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Comparative Analysis: Other Sports Teams and Coaches

The hosts draw comparisons between the Knicks' situation and other sports franchises to underscore the complexities of coaching decisions.

• Baseball Weather Issues:

  • Discussions around how weather impacts baseball games and the paradox of teams deciding which sports play indoors versus outdoors.
    "Why is that when it comes to sports... the baseball team plays outside."
    (Timestamps: 02:48 - 03:54)

• Comparison with Tom Buck and Marty Schottenheimer:

  • Rick DiPietro likens Thibbs to coaches like Marty Schottenheimer, who are known for getting teams to the playoffs but not securing championships:
    "He'll get you to the playoffs but just can't get over the top."
    (Timestamp: 37:29)

• NBA Coaching Stability:

  • The unpredictability of coaching tenures in the NBA is discussed, referencing coaches like Jason Kidd and Eric Spoelstra as potential parallels or alternatives if Thibbs were ever to leave.
    "Ty Lue is someone I'd go for... he's the right kind of temperament for this market."
    (Timestamp: 35:05)

---

Broader Sports Discussions

Beyond the central theme of Thibbs' role, the hosts touch upon other sports topics:

• Yankees' Performance:

  • Analysis of recent Yankees games, focusing on pitching struggles and offensive inconsistencies.
    "The Yankees lost six to two... It does feel like that."
    (Timestamp: 42:36)

• Mets and Division Contenders:

  • Insights into the Mets' early-season performance and comparisons with Giants, Dodgers, and other MLB teams.
    "The Mets have won four in a row. The bats are still silent, but pitching has been good."
    (Timestamp: 46:05)

• Run Differential and Team Standings:

  • Rick DiPietro highlights the Yankees' strong run differential despite recent losses, emphasizing the unpredictability of baseball standings.
    "Yankees have by far the best run differential in baseball."
    (Timestamp: 47:30)

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Concluding Thoughts

The episode wraps up with a reaffirmation of Thibbs' value to the Knicks and a critique of the fanbase's sometimes contradictory expectations. The hosts collectively argue that immediate threats to Thibbs' position lack substantial reasoning, especially given the team's recent successes and improvements.

• Alan Hahn concludes with a strong statement supporting Thibbs:
  "I am a firm believer in Tom Thibodeau as head coach... he’s more obsessed with the team than you are."
  (Timestamp: 23:18)

• Final Takeaway:

  • The consensus among the hosts is that Thibbs should be given the opportunity to lead the Knicks without the looming threat of dismissal based solely on playoff performance, emphasizing the need for patience and recognition of his contributions to the team's resurgence.

---

Notable Quotes

• Rick DiPietro:
  "If they lose in the first round... there is that chance"
  (07:20)

• Alan Hahn:
  "They have finally found stability. Finally, the first thing we gonna do is get rid of the guy that put this train back on the tracks."
  (08:59)

• Dave Rothenberg:
  "If they get bounced the first round, that's on Thibs."
  (07:49)

• Alan Hahn:
  "I am a firm believer in Tom Thibodeau as head coach... he’s more obsessed with the team than you are."
  (23:18)

---

Conclusion

This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers a compelling and nuanced discussion about the future of Tom Thibodeau with the New York Knicks. Through spirited debates, listener interactions, and comparative analyses, the hosts provide listeners with a comprehensive view of the factors influencing coaching decisions in professional sports. Whether you're a Knicks fan or a sports enthusiast, this episode delivers insightful perspectives on team dynamics, leadership, and the pressures of maintaining success in high-stakes environments.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] this is the Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Han at Rosenberg podcast.

[Rick DiPietro]

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 right.

[Alan Hahn]

Into the 5 o'clock hour. We go with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776.

[Rick DiPietro]

So how many goals did D. Pietro allow? Alexander Ovechkin. And who gave up the most?

[Dave Rothenberg]

I'll call. I'm gonna say rick gave up 14.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay, that's not bad.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm gonna go with eight.

[Rick DiPietro]

Five.

[Alan Hahn]

I was gonna say. I swear to God, I was gonna say five. But when he said 14 and you reacted like, okay, I thought, okay, I gotta go a little higher.

[Rick DiPietro]

And if you think about it, it's easy. Who gave up the most?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Mark? Andre Fleury.

[Rick DiPietro]

There you go. That's what made it so cl. I guess that's why it made it easier for him to send out his teammates and say, oh, let's shake this man's hand.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I love this man.

[Alan Hahn]

I will not devalue his sunburn in the back.

[Rick DiPietro]

What do you think the number? That number is for the most? 54.

[Alan Hahn]

No, like 20. There's 1826. All right. Yeah.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I thought it could have been even more over the years. I didn't mean that as disrespect.

[Alan Hahn]

Mark sure sounds like it's a lot of games, though.

[Rick DiPietro]

Oh, it's a lot of games because they were at the time you were playing between, you know, three, four, and there was times five games probably when what, Caps played the Penguins. You know, that Floyd was playing.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right.

[Rick DiPietro]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's 5:1, Detroit over the Yankees. It is the bottom of the seventh. It is snow jersey threatening is two on still. So Ottavino's in the game. Remember him? He's back again.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, they released him and then resigned him.

[Alan Hahn]

I know they probably didn't leave town. They just told him, stick around a minute, we might need you.

[Rick DiPietro]

I like Him. Remember we had him on.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a good dude.

[Rick DiPietro]

I'm a mohegan son, New York guy. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Carlos Rodone went seven and threw over, I think, 100 pitches. So they definitely got all they could out of him. But two home runs that he gave up have been the difference in this game. But we have had all kinds of weather. We have had snow in Detroit. We have had freezing rain in Detroit. We've got wind. The temperature's right. The sun came out for a minute. The temperature is 33. The real feel is 19 degrees. So baseball, like it ought to be everybody.

[Rick DiPietro]

It just shows you just how, again, how dumb we are. Why is that when it comes to sports. So they dome the football team where they play.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

But the baseball team plays outside. So the team where it doesn't matter what the weather is, they're going to play the game regardless, plays in a dome. But the team that's affected by the weather, where they had to change these games from night games to day games, play outside. If you really. If you had to grade somebody's performance on those decisions, tell me you wouldn't fire them immediately.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

You would actually start. Your decision is that you would think that the person. I don't know if it's. It's probably people, circumstances. I don't know. Listen, it's all financial, right. So obviously you could do more with a football field, I guess, than a baseball stadium. As far as you get college games there, there's a lot of other things. So let's dome it. Maybe we can get a Final Four there. We'll be able to get a Super bowl there. So they're thinking money, but just the idea that the baseball team's gonna play outside where the weather affects the game, but not the other way around. You would think the person would be stupid. You'd be like that. That's obviously somebody who doesn't understand weather.

[Alan Hahn]

Got it backwards.

[Rick DiPietro]

But it just shows you how finances get in the way. And baseball, baseball the way it ought to be, it's gotta be played outside. Well, does it make sense that it's. If the real feel of 19 degrees a game that they moved, if this game was at night, it would be like zero. And it's really.

[Alan Hahn]

It is irritating. Yeah, it's irritating when you think about, too. In Texas, what are they doing now with their baseball stadiums? They're making sure the roof is retractable. They're making sure that if it gets insanely hot in the summer, we'll just make sure we can put you know, a roof on this thing and close it up and get some air conditioning so we could play the game in our opinions can be comfortable.

[Rick DiPietro]

If we're talking about, you got tens.

[Alan Hahn]

And tens of people right now in Detroit enjoying this baseball.

[Rick DiPietro]

If you're talking about Tiger Stadium, you'd say, all right, well, listen, they didn't have the technology. They didn't know they built that stadium 20 years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's a beautiful stadium too, by the way.

[Rick DiPietro]

And in Minnesota's just as bad. I mean, I don't know what the heck you're thinking, honestly.

[Dave Rothenberg]

All right, Alan, I've been waiting until.

[Alan Hahn]

As old as time. Okay, so yesterday, last night, the Knicks were as close to hole as they have been in a long time. And for only the fourth time all season, they were a fully operational Death Star. They had everybody. They had Mitchell Robinson healthy in the lineup, obviously, Jalen Brunson being back after missing 15 games is the big part of the story. Deuce McBride came back as well. Campaign, everybody was available. And when you see that lineup now, yesterday's game, second game, back to back, fourth quarter, got away from him. But they Phoenix, not very good. They were just batting the bunny. They were batting the bunny against the Suns, but they were beating them pretty easily. And I'm watching it and I'm saying, okay, this is a different looking team because now you have all kinds of different options and different lineup options. There's a lot going on here. So this, this is going to be an interesting team to watch in the playoffs.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I agree.

[Alan Hahn]

But one thing that happened Yesterday was a 50th win of the season. Now, in a lot of sports, there's a number that you get to baseball, it's 90, would you say? Right. Was 90 like your real good season? Like you had a really good season.

[Rick DiPietro]

It's hard to say you had a bad season.

[Alan Hahn]

100 is like a great season. That's a great 90 to 95. You had like, that's a really good season.

[Rick DiPietro]

That's a 100 win seasons 14 and 2 or 14 and three now in the NFL, that's a 65 win season. In the NBA, 100 wins, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's got to be like that.

[Rick DiPietro]

Something like that.

[Alan Hahn]

So a 90, 92, 93 win season is like a 50 win season. In the NBA it's like you, all right, you've had a really good season. One of the elite teams of the league. So the Knicks had that. They got to 50. That's the second year in a row they've won 50 games in a season. Do you remember the last time they won 50 games in consecutive season?

[Rick DiPietro]

I am going to guess. Did not see this. I'm going to go 93, 94, 95.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct.

[Rick DiPietro]

Oh, wow. Not hard if you think it was.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually four years in a row. Pat Riley.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, I was going to say 90s.

[Alan Hahn]

That's 30 years ago. 30 years ago. Okay. That's how long it's been. And so use that in mind that this is being done here and then listen to what the guys this morning who I listen to our show regularly.

[Rick DiPietro]

It is a good show.

[Alan Hahn]

And this DP Etron Rothenberg had this conversation that had to do with. Of course, as we always do, we can't have. Can't live in the moment. Everything has to be about what's gonna happen next. And here's what they said.

[Rick DiPietro]

I would like to see this play out a little bit. However, if you have a bad postseason, it will not look the same next year. And if you have a really bad postseason, it's really not going to look the same next year. I think there is that chance. Yeah. I mean, you tell me if the Knicks lose to Detroit or Milwaukee, whoever is. Is the coach back next year if.

[Alan Hahn]

They lose in the first round?

[Dave Rothenberg]

I have a.

[Rick DiPietro]

There's no way he's back. There's no way he's back.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't do it. Don't do it.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Probably not.

[Rick DiPietro]

I hate that. Hate it or not, there's no way he's back next year if they lose in the first round.

[Alan Hahn]

Rick didn't want to say it. Did you hear him go right, right. He knew. He knew I should not say this. I know it's not true. But then he. Then he agreed. They've dragged him into it. Dave. And his negativity dragged him into it and made him say, yeah, probably not. Which is guys like, seriously, what are we doing firing the coach who has done nothing but win, who has given you winning in the regular season that you haven't seen in 30 years a standard. Everything else. And it's like, yeah, the first thing you do is get rid of the guy that put this train back on the tracks. Let's do that first. Rather than acknowledge whatever you see in that playoff that you are predicting will not go well first round that you will not like, oh, well, this went wrong. How do you got to fix that to say that this is. Well, you got to fire everybody because it's clearly not working. What? Don is clearly not working here when the Guy's giving you 100 wins in two seasons. You haven't seen that in forever. One of the best teams in the league all year.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, to defend Rick, I don't think he agrees with it.

[Alan Hahn]

He doesn't. He didn't want to.

[Rick DiPietro]

I think he just.

[Alan Hahn]

They dragged him into it.

[Rick DiPietro]

Maybe in sports that's what happens, because I'm going to play the middle, and I know that's not fun in sports radio, but let's be honest. Okay, yes, he has put them back on the map. He has made them respectable. He has made them one of the better teams in the NBA. All right, so now. Now you're there. So now the question is, is he the guy to take us to the next level? We're happy where we are, and we need to compliment him for getting us there. But if they get bounced in the first round.

[Alan Hahn]

And when you say bounce. Bounced.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah, I'm sorry, What's bounce?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Bounce, bounce.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me bounce out in five.

[Rick DiPietro]

I don't care.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It doesn't matter.

[Rick DiPietro]

If it's seven out of first round, seven is bounced. I'm sorry. That is going to look awful if they lose in the first round. I'm sorry. I know the injuries and everything.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not trying to deny you that it's going to. I'm not trying to deny that. I'm not trying to deny.

[Rick DiPietro]

You want to say, yeah, listen, getting swept is different than losing in seven in overtime. But losing in the first round is going to look like a huge step back. Yes, you've made roster changes. You've. Yes, you didn't finish as high as you wanted to in the regular season because of the injuries. But if you're a fully operational death star, as you described it, and you go into the postseason and you lose in the first round to the Bucks or the Pistons or the Pacers, that is not going to be good. Now, is it a fireable offense? That's obviously debatable to me. It would not be because it's still the first year of this new Nick team. They would deserve more time.

[Alan Hahn]

That right there. That is exactly the point. You can't look at this as it's been five years. This is a different roster than it was a year ago. They completely changed it. And with that in mind, as I've said, I think there's still another transaction cycle away from building a roster that would be able to contend with Cleveland and mostly Boston. Cleveland was that surprise. Nobody saw Cleveland but Boston and Oklahoma City, which has been building and building and building over time. This is something that you're going to probably need a little more off the bench to give you that killer, whatever it is. I said this, so I'm already on record that I felt like this is not the year yet. But they're getting closer. And so the notion that here's the thing to do, let's clear the decks and start over with a new coach, that doesn't make sense. And let me remind you, here's why it doesn't make sense. Because not only does the guy have this team winning games and winning at a level that they haven't done in 30 years, he is also, by the way, the choice of your captain. And if you want to now start disrupting everything else within the organization, that's what you do. Now let's really make it rickety. Let's bring in somebody else, which I'm telling you, it's not going to happen. But if let's play this game that everybody wants to play, which is if things don't go the way I want to see it this year, I'm going to blow it up. The captain now that Brunson now suddenly is like, whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on here? And the heart and soul of your team, pieces that you have built with the core of the team now suddenly is like, oh, you're bringing in new leadership. We're changing the way we play. What are we doing differently? That's gonna. What is gonna. What do you want to see different out of a team that was one of the top offenses in the league? Oh, you want more defense? Well, of course that's a personnel thing. Like, what is it that you want? That's, that's suddenly it's gonna be a wave of a magic wand and it's gonna be completely different.

[Rick DiPietro]

Let me defend my guys in the morning. You, the way you're explaining it is why he's not going to get fired. But you don't think there's a world where if they lose in the first round does not look good, that it's not at least up for discussion, that, hey, we got to keep an eye on this situation, man, he's a good coach and all, but is he the right coach to take us to the next level? What if for some brain dead reason the Heat fires Spoelstra and he becomes available like you wouldn't as a fan want to say, hey, maybe we can upgrade this situation? I agree with you. I don't think they're gonna fire him, nor should they fire him. But you don't think it's a discussion if they go up against the Pistons, look awful losing five. And there are some coaching decisions where you go, boy, I thought he really had a bad series.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, that's. You're telling me that somebody else coached the team because when does that happen?

[Rick DiPietro]

It doesn't happen. But I'm just. But let's not. You're explaining how it's not going to happen because. But I'm just saying, are they so wrong to say we can't even put the coach on the table if they lose in the first round?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Allen is. I agree with you, Don. I feel like Allen is playing the role of Michael here with the explaining what the Yankees would do and what.

[Rick DiPietro]

Their logic would be.

[Dave Rothenberg]

He's explaining what Dave, I think, was saying. I don't. I didn't get that. Dave was saying, oh, if that happens, he absolutely should be fired. I get that Dave is saying he could be fired.

[Alan Hahn]

Then my response is, Dave, who pays attention to everything, would. Should know that that's not even something. That's not even something to consider.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So why do you think, while you.

[Alan Hahn]

Would think on a. On a. Like, again, Dave's talking like he's a national guy who doesn't really know the ins and outs of what's going on here. Like, this is the. You know how closely related Thibodeau is with the Brunsons, how they all are related with Leon Rose and how stability is something that. That the guy at the very top of everything, the top of the Garden, loves the stability. Right? So if you know all that, there's no math that ends in Tibbs is fired. There's no math. So. So to like, that's the only thing I said is, well, like, if I heard that on the other station, I would say, well, these idiots don't know where to talk. I'm hearing it from Dave and Rick. I'm like, you guys know better than this.

[Rick DiPietro]

Peter nailed it, though, because this is the exact comp are the Yankees where the fans scream, Boone should be fired, and everybody that's close to the Yankees will tell you that's never going to happen.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Rick DiPietro]

But do the fans still have a right to then say, I think it should happen as Dave talking as a fan or a fan, if they want.

[Alan Hahn]

To feel that way. If you feel that way, it's one thing, but to say, I think it could. No, no. They finally have, like, again, done. They have finally found stability. Finally. And now the first thing we're gonna do is make it unstable.

[Rick DiPietro]

What's his contract? He's just got. He just got an extension, which is.

[Alan Hahn]

The other fact that you should be.

[Rick DiPietro]

Paying attention to, because it's not apples to apples, but I think Peter Laviolette's gonna get fired at the end of this year. Do I think he deserves fired? No. But I just look at it, he'll be in the last year of his contract and it just feels like, hey, you had a three year window, you completely bottomed out in year two. You can make a change. That's an example of a.

[Alan Hahn]

If Thibodeau didn't get the extension this summer, then I would agree. I would tell you, you know what you don't know.

[Rick DiPietro]

That's important to know because good coaches get fired. Sometimes coaches get fired when they don't deserve to get fired. But the circumstance dictate. We got to make some sort of a move.

[Alan Hahn]

Like Mike Budenholzer, after doing what he did, winning a championship in Milwaukee and winning coach of the year and all the things that he did, and then they fire him and they bring in a new coach who lasts 40 games, they fire him. And now they're on Doc Rivers. And they have never been the same. Right.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like, you do see that in the NBA. You also see what happened in Memphis, where, you know, best player doesn't like you and then you get fired.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. That's.

[Rick DiPietro]

But that's not the case, right?

[Alan Hahn]

If that was the case, if I felt like there was friction, then I could tell, I'd be honest with you. But that's not the case. This is.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So what would have to happen for Tibbs to get fired, in your opinion? Not, not this year. You're saying there's no chance this year, but let's say next year.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I mean, they'd have to have a precipitous drop in the regular season.

[Alan Hahn]

They'd have to be awful. Like, it just. They would have to be a bad losing team and bad culture.

[Dave Rothenberg]

He'd have to lose the relationship with Brunson. Like, things would have to be like fully off the rails.

[Alan Hahn]

Right? Right to a point where you could just. You could sense it. Like there's a disconnect now. The players aren't listening anymore. Like what happened in Minnesota where the locker, it got out of control, out of his control, where Jimmy Butler went crazy like that. What happened in Minnesota is what you watch and you go, okay, yeah, this. He's. He's lost the room, he's lost the team. But I am telling you, I'm there every day. I get no sense of that from the main players on this team. Are there. Are there fringe bench guys that are a little frustrated about their minutes? Of course guys are always gonna be annoyed by their roles and they think they should be playing more.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Are you including Bridges? You're not including Bridges in that?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I don't. I don't see. It's funny. I don't know what that is. That one, I gotta be honest with you. I don't know. But I can tell you that there's. He has no voice in this. Right. Like, this is still Brunson at the very top Hart Towns. Like those guys are the ones that have any type of say, by the.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Way, just for those keeping track at home, if you were wondering like, how will they ease Brunson back? It was 34 minutes yesterday. Not a lot of ease. He said, let's get right to it.

[Alan Hahn]

He said himself that he was surprised with the conditioning because I thought for sure, like you I thought 20 minutes.

[Dave Rothenberg]

20, 25 minutes more.

[Alan Hahn]

But even he said he was kind of surprised. The conditioning wasn't nearly as bad. And he gave credit to like, you know, the work that they had him do to get him and did not complain. But. And yeah, not a complainer who. Who complains about playing more.

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, no. Usually people don't.

[Alan Hahn]

So again, I understand it's the easy.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So you think Dave is a hack.

[Rick DiPietro]

Is what you're saying, but say that.

[Alan Hahn]

I think he's smarter than that.

[Dave Rothenberg]

This was beneath him.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I do. I feel like that was too easy of a take for him throw it out there and for Rick to Tim to drag Rick into. And Rick, you heard him hesitate.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, but you. You're saying.

[Rick DiPietro]

Want to say it just to clarify.

[Dave Rothenberg]

This so we can play them one nice piece of audio tomorrow morning to fire them them up. You're saying they sound like 2yo yos in the Bing Bong video screaming outside the Garden. Not like a couple of professionals who know the game. That's what you're sounding like coming to the neighbor. Yeah, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

They sound like that felt like one yo yo dragging like a guy into the yo yo con conversation. And now that second guy regrets it. Now they're double yo once out of it.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But they were double yo yo.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's too late now.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah, but here's. You're right, nothing this year. But is there a chance that a disappointing oust in the first round you could begin to start to lose players?

[Alan Hahn]

Lose players. It. Yeah. I mean like if they have. If it happens to where they go into the first round and they're just soundly outplayed out or whatever it is. Right. They just look flat. They don't look. Right. They don't. They get outworked and they're. They're, you know, it's a five game, you know, maybe six, and they're out. Yes. The off season will be a very tumultuous one because there's going to be a lot of expectations on what now you have to do to make this better.

[Rick DiPietro]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And then next season, that's when the sword of Damocles will be hanging over. Then I'll. Then I'll give it to you. I will give it to you then. But there's no way there is that hyper reaction to just blowing it up unless there is that. That Bolstra, whatever it is that you think. You do not replace him with a inexperienced coach. You do not replace him with an outsider that, you know, the Brunsons and Hart and all them have to now get to know. You're not doing that because this thing has finally gotten on track. They are winning. They expect to win. The standard is high. There's a lot now that they have established. Now it's time to see this thing through and see over the next couple of years, can they win one. That's. That's where you're at now. The last thing you do is sink the boat when you're finally out on the water.

[Rick DiPietro]

No, I agree with you. But I can also understand a fan's perspective of boy not living up to expectations to that level. There has to be some accountability for it. But maybe the accountability will come with a major transaction again or adding to the bank.

[Alan Hahn]

That's where you.

[Rick DiPietro]

Somebody.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

That those. Those things are gonna happen where they.

[Alan Hahn]

Realize that a player they were depending on wasn't who they thought and they make a move.

[Rick DiPietro]

But I'm also of the. Of the ilk of. I'm not gonna beat up a talk show host for having an opinion coming from a fan perspective. He doesn't. He's not in that room. He's not as connected as you are.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm alone. This is what. This is what this is.

[Rick DiPietro]

No, I.

[Alan Hahn]

So I'm alone in this. But all Peter wants to do is get a sound bite so they can play in the morning. And you're just now. Now defending, saying, you know, the poor. The poor. The poor little radio host in the morning who doesn't really know.

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, I think you presented your case.

[Alan Hahn]

That's fine. Look, I'm A man I can stand on my business. I don't need you guys like cover me up. Well, that's how this is gonna be.

[Rick DiPietro]

Now it's getting sad.

[Alan Hahn]

See, now, now I know how Michael K. Felt. See, now I know how he felt.

[Dave Rothenberg]

This is who you want to side. This is who you want to be in bed with.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just saying. Well, I just know if I want to be in bed.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I just said I, I don't feel as strongly as you do, but I do think it's a silly take, but I'm trying to picture facts that.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, that's what I mean.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I'll tell you this, but you gotta. But hold on. You gotta.

[Alan Hahn]

But next season. Yes.

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, you have to add some caveats that you're not adding. If they, if they get swept in the first round, it's on the table.

[Alan Hahn]

He's out, swept.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But hold on, Don, are these not possibilities?

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, these things exist.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But if that were to happen, he could be out.

[Rick DiPietro]

All I'm saying is that he just painted a picture of it's not going to happen. He knows he's giving you the inside information, how the players feel inside dope. It's not happening.

[Alan Hahn]

But that doesn't mean it doesn't carry into next season and become that pressure that if things don't go well next year during the season, then. Yes, but I will allow that. Then some real conversation starts to be had.

[Rick DiPietro]

And that's. I think what he's. That he's giving. He's planting his flag on. I think he should be gone. It's not gonna be gone. He doesn't have that power. Nobody has that power. But Leon Rose and Jim Dolan have that power. But like we went through with the Yankees, Michael would always explain how there's Boone's not going anywhere. And if they did fire Boone, the exact same replica of him would be replaced. Fine. But should. But that's not going to change somebody's mind of I still believe he should be fired. Right. Can both be true. You've explained to me why it's not going to happen.

[Alan Hahn]

I guess the problem.

[Rick DiPietro]

If I had the opinion of I think he should be fired, should that. Should I now not think that anymore?

[Alan Hahn]

Do we live in a place right now? Because there are fans who think right now the guy should be fired and all he's done is win back to back 50 win season. Like there are people who think right now. I don't think Dave feels right now. Right. I think what he's creating is the what we all do in New York, which is the negative hypothetical.

[Rick DiPietro]

I think what he's saying is, is that if they lose in the first round and yeah, it's the negative would be fired. That Dave would not have a problem with that.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what it sounds like.

[Rick DiPietro]

And it sounds like if they did that, you'd have a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

I would have a serious problem.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I would feel like it is, it is a major overreaction and I would need to see, I need the context of seeing it to understand it. That's, that's what I'm getting at. But I'm sorry, I am a, I am a firm believer in Tom Thibodeau as head coach. I've seen enough. I've heard enough from players, from staff, from every. I know what the guy's about. And I'm telling you, no matter what your favorite team is, this is the kind of coach you want for your team. Because I promise you, everybody, he's more obsessed with the team than you are. You could be the most obsessed fan in the world. Love your team 24 7. All you're doing is thinking about your team. I promise you, he's more obsessed than you promise.

[Unknown]

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The tax deadline is almost here and TaxAct has live experts to help answer any last minute questions you may have. Questions like can I claim my SUV is my home office? If I answer work emails in my car? If I adopted 12 dogs this year, can I list them as dependents and am I doing this right or am I doing this very, very wrong? Our experts have the answers to those questions and many others. Tax Act. Let's get them over with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Dave Rothenberg]

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 PODC podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Now the beautiful sunshine.

[Dave Rothenberg]

That is crazy. It was a blizzard.

[Rick DiPietro]

Blizzard 62, top of the 9th inning when the game's probably already decided. Now we'll put the sun.

[Alan Hahn]

Now the sun comes out. Peter, how about you? Now that Duke is out, are you now back in?

[Dave Rothenberg]

I'd be more interested if they were playing tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

Really?

[Rick DiPietro]

Oh yeah, I thought you would.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, so you'd hate watch for sure.

[Dave Rothenberg]

For sure.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Florida Houston's not exactly one of those like, you know, blue bloods. Oh, we got to watch this thing, right? It doesn't feel like a classic. I have a feeling this is going to be a classic.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

As far as like. Yeah, as far as a entertainment.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Well, styles make fights and you, you, you like the clamp down Houston D against the high flood. The high pace Florida offense, however you.

[Alan Hahn]

Want to put it. So that is it. Florida Houston for the championship tonight at 8:50. That was a tournament update presented by Schweppes. Schweppes offers above the rim refreshment and is proud to sponsor the big east conference. Enjoy the madness. Take a break from hoops action with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger ale. Did you see Don that Rick Pitino when accepting the coach of the year award, national coach of the year award. First person he thanked, Lou lamarillo.

[Rick DiPietro]

Oh yeah, they're close man. He hired him.

[Alan Hahn]

He's great. Gave him his start at Providence.

[Rick DiPietro]

I mean I'm sure somebody else would have hired Rick, but you're always going to remember the first person that gave you your shot, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

It opens all the doors.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's get some calls. 800-919-3776 on the Knicks Conversation. Joe and Yonkers, you start us off, Joe.

[Unknown]

Hey, what's up, guys? How you doing? Thanks for taking the call. All right, so the way I feel about the Knicks, you're absolutely right. Tibbs, he's good. He shouldn't go anywhere or whatever, but, like, if they do bounce first round, that's where I see it getting tricky even this year. And that's not acceptable because we trying to move on. We trying to get maybe like a Durant, and if Durant comes in or something like that, that's going to change the whole. The whole, you know, for the Knicks, it's going to be great. It'll change everything. And as long as we could do that, maybe try to get a bench or something like that, that's where I see.

[Alan Hahn]

All I got to say is this, Joe, and thanks for the call. If you're getting Kevin Durant, you're not getting a bench. Like Kevin Durant said it himself, I cost a lot. It's the reason why he turned down trades at the trade deadline, because he knew wherever he's going to go, he's going to blow the roster up, and he doesn't want that. So that is going to be a tricky question to answer this off season. Mark, in Staten Island. See, I said in Staten Island. Mark, what's up?

[Unknown]

Hey, boys. What's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

How you doing?

[Unknown]

So, you guys actually, you cut off.

[Rick DiPietro]

That clip a little early.

[Unknown]

Rick and Dave also said that if they get bounced the second round in, like, a sweep, that they would see Tim go as well, which I disagree with. I'm kind of with Don Alan. You can't see a world where the Knicks look terrible the first round. They get bouncing, like, five, six games. You know, you lose, start losing towns. Bridges starts complaining, and they fire Tibbs, and they just offer Jay Wright like a Brinks truck.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, first of all, Jay Wright's not coaching. Second of all, Mark, what you're describing is like, utter chaos. Like, you like doomsday situations. This is what we're coming up with. If this guy hates him now and that guy you're talking about in three or four weeks from now, if all of a sudden everything right now that's right and has been right all season just goes to hell, I mean, yeah.

[Unknown]

But Bridget Bridges was already complaining.

[Alan Hahn]

Bridges made one statement, one Poorly constructed public statement and had a conversation and has not said a word since. Right.

[Unknown]

And why don't you think about Jay. Why don't you think that Jay Wright.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just telling you. I just. I'm just going to tell you, I don't expect Jay Wright to coach. That's all I'm going to tell you. I don't. I can't speak for him. I love Jay Wright. I think he's done really well in broadcasting. I think he enjoys it. I don't see a scenario where he gets back into coaching. I'm just saying. I'm just going to be the scenario. No, no, it's not. Philadelphia would be. That's. That. That's his dream job, the Sixers. But I'm telling you that there is. I don't see a scenario where Jay Wright gets back into coaching.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, I'm not feeling that either.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. Like, so. But, But, Mark, like, I know everybody wants to come up with these. These doomsday situations where everything suddenly just craters. Of course, if all of a sudden Jalen Brunson decides, I hate Tom Thibodeau, like, yeah, okay, if he wakes up one morning and just suddenly doesn't like him, yeah, of course things are gonna go south. But, like, we're creating these crazy situations now. Josh in Brooklyn. Josh.

[Unknown]

Hey, what's up, y'all? Y'all doing what's up? I wanna. I got two points. I want to say. One, two. One thing, the first thing is that on coaching, if you. If, if you're going to think about coaching, I think it would be two people who would replace them. That would be possible. Either the Eric Sprostra or. I can see Jason Kidd getting tired of what's going on in Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

It's interesting. Ty Lou is another name, but they, they just locked him up in it with the Clippers, and that was smart.

[Unknown]

Thank you. I'm not even thinking that's going to happen because you can't tell me. And to be honest, we're going back to the Timberwolves days. There was a reason that. And people tend to forget about this. There's a reason that Tibbs didn't get along. There's a reason why they didn't get along. There's a reason why they had the animosity on that team. When you think about the year everybody's been saying was this. This is a Tibbs led team. This was a kind of team with this team this year. This is not a tips team anymore. And that all that's the Tips didn't create this team that all falls on Leon Rose and upper management. When you look at the team of and to say that if they get swept or that or fourth you can't think you can't name one thing about this year and say is wrong. But doing that this is for why they or why they became a three seed and why they won 50 games. It doesn't make any sense. This team is not the kind of team that Tibbs that you. That you. That that Tips built. You get what I'm saying? Like the team that was last year of how big ball they were, how tough they were. You can see from the the comment with Mikhail Bridges and the cat the Carla details thing as much as a great player he is then the two did get along and you may. You may see a why he didn't want to go build a team with Klein Anthony Towns because he's probably not the kind of player that he wants on the team that he that you want. He probably wants a defensive anchor and calling talent is not that as much of a talent as he is as much of a great shooter as he is. He's not a Tibs kind of player. So to say that the Knicks to get rid of Tibbs and to say like yeah, if they don't make it this far, it's on Tibbs. You can't say that because last year you we also we all said they would have made to the finals if Julius Randle was. Was healthy. If, if OG didn't get hurt, if all these things didn't happen. You can't, you can't turn around and have a give him a completely new team and then say well he has a new team. He has more talented players now we got to get rid of him. It just doesn't make sense to me when it's not a team that you believe is a Tips kind of team. Guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they made it. Thank you, Josh. They made it an offensive team. They also wanted to have wings to go up. They built the team to kind of counter what what Boston was built like. Now just to clarify, Thibodeau and Towns get along great. There are no issues there. That is long in the past. And I always say like we allow players to get better and improve and make up for the. We never let a coach the minute a coach has an issue with a player, it's like, oh, he's a bad guy. He's a bad guy. He can't coach player like, you know, Tibbs took a year off from the league went around and looked at things that he had to be better at. And one of them he thought was player relationships. That was something he had to get better at. Jose and Bayshore Jose.

[Unknown]

Hey, what's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

First time, long time, guys.

[Unknown]

I'm just tired of this fire tips narrative. For the first time in a long time, the Knicks have stability and who's going to replace them to put them over? That's going to put the Knicks over the top. Realistically.

[Alan Hahn]

Anybody available? There's no one available that I could tell you.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Well, yeah, available, available, yeah.

[Unknown]

The Knicks coach, then some first time guy or something like that.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean? You don't want to do that. Not with this group.

[Unknown]

Exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

No way. You bring in a first timer, you can't.

[Unknown]

Have a good night, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Rick DiPietro]

Shake loose.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I just thought like, if for.

[Rick DiPietro]

Some reason Miami fired Spolsh, which is.

[Alan Hahn]

Again another one of those things, that's never going to happen. But unless he left there. Like, remember when Pat Riley left the Lakers and he went to media and then the Knicks got him because he was available. Like, that's if that ever, you know, happened. Like Ty Lue is somebody that I always look at as a guy that if the Nick job opened, that's the guy I'd go for. He's a phenomenal coach. He's the right kind of temperament for this market. All the things that you would want. You know, that's the kind of guy. Kenny Atkinson would have been great too. But he's pretty settled in Cleveland. He's not going anywhere.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I think he found his way.

[Alan Hahn]

So, you know, it's.

[Dave Rothenberg]

These are all you do have to consider though. There is a thing that's not being said, which is that there are people who are Tibbs people. I would file Allen into camp Tibbs people. And there are people who are not Tibbs people. They don't like the way he plays players. They really think it's fundamentally a problem. They think it's plagued them all the way back to Derrick Rose. They're really not going to believe in him. And until they see proof a that his team stays healthy and wins a championship, they're never going to change their mind on that. And I think. But not that Dave Rothenberg's in that category, but that is certainly a category that exists.

[Alan Hahn]

It is true. You're absolutely right. And I, you know, whether it's that narrative, it is, it's odd to me. And I think, Don, we've talked about this a lot with some Fans that because you don't like whether it's the coach or a player, it's almost like you don't want to see your team have success just so they could be gone. Which is a weird way to root when your team has done nothing. Like, think about it, they went 15 games without Jalen Brunson. That should have that. I saw tweets that the minute they announced that it's, you know, he'll be reevaluating two weeks. Oh, we'll be in the play in. We'll be in the play in. Now it's all over. They were 9 and 6 and he really, really, really should have been 11 and 4.

[Rick DiPietro]

It's a character.

[Alan Hahn]

Those two losses, the San Antonio Charlotte thing, those were terrible losses. But think about it though. They're going to still be the third seed.

[Rick DiPietro]

It's a character trait of a lot of New York sports fans that they, they root harder to be right than they're for their own teams. Like, so if they get a mental picture in their head, this team, this coach stinks. I don't think this team's going anywhere. Whether it's consciously or subconsciously they will root to be right.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that crazy?

[Rick DiPietro]

It is.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, the Buck Showalter parallel that a lot of people present to me about Tibbs, where that's what he is. But he'll get your. If you're a bad organization, he'll get you organized, he'll get you right. But he's never gonna take you to the promised zone.

[Rick DiPietro]

Did those teams go on and win after he left? Because that's what happened to Buck. Yankees went on to win. Diamondbacks went on to win. That's what hurt Buck.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I tell you, Tom Thibodeau left the Bulls.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

They were a lottery team for a decade. Yeah. Tom Thibodeau left Minnesota. They were a lottery team for 5, 6 years until they got Anthony.

[Rick DiPietro]

That's why that parallel is not good. The better parallel is probably would be a Marty Schottenheimer or a Dusty, Dusty Baker until he finally won when he came back. But for a long time, yeah, he'll get you to the playoffs. He'll win you 90 plus games, but can't get you over the top. Yeah, maybe there's a lot of coaches like that. But the thing with Buck, though, and I love him, but look what's happened. Even, even the Mets to a certain extent. Like, let's, let's see, you know where the Mets end up. This will be a third team that won a championship after he left. Like that's, that's unfortunate. I think it's just kind of coincidence with Buck. But there are some guys that will get you there but just can't get over the top. Whether it's circumstances and it's weird. I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't we always root for the guy who's come close, who's had good teams, who always wins and he just can't. Like you want to see it finally break through, but not this guy. For some reason, nobody wants to see him finally break through one day because.

[Rick DiPietro]

Those fans who hated the hiring deep down inside want to be proven right. Why do you think they bring up the minutes police stuff? Because that's what they've circled back to. The reason he didn't win is because his players play way too many minutes.

[Alan Hahn]

And yet it's funny, they still win 50 games. His players may play too many minutes, but injury wise, what if they've been all breaking down? It's just so bizarre. 800 now we're 93776. So we have a final. The Yankees lose 6 to 2 in Detroit in a weird weather game of snow, a freezing rain, a little bit of sun and freezing temperatures. Carlos Rodin gave you seven plus 100 pitches, but a couple of home runs did him in and the Yankee offense did literally nothing. More you calls coming up. 800 now. 193776. Hey, it's Alan Hahn here and I want to tell you about my friends at Bath Fitter. They're going to remodel a bath in my home and my wife and my family, we're all excited. This is Stephanie's job though she's already told me, stay out of it. I've got this. So what we're doing is we're updating our bath by the pool that we put in. And we noticed last year everybody's using this pool off the bath. Here's the problem. I love 90s music. 90s bathrooms, not so much. It needs an upgrade badly. So a Bath Fitter consultant will be taking us through the process with their free in home consultation to pick the style and color as well as all the specifics and accessories to update our bath. Customized just as Stephanie wants it, Bath Fitter works fast, delivers the highest quality work without delay. Bath Fitter is a permanent solution. A one piece seamless wall for a watertight fit and a lifetime guarantee. You can trust the bathfitter team like we are as they've been in business for 40 years with millions of happy customers and Right now you can save up to $500 and start designing your bath like we are. Visit bathfitter.com for more details. There is only one bath fitter.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

I think you're on mute.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Places thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Dave Rothenberg]

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.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so the Yankees lose six. Two. They get seven hits. It's. I don't know, Don. Again, it's early in the season, all that stuff. They left seven on base. They lose to the Tigers in what was snow, freezing rain, like the whole gamut was happening.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah, both teams had to do it though.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, Boom Boom was barking about some of the balls and strikes. I, I, this is, I've said this before. This is kind of what you get, right? With the Yankees. It's the all or nothing kind of stuff. So you had the bad base running there by, by Ben Rice. He gets caught off, off third judge one for three. He does draw a walk. He does get an rbi, you know, so it's not much to complain about there. Bellinger back in it, you know, don't score, doesn't it feel like that? It does feel like that.

[Rick DiPietro]

It's seven hits. One of them was the triple by Rice.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Grisham got another hit, by the way, so he keeps it rolling.

[Rick DiPietro]

That was the only extra base hit that I see. So six singles and a triple and you score one run. Yeah, you know, and that. But that's how they're built.

[Alan Hahn]

And they hit two home runs, right?

[Rick DiPietro]

So weather. Well, you know, they hit two, so I guess it was doable. Sometimes in the cold weather it's hard. But the other team did it so you could do it too.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually, is it one home run? Banya just hit the one, right? Yeah, just a banya. So I thought there was two.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's a banyan.

[Rick DiPietro]

That was a two run single.

[Alan Hahn]

But it was. Yeah, it was. It was a two run single. But a three run home run, that'll. That'll set the table. And so. But I'll tell you what, Radon gave you. Eight strikeouts, six innings. He didn't get, I think he got, he didn't get an out in the seventh, but I thought he was out there for the seventh, 103 pitches. So they made him work.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And he, you know, I'm again five earned run out of the six, eight strikeouts. The big blow, the three run home run. But at the weird weather, everything about this, these are just one of these games. I'd be curious. I know Boone's talking now. I'd be curious to see how he feels about all the things, including, like I said, I think he was barking at a lot of the balls and strikes.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, no home runs today lost. No home runs yesterday lost. You know, it's. But they did score four runs yesterday and they had that big ninth inning. Yeah, but that's the second game again where, remember they were getting shut down by the Diamondbacks and they got the three run home run in the ninth inning to cosmetically look like it was a closer game. Remember? And same thing, right? Yes, but hey, listen, the. At least those three runs tied the game and put them in a situation to possibly to win it one for.

[Alan Hahn]

Five with runners in scoring position though. So you have five runners there and you only get one across.

[Rick DiPietro]

Not a big deal. You're still six and three, right? Or six and four. So I wouldn't get too, too caught up in things. Hey, look at. The Dodgers are not even in first place, believe it or not.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, they're nine and two.

[Rick DiPietro]

But the Giants are nine.

[Alan Hahn]

The Giants won like seven in a row or something. Like that.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah. They've won seven straight that division, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about Murderers Row, that division alone.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, this is what's scary if you want to shift gears to the Mets. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Giants are 8 and 1, Dodgers are 9 and 2. Padres 9, 8 and 2. Right. So those are two wild cards right there. And the Diamondbacks are 5 and 5 and the Diamondbacks and they're good.

[Alan Hahn]

And then like the Diamondbacks don't division. I was going to say to you that even the last place team is still really good.

[Rick DiPietro]

So don't sleep on the fact that you might have to win your division now. The Mets are off to a six and three star, but they're a game behind Philadelphia. Philadelphia finally cracked the code of the Dodgers, but again, it's obnoxiously early, but the Mets have won four in a row. Kind of quiet. The bats are still silent. Pitching has been good at least. The bullpen's been terrific. Now, Yankees lost a couple in a row, but it's on the road. Weather's been, you know, it's going to warm up. It is what it is. All right. Both teams should be able to hit and the Yankees are going to get at least heel back and they'll get Schmidt back. So the pitching should be better for them, I think. Listen, we're going to analyze it in real time. Not ideal. The Yankees lost two in a row. Mets could hit better, but at the end of the day, we're talking about two, six and three teams. Mets are playing the Marlins now at home. If you fancy yourself as a playoff team, that's another series you should win and get to work on things here, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Casey Mize struck, got six of the eight strikeouts as a starter. He gets the winner. You know, Heaney, yesterday, same story. What was it, 10, 10 strikeouts for Heaney in that performance? They had 13 total as a team. Like it's. It really still remains the all or nothing offense. As much as we all want to talk about, you know, how the Yankees are always going to. They're going to change their ways and be more of a athletic offense that manufactures. It's not. It's really all or nothing. And that's why Chisholm had two strikeouts on the day for four.

[Rick DiPietro]

You sent a text to our thread.

[Alan Hahn]

That was very angry.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, you were angry, but you're also very poignant when you said when they go up against good pitching, you know things are going to balance itself out.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Rick DiPietro]

They are going to expose bad. Both ends starting pitching and there's enough bad out there where they'll accumulate the allotted wins to be able to go to the playoffs. But this is what happens in the playoffs when you're going up against quality pens, quality starting pitching. That's where, yeah, you still relying on the home run, but they're going to come few and far between when you're going up against really good pitchers, really good bullpens. But listen, it's only April. I think both teams are going to be fine. But I can understand a Yankee fan being a little frustrated because you went from torpedo bats to like, all of a sudden we just lost the Pittsburgh in Detroit.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, how fast is that going every day, right?

[Rick DiPietro]

If it's football, you go, you got a whole week to sit on a great or bad performance. Now it's like real time. They've played what, three times since this show. The show ended Friday and now. Right. So a lot happens in and real time in baseball.

[Alan Hahn]

It's got every major league team the day after that big 20 run Saturday, every major league team ordered these bats. Did you see that? Everybody ordered it. They had. That's what I mean. Again, what did we say? Just like, can we give this a minute before this turns into the new phenomenon and should they be banned and everything else? Just give it a minute.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yankees have by far the best run differential in baseball. And the Red Sox are off to a great start. They won five in a row.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, yeah, they are now still even.

[Rick DiPietro]

With the Yankees and you know, the Blue Jays. I'm not. Listen, the Brute Jays, I got to see them this weekend. You know, nice team. They got a lot of guys. The bats are quiet that are going to start to get going. So we'll see. Orioles are still, I think, a really good team.

[Alan Hahn]

We don't know until the weather gets warm.

[Rick DiPietro]

North, find out exactly where you are as an offensive team.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. All right, 800 now. 193776. Remember, we go to 6:30. That's when you get Mets baseball the pregame. And you also get Rangers Hockey on 10:50am and you'll hear, of course, Don Legreck on the pregame there. So with one more segment to go, we got more to talk about with you, so stay with us. But first, Peter, a message.

[Dave Rothenberg]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

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.