Hour 3: Yankees-Blue Jays Game 4 Preview

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 3: Yankees-Blue Jays Game 4 Preview
Date: October 8, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (not present in this episode)

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Overview

This high-energy episode dives deep into the looming Yankees-Blue Jays Game 4 in the ALDS, with the Yankees facing elimination once again. Don La Greca and Alan Hahn break down the pitching situations for both teams, analyze pressure points and legacies, and weave in classic fan stories while fielding numerous thoughtful (and often hilarious) calls. They also branch out into discussions about sports fandom, iconic - and infamously woeful - moments in New York sports history, and how to raise passionate young fans without losing them. The tone remains witty, honest, and steeped in authentic New York sports culture.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Yankees-Blue Jays Game 4 Preview

• Yankees Staring Down Elimination (00:44, 03:56):

  • Don and Alan agree this is a “must win for obvious reasons…because they’re literally facing elimination” (03:56, Alan Hahn).
  • Cam Schlitler starts for NY, coming off a dominant 12-strikeout, 8-inning shutout performance last week.
  • Toronto is forced into a bullpen game due to roster constraints; their relievers have allowed 12 runs over the last 9 innings.
  • Key concern: Toronto’s success in scouting Yankees’ starters—they’ve prepared "for all three pitchers from Freed through Heel and obviously Rodon" (04:37, Alan Hahn).
  • The Yankees feel confident against Toronto’s taxed, recently ineffective bullpen.

• Bullpen Strategy and Matchups (05:57, 13:23):

  • Yankees intend to use Schlitler to bridge to setup man Devin Williams and closer David Bednar, but workload is a concern since both threw multiple innings the previous night.
  • For Toronto, managing pitcher availability is fraught—options include stretching top prospect Yu Savage or holding ace Kevin Gausman for a potential Game 5.
  • On potential surprise moves: "Is this now mental warfare?... Just maybe put it in the back of their minds that I guess pull this trump card out at any moment..." (27:47, Alan Hahn, on Toronto’s pitching uncertainty).

• Magic and Pressure in October (40:06):

  • Discussion about the magic required for postseason runs—“A young pitcher just having a day like that…that’s a special performance, Judge home run last night, that’s a magic moment” (40:06, Alan Hahn).
  • Emphasis that tonight “doesn’t need to be a magical night. Tonight just needs to be the night where you do what you expect to do against their bullpen which has been bad.” (40:51, Alan Hahn)

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2. Game 3 Recap and Key Player Moments

• Aaron Judge’s Heroics (06:43):
  • Giancarlo Stanton on Judge’s Game 3 home run:

    “It was incredible. Exactly what we needed. The reason I’m here right now, the reason why we have another game tonight…and yeah, he stepped up when we need him most and you know he’ll be right there again today.” (06:43, via Don Hahn quoting Stanton)

  • Special note on the crowd response:

    “No one really knew…you knew it was far enough to go out, but you didn’t know if it was going to wrap the pole or not…you’re bending with the ball a little bit until the big eruption.” (06:55, Stanton)

• Turning Points and Resilience:
  • Yankees are 3-0 this postseason facing elimination—team identity is built around resilience.
  • “We don’t mind the hard way. Sometimes not ideal, but yeah, just being calm, being comfortable and playing our game, just not trying to do too much.” (07:34, Stanton)

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3. Fan Calls, Fandom, and Raising Sports Kids

• Turning off the Game and Belief (09:50):

  • Hilarious call from Marco in North Carolina admitting he turned off Game 3 after 6-1 deficit, then watched “Porky’s 2” instead; vows to stay glued tonight.
  • Alan and Don discuss fan emotions: “It’s not ideal to fall behind. Like, you know, like. So, yeah, you’ll still believe.” (09:36, Don Hahn)

• Raising the Next Generation of Fans (15:02, 19:18, 35:51):

  • Multiple calls and exchanges about whether it's best to let kids choose their teams or to indoctrinate them (“I want this to be natural because I don’t want to force him and end up hating the sport.” - 16:20, Don Hahn).
  • Consensus: Better for your kids to love the sport, even if it’s for a rival team, than not love it at all.
  • Advice: “What you want to do is look like you're having such a good time, they want to be part of it.” (36:54, Alan Hahn)
  • Cautionary tales about forcing kids into fandom and the risk of turning them off entirely (36:25-36:35, call from Claude in Queens).

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4. WNBA Finals and Sports Scheduling (01:43):

• Brief discussion on timing overlap between the WNBA Finals and MLB playoffs and the logic (and difficulty) of scheduling to avoid major sports conflicts.

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5. Signature Moments (Good and Bad) in NY Sports

• Call-In Brainstorm: Iconic Negative Moments (22:50-24:26):

  • Prompted by a listener on Twitter, Alan and Don swap greatest “signature negative moments” for major NY teams:
    • Jets: The “Butt Fumble” (23:18-23:24, Don Hahn)
    • Giants: Miracle at the Meadowlands (“It’s Herman Edwards…that turned the franchise around…” 23:30-23:46, Don)
    • Knicks: Frederick Weis dunked-on by Vince Carter; Reggie Miller choke (23:48, 25:48)
    • Nets: Durant's toe on the three-point line
    • Islanders: Milbury’s "village idiot" and "gutless puke" comments (24:29-24:44)
    • Yankees: "Swapping wives" (ref to the famous Fritz Peterson/Mike Kekich wife swap, 24:54)
  • Memorable quote: “If you need a play that just represents everything, that’s the Jets right there.” (23:18, Alan Hahn on the Butt Fumble)

• Iconic Positive Moments:

  • The garden standing and cheering for Eddie Giacomin’s return as a Red Wing (21:30, caller Fred)
  • Roger Maris’ 61st home run (43:59, Steve in California’s call and story about his mother being in the stands)

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6. Yankees and Team Construction Philosophy

• Call from Steve in California (43:19-45:52):
  • Steve, a lifelong NY baseball fan, calls for an emphasis on defense when building a team:

    “If I’m building a team, listen here Brian Cashman, I want guys who play plus defense at every position.” (44:09)

  • Reminds hosts (with a bit of nostalgia) of the 1969 and 1986 Mets and the emotional rollercoaster of playoff baseball.

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7. Other Memorable Segments

• WNBA/NBA Scheduling Dilemma (01:43-02:56):
  • Quick breakdown of the challenge for WNBA Finals overlapping other major sports, and problems with moving the season closer to the NBA's calendar due to arena conflicts.
• Discussion on "Legacy Games" and Young Pitchers in High Stakes (13:23, 13:47):
  • Alan: “Just the fact. Another legacy game tonight. Another legacy game.”
• Subtle Nod to NY Sports Karma and Mystique:
  • The idea that comeback postseason runs need “a little magic” (40:06).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s must-win for obvious reasons. Because they're literally facing elimination. So I'm not saying this is a must win and it's Captain Obvious stuff here... But you cannot lose if you’re going to lose the series, you can’t lose it tonight. Not against a bullpen game.”
  — Alan Hahn (04:00, 04:54)

• “We believe we can win, but it’s not ideal to fall behind. Like, you know, like. So, yeah, you’ll still believe.”
  — Don Hahn (09:36)

• “What you want to do is look like you’re having such a good time, they want to be part of it.”
  — Alan Hahn, on raising kids as sports fans (36:54)

• “That moment when the Giants played the Cowboys, like, Marco was, like, legitimately into it because I was legitimately into it…he immediately wanted to go out in the yard and play football after that.”
  — Don Hahn (37:14)

• “Kids always gravitate to where the fun is. What’s fun? Looks like Dad’s having fun. What’s that? Dad, what are you doing?”
  — Alan Hahn (37:41)

• “The Judge home run tied the score, but it felt like it won the game.”
  — Alan Hahn (42:14)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Yankees-Blue Jays pitching breakdown: 03:56–07:48
• Giancarlo Stanton on Judge’s home run: 06:43–07:48
• Fan stories on quitting (and not quitting) on the team: 09:50–11:18
• Parenting and sports fandom: 15:02, 19:18, 35:51
• Negative franchise signature moments call-in: 22:50–24:26
• “Magic” of Yankees’ playoff run: 40:06–41:09
• Steve from California on team construction and great baseball lore: 43:19–47:02

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Summary

This episode captures all the tension and anticipation ahead of ALDS Game 4, balancing hard-nosed analysis with old-school fan nostalgia and genuine warmth. The show succeeds in being not just about sports, but about what it means to be a sports fan in New York: always expecting heartbreak, always hoping for magic, and living for both moments of triumph and the hard-earned, never-say-die comebacks.

Whether you’re hoping for another Yankees miracle or just in love with New York sports history and culture, this episode offers sharp insights, great stories, and plenty of laughs—a true slice of NY fandom, just as promised.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Caller/Listener]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore. Do Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, Alan, it's Tully time. It's Tully time. Well, the Yankees look to avoid elimination for a second consecutive night as they face the Blue Jays in game four of the American League Divisional Series. Coverage right here on 880 ESPN will begin after us at 7. Right now the Tigers and the Mariners are tied at three, two outs in the top of the sixth. Seattle leads that series two one. So if Seattle wins, they advance. Tigers trying to force a game five there. So we'll see if they can do that. And then just underway, the brewers and the Cubs. Cubs are famous. Facing elimination. And then at 9:00 clock tonight, Dodgers and the Phillies. Phillies facing elimination. Tullimore Dew, the original triple distilled triple blunden 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 Dew responsibly.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Also have Aces Mercury game three tonight, WNBA final. Okay, be all inclusive. That's on espn.

[Don Hahn]

Got a time that better. You know, going up against baseball playoffs. I don't know what would be a bet is can they time their season.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There's been talk that this league needs to be parallel with the NBA season. Be very difficult to do because of the arena availability.

[Don Hahn]

They're probably thinking, oh, because then you lose some fans because they're probably fans of the WNBA that also follow the NBA. So why would you want to see. I think you could probably. Can't you do it to where you're playing your finals in November because then. Well, you don't want to do that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because that's the start of the NBA season.

[Don Hahn]

I just got it just got to be a way.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I agree it's tough. I said, look, you're fighting football which.

[Don Hahn]

But you can strategically place.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But what you're thinking is those aren't my fans like those Aren't my customers.

[Don Hahn]

Right, right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's what you're thinking. The baseball fan is probably not my customer. So you're not as concerned about going true.

[Don Hahn]

And that's in the Die Hards are going to watch.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You want to get out of the way before the, the, the NBA season begins and you want to get it done it pro.

[Don Hahn]

It probably doesn't affect the number that much.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Can't see it.

[Don Hahn]

The only way it would affect the number is if like if this was last year.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And the Liberty were playing a game three going up against a Yankee elimination game, you would. It would be really hard to get any attention.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

In the, in your own city.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, remember the Yankees were on and the Mets were both on a run last year.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

When the Liberty were on their rooks.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. It's. Listen, you'd like to, you would like to be able to get some attention now. The cities that they're in. Was it the Mercury. So.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And Vegas.

[Don Hahn]

Right. So there's nothing happening. There's no Vegas baseball team. There's no. The Diamondbacks aren't in it. So at least locally you're going to get some love and I guess that's what you're. What you're looking at. But of course the Yankees and just hoping that you're going to be able to put together the continuation of keeping it alive to Friday in Toronto for all the marbles.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You call this is must win for obvious reasons because they're literally facing elimination. So I'm not saying this is a must win and it's Captain Obvious stuff here. Okay. We have a firm grasp of the obvious when it comes to must win. But when you consider that you have Cam Schlitler who was lights out a week ago, 12 strikeouts, gave you eight innings shut out ball, just a scintillating performance, you feel really good that he's going to continue that. The concern is that Toronto, as we saw with Radon, that's three starters they were uber prepared for and they knocked him out pretty quickly like they knew everything. They were very well scouted on all three pitchers from Freed through Heel and obviously Rodone. So I'm curious to see early in the game, are they all over Slitler too? Because if they are, then whoever's doing their scouting, their advanced scouting should get a raise. So I want to watch that. But they're going with a bullpen game here. They don't have anybody available. Scherzer's not even on the, on the playoff roster. There's no Bassett. There's No, Barrios, they have nothing. So they have to go with a bullpen. Their bullpen has given up 12 runs in the last nine innings. Their bullpen has not been good. The guy that they're starting was the guy that Varlan, who's been great for them, guy throws, he throws gas. He's the one that gave up the home run. Not just the judge, which he called a guy that made, made a really good hit, made a really good pitch look really bad. That's what he said about that home run. But don't forget, Jazz hit the go ahead home run off him in the next inning. He's starting off the game. But the rest of that bullpen has been a disaster so far. The Yankees feel very confident against them. So when I say must win, I don't mean it literally because it is literally a must win. But you cannot lose if you're going to lose the series, you can't lose it tonight. Not against a bull, right? Not with a bullpen game.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You've got like this. The sense of urgency is already heightened. But this is one of those, like you cannot lose this game. So the feeling has to be very high that the Yankees force a game five just based on what you see here. They have smacked around that bullpen. Their bullpen is not great and they have to go to it. Even with using the bullpen last night, Schneider had to go to his bullpen because Bieber couldn't give them length. And he's got guys that pitched last night, he's got to pitch again that didn't pitch well. So you need Schlitler to be good and you need, you have to hope that the Blue Jays don't also have the book on him like they have on your other starters. And then your offense has to continue to mash and we'll have a game five on Friday night. It's as simple as that.

[Don Hahn]

John Carlos Stanton spoke before the game today and he talked about judges performance last night. Yeah, it was incredible. Exactly what we needed. The reason I'm here right now, the reason why we have another game tonight and yeah, he stepped up when we need him most and you know he'll be right there again today. How about the crowd and team reaction to judges homer? That was a cool one because no one really knew, you know, you knew it was far enough to go out, but you didn't know if it was going to wrap the pole or not. So that's always a cool moment. You know you're bending, you're bending with the ball A little bit until the big eruption. I've seen it hit the pole, so it was cool. Just awesome moment and huge for everything. All right. In these playoffs, the Yankees three and oh, facing elimination. So how about that, Giancarlo? Just knowing who we are, trusting who we are and, you know, I guess we don't mind the hard way. Some, sometimes not ideal, but yeah, just being calm, being comfortable and playing our game, just not trying to do too much. All right, Schlitler is going to make the start. So what are your expectations for him? Aaron Boone, regardless of what happens tonight.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Result wise, like he's going to walk out there with a lot of confidence.

[Don Hahn]

Expecting to be successful.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I know that. And quite certain he probably slept really well last night, can't wait to go compete. And so from my standpoint, there's some.

[Don Hahn]

Comfort in that and knowing that if.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He goes out and has his stuff.

[Don Hahn]

And executes, he's got a chance to.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Have a really good night.

[Don Hahn]

Is it any different than it was last week? Elimination against the divisional opponent in your own building?

[Alan Rosenberg]

They've seen him, you know, so back in July, but they saw him.

[Don Hahn]

Now the stakes. Are the stakes any higher? I mean, I guess not really. I mean, it's a round deeper, but still it's. It's a team that went to the World Series last year. They want to just survive to the next game. So he handled it last time and there's no reason why he can't handle it this time.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Does it concern you, though, with what.

[Don Hahn]

I'm saying, that they've seen him already?

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, no, no, not that. And I think. I think it was the more recent series they saw him. The Yankee starters so far have given up 15 runs.

[Don Hahn]

No, that's a problem.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Eight innings.

[Don Hahn]

That's a problem.

[Alan Rosenberg]

15 runs by three starters in eight innings. Is that. Is that simply, you know, he didn't get good starts or do they just. Are they incredibly prepared for all the starters they knew they'd be facing in this series? Because they did have a week off and they were probably anticipating seeing the Yankees, like, which is it? Or just wait, did you really get three straight? Guys were bad.

[Don Hahn]

It's odd.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Heel they knew was going to be prepared.

[Don Hahn]

They should be prepared.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Inning. Radon didn't get out of the third inning. He gave up six runs. Freed looked like he wanted to be anywhere but that mound. They put a ton of pressure. Hey, Guerrero, next question. Do you even pitch to this dude?

[Don Hahn]

It's got to be at the level where you don't.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Only if there's no one on base.

[Don Hahn]

He's. He's just. He's been just mashing it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You have to respect him. Right.

[Don Hahn]

Because I like what Giancarlo said, and it's like, you know, we. We believe we can win, but it's not ideal to fall behind. Like, you know, like. So, yeah, you'll still believe. We have a guy on hold. We're going to get to Marco who said that he turned the game off at 6 1. We'll get to you in a second.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He's not the only one. I know somebody else that did that.

[Don Hahn]

You won't do that today. No, but you still. It's not ideal. So it's not where you want to. Where you want to live. No, you don't want to live in that kind of a situation. We're just talking about him. Let's hear from Marco, North Carolina.

[Caller/Listener]

What do you got, Officer? I'm here to report myself as a fraudulent tolerant activity.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Did you have to get up early?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Like, what was what I.

[Don Hahn]

Listen. Six one I get. But did you have to get up early? Was there something going on today? Did you had to get some sleep?

[Caller/Listener]

No, no, honestly. It was like all the faith in Rodone and what they were looking at. Honestly, Don, you might.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You might enjoy this.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm a 1984. Just to give it up. I actually put on Porkies too. Yesterday night. I was watching.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Okay, Porky's.

[Don Hahn]

That's a nice pivot. The second one right where they do. Where they do the. The Shakespeare play.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, it is correct.

[Caller/Listener]

And it's actually very.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You're gonna make me go back. We are leaving. Oh, my goodness.

[Don Hahn]

Those are classics. Yeah. Well, you're not gonna be turning it off today.

[Caller/Listener]

No, not tonight. Tonight I will be glued to it. And I have all the faith in Schlitler to. To put it up and go, Yankees, let's bring it. Let's bring it back to Canada. And hopefully Freed will be able to pass the jeers that he had on the first one.

[Don Hahn]

Friday's going to be off the hook. Thank you a lot, Marco. It's. It's going to be off. Off the hook on Friday if there's a game five.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

And you can't tell me you got.

[Alan Rosenberg]

To want the mound that night.

[Don Hahn]

That if you're. If you're the Blue Jays, if you were a Blue Jays fan, if you're the entire country of Canada, they got fans all over Canada because the only baseball team left, Montreal, has been gone for 20 years already. That they're not going to be feeling, and I think they could be feeling it tonight, too. Just a sense of as confident as they might be, like, we don't lose in Toronto, we don't lose to the Yankees in Toronto. They had to feel like going into that game last night up 6 1. I'm not saying that's why they made the errors or why they lost the game, because sometimes that just happens. But to be up 6:1 in game three of a series, you're up two games to nothing and all of a sudden you've got to play in it. Now you're facing elimination, even if it's in your own building, even if you love the matchup because you hammered Freed on Sunday, you're going to be feeling it, man. And you haven't done anything in 30 plus years. All right? Like you're, this is supposed to be your time. And also, no offense to the Tigers or the Mariners, but you got to feel like the team that wins this series should be the clear favorites in the league Championship Series to go to the World Series.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, you'd think so.

[Don Hahn]

All right, now, the Brewers, Dodgers, whoever makes it in the National League, they might end up being the favorites over either of these two.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They might win the whole thing, you.

[Don Hahn]

Know, because neither of them have lost a freaking game in the postseason, for God's sakes. But right now, if you're the Blue Jays with every passing moment that you don't end this Yankee season, you're going to start to feel it, man. You're just going to.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But do you see? I hope we get to do this tomorrow and Friday especially is the debate of if you're Toronto, who do you start? Gausman. That'd be the sixth time.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but he pitched well enough.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I mean, like, he seems to own them.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think they got many choices, do they?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, you're savage. He's also available.

[Don Hahn]

I understand.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And if Gosman just can't get out.

[Don Hahn]

Of the third, it's one thing to pitch.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They'll go to him.

[Don Hahn]

It's one. They will do that. I mean, it's all hands on deck for both teams.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Absolutely.

[Don Hahn]

But it's one thing to have him start game two. Already up one nothing in the series. 22 year old sudden now. Oh, go pitch and save our season.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You think he think that'd be a tough spot for a kid? Well, what do you think Schlit was facing tonight? He's facing that tonight. Just the fact. Another legacy game tonight. Another legacy game.

[Don Hahn]

Well, listen, if he goes out there and pitches the way he pitched against Boston. Now it's a different animal. I mean, this is.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What do you want? Hand the ball to who? Hand the ball to Devin Williams.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it's the same formula, right? Hand the ball, William. Again, both of them gave you an inning plus yesterday. Yeah, see, these things are all connected. You know, we could talk about the karma and the mystique and all the things of the way they won last night. Okay, but the idea is I want Schlitler to get me to Williams in the eighth and Bednar in the ninth. That's the formula. Right, but you are talking about Williams who had to get four outs last night. Bednar who had to get five outs last night. So I'm not saying they can't do it, but. But it's not ideal, right? It's not an ideal situation after a day off.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I think we're fine.

[Don Hahn]

No, I think. But they don't really like using Devon more than an inning.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And Bednar used to be a guy that didn't like pitching him, like, consecutive games, but they had to condition him for it.

[Don Hahn]

But now these are plow kids.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I want to have this conversation, Don. I want to be able to do it tomorrow and Friday, right? So got to get it done tonight. And you're facing their bullpen, which has been again, I'll tell you, it's 12 and a third total. But in the last nine innings, they have given up 12 runs.

[Don Hahn]

Raul in Harrisburg. You're on ESPN. New York. What's up, man?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, how you doing, Don? And Don. And how you doing today? I want to break this up. I was a spoiled Yankee. 96. And my father was a Met fan. Now, I'm bringing this up because of the conversation you guys have about the Yankees, about the Yankees and their fans. Now, am I wrong? My father now is a Yankee fan. And during the years, he became a Yankee fan because he. He wanted to make me happy. Is he wrong for that? Because I grew up watching Jeter in 86, and I appreciate what the Yankees have done, even if they don't win the World Series. You know, and another thing is, like, tomorrow, the people that have to call, just remember that what the Yankees do, no other team does. You know what I'm saying, Don? And on. Thanks for taking my call. I just want to, you know, share my story. Well, of 96, I grew up spoiled.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know, so your dad, he. He jumped from one team to another?

[Caller/Listener]

Well, no, he. He wanted to make me happy. Like, you know, he was a Met fan. But then he saw, you know, me chanting for the Yankees, you know, the championship, because he, he wanted to make me happy over the years. So he said, you know, I switch over the Yankees because of you, you know, but his love was for the match. Just like Don.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Now is rooting for the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

I stop it.

[Caller/Listener]

I, Don is a Met fan since is a long time.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And Marco right now is on the fence and my son, and I am not pushing him in either direction. I want this to be natural because I don't want to force him and then end up hating the sport. Because the only thing worse than him being a Yankee fan to me being opposite of what I am as a Met fan or him becoming an Eagles fan and me being a Giant fan, which is definitely on the table. Like I said, his best friend's an Eagle fan, Eagles are good, and the Giant stink. The only thing worse to me is if he doesn't become a fan of the sport. Like, wouldn't it be worse? Wouldn't it be, isn't it better for your son to root for the other team than him not be interested in the sport that you love? So you know what I'm saying?

[Alan Rosenberg]

So at least he likes the sport, even if he has to.

[Don Hahn]

Like, like, all right, so he grows up a football fan, but he's an Eagle fan. And we go at it. We. But.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Or I get it.

[Don Hahn]

Or he, he's a. I'm a football fan. And my son's like, why, dad? We weren't watching this. I, I, I'm not, I'm not interested. That would bother. I, I would rather, I think it's a lesser of two evils to me is him ruining this.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's probably why my parents tolerated me with the decision because they're such big.

[Don Hahn]

If I force him to be a.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Matt fan as a Yankee fan. But at least we did watch baseball a lot. And then hockey was the same thing. We watched hockey all the time in the house, even though they were Ranger fans and I was not.

[Don Hahn]

But let's say I force him to be a Met fan against his will, and then he ends up souring on the sport and just says, you know what? I'm not gonna, I'm not bothered.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I force him to be a fan. He either cares or he doesn't, right? No, you can't force him to be a fan.

[Don Hahn]

No, but I'm saying right now, he's deciding between the two.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I could tell you could influence him.

[Don Hahn]

You mean well, or just tell him. No, no, you're A Met fan. And don't let him watch Yankee games and only feed him Met information. I don't want to do that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He'd be a bad parent.

[Don Hahn]

No, I. Whatever he asks. Season 2. Listen, he loves hockey, believe it or not. He still hasn't, you know, chosen a hockey team yet because it's a lot. It was Rangers and.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Wait a second.

[Don Hahn]

His father. I know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Voice of the devil.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I told you, he will be.

[Alan Rosenberg]

A Devil fan before Thanksgiving. I'm calling it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's the thing. He's going to hear you. That's one thing I can't tolerate is that, you know, if I'm going to be doing these games and traveling, I got to know that he's interested, and.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I think you got to be all in.

[Don Hahn]

Although he loved the black jerseys, the one that said jersey.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Did you get him a hat? This is hat.

[Don Hahn]

And they. And the Devils gave him that jersey when he. When he was a baby.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, so it's over.

[Don Hahn]

But. Oh, but.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But it's locked.

[Don Hahn]

They. They're. This is last year with those jerseys. They're killing. They're retiring.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's one of the best jerseys ever.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but I like to, you know, I. I'm not a big fan of the third jersey. They already got the. The. The. It's just cool about Rockies throwback. I know. And. And I thought that was funny with hat and scarf.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, no.

[Don Hahn]

I thought they. That was actually showing a sense of humor. I thought that was pretty good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Are you proud of me that I let Gracie become a fan?

[Don Hahn]

I. Because you think the way that I.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Do that now she's even more in on the Devils because of you. Oh, that's cool. And now she knows that in the house, which at times, if she had the Devils on, if I would come home and something else was on, whether it was NBA or, you know, maybe an Islander game or a Ranger game, I would always say, no, no, no, put that on instead. But now, because of you, she knows I'm not changing it.

[Don Hahn]

And I think I. Marco, who said he would not congratulate me, that I got the job until I did the game. I'm like, but do you know something? I don't? So I don't. I'm not sure if he's counting the preseason games, but Saturday when I'm in Tampa, I think he'll be watching that game.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He will love it.

[Don Hahn]

They got excited about the preseason, but it was the preseason.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Did he do the same thing when I was at Newsday? Oh, do you call the game stat, because I haven't heard it yet.

[Don Hahn]

Preseason. Don't they take people off the street to do preseason? No. No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, you're trying out like the players you're trying out.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to Fred in the Bronx. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Fred?

[Caller/Listener]

Gentlemen, a couple of things. Number one, a lot of parents groom the kids from birth, and it never even occurs to the kids that there's a choice. If you're a member family, you're a Giants fan, or you're there, so you're that.

[Don Hahn]

No, I think. I think the majority of people do that. But don't. Don't you. Aren't you afraid, Fred, that they might resent you for it and maybe not be as big a fan as they should because of it? I agree.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm just saying that's very, very common.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, and I don't want to be. I don't want to be that guy. I want it to be natural.

[Caller/Listener]

And two quick comments.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Caller/Listener]

Nets 76 championship. ABA closed down the last one.

[Alan Rosenberg]

See, I offered that.

[Don Hahn]

Alan did bring that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I offered that. But it comes with an asterisk, of course, because it does. That's when the merger happened. And the net success was a big part of the reason why they did the merger. The problem is, is that the owner was such a cheapskate to pay all the money, he sold Dr. J to the Sixers, which is like, why the.

[Don Hahn]

Hell are you going?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Why would I absorb you as a team without Dr. J?

[Don Hahn]

That was bad.

[Caller/Listener]

And the only other iconic moment. And Don, you tell me if you could think of any team that has it, anything comparable is when Jockerman returned to the Garden with the Red Wings and the entire Garden stood up to three hours in chant of his name.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's signature.

[Don Hahn]

That is a signature moment. And I can't think of. When did that ever happen? I guess when Saquon came back to Met Life.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Was it like that?

[Don Hahn]

It wasn't like that, though.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No. That was different.

[Don Hahn]

As big as Saquon was, he wasn't Eddie Jockerman. Eddie Jockerman had been there a long time, was in the Stanley. It was in Stanley cup final in 72.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And the fans were mad.

[Don Hahn]

They were mad.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That was emotional. So we had. We had a suggestion.

[Don Hahn]

Did you see what Lundquist did last night?

[Alan Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

They're showing the jerseys, by the way.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

People. There's people that don't like them. No, I like them. You know, the way they played leaves a lot to be desired you know, leave that for another day. But they showed Hank on the Jumbotron, as they are to do when he's at the game, and you see he's holding the jersey that the Rangers wore last night, the Centennial jersey, and he holds it up and turns it around. It's a Jockerman jersey. It was a pretty cool moment. Of course, people don't know we lost Eddie last month.

[Alan Rosenberg]

We had a suggestion from somebody on Twitter, Ed. Ed McCormick.

[Don Hahn]

Hi, Ed.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He said that he liked our list about signature moments. Right. That you were just mentioning. And he said that it sparked an idea for another list. The top worst signature moments for each New York team. Now, teams like the jets and the Mets, like, you know, you'll argue over what once. Right, Right. I say butt fumble for the Jets. Nothing more signature than that. National tv, just a. Just a hilariously bumbling moment.

[Don Hahn]

Kind of just represents everything. If you need a play that just represents everything, that's the jets right there.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So that's easy. But is there, like, could you do it? Is there one for.

[Don Hahn]

No, I think Die Hard fans would be able to do this more than we could. I mean, for the Giants, it's the miracle at the Meadowlands. It's Herman Edwards.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Herman Edwards, yeah, that.

[Don Hahn]

You know, that. And that turned the franchise around in a positive way because that. Everybody was gone after that season. And. And then George Young comes in and changes everything.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, what would be the nick.

[Alan Rosenberg]

One when Frederick Weiss was dunked on by Vince Carter in the Olympics would have never happened after he was drafted.

[Don Hahn]

Drafted by them.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's like. That's like. That's one of those where you just. You just. You know what that was. That was the harbinger for what was coming for the next decade, because it was 2000. They were still a good team. They got to the conference final like you didn't think anything. But if that moment told you what was coming for the next 10 years, that was it.

[Don Hahn]

Is the net one. Durant's foot on the three. Even though it was. They were a good team. But like everything damn do is.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's good, Coleman.

[Don Hahn]

That's a really good one.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's. That'll last forever. Whoop de dam do.

[Don Hahn]

And then the Islanders, there could be a bunch of them, but it was Milbury called Ziggy Palfi's agent. There's a. There's a. There's a village missing in it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, the village idiot line. But how about Gutless Puke?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's a good one, too.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Gutless Puke. From Milbury. There's a lot of probably Milbury moments that could be.

[Don Hahn]

That's a. That's a fun one. Maybe we can do that next. Next Wednesday.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yankee one.

[Don Hahn]

The swapping wives. I don't know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's.

[Don Hahn]

There's got to be something.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There's a Bronx Zoo moment somewhere. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

A happy birthday to Steve Brzezinski today. So hopefully he's having a good time. If I know him, he's half in the bag by now. But sober up for the Yankee game, man. Make sure you don't want to miss. That could be a big deal. Cubs, brewers tied at one. Brewers had bases loaded. Nobody out in the first. Only scored one. Cubs have first and second. Nobody out already. A run in on a home run. So Suzuki's up with a chance to give the Cubs a lead. They're facing elimination. Tigers up seven three. So the Tigers can force a game five back in Seattle.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Bottom seven. Matthew brought up one. Like we were thinking about the negative signature moments in franchise history. How could I not think of this? Reggie's choke gesture. That's pretty. That's a signature negative moment.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. That's not good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Not good.

[Don Hahn]

We got a Net fan who JM says signing KD and Kyrie away for the next super humiliating moment. And they'll always have that bragging. Right. That even though it didn't lead to anything. Well, what? So I guess he's talking from a Nick perspective. I guess.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, maybe it's from a Nick perspective, because if you're a Nets fan winning at Boston to get to the NBA Finals. Right. That's a. That's a pretty significant moment.

[Don Hahn]

True. And then unfortunately, the Kyrie and Durant.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Thing, it just never materialized.

[Don Hahn]

Never materialized. It's got to be more frustrating than anything else.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, it just never happened. And you could argue that if his toe wasn't on that line. And that's a three for the win instead of a tie for overtime. Does Giannis and the Bucs ever even get to the Finals? Did the Nets end up getting to the Finals? Did they win the title?

[Don Hahn]

Wow. And then it would have been all worth it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

John Schneider, the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, was asked about the availability of you, Savage and Gosman tonight in this Game four. I think probably Trey more than Kev tonight. You know, Kev's going to Throw lightly off the mound here this afternoon. Trey won't. But I think that you got to kind of see how the game goes and see what the score is, see where they are, their lineup, who you have available in addition to Trey or Kev or really anyone. So we'll see how the game goes, you know, and I think that, again, one of those guys may factor in. I'm surprised that he's even entertaining the idea.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, is this now mental warfare? Is this sort of just maybe put it. Put it in the back of their minds that I guess pull this trump.

[Don Hahn]

Card out at any moment, I guess, and maybe. Maybe you feel the need to do it. But unlike the Boston series, where the Red Sox had their opener in the elimination game in the Game 3, Toronto's got their opener tonight, which means they've got their best pitcher in the building. They never lose waiting on Friday. As much as you want to avoid Friday, it's not the worst thing in the world for the Blue Jays if there is a Friday. All right, The Red Sox new in game two. I can't have a game three.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They should prepare for Friday, right? Yeah, like. Like they should, because at worst, they're going to have a game on Friday, so you should prepare for it. And Gosman being available, which it sounds like Gosman probably won't be available tonight, but he's just leaving it. You know, you never know. But you, Savage, he threw 78 pitches on Sunday, and he didn't really look like he's struggling.

[Don Hahn]

Is it. Is it a case of I'm not using both of them, but is there. Is there a case where I could say I need it, I need a beginning, and I'll use Gosman knowing that I've got you, Savage, to pitch game five?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, I think it's the other way around. I think it's the other way around. I think he looks at it as he. Because you. Savage supposed to throw anyway today. So if I need an out, if, like, let's say they bring in Rice. Rice couldn't handle anything that that kid was throwing, right? Like. Like it's a matchup situation in a big moment, would he say, all right, I can bring him in the throw, I need an inning or I need an out or whatever it is in a big spot. Can I go to this guy? Because they can't touch him. One out, you know, one inning.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's. I think that's what he's keeping in his pocket, knowing Gosman can start game five.

[Don Hahn]

Right. And I don't I don't. I pro. I need a backup tonight because I got an opener. So I'm going to be in my bullpen. I shouldn't need somebody to back up Gosman in game five, certainly not a 22 year old. So I'm going to bring in the kid tonight if I need to get three out based on how he pitched, you know. Five was it? Five and a third, no hit ball, right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

High leverage situation of the game. Maybe you're trying to protect the lead. I don't think if the Yankees are winning, he doesn't come in the game. I think he comes in. If this is a one run lead and it's like the seventh or eighth inning and I need. And it's a big out, I got to get it. And they can't hit this kid. They can't see him. I'll use him here. That, that could be.

[Don Hahn]

Now I'll ask the same question that I asked yesterday. So what's Freed's availability tonight?

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's a great question.

[Don Hahn]

Now it's an extra. It's another day. You can't count on game five if there's not gonna be a game five. So, you know, if you're.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I mean, it's heel that should be available tonight.

[Don Hahn]

No, I, I agree with you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm just for game five.

[Don Hahn]

And listen, why would you want to go to Freed? He got racked in Toronto. Maybe it was because it was Toronto. I'm just saying it's all hands on deck, right. If we're in the 16th inning and I need. And I, I got nobody. Max Freed's pitch.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's right, right.

[Don Hahn]

That's just got to be the way that it is. Let's go to Frank in West New York. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Frank?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys. Good afternoon. I actually got three moments that I wanted to bring up and see where. What you guys think of them. The first one. How about the. That year that Peyton Manning came back to Indianapolis and the. And the Indy crowd was really cheering the man on a year after he got released from. Cut from the Colts and then signed.

[Don Hahn]

I don't, I don't remember it. So it wasn't impactful to me, but I'm sure the place was going nuts. But were they cheering for him to win? I don't remember.

[Caller/Listener]

They were cheering for him out of respect because they were grateful. I mean, they had a tribute to him and everything, and they were grateful for, you know, his years in Indian. He was able to bring up the football the Football team and make Indianapolis.

[Don Hahn]

Football advantage and listen, Frank, I don't know if you're a hockey fan but. But in 75, the Ranger fans were cheering red Wing goals. They wanted jockey to win the game. That's what made it so rare. What was your other one?

[Caller/Listener]

Well, there's other two and these are a pain for me to bring up. Second one was when DeSean Jackson did the walk off punt against the Giants after the Giants blew a big lead. Which being a longtime Giants fan is something we, the Giants tend to do.

[Don Hahn]

That was the second.

[Caller/Listener]

And then the third one was the Giants in 2003 in San Francisco for the wild card game where they blew a 24 point lead against the 49ers. And the worst thing, the worst thing about that year was if the fans paid attention and remembered the Giants special teams was horrible that year. We kept missing field goal attempts, extra point attempts all year round. So when it came time, I was panicking when we came close to field goal range because I knew there was a low probability of actually.

[Don Hahn]

And then the no pass interference, the trade drunken thing. And the thing I remember about that game, I've told this story, but I don't know if you've ever heard. I'm doing a show on ESPN after that 49er game. Gotta do a show. Of course I. And at that time I videotaped every Giant playoff game. So I'm taping the game to keep. And I'm thinking I'm going to keep this forever because they're, they're up big. I smashed it on the air. I don't know if we still have the recording.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You went Rothenburg smash.

[Don Hahn]

And I made myself so sick that I got like, I had like three kids the next day I, we went to, I don't want to say the restaurant because I love the restaurant, but it's not. We went to a place on 7th Avenue at Wings. Got like food poisoning sick that night, woke up, back pain. They found three kidney stones. It was my whole, my whole body just betrayed me. And another interesting thing, I think the Devils were playing that day. So I was. No, no, they were, they weren't playing, but I was, I was having a conversation for some reason with John Hennessy, who was the devil's radio play by play guy who's a big Giant fan. And he was telling me the Devils were going to be in Tampa, that's where the Giants were going to play. So he was actually making arrangements to stay an extra day. So. Because the Giants are playing. And then as he's making the reservations, the lead. And that's something you'd never do again. That was a really bad one. What was the other one that he had the signature.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, no, the Sean Deshaun Jackson.

[Don Hahn]

That one was happening as I was doing the jets pregame show because the jets were a 4 o' clock game. And Greg keeps like saying, what are you worried about? They're going to win this game.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Stop.

[Don Hahn]

They're going to win this game. They lost the game, but they won the super bowl the next year. So I. It.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You got over it pretty quick.

[Don Hahn]

I got over it pretty quick.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's like me in 97, right?

[Don Hahn]

You got over, you know, Lamar, the. The 24 hours of whatever you did. The Tour de France, the. The Tour to Long island that you did.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I swear, I don't know how I got. I was like, what am I doing here? Let me get on the ferry now.

[Don Hahn]

And now the business is like you. You'll never get that mad again because the business is.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It sucked all the joy out of it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, all the joy. And I was in the anger and save some of that, too. Claude and Queen John, ESPN New York. What's up, Claude?

[Caller/Listener]

What's up, fellas? Charles Smith getting rejected like five times.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's pretty good. That's a good one.

[Caller/Listener]

Kid in class trying to do a layup amongst the jocks.

[Don Hahn]

It was horrible.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's. That's one. You got to tell me that that's. That's more signature, though, than Reggie just turning with his hands on his throat.

[Caller/Listener]

Didn't it happen like the same year?

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, it feels like it's impossible. That was three years later. Yeah, that was three years later.

[Don Hahn]

There was some bad moment, but that's a good one. I like that one.

[Alan Rosenberg]

For two years later.

[Don Hahn]

The other one I want.

[Caller/Listener]

The other thing I wanted to comment on was turning my kids off to baseball. I feel horrible because they both do not like baseball at all. I tried to convince them by offering food and, you know, the lobster rolls, all that stuff. They won't go to Meccan with me and I'll go to a Met game with you. I forced them to be Met fans. I think it was when they were in the four to five year old age. They had jerseys and they were too itchy and they insisted that it was itchy and I forced them to wear.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It to the game. You tried too hard.

[Don Hahn]

Trying too hard, bro.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know what? You know what you want to do.

[Caller/Listener]

When you're a dad. It would have been fine. It's surprising Good night.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Good night. Okay. It was very. It's very surprising that he forced things on people.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You'd never think that from the phone call. No. The worst thing you can do as a dad is tell them, this is what you should be doing. What you want to do is look like you're having such a good time. They want to be part of it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's what it's about. If they see you caught up in it and into it, and it looks like Dad's having a great time, what's he doing? That's when they. That's when they climb up on the couch and, like, sit next to you and watch and just start. That's when Zach did. He just was. One time, he climbed up the couch, sat next to me, just started watching. I was like, all right, he's into it.

[Don Hahn]

I told you. That moment when the Giants played the Cowboys, like, Marco was, like, legitimately into it because I was legitimately into it. He got caught up in it, and he immediately wanted to go out in the yard and play football after that. It's.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What a moment.

[Don Hahn]

That's. You know. But I love it. You know, that's the kind of natural stuff that you want to see, and that's why it makes sense that if you. That you'll sit there and you don't do anything.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Like Alan said, just root for your team and your son or daughter will gravitate to. To that. When you start forcing them, then I.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Kids always gravitate to where the fun is. What's fun? Looks like Dad's having fun. What's that? Dad, what are you doing?

[Don Hahn]

Unfortunately, if a team's losing, he's not having fun. Dad gets angry when vets are on, so I'm going to watch something else.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I told you what Cali said, right? She walked in with the. Just happened to have the Jet game on Sunday, and so whatever misery was going on, and she just walks in and stops and she goes, the jets are just sad. And then she turned around and left the room. And I'm like, well.

[Don Hahn]

And she doesn't like sad. Always a fan of sad?

[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Listening to this podcast Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The holidays have arrived at the Home Depot and we're here to help bring the excitement where with decor for every part of your home.

[Don Hahn]

Check out our wide assortment of easy.

[Alan Rosenberg]

To assemble pre lit trees so you.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Whatever your style, find the right pieces.

[Alan Rosenberg]

At the right prices this holiday season at the Home Depot. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Maybe the Yankees are looking at a miracle to come back from two nothing down. But they can't feel like winning game four would be a miracle. That's why you got to feel good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But you need miracles to get you make comebacks and go on a run. And like, like I said, it just felt like from Schlitler last week, that was a little magic, right? A young pitcher just having a day like that, walking off the mound, handing the ball off to the closer. Basically like, like that. That's a special performance judge home run last night. That's a magic moment. That's special. All right, so that's two now. So that's what you want to see is like okay, is this, is this going to lead into something? So part of a run that has some magic to it would be coming back from being the only other team and by the way the other team is you in 2017 to come back in a best of five from down 02. You know they do it again now it'll feel like magic. So that's what you want to see. And tonight doesn't need to be a magical night. Tonight just needs to be the night where you do what you expect to do against their bullpen which has been bad and see what Schneider does with your savage. But your, your offense should carry you tonight. Hoping that Schlitler is just, just good. Doesn't need to be great.

[Don Hahn]

And clearly there's the home field advantage that you have the fans and give the Fans credit. Down 6, 1. You know, they're not leaving. This is in L. A. They're hanging in there. And I think they, you know, affected the game, too. And so I'm sure the Blue Jays, I'm not saying they've lost confidence in themselves. It's only one loss for them, but another one. Even going back to Toronto, they don't want to get on. They want to get on that plane and prepare for the winner of Detroit and Seattle. They don't want to go back to Toronto having to play a game that's the last thing they want to do. But it's looking like it could happen with the. With the way the matchup is set from pitching standpoint and the way the Yankee bats came alive and more importantly, the way the Yankees bullpen came alive, because I understand what Alan was saying earlier in the show, that the karma of the moment made you feel like the Yankees were not losing after the Judge home run, but looking at the history, it's six, six in the fourth. So there's a lot of baseball.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There's.

[Don Hahn]

You're already into the bullpen. You're. You're thinking, we might have to win that. We might have to win this game. 1918, you know, something crazy. Yeah. And the Blue Jays did not score another run, and the Yankees tacked on three.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So I said it. I said it before, and I'll say it again for those who just joining us now. The Judge home run tied the score, but it felt like it won the game.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it felt like it. But with all that, I guess you would have been. I'm thinking, all right, are they going to be able to hold this or is it just going to be that? I'm thinking the Yankees winning this, but there's. The Blue Jays are going to score more runs. Right. They scored six against the starter. And this bullpen has not been great.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No. But the Jazz home run feels like it's just swept under the rug. I mean, that was an absolute rocket that he hit the right.

[Don Hahn]

And that's the one that gave them the 7 6.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's the one where now. All right, now they got the lead.

[Don Hahn]

The.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The first, you know, like the first lead they've had in this series. They finally got a lead.

[Don Hahn]

And I think they. Listen, nobody talks about Jazz home run. They rallied around, facing elimination, but also rounding around their captain. That came through. And you can't have that kind of a home run and that kind of a moment. And it come in a loss Right. You know, so maybe you don't win the series. We'll see. A lot has to happen, but at least on that night, you know what, you were not going to be denied. Let's go to Steve in California. You're on ESPN New York.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey guys, thank you for taking my call because yesterday after I hung up, you guys were pretty rough on me, accusing me of being that fan. And I am anything but.

[Don Hahn]

I will refresh my memory.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You, you were, you were mad at everybody, right? Yesterday.

[Caller/Listener]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What were you saying? I'm trying to remember.

[Caller/Listener]

So I, I was saying, if you're looking to build a team, I look at the Blue Jays being a better construction.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Caller/Listener]

Okay, so now a little bit of context. I started watching baseball in 1960. I was at Yankee Stadium the day Roger maris hit his 61st home run.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Caller/Listener]

I watched the birth of the Mets. I watched the 69 Mets in high school on Long island when they first had daytime games because they didn't have nighttime baseball. And them stopping school for the 69 Mets to be able to show. And everybody talks about the 86 Mets and nobody brings up that series they played against Houston. Be able to go to the World Series, which was the most nail biting back and forth series, which is what the Yankees are going through now. And what I was saying yesterday is that if I'm building a team, listen here, Brian Cashman, I want guys who play plus defense at every position. Now they may have guys because at the trade deadline he gave himself a lot of functional players who he can move around and play here and there. Amazing being able.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

So. So what I thought of when the home run was hit last night by Judge was my first thought was Jason Giambi. And when that happened, I was talking on the phone with my now ex wife. At the time, the Yankees were down 4 nothing to the red Sox. And I remember she's on the phone, we're talking. I said, how's the game going? I said, we're down 4 nothing. And she goes, oh, I'm sorry. And in that instant, Giambi hit a two run home race. Now 4, 2. And I said to her, it's all right. That was the momentum shift. The game is in the back. And I don't know if what Judge did last night is for them to.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Go on the run.

[Caller/Listener]

You guys are talking about. Maybe they do have those guys who play plus defense all around the corners and so.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, how did their defense look last night? Think about it, you know, like Toronto's Defense was.

[Don Hahn]

That's what opened the door.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, right. IKF kind of let you know that they were a little shaky. Yeah. And then they. Barger. That was a disaster between him and Schneider.

[Don Hahn]

No, that was. That was awful.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Santander. We don't talk about that either. No, that was face plants on that one.

[Don Hahn]

That was. I don't know what was going on. See, that's the thing that gets lost in the judge home run. The judge home run doesn't happen if the Yankees don't like after it's 6:1, they immediately come back the next inning and they tack on a couple of runs.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

You know, it could have been a bigger inning, but you know, they got two. They always. Ever since I was starting to watch baseball, whoever's announcing the game, you know, if I go back to Lindsay Nelson back in the day, it's always like, you always want to have that shutdown inning right after you score a bunch of runs. Right. Like when they went up 6:1. If they could have gotten a shutdown inning, even a couple more, it changes everything. But the Yankees that come right back, make it 6 3. It makes you feel like we're not going away.

[Alan Rosenberg]

By the way, he was at the marriage 61 home run. Yeah, my mother was there too. She was actually in right field.

[Don Hahn]

Really?

[Alan Rosenberg]

She was a couple of rows away from Sal Durante.

[Don Hahn]

So she. She could have.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Could have. Yeah. But didn't we could have.

[Don Hahn]

She just didn't want it bad enough.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Didn't want it bad enough. She didn't want to be. She want to be the Karen that came over and ripped it out of his hands.

[Don Hahn]

Well, God, but what a story that was.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

If we were the animals then that we are now. Yeah, he wouldn't.

[Alan Rosenberg]

She said everybody just applauded when he called. Everybody was like, hey, lucky you. Instead of like, today people be fighting each other for that ball paid for his wedding.

[Don Hahn]

That's right. Yeah. I remember because I saw 61.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Mom was right there, didn't catch the ball.

[Don Hahn]

I think Howie Carpin was out there too. I think if I remember, I think him telling me that. I think I remember that everybody was there. The building was like half empty.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I know she was there. It was a different.

[Don Hahn]

Millions of people claimed that they were there.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Her mother's a saint. She doesn't lie.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.