Hour 3: Tong's Debut & Alan's Belief

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Hour 3 – Tong's Debut & Alan's Belief (August 29, 2025)

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Episode Overview

Hour 3 of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast digs deep into the current state of New York baseball as the Mets and Yankees embark on the last 28 games of their seasons. Alan Hahn and Don La Greca react to the Mets' untimely loss, explore the excitement and pressure around Jonah Tong’s MLB debut, and dissect what it means to be a “real fan” versus being a professional broadcaster. Key talking points also include Yankees' crucial upcoming stretch, the Red Sox’s surprising performance, and a “misery index” for New York sports franchises.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mets’ Frustrating Loss & The Jonah Tong Debut

• Game Recap and Disappointment

  • The Mets' loss is dissected in detail: bullpen woes, defensive miscues, and missed scoring opportunities dominate the conversation.
    • Don: "It wasn't so much Soto giving it up in the seventh... Alonzo couldn't field it and they end up giving memo bobbled one that allowed the go ahead run the score." [01:00]
    • Alan: "They didn't look sharp, you know, even early in the game, they were kicking the ball around." [03:14]
  • Both agree the defeat feels like a “Phillies sweep hangover,” wasting the momentum built over the last series.
  • Don warns there’s “no margin for error” given the division race and references the history of Mets-Marlins heartbreak.

• Jonah Tong: The Next Phenom or New Pressure Point?

  • Excitement and expectation swirl around the Mets’ call-up of pitching prospect Jonah Tong.
    • Alan: "There was some video of him...walking barefoot Don in the outfield grass, just like kind of walking around the field, looking around, looking up in wonder. And that's kind of cool, right?" [03:34]
    • Don: "When they call a pitcher up, a highly touted pitcher, you pay attention...history tells you it's worth paying attention to." [12:51]
  • Both stress the pressure that now falls on Tong, especially after the previous night’s loss: "If he ends up struggling and they lose the game now it's two in a row. And if Philadelphia takes care of business now, the division's probably over." [05:52]

• Mets Pitching Woes: Tipping Pitches & Fixable Flaws

  • Alan brings up closer Helsley potentially tipping pitches, suggesting a fixable problem could turn around the bullpen’s fortunes:
    • Alan: "Could it be that simple where he just...doesn't realize that he was tipping. Teams were like, knew what he was going to throw." [04:24]
    • Don: "Well, of course, because it's fixable...if it's just as simple as correcting that mistake..., then he can be what he was in St. Louis." [05:27]

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2. The Yankees’ Upcoming Defining Stretch

• What Do the Yankees Need to Prove Now?

  • Alan frames the next 12 games (starting Tuesday) as the TRUE measuring stick for the Yankees, calling out the importance of upcoming matchups with contenders.
    • Alan: "The next two weeks of baseball for the Yankees is the most important and compelling baseball they're going to play to date." [23:36]
    • Alan: "[This] will let us know what you are...because you can tell me all you want...our best baseball is in front of us. This is a great team. We want to win a World Series. All those things. That all sounds nice. But starting Tuesday..." [18:22]
  • A critical Jazz Chisholm quote is read:
    • "We want to win the division. That’s our plan…we’re going to win the World Series." [15:43]
    • Don and Alan debate if star power alone is enough: "The one thing about baseball...it's got to come together, right? The Yankees have always had stars." [16:07]

• Red Sox Surprise & Team Expectations

  • Don notes different fan attitudes: Red Sox are exceeding expectations; Yankees fans, in nearly the same standings position, are frustrated.
    • Don: "He was just glowing about the Red Sox and how much fun, fun they are to watch...It just shows you the expectation..." [08:52]
  • Red Sox and Mets both calling up top pitching prospects fuels a parallel storyline.

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3. Fan Identity: "Real Fan" vs. Professional Broadcaster

• Listener Call-In: The Alan Hahn “True Fan” Test

  • “Neil from Tenafly” accuses Alan of not being a “real Yankees fan” because he prioritizes compelling matchups over always watching the Yankees.
    • Neil: "He’s waiting for them to win. He’s not a real fan. He puts the Mets on...on the big screen. Puts the Yankees on the small screen..." [25:10]
  • Alan’s defense is equal parts passionate and reasoned:
    • "So, Don, you’re the purveyor of fraud and not fraud. Am I showing fraud behavior that I am...watching them, as I do every season, closely..." [26:11]
    • He explains his history as a lifelong Yankees fan, and insists that being a broadcaster means prioritizing what’s story worthy, which sometimes means putting the Mets front and center, especially during moments like a Phillies rivalry.

• Balancing Audience, Family, & Fandom

  • Don supports Alan’s stance:
    • "There are a lot of really good people that I know that have made a living out of being a fan first and a talk show host second. That’s the decision that they made. That’s fine...[but] we get on the air, it's this, what is the story?" [29:04]
    • "If you didn't do this for a living...how would you have consumed those two games in your house?" [28:11]
  • Both stress the reality of life getting in the way of obsessive fandom once you have a family and a professional commitment.

• Iconic Quotes on Fanhood

  • Alan: "I can’t tell you that because I don’t climb the walls anymore and scream like a lunatic...I’ve gone after Cashman. I don’t like the things that they do. I don’t like the style they play..." [32:31]
  • Don: "It's really hard to be a real fan and to then do a good talk show." [37:16]
  • Alan: "You're a better fan because you ignore your family and sit in your, in your bark lounger and watch every minute of every game?" [37:38]

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4. The Misery Index: Where Do the Rangers Stand?

• Listener Kevin raises a new topic – the "misery index" for NY sports teams.
  • Kevin: "The Rangers should be pretty high on the misery index. If you look at it, they have 94 and then really nothing else since 1940." [41:12]
  • Alan points out their recent conference finals and cup appearance, ranking the Rangers sixth behind the Jets, Nets, Islanders, Knicks, and Mets [41:33].
  • Don acknowledges the Rangers’ loyal fanbase, long championship drought, and adds context about playoff structure and franchise history [42:22].
  • Discussion moves to whether the Mets or Rangers belong higher, comparing playoff appearances and championships across both [44:10].
  • Alan wraps up noting even as a Yankees fan with modern “malaise,” you can’t call it true “misery” compared to some others [46:20].

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Tong’s Debut:

  • Don: "It just always becomes a bigger deal. And now the tone was set with McLean. So, yeah, you're going to definitely pay attention." [12:50]

• On Player Pressure & Playoff Races:

  • Don: "If Philadelphia takes care of business now, the division’s probably over." [05:52]

• On Fan Expectations:

  • Don: “It just shows you the expectation and, and all that, right. Is that the Yankees came off going to the World Series and they seem to take a step back. Red Sox are surprising people.” [08:52]

• On Fandom as a Broadcaster:

  • Alan: "Look, I could have gone after Neil. I didn’t want to be bothered because he sounded like a nice enough guy who just got emotional. And it’s not worth my time." [32:22]
  • Don: "It's really hard to be a real fan and to then do a good talk show..." [37:16]
  • Alan: "You're a better fan because you ignore your family and sit in your, in your bark lounger and watch every minute of every game, like, how does that...you're better than me because of that?" [37:38]
  • Don: "If you ask me, Don, what's the score of the Met game? And I don't tell you, I'll give you a dollar because I'm a knowing. But I'm not going to sit there and watch every single pitch because life gets in the way." [36:10]

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Important Timestamps

• [01:00] Mets game breakdown & defensive miscues
• [03:14] “Phillies hangover” and transition to focus on Jonah Tong
• [04:24] Mets bullpen issues, pitch tipping
• [12:51] Why Mets pitching call-ups capture fan and media attention
• [15:21] Jazz Chisholm’s “We’re going to win the World Series” quote
• [18:22] Alan sets up Yankees’ crucial 12-game stretch
• [23:36] Yankees’ schedule breakdown: “Don, I asked you about McLean...is tonight one of those...I'm locked in for you because it's Jonah Tong”
• [25:10] Listener call-in: “Alan Hahn is not a real Yankee fan”
• [29:04] On balancing talk show host and fan identity
• [32:31] Alan on why he’s lost passion watching Yankees vs bad teams
• [37:16] Don: on the challenge of combining real fandom with good broadcasting
• [41:12] Kevin from CT: The “Rangers misery index” debate
• [44:10] Mets vs. Rangers: Which franchise has the longer-suffering fanbase?

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Tone & Takeaways

This episode, even with Peter Rosenberg absent, is quintessential New York sports radio: honest, passionate, and occasionally combative. Alan and Don blend statistical debate with personal reflection on what it means to care about a team, especially when you cover them for a living. Listeners are given a crash course in both baseball anxiety and sports talk candor. Whether you’re a die-hard or a detached observer, this hour offers both insight and a reality check on what New York sports do to their followers.

If you missed the episode, expect hard truths, some relatable frustration, and more than a few laughs—a perfect microcosm of the New York sports landscape.

Transcript

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[Alan Hahn]

This is.

[Podcast Announcer]

The Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Podcast Announcer]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Telemardre Irish Whisky when it's game time.

[Alan Hahn]

I like when he holds it.

[Don Hahn]

The Mets continue their series with the Marlins coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30 and the Yankees and White Sox continue their series in chi town at 7:40 Tullamore du 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 due responsibly. Really frustrating loss for the Mets last night in so many different ways and it wasn't so much Soto giving it up in the seventh, although that's part of it because they did kick the ball around. Alonzo couldn't field it and they end.

[Alan Hahn]

Up giving memo bobbled one that allowed the go ahead run the score.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, and not a good not a.

[Alan Hahn]

Clean game for the bench.

[Don Hahn]

Well not not a clean game and also again I don't want to continue to just repeat myself but you know Holmes gives you five innings. So now you're in the bullpen and the bullpen has got to go out there and get 12 outs and Stanek comes in in the sixth inning, walks the first two batters in a 44 game. Now he got out of it because of the double play. So you dodged that bullet but you couldn't dodge the bullet in the seventh. And then you know the Mets offense and Alonzo had a big two run home run and you know the Mets fell behind one nothing. Then they come back, take a two one lead, fall behind four two, they tie it at four but then the offense goes away. You know it's one thing Allen to give up the lead but you know you could have added on after Alonzo hit the two run home run. You know you had the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth innings to get some more runs.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't do anything Yeah, I get it, but should be, you've been averaged over.

[Don Hahn]

Seven runs a game, but when you score four runs in the first five, you know, why not at 7 4, you got a chance to maybe, you know, chip away at least that shouldn't be the death knell, right, that you still have three innings to try to get back into it. And they got, they, they got a run around in the ninth inning and Mullins had a 31 count. So I think, hey, maybe they got a chance to bring the tying run to the plate, but they were able to work their way out of it and they never got another runner on base and that was it. So there's just a lot of things that went wrong. So. But it wasn't just about Holmes not giving you length. It's not Soto giving it up. It's not just the errors. It's not just the off. It's a lot of things.

[Alan Hahn]

It wasn't a good game, but the.

[Don Hahn]

Offense, but, but the momentum built off of sweeping the Phillies, you know, goes right away.

[Alan Hahn]

Would you say it was like, like a little hangover, right? Little hangover game. They didn't look sharp, you know, even early in the game, they were kicking the ball around like it wasn't a sharp game for them. Maybe a bit of a Phillies hangover. And the Phillies, of course, pound Atlanta. So now all of a sudden you find yourself back, five games back of, of the Phillies. I think it sets up tonight, which was already going to be an exciting atmosphere with Jonah Tong and to see if another phenom can come up from the Miners and, and really stake a claim as somebody the Mets can rely on. And they just. There was some video of him going out on the field this afternoon, walking around Citi Field. Boy, he looked like a kid in a candy store the way he was just. He was walking barefoot Don in the outfield grass, just like kind of walking around the field, looking around, looking up in wonder. And that's kind of cool, right? Like that, that he does still have that wow factor even in himself going like, I'm really here. I'm in the show. So that makes tonight's game fun, but it also puts a little something extra on this game too, because it's like, all right, you want the kid to pitch well, but win the fricking game, right? Like, all right, make sure that was. That's a one off last night. That's what you want to say. It was a one off. And so we'll see where it goes. What did you think of? And I'm. I'm mad at myself. Yesterday when you and I were talking about the Mets, and I had this in the back of my mind with Helsley struggles and just how. How ridiculous it is where he's just getting pounded, and I'm like, I wonder if he's tipping pitches or there's something going on there. But I didn't. I never asked you. And then, sure enough, there's a story that he thinks that that might be the case. And wouldn't that be something. They find something in the video and say, oh, dude, you're doing this. He fixes it. Could it be that simple where he just. He doesn't realize that he was tipping. Teams were like, knew what he was going to throw. They were sitting on his fastball. And if he fixes that, instead of it being a mechanical issue or instead of it being a fatigue issue, it just is something like, oh, my God, I didn't realize I was doing this. And then all of a sudden, he gets it back. I would rather know the guy's tip and pitches than he just doesn't have it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, of course, because it's fixable. Like, if he can't handle New York, if there's something physically wrong with him, then it may not be fixable. But if it's just as simple as correcting that mistake of tipping his pitches, then he can be what he was in St. Louis and be the dominant pitcher that they thought they were getting at the trade deadline. So I'm hoping that's the case.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And we'll see.

[Alan Hahn]

Boy, what a difference that would make.

[Don Hahn]

That would know. That would. That would help. Bullpen again, you're not going to win every game you play, and it's just the circumstances, right? You sweep, you are. You got the Marlins coming in, so let's just take care of business, because the Marlins smack them. And if any Met fan worth his salt knows the Marlins, no matter where they are, have always been an issue, Right? It was not being able to beat the Marlins at the end of the 2007 season that cost him the division, right? So you're probably right. It might have just been a hangover, but with, you know, 29 now, 28 games left in the season, and you have almost no margin for error trying to catch Philadelphia for the division. You. You can't afford to have, you know, looking past or having a hangover. You got to just take care of your business, man. And if you get beat, you get beat. But when you're. You're kicking the Ball around and again, you get no length from your starting pitch. These are things that I would like to have seen a better performance. And now Tong has to come in here and maybe if they had won last night, there's a little less pressure on him. You know, eventually you're going to lose. But if he ends up struggling and they lose the game now it's two in a row. And if Philadelphia takes care of business now, the division's probably over. Right, because now you're six back with 27 games left to play and. And now you're more games back than the games you have left with Philadelphia. And, you know, I don't want it to go sideways for him here because remember, you're not that long ago they lost two out of three to the Nationals.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, just think about it. Against the two bottom, bottom, bottom dwellers in the division, you've lost now what, three out of four?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, three out of four against the bat. Yeah. And you did take two out of three from the Braves, but that was a loss on Sunday you didn't want to have. So there's a loss against the subpar team, then two out of three against Washington. Now you lose the first game against my. It's little things like that. You know, listen, it frustrates the Yankee fan too, Alan, that they seem to be able to beat up on the bad teams and it's the good teams they struggle against. But that. That kind of makes sense, right? Like, yeah, if you're the Yankees, you're supposed to struggle against the good teams and beat up on the bad teams. But the Mets, they sometimes struggle against the bad teams and they come to play against the good teams. It's like, wait a minute. That has nothing to do with what you are.

[Alan Hahn]

I'd rather that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, because, listen, I think the Yankees. The Yankees are what they are because they're better than the bad teams, but I don't think they're as good as the good teams. So what they're doing actually makes sense. As frustrating as it is, it makes sense on paper. Well, if you think for the Mets, it doesn't make any sense.

[Alan Hahn]

The Yankees. The Yankees are actually 500 against the winning teams and they're plus 14 over.500 against the losing team. So they are on par.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the good team, 500 against the good teams overall, but against the really good teams, like the Blue Jays in first place, like the Tigers in first place, like the Astros in first, like the first place team.

[Alan Hahn]

4 and 15 against the Blue Jays and Red Sox is all you need to know.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Now the Red Sox, see they include the Red Sox because the Red Sox have been so dominant. The Red Sox, they're not a first place team. The Red Sox are the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

They just own you, right?

[Don Hahn]

They just happen to own you. But the first place teams like Detroit, like Toronto, like Houston, they, they belong where they are. They're better, you know, at least on paper. The Red side, it's so interesting just the how things are set up. Alan. So I went to Flick and for people don't know what Flick is, it's our commissary, Florida for Disney, abc. It's the building across the street from ours. And sometimes I'll go there for lunch and I use my Disney ID and I go in there and who do I see waiting for a sandwich is Lee Goldberg. And Lee's a Boston guy, big Celtic guy, big patriot and a Red Sox fan. And the Red Sox and the Yankees are essentially tied. Right. Like they're right there. It's a half game difference between the two teams. And he was just glowing about the Red Sox and how much fun, fun they are to watch. Like he's in a great place with the Red Sox who essentially have the same record as the Yankees and the Yankee fans want to jump over bridge. It just shows you the expectation and, and all that, right. Is that the Yankees came off going to the World Series and they seem to take a step back. Red Sox are surprising people. I don't think anybody thought the Red Sox were going to be this good, especially after the Devers deal. Right. It looked like maybe they were tapping out.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And now here they are as good.

[Alan Hahn]

They just released Walker Bueller.

[Don Hahn]

How about that? Yeah, they did. You wonder if somebody's going to take a chance on him.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I, I think you should. Well look, last year in the World Series he had a moment where it looked like he finally got it back. Yeah, he'd been coming off the injury and then I thought like that would be a really good, sneaky good signing. And then he kind of like lingered. Nobody signed him and then the Red Sox picked him up and I thought that could be a really good sign. But he just has not, he has not worked out again. So it's sad to see how far he's fallen off now. But yes, the Red Sox are and they're so they brought up, they're doing the same thing the Mets did, calling up one of their number two prospect and he's going to pitch tonight. Tonight. I think Skeens goes right. So I think they're going to put their. Their young. Like this is their big pitching prospect, a big lefty against Skeens tonight. And so they're excited about that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Now, toll, 22 years old.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Making his debut in the minor leagues, he was 3 and 5 with a 3.04. But he's actually, you know, looking at. He's. He's really made his way up. Just three different teams he's played for in the minor league. So he's made the. He's made the climb here.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So, yeah. Red Sox taking on the Pirates. So they got a chance to continue their hot ways. Yankees finish up the series against the White Sox. God, it's so sad watching that game last night, Alan. It's like nobody in the ballpark. There's like one guy close to a mic just like screaming. Joe Girardi had to comment on it with, with Ryan Ruka, like, he couldn't ignore the one guy in the stand screaming. It felt like Covid. Right. Like when they were letting some fans in and you got like hearing conversations. You're hearing peanuts here. Get your peanuts.

[Alan Hahn]

So for. All right, so there's two twofold here for us tonight. So, Don, I asked you about McLean the other night and I asked you, you know, did you finally have movement? Right. Three games. Does that really do it for you? Now, is tonight one of those. I'm locked in for you because it's Jonah Tong. Let me start with that.

[Don Hahn]

I'm locked in anyway just because there's only 28 games left. But no, but no, obviously you're may. If this is a home start or a Manias start, you're like, okay, got to watch the game. Got to keep an eye on the Mets because, you know, it's a big game. But no, you want to see what this looks like here because it never. It never seems to be ordinary. Right. Like when. When they called up deGrom. And I remember because I was in the ballpark when they were playing the Yankees, me and Ryan Hurley drinking cannons, and he went six innings, pitched brilliantly. And you felt that there, there's. We talked about it yesterday. It's their identity. It's their DNA.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So when they call a pitcher up, a highly touted pitcher, you pay attention. It just. You just do because history tells you it's worth paying attention to. Now. It doesn't always work out. You had the Generation K, you had west back in the day. But I remember when he got called up, I guess it was like 87, 80 sometime in the late 80s. And it was like a big deal when he got called up, because they usually deliver, even going back in, you know, back in the day, whether it's Seaver, Matlock won Rookie of the Year. So it's usually not just something. It's. It always becomes like a bigger deal. And now the tone was set with McLean. So, yeah, you're going to definitely pay attention. That's why. Because the standard that's been set, I just hope that he doesn't struggle and it just becomes a bigger deal than it should. You should struggle in your debut. Right? So that's the normal thing.

[Alan Hahn]

I love the fact that it's at Citi Field. There's something, you know, that crowd, you know, you saw how it was when McClain got to the eighth and he walked off the mound. You saw how the reaction was. And I think there's something about it being at home I think will be great. That fan base is all fired up for it. But I'll tell you this, though, because while the Mets. And again, I was the first to admit they've been my first screen this week, that series with the Phillies had my attention. But after this weekend, it ends because starting Tuesday, the Yankees pretty much, this is it, 12 games in 13 days. And it's. It's the murderers row. No, it's everything that we've been talking about.

[Don Hahn]

September, it's September.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But this is going to basically let us know for the one for once and for all what they're about. Three at Houston, three against the Blue Blue Jays at home. You get a day off, three against the Tigers at home, then you play three up in Fenway to end the run. And the last game, September 14th and that. And then the rest of it is, you know who you're playing. It doesn't matter because you're playing bad teams. So don't sell me on anything other than what you do in these 12 games if you want for one last time to drive any type of optimism and momentum going into October for people to want to believe, because I'll read you a quote from Jazz Chisholm that really caught my attention because Aaron Boone said this and it's more boonism. Of course, our best baseball is in front of us. Of course, it better be, because you haven't really played your best baseball since June. But Jazz Chisholm said this. Don. Okay, if we have the audio, let's hear it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, let's hear it.

[Jazz Chisholm]

Yeah, we all know that this is a super team. You know, we got four, four MVPs on this team. We got a bunch of other superstars on this team, too. And I mean, like, we got a lot of upcoming stars as well, like Ben Rice and Warren and these guys, you know, and he went out there. They. We all went out there today, and we just had a plan, and we know we got to get to the playoffs, and we're just doing our best to do that.

[Alan Hahn]

But he went on to say more than that, though. We want to win the division. So he's already put that. That's it. We want to win the division. That's our plan. He also said we're going to go and do that, and then we're going to go and win the World Series. He didn't say we want to win the World Series. He didn't say, we hope to win the World Series. Jass Hisham said we're going to win the World Series Series. So there's your money quote right there.

[Don Hahn]

Well, let's see him do it. I mean, it's still there for them. I know nobody wants to hear it's all in front of us, but it is. They haven't dug themselves. Better be any kind of a hole that they can't catch the Blue Jays. But even if they don't, they still can navigate through the postseason because, say what you want, the Blue Jays haven't proven anything in the postseason. Neither. Neither have the Tigers. All right, the Astros. Little bit of a different story. Although it's not the same Astro team that beat them in 17 and 19. It's a different team. It's an older team, and the pitching isn't what it was back then, even though they have done a good job against the Yankees this year. But we'll see what happens in the Series. That's coming up later on in September, but it's still for them. But the one thing I would say to Jazz is, is that the one thing about baseball, basketball, different story. You could have a bunch of stars. It doesn't matter. It's got to come together, right? The Yankees have always had stars. All right, so the fact that Goldschmidt won an MVP, does that matter in 2025? Now, Bellinger is different because he's really played well all year. Great. You know, so that, that, that. That might have more value, but don't tell me the Goldschmidt won an mvp. I don't know if that even applies. Right. All right. You got Judge, but you might only have Judge as a hitter. He may not play the field. Stanton is a former mvp we know what he is, but there's. There's compromises there, too, as far as, is he going to stay healthy the rest of this way? What happens if he has to play the outfield? What happens if he can't play at all? If Judge does eventually go back to the outfield and he becomes an odd man out, he just becomes a pinch hitter. So that's the only thing I would take exception to. What Jazz said, you do have a lot of talent there, but there's a lot of things that have to come together. How do they play? What positions are they going to be in once they get there? So they've had a lot of talented players all year and they're not running away with the division. They're not even the first wild card. And we're entering September.

[Alan Hahn]

But you can't talk this way until after this, this 12 game stretch. To me that like actions over words, because you can tell me all you want. Again, our best baseball is in front of us. This is a great team. We want to win a World Series. All those things. That all sounds nice. But starting Tuesday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The next. The 12 games in 13 days will let us know what you are.

[Don Hahn]

That's.

[Alan Hahn]

Tell us all you want. You got to show everybody that this team has to show you something before October, and it cannot be in words. And it's got to be in action in these games coming up, starting Tuesday.

[Don Hahn]

These.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the season. And this is also what will decide whether or not you can truly believe in them to be a championship team.

[Don Hahn]

And that's what's so frustrating about watching them against the Nationals and watching them against the White Sox. A lot of good things have come from that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But 33 home runs, but nobody cares because you're supposed to do that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Now, God forbid they lose, then people will all freak out. But, you know, they're supposed to do this. It doesn't have the same kind of value, although it still counts. You were talking about finishing with 90 wins. These count towards that? Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No, these are all going to matter.

[Don Hahn]

So. So it does matter in the grand scheme of things. But you know, the Red Sox there, they got a young kid going tonight, but they're taking on a Pirate team. That's not very good, but it's got.

[Alan Hahn]

But Skage is on the mound, so it's not easy.

[Don Hahn]

No, that's true. But you know, still, it's not like you can't. You can't find a way to beat them because he's not going to go out there and probably pitch a complete game. Right. So you got a chance to see if you can, you know, get something done here. And the Toronto Blue Jays are taking on Milwaukee.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So a chance to maybe gain some ground right in, in the, in the race for the division. Because right now, as we speak, the New York Yankees are four back of the Blue Jays in third place. So if you take care of business against the White Sox, Blue Jays slip against the brewers, who right now the best team in baseball. You know, not only do you have that tougher schedule coming up, you might be in a come come Tuesday, you might be in a different place in the standings than you are right now.

[Alan Hahn]

And you can't control your destiny when you face them. If you get within three games this.

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

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[Don Hahn]

Everything will get back to normal on Tuesday. Peter will be back and it'll be on. Summer will be over. Maybe not technically because I guess summer goes into September, but. Yeah, but he'll be the fall as far as sports radio is concerned and football and baseball. But Mets and Yankees both are down to 28 games, Alan. So. And they're all playing through the weekend. So you get down to like 24, 25 games left man is on.

[Alan Hahn]

And out of those 24, like I said, 12. The next 12 for the Yankees after this, you know, this for cocktail series with a bad team. When we get to next week. The next two weeks of baseball for the Yankees is the most important and compelling baseball they're going to play to date. And I'm, I'm, I'm so like into that. I really like this is almost like your last chance to convince me is coming up in these next two weeks.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And listen, unfortunately because of the deficit they're in in the division, they may play well and still not win the division.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't care. It's not about the division at this point. I think they still could win that division.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

For all the reasons you gave. But these, these next two weeks could, could play a big part of it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But like I just want to see what we've been talking about. Like that Red Sox series that gutted me, man. Like it gutted me because I'm, when I went to that series feeling more fired up than the team looked like I was all about like, okay, they set you off course back in June. Take it back now. And instead, they look just as bad in that series last weekend than they did back in June when they were knocked off the rail. And that really, really, that, that bothered me. So I need to see something now over these next couple of weeks of a team that everything that Boone keeps saying, the best baseball is ahead of us is a great. Okay, show me. Don't talk about it, be about it.

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Neil Antenna Fly. You're on ESPN, New York. What's up, Neil?

[Neil Antenna Fly]

Yeah, good afternoon. First of all, I want to wish you guys a happy Labor Day weekend, and let's all support all the workers in the country who helped us get where we are.

[Don Hahn]

You got a good job.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

Enjoy the weekend. And also, you know, I've been listening to the new show since January, and it appears to me Alan Hahn is not a real Yankee fan.

[Don Hahn]

Interesting.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

He's waiting for them to win.

[Don Hahn]

That's all.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

He's waiting for them to win. He's not a real fan. He puts the nets on, you know, during, during this week on the big screen. Puts the Yankees on the small screen. Oh, we just beat the, we beat the little, little teams. Next week he'll be a fan. He hopes the Yankees win. He's only waiting for them to win. He should just wear the orange and blue and just forget about the Yankees. That's all I really want to say. He ignores me. Like, like talk to him.

[Don Hahn]

He's right here.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

So thanks for your time.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's weak, man. You have a chance to talk to him. Talk to him.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he said what? He said that, that because I'm just waiting for them to win, I'm not a fan. So there's fans out there that aren't interested in the team winning again. All right. So, Don, you're the purveyor of fraud and not fraud. Am I showing fraud behavior that I am. I am watching them. I have watched them, as I do every season, closely. And I, what I saw in June, I was on the record of saying after that series. And you, you were on my case about it. Oh, give me a break, man. It's one weekend. It's too early. You got on my case. And I said, I don't like the way that looked because of what I saw in October and all winter. What did I say, Don, when these guys show up for spring training, right there should be this. Like, we got mocked all off season. We had, we had. The team that, that beat us mocked us. They, they, they auctioned off a baseball that our star player, the face of the sport dropped in the outfield. They auctioned that off like it's a big celebration. We were embarrassed and we're going to be out for vengeance this coming season. And they got off to a good year start. But in June it started to slip and those tendencies came back and I was just ringing the bell saying, this doesn't look right. I don't like this, but I was told, no, you're just being a hater. You're being negative now that I'm telling you that I cannot for the life of me sit and watch them beat and pound bad pitching. Come on, man.

[Don Hahn]

Well, let me ask you this.

[Alan Hahn]

So, so, so that makes me less of a fan because a, I have a job to do and I think the Mets right now playing the Phillies was the more important game to watch. So that's part of my job, as Don said earlier. But the fact that also that I am not overly compelled to sit and watch them play the freaking Nationals and then play the white. Like, come on, man. Like, this isn't moving the needle. Get me next week. I'm all in.

[Don Hahn]

I want to rule this because I can understand where a listener, a fan of the show can misconstrued what you're saying. So let me, let me just get to the bottom of this. If you didn't do this for a living, you didn't do this show. You just did the Knicks and your football, your, your baseball. Your summer's off. You're, you're the, you're a Nick MSG guy. Maybe you do some freelance stuff on the side, but you're not a sports talk show host.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Baseball, just being a fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. I'm just an NBA.

[Don Hahn]

How would you have consumed those two games in your house?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, more than likely big screen, little.

[Don Hahn]

Screen or just more. Would you even watch the Mets?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I wouldn't have watched the match with a. Casually just checked in on the Yankees. But because of who they're playing, I, I could. It's the summer I could find myself doing other things like sweep, you know, have it on by the pool, but not watch it carefully, but have it on.

[Don Hahn]

Like now there are people that are die hards that watch every second of every game. So they might think you're a fraud because you're not doing that but you just admitted that if you did not do this for a living and just as a Yankee fan, you would have. You wouldn't watch the Mets at all because you're not a Met fan and it's the Yankees national. So you'd watch, but you wouldn't let it get in the way of the last few days of your summer. You'd be in the pool, but you'd be keeping an eye on it. Yeah, that's all I need to know. Because that. But the people. Because again, we have the same conversation as we had last hour. There is a lot of confusion in sports talk radio right now, and there are a lot of really good people that I know that have made a living out of being a fan first and a talk show host second. That's the decision that they made. That's fine. All right. I think you can make a case that Dave Rothenberg has been like that sometimes, too, although I think he's, he's, when, when he's on the air, he knows everything. So I don't think it's come at the expense of him being good talk shows. But there are people think, I'm a fan first, I'm a talk show host second. So I'm a Yankee fan. So I'm watching the Yankees and I'll get my information on the Mets. And when I talk, I'm always going to open with the Yankees and I'm always going to wear my heart on my sleeve with the Yankees and I'll give the Met fans some love. But clearly I'm a Yankee fan. That's not the decision you made as a talk show host, nor that I made as a talk shows. Is that, yeah, I'm a fan. That's how we all got in this business. But we get on the air, it's this, what is the story? And when the Mets are playing the Phillies and the Yankees are playing the Nationals and the Met games are compelling and there's things happening. There's a young pitcher on the mound and it's a rivalry and the Yankees are bludgeoning the Nationals. As a good talk show host, probably I'm going to pay a little more attention to the Mets because I think they're going to be a little bit more relevant to our show. You know, what's happening with the Yankees. All right. You're not going to.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you know, I'm. You said you're watching.

[Don Hahn]

You're consuming as a talk show host, not a fan. Now, a lot of people can't wrap their mind around that and they may listen to other stations or other shows on this station and say, well, other guys do it. Why doesn't Alan do it? Or why doesn't Don do it? I don't wanna. But that. I don't. I don't think that's doing a service to our listeners because I think we're about the story. We gotta be up on everything. But you got two TVs on. What was the more compelling? That's why, if you listen, I could have. I could have hung on the rim. I could have hung on the rim the other day that the Mets out drew the Yankees. They're both home. Mets, Phillies, Yankees, Nationals, both in New York. And the Mets out drew them. I didn't say anything about it because, of course they did. The Mets are playing the Phillies, the Yankees are playing the Nationals. It would make no sense otherwise. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of Philly came up, too. There were a lot of Philly fans in the building.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, that.

[Alan Hahn]

That's part of it, too.

[Don Hahn]

But who they played mattered. Who they played mattered. Now, if the Yankees are playing the Red Sox and the Mets are playing the Marlins, guess what? As a Met fan, what am I watching? What am I paying attention to?

[Alan Hahn]

There's no question you're watching the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Because I know the Yankees are going to be the lead because it's Yankees, Red Sox, we got to consume everything. But all Allen is telling you is, is that what was best for the talk show. But a lot of people can't wrap their mind around it because they'll turn into another station and go, well, so. And so was all over the Yankees. He was at the Yankee game. Well, that's that. And again, I'm not throwing shade at them. They decide how they want to do a show, and it's worked for them because guess what? They got a show, but I don't. We don't do it that way.

[Alan Hahn]

Look, I could have gone after Neil. I didn't want to be bothered because he sounded like a nice enough guy who just got emotional. And it's not worth my time.

[Don Hahn]

It's not.

[Alan Hahn]

How do I explain to somebody that I have followed this team? This is the first team I rooted for as a. As a kid. This is the first choice I made, was the Yankees. I've told the story of a young kid. I'm in a Met household. And I made that choice because there was something compelling about that team in the late 70s. They were just on. And it was just something big about it. And I. And I got caught up in it as a kid, that's the first team. I said, that's my team. So when I made that choice, like, that's how long I've been the fan of this team. And I've been through a lot with them. And I can't tell you that because I don't climb the walls anymore and scream like a lunatic, because I'm not. You've heard me. I've gone after cashmere. I don't like the things that they do. I don't like the style they play. I didn't like the way they handled Volpe. I think I've made it clear all the things that would sound like a fan talking versus somebody that like. Because I've seen this, too, where it's like, well, you wouldn't say that about the Knicks. I don't cover the Yankees for the yes Network. Oh, by the way, last night at Mateo's in Huntington, my favorite place. And shout out to Dennis, by the way. He's the best. I go to sit down, table next to me. Guy looks at me. He's a former FDNY from the Bronx, comes over, sits down. Just sits down at the table. My wife, my friends who are with me, they're looking around like this guy just invited himself to the table. But a really nice guy telling all kinds of stories. And just. He was so caught up in the Yankees. And he said he tries to call in and he can never get through, but he promised he'd call in. But he also recognized the passion that we both have for the current regime. It's not just this season, everybody. I have a bit of a malaise right now because of just what the Yankees have become. And I just. I don't love it.

[Don Hahn]

See that?

[Alan Hahn]

So that's all it is. So when I say to you, like, I don't want to watch them bludgeon the Nationals, it's because I know they're going to. That's a confidence I have. Of course they're going to knock the crap out of this team, just like they're going to knock the crap out of the White Sox. They're just that good against those teams. But because I've seen them against the Red Sox recently and back in June, do the things that I worry about. That's what a fan does, worry. I know that over the next two weeks, I'll be watching it. Don't say your only way to see them win. Yeah, I want to see if they can Don. That's what I'm doing. But I'm not putting on an act. So you. I get clicks because I'm gonna scream and yell about the Yankees every single game. I don't do it for clicks. Maybe I should.

[Don Hahn]

But there are people that, regardless of who they're playing or how they're playing, are gonna watch every pitch. So I can understand a fan. Maybe that was Neil. Like, Alan, you're. You're not compelled to be interested in the Yankees Nationals because they're not winning enough for you. I think that's what he was probably talking about is like, why are you losing interest in your favorite team? Because he decides he's going to watch no matter what.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you're a masochist. You want to watch it all. That's what you're doing.

[Don Hahn]

But he's also somebody that doesn't have a talk show. He's not a Met fan. You're a better fan than you. And he's got. Listen, if I had the ability to watch every pitch, I would. But, you know, when you get to our stages, with family and jobs and other obligations, sometimes you don't have that luxury.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don Hahn]

You know, and you got to pick what is the most important thing for your job to watch. But if you're somebody that you've got that kind of freedom to just say, I'm a Yankee fan. I watch every pitch. All right, great. That's good for you. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

God bless you.

[Don Hahn]

But, you know, our job is to be engaged in what's happening. But you know, and I know I told you, I will pay you. If you ask me, Don, what's the score of the Met game? And I don't tell you. I'll give you a dollar because I'm a knowing. But I'm not going to sit there and watch every single pitch because life gets in the way. Other games get in the way. Heck, I'm going to be calling. There might be a chance, Alan, that I'm going to be calling a Devil game on TV during a Yankee and Met playoff game. But I'll tell you what, that next day, I will know everything that happened in that game.

[Alan Hahn]

That's our job.

[Don Hahn]

Doesn't make me less of a fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, how do you think I did?

[Don Hahn]

Or less of a talk show host? It's just, that's how life sometimes gets in the way.

[Alan Hahn]

How did I get there? The Knicks went on a run. They went all the way to May 31st. How the hell did I keep up with the early season of baseball? You know what I did every morning? What did I do, Don?

[Don Hahn]

Every morning, Every Morning after the game.

[Alan Hahn]

What did I do?

[Don Hahn]

You would re. Watch the game.

[Alan Hahn]

I watched the games. The games I missed. Because that's my job.

[Don Hahn]

No, because we got, we just could. We got to know. But I. I just think that there is that disconnect between fan and talk show host, and I think you're not a real fan.

[Alan Hahn]

What the hell is that? You're not. You're not a real Yankees fan. You're just waiting for them.

[Don Hahn]

It's really. I'm telling you, Alan could speak from. It's really hard to be a real fan and to then do a good talk show. Listen, I worked with people who said on the air, I'm a Giant fan, not a Jet fan. So I'm only talking Giants. Okay, that's good for you. And you're a diehard fan. That means you were not a good talk show host.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you limited yourself because Michael K. Calls the Yankees games. Of course he, he's going to watch every game. He has to. That's his job. It's the same thing with me and the Knicks. Of course I'm watching every game. It's my job. I'm supposed to. But, like, to, to save. Oh, well, you're not really a Yankees fan, are you? Like, you're a casual Yankees fan. First of all, you're not offending me at all. He's like. Because I think you're stupid for saying it, but the whole idea that, like, you're a better fan because you ignore your family and sit in your, in your bark lounger and watch every minute of every game, like, how does that. How does. You're better than me because of that? I'm locked in on all of it. But if I'm telling you the bigger game to watch tonight is Mets, Phillies. I'm telling you that as a expert. As a sports expert. That's the game tonight, everybody. Not this Yankees, Nationals crap. That's not a good game because the Yankees are gonna wipe the floor up with them, and they did. But you want me to just say, be that defiant fan? I'm not watching. Mets, Phillies. You watch it, Don. That's your job. I'm not watching them. Well, that's stupid.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it doesn't make for a good show, that's for sure.

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

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[Podcast Announcer]

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[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by television or dude Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's tolly time. Mets continue their series with the Marlins coverage immediately following us on 880 at 630 and the Yankees and White Sox will continue their series in Chicago at 7:40. Tullamore Dew. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature and iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. All right, let's get Back to the calls. 1-800-919-3776. Kevin in Connecticut. You've been hanging on for a while. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Kev? Hi Kevin.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we got you Kev.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

Hey, so I think they fly under.

[Don Hahn]

The radar a lot, but the Rangers should be pretty high on the misery index.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

If you look at it, they have 94 and then really nothing else since 1940.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't get to a cup final though, 10 years ago.

[Neil Antenna Fly]

I mean, at the end of the day though, it's the championship wins that count.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, not well. Come on. Like if we're doing misery index right, you're going with who's waiting the longest to even have a chance to play for a championship. You had Hank at the top of his game and you did get to a cup final. You've been to two conference finals since then and actually two in the last three years. I'm not mistaken. Don't. So all I'm saying, Kevin, is while I can agree that the Rangers are definitely in the conversation, I personally have the Rangers sixth on the misery index after the Jets, Nets, Islanders, Knicks and Mets.

[Don Hahn]

It. But I hear what Kevin saying is flying under the radar because this is a, this is an Original Six franchise that has won one championship on going on 86 years. One. That's a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a long time.

[Don Hahn]

And when you talk about suffering, those fans don't give up either. I mean there's been a couple of loyal, yes, there's been a couple of non sellouts, same with the Knicks. But it's, you know, there's never anything less than like 17:5 in that building and it's usually 80, 90, 100% of the time. Some years they have a massive follow for hockey and believe me, calling games for the Rangers on the road, they always have thousands of fans like they, they follow the team and they really haven't gotten a lot in return. Right. And it's been 31 years without a championship and before that it was 54, you know, so again, 86 years. And now after it looked like they were about to win, as you mentioned, conference final appearances in two of the last three years, they're going through a reimagining of the team. Right. Like, so it looks like that era is now over and now you're trying to kind of not start over but at least fall back a little bit. So yeah, there's been too much success runs in the postseason. You got to see one of the great goaltenders of all time perform. So it hasn't been miserable. But you know, it hasn't been.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, it's great. It's, that's why it's reasonable. But in comparison, like I said, the fact that you were in a final in a championship round compared to the other teams, again, the jets haven't been to a Super bowl since they won it now a million years ago. And they haven't made the like to made the playoffs, could you make that case? Why I can't put you at the very top.

[Don Hahn]

Can I, can you make the case? Do you put them ahead of the Mets? Because if you look at that history, right, the championship in 69, championship in 86. All right, so the drought's been longer for the Mets. Yeah, but the Mets have more World Series appearances than the, than the Rangers have had conference Stanley cup final appearances since then.

[Alan Hahn]

Mets have what, five World Series appearances?

[Don Hahn]

Five World Series appearances in three since they won. Right. So they won in 86. And then they went. So 2,000. So they've went twice and the Rangers have gone twice. But.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

You know, and the Rangers went eight years without making, you know, seven straight years missing the playoffs. And then they had the lockout. It's very comparable. But the Mets have been in existence since 62.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so you'd want to flip.

[Don Hahn]

Them and have two championships.

[Alan Hahn]

You'd want to flip. Flip them like the Mets don't make the playoffs. At least the Rangers make the playoffs.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but a lot of that from. A lot of that came from. It was easier in the NHL then, you know, now you got the three wild cards. But for a long time, listen, the Mets would have gone to the playoffs in 87, in 88, 88. They did 89, 90 if there were wild card. Okay, you know, so listen, I don't have a problem putting the Mets ahead of the Rangers, but you could make the case that the Rangers could be in the top four.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, all right. I have the Devils right after the Rangers. Would you agree on that? Because the Devils have had the more recent success. They had that great run, obviously, 95 and then 2,000. Got to the Cup Final in 01. They win it again in 03. Like, you know, get to back to the cup final in 2014, 20. What was the year they got back?

[Don Hahn]

The Devils.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So like, they've had that now recently, not as good. But collectively the Devils have been. Have had less misery because they did have their little bit of a. Of a run there where they were the best team in the sport and they went to cup finals almost routinely. So I have them after the Rangers and then the Giants and the Yankees are the last two on this list. Because if you're a Yankees fan, as I am, like I do, I wish for the days of the 90s. Do I miss the late 90s and what that team was and what it stood for and how it played, the style of play and all that stuff all the way to 03. You felt so good about it, then 04, just felt like something changed and never got right again. But still, with all the success as a Yankee, how could you possibly have true misery compared to, like, Jets, Nets, Islanders, Knicks, and even the Mets?

[Podcast Announcer]

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.

[Podcast Announcer]

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.

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