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- [00:00]
Don Hahn
With the Venmo debit card, you can Venmo everything.
- [00:02]
Brian Cashman
Your favorite band's merch.
- [00:04]
Don Hahn
You can Venmo this or their next show.
- [00:05]
Alan Rosenberg
You can Venmo that.
- [00:06]
Don Hahn
Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank in a pursuant to license by Mastercard International, Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.
- [00:16]
Alan Rosenberg
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:20]
Don Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:21]
Alan Rosenberg
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
- [00:29]
Don Hahn
Game time is brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's jolly time. It's jolly time.
- [00:39]
Alan Rosenberg
Well, we got them all in good.
- [00:41]
Don Hahn
That made up for last hour Metscati their series with the Orioles. That's coming up at 6:30 right here on 880 after us. And the Yankees play host of the Mariners trying to make it three in a row at 7:05 telemore do the original triple distill, triple blended and triple cast matured iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Telemore Dew honey during today's action. Enjoy Tullimore. Do responsibly. Let's hear from Aaron Boone.
- [01:06]
Alan Rosenberg
All right, so just let everybody know who's just joining us that The Yankees have DFA, D.J. leMayhue. He's not thrilled about it, but the Yankees had to do it, right?
- [01:15]
Don Hahn
They had to do it. And here's what Boone had to say about the DFA ing of lemayhu.
- [01:20]
Aaron Boone
You know, it's been a tough couple days. You know, some, some, some hard conversations and you know, and then ultimately coming to this decision conclusion obviously not easy for you know, what's been a great player and who's done a lot of great things for this organization. So difficult but you know, at the end feel like this is the right thing to do at this time and you know, just certainly wish all the best for what's been a great player.
- [01:56]
Don Hahn
DJ Lemayhue is going to turn 37 on Sunday.
- [02:02]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [02:03]
Don Hahn
So, you know, 37 years old and he's had his share of injuries and we're looking at a 2025 in which he's played just 45 games, two home runs, 12 RBIs, batting.266. But he's a prideful individual that's not really happy about this. Boone talked about everything's moving on me here. What's going on in My eyes.
- [02:26]
Alan Rosenberg
It's the. It's the ghosts. The ghosts are in the machine.
- [02:30]
Don Hahn
So now I've got to find what I was going to play about. So we're not going to play the emotion one that disappeared.
- [02:35]
Alan Rosenberg
I think it might have been a double. So we're just going to.
- [02:37]
Don Hahn
Oh, now we're asked what just popped up there.
- [02:42]
Alan Rosenberg
Play that.
- [02:43]
Don Hahn
It's there. Here's the emotions of the DFA for dj.
- [02:47]
Aaron Boone
You know, it's been a tough couple days, some hard conversations and then ultimately coming to this decision. Conclusion, obviously not easy for, you know, what's been a great player who's done a lot of great things for this organization. So difficult but at the end feel like this is the right thing to do at this time and, you know, just certainly wish all the best for what's been a great player.
- [03:10]
Don Hahn
And now he talked about, did DJ ask for this?
- [03:14]
Aaron Boone
No, he did not. No. In fact, we had more evolving conversations, you know, that were good and no, it wasn't that scenario. We're able to get some cards on the table and hash it out a little more and frankly done very respectfully. And so, you know, difficult decisions to be had. Cash. Cash and I met with them again last night and Cash talked to him at length today, a couple times. So yeah, just ultimately came to this conclusion, but not a scenario where he asked for it.
- [03:46]
Don Hahn
All right, so let's hear from Brian on the decision to let lemayhue go.
- [03:50]
Brian Cashman
I just ultimately made a decision that best for the roster configuration moving forward and I'll give you an example. So like for tonight's game, if Peraza, if Duni wants to pinch it for Peraza later in the game, currently the alternative to play third would be Iscara, and that's just not something I could leave comfortably. And so as we work through it, walk through it, talk through it, you know, ultimately made a tough decision and that led us to make the roster change today.
- [04:16]
Don Hahn
And Boone further, the conversation about options Moving forward at third, your REITs coming up.
- [04:22]
Aaron Boone
So some kind of combination between Oswald and your V and even Askara could figure into that mix, you know, gives you a little more the ability to be a little more aggressive with some of your hitters, maybe off the bench having some flexibility to do some things hopefully. So hopefully it gives us just a little more flexibility certainly in the short term.
- [04:44]
Don Hahn
So this is why I always say about the Yankees, actions speak louder than words. They say a lot of things in post games and pre games and it aggravates fans And I talked about that last week on how it feels like they're talking down to the fans, like you don't know what you're talking about. They know you don't. What are you talking about? Everything's great. You, Jazz is fine at third. DJs going to come around. You know, they're barreling the ball up, they're get. It's all bs because then five minutes later, after all that, you start to see Jazz goes back to second. Maybe that had to do with his barky shoulder, but he's back at second. DJ's been released. So it wasn't that good. Because you wouldn't be doing the things you're doing if everything was wine and roses. Right? So I think that's why you gotta take everything that any organization says, but especially this one with a grain of salt, because their actions will dictate to you. That's why I say it's not a mission statement. World Series or bust. Nobody's been held accountable for not winning the World series since 2009. Actions speak louder than words. Wasn't that long ago he was talking about this being the best team in baseball. Well, part of that now is moving a guy back to the position he naturally was in letting another veteran go. So I guess it wasn't as close as you thought.
- [06:03]
Caller
You.
- [06:03]
Don Hahn
Because these moves absolutely had to happen.
- [06:06]
Alan Rosenberg
Don, you have to understand, what the Yankees did here might not appeal to fans in the way it looks face value, which is dumping a guy who was in his best. He was a great player. And now his career has come to this path at the end where of course it's embarrassing for him to be DF8. All right, this guy was a two time batting championship. Like there's no reason he still believes he can contribute. He doesn't want this. So it is a tough place right now. But you know what the Yankees did? The Yankees gave D.J. leMayhue the respect of, we're gonna give you half a season. I'm gonna go to the All Star break and we're gonna give you a chance. And if it ain't happening, we gotta move on.
- [06:48]
Don Hahn
Yeah.
- [06:48]
Alan Rosenberg
And that's a good business decision. You can say all you want how it's ugly and how they gave him that, that $90 million contract six years ago or whatever it is eight years ago, because at the time everybody agreed he was probably your most important player. He could have been your best player. So you know that these are things that have to come up at the end of these contracts. And for The Yankees to do something where they rarely do this, admit that this was clearly a mistake, and we have to eat the mistake. We have to do this. And this is another example of Hal Steinbrenner spending money. All right, I'll pay a guy to not play for me because it does make the roster clunky. This. Let's take the emotion out of it. This was the right business decision. And DJ lemayhue might leave and say, so now I'm being blamed, right? It's my fault. Cut me and everything's gonna get better, right? Like I'm the scapegoat. That's not what that's about. This is. This guy is. We want to make sure that we are respectful to a great player who was a great hitter and give him a chance with all the foot injuries that he has had, give him a half a season to show us that you can do it. And they said, you know what, while the bat was starting to come around. And that's why Aaron Boone kept saying it. You know, he's making contact, things are good. Aaron Boone was always trying to stay positive for DJ LeMayhue out of respect. But Donnie fielding wise, it just wasn't good enough. They knew it, and they had to do this. This for the Yankees was the right decision.
- [08:24]
Don Hahn
Now we also have to take it back to Cashman. He did the right thing, but he also did the wrong thing by giving LeMayhue the contract extension. Now, a lot of people were at fault here. The fans were screaming, give him whatever he wants. Because coming off that shortened 2020 season, he led the league in batting average, led the league in open obp. He led the league in ops, led the league in OPS plus slugging. He really had another phenomenal year. You know, it was only 60 games, but he had 10 home runs, 27 RBIs in 60 games. You know, you prorate that out, and he would have had an amazing season. He led the league in WAR that year. So they give him the contract that's everybody wanted. And it went south from there in 2021, in 150 games, 10 home runs, 57 RBIs, batted.268, almost 100 points less than he did the year before. Then you go back, had a good war at 3.6 in 2022, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, batted.261. All right, did win a Gold Glove. But then the last couple of years, again, 15 homers, 44 RBIs, batted.243, 204 last year. In 67 games, you look at the kind of.
- [09:40]
Alan Rosenberg
He got hurt a lot.
- [09:41]
Don Hahn
He got hurt a lot.
- [09:43]
Alan Rosenberg
He had the foot like, he had the toe. He had the, like, like there were things happening to his feet that messed up to me. You saw the fielding. He just, he had no range because he could not move laterally. His athleticism was gone and that hurt him. And Boone was kind of hinting to that about why he couldn't play him at second. You know, I mean, why he could only play him at second.
- [10:02]
Don Hahn
I just couldn't play third.
- [10:03]
Alan Rosenberg
He just could not play third. And they wanted to take advantage of Jazz's athleticism, but Jazz is second baseman. He's better there. And so I just think this is, let's give him a half a year to see if he can just give us something. And once you reach this point, you got to eat the last chance. The injuries piled up. This is a guy, now that I'm sure another team might say, see, and this is the, this is the problem also. He's too expensive to be somebody that you, you know, Matt Carpenter, you have him just be on the bench. You'd be a good guy for the clubhouse. And when we need a pinch hit boy, we can rely on you because you can still hit. And in a moment we could get something out of you. You're an experienced player. You were a terrific hitter. You got a good eye. He's not a dh. He doesn't hit for power and he can't run, so he's not a dh. But he can be on another team on a cheap contract. A guy that you wouldn't, you'd love to have in the clubhouse and a guy that you'd love to, in a pinch, you bring him in and have him hit. But he's just not an everyday player anymore at this stage of his career. So a six year contract, you got four and a half years out of it before. I mean, I mean, it fell off and the injuries really hurt, but it just, they couldn't take it to the finish line. This was the right decision. Everybody back where they belong. And Cashman did say, I don't know if we have the audio. Cashman did acknowledge that before the deadline, they know they've got to find an infielder.
- [11:30]
Don Hahn
Right. And do you feel the need to upgrade at third?
- [11:33]
Brian Cashman
I'm definitely going to be looking for, for upgrades if I can. It doesn't guarantee anything. You know, it's the time of year now, so I'll be looking for, you know, we obviously had some Lost three starters out of our World Series rotation so far this year. So I definitely would look to see if I can find a starter. Despite getting some real quality starts, you know, from others have stepped up and which has been great like Will Warren and others. And now we got this cams in today gonna, you know, he's earned the right to be here, which is exciting to see, you know. So I wish him the best of luck and us the best of luck and looking forward to seeing how that looks because he's been exciting to watch develop but certainly love to import a starter, some relievers because our bullpen obviously has been taxed and some injuries and so. And yeah. And then feel as well if. If possible. But that's, that's a, that's a long list and I'm not sure if there's a, you know, if this will be a deep deadline or not. So I don't know how active, you know, we can be. But we will try to be active, I can tell you that. And we will try to import improvements. That's the gig.
- [12:35]
Don Hahn
Well, they got to be. But he doesn't know the depth because who's in, who's out by the time we get to the trade deadline at the end of the month. Because with this third wild card, there's going to be a lot of teams.
- [12:46]
Alan Rosenberg
You know, the seller that are going to be.
- [12:48]
Don Hahn
Well, you say that right, but let's take a look at it. You look at the, you know, with the wild card and everything. So is. Is Boston, who's a game out of a wild card spot, going to be a seller? I wouldn't think so right now. Texas, despite being two games under.500, only three and a half back. Royals, Angels and Twins all just four back. All right, so if you want to say the Guardians at five and a half back. So you could say Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento and Chicago. All right, so that's four teams in the American League. In the National League a little bit more. All right, Reds are four and a half back, but they're playing 500 ball. Diamondbacks not that far removed from going to the World Series. They're five and a half back, so let's leave them out. So you look at Miami, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Washington and Colorado. So you're looking at nine teams right now on July 9th that I could say will probably be sellers. That's not a lot of teams now by the time we now it's only July 9th, so we still have three weeks plus before we get to the trade deadline. So maybe Arizona And Cincinnati fall out of it. So. But at best, you're looking at probably a dozen to 10 teams that will probably be sellers of the devil.
- [14:05]
Alan Rosenberg
Arizona is the team to watch because of Suarez. Suarez is a walk year. He's a third baseman. It's a perfect plug and play and you just bring him in just to have him fix, finish off the season, go from there. Right. Like, it just seems to be the obvious thing to do. You know, the Yankees have pieces in their minor league system that I do think they already have earmarked. Right. To, to, to move their way up and be in the organization in the next couple of years. Lombard is one for sure. Like, right. Like they're probably going to, I would imagine they're going to try to turn him into a third baseman, don't you think?
- [14:37]
Don Hahn
I would think, yes.
- [14:37]
Alan Rosenberg
Right. Unless they feel like Volpe's just too bad and then they got to move on from Volpe.
- [14:41]
Don Hahn
But it's funny you bring that up because I do have Brian Cashman. Do you view Volpe as being your shortstop of the future?
- [14:48]
Brian Cashman
Yeah, I remember the viral TikTok of me and Joel Sherman discussing whether our development program produces hitters or not. So I'm a fan of Volpe. Yeah, I know it's been streaky. You know, it depends on what month he might ask. So right now I know he's had some struggles. The one thing I do tell you I admire about Anthony Volpe is his strength and fortitude. Obviously, he's a starting switch stop for the New York Yankees, helped us get to a World Series last year, performed in the World Series last year, and he does not lack confidence. And yes, there's struggles that have happened. That's why you're asking the question. Understandably so. And yet he's like this, you know, it's, it doesn't stick to him. It's, you know, turn the page and he's focused on tonight's game and I do have belief and optimism that he obviously will impact us in a really positive way on both sides of the ball. So, yeah, he's our shortstop and I don't forget where he was and what he was doing in the biggest stage of the game last October. And yeah, despite the twists and turns of how this season currently is playing out, a lot of season left to be played. So I'm not counting him out. I know he's going to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
- [15:51]
Alan Rosenberg
Absolutely. The right message. I have said this. I know fans have come at me about my support of Volpe and his struggles this year. So many people are so quick to give up on young players and you cannot do that, especially when he has shown you something early on. This is not like he came out of the gate and struggled like he has shown you he was rookie of the year. Like he has shown you that it's there. And he's just got to work his way through the early part of his career, the pressure he's playing under. But we have seen him in the big stage. I'm glad that Cash said what he said about Volpe. But to continue, of course, what I do think is the grand plan here is I do think the grand plan is again, Lombard has been playing multiple positions in the infield for a reason. In AAA is they, they kind of want to, like he could be second baseman if Jazz becomes the forever third baseman. But you trade for Jazz to make Jazz your second baseman and you try to turn a shortstop in Lombard into a third baseman if possible. And that's your future. That's it right there. Like, you know, and I don't know who your forever first baseman is, but.
- [16:57]
Don Hahn
Who'S not Goldschmidt, I can tell you that.
- [16:58]
Alan Rosenberg
No, it won't be. But who's to say it can't be Bellinger because, you know, well, you know, Spencer Jones is there too. And Spencer Jones is an outfielder and Dominguez is playing out of position. He's a center fielder.
- [17:08]
Don Hahn
He needs to be in center field.
- [17:09]
Alan Rosenberg
There is a reality in the next year or two where what I just laid out is your Yankee defense.
- [17:16]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but this comes back to that old conversation. I'm trying to develop young players and win a World Series.
- [17:20]
Alan Rosenberg
You are, but you also aren't trying to fix a short term issue by giving up on a long term plan. So if I'm a, if I'm a Yankees fan and it's like I got to get a third baseman and somebody asked for Spencer Jones. I'm saying no. I'm saying no.
- [17:34]
Don Hahn
But you're right. But at some point they need a starter.
- [17:36]
Alan Rosenberg
Donnie. If they. I need a starter and they say Spencer Jones. No, wait. You need a starter, though. You can't win a World Series in 2025. You don't get a starter. Fine. I know what I need in 2026. And, and I know what I got in 2026, and that is a couple of starters who got hurt this year or 2027, whatever it is. Some things you do have to press pause on. And I'm trying to tell everybody Right now the Yankees are not exactly going to be on the accelerator when it comes to making moves to make a huge impact because I think that's why Goldschmidt's here on a short term. I do think that's why they did what they did with Jazz at third and trying to see if they can get through one more season with dj. They just were trying to see and I'm glad they put a deadline on it. We'll give him a half a season and if we get to the break and he's not right, we gotta move on. And they did and it was smart.
- [18:28]
Don Hahn
One last thing from Brian. Is it hard to evaluate Volpe with the peaks and valleys?
- [18:33]
Brian Cashman
It's all part of the ecosystem or ecosystem first and foremost, it's a defensive position first and then second, you know, we have a really potent offense, you know, that's, you know, one of the top run producers in the game. Despite obviously the last six weeks, the way some things have played out, but still ranks at that level. And he certainly can come join the party sooner than later and I believe he will. I just have a high belief in them. But the peaks and valleys are part of, part of a six month season. I mean we got out of the gate somewhat unbeatable for a period of time and now we're beatable. Right. And that's, that's part of the twists and turns of a season and trying to ride those emotions and, and try to keep perspective but also recognize to the potholes when they come up, which is what you're trying to speak to. I do not consider him a problem. I understand that their struggles there, but again, I believe he'll be fine.
- [19:17]
Don Hahn
All right, there it all is for you.
- [19:20]
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- [20:20]
Alan Rosenberg
Have you ever.
- [20:20]
Brian Cashman
Spotted McDonald's hot crispy fries right as.
- [20:24]
Alan Rosenberg
They'Re being scooped into the carton and time just stands still. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [20:39]
Don Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [20:40]
Alan Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [20:48]
Don Hahn
SportsCenter's 50 States in 50 Days is coming to Somerset, New Jersey for the Jersey Diners game on Saturday, July 12th. Join the Somerset Patriots award winning the all alternate identity as they serve up fireworks, food and fun with a taping of Sports center at the Ballpark. Get your tickets today@somersetpatriots.com and keep it locked in later today show to score a family four pack of tickets. Now we're going to extend things out. Mets rained out, so we're going to be on until 7 o' clock tonight. So the Mets rained out. Rain's been a problem. Last night's game was delayed rained out. So I'm assuming, I don't know if I heard anything, a double header tomorrow. They had a one o' clock start scheduled for tomorrow.
- [21:33]
Alan Rosenberg
That works though, right?
- [21:34]
Don Hahn
Yeah. So that means we'll probably be a 7 o' clock vehicle tomorrow too because with the double header they won't have the 6:30 pregame and we'll see what the weather's gonna be like tomorrow too. So a lot of seven o' clock vehicles because the Mets will be in Kansas City over the weekend and then we got the All Star break next week. So so we got you until 7:00'. Clock. So a little bit more time than maybe you thought you had before we went to break. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Joe in Chappaqua. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Joe?
- [22:04]
Caller
Hey, Don and Alan. Nice to talk to you guys. Don, I wanted to congratulate you. First of all, as a Ranger fan, I'm going to miss listening to you on the Ranger call.
- [22:14]
Don Hahn
Well, thank you, man. I'm going to, I'll miss doing that because I, I just tweeted out about Dave. I miss working with Dave and, and, and Ray Santiago was with the producer. There were just so many great things about working over there. But this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I appreciate it, Joe.
- [22:31]
Caller
Sure. So regarding the DJ Lemayhue dfa I think you think this is finally the Yankees taking some accountability now.
- [22:43]
Alan Rosenberg
Yes.
- [22:44]
Caller
You know, they've made moves in the past and, you know, it hasn't worked out, and they just always, you know, I feel like this is, you know, this. And maybe moving Jazz over to second is finally.
- [22:57]
Alan Rosenberg
This is, you know what this is doing. Joe, Joe. I feel like this is acknowledging what's best for the team and the players instead of, you know, the cya, cover your ass kind of thing, like, you know, let's prove that we're right now instead. Because what you're doing, once Jazz starts having shoulder issues and Jazz is openly saying, look, I'm doing whatever the team asked me to do. But, yeah, I mean, it's not really my natural position. I didn't even train here in the off season. Like, when you start. When that stuff starts going out, you start realizing, I can't lose the guys. And I wonder how much, like, Boone won't say this publicly, but how much is Boone in his conversations behind the scenes? Because he knows what the players want. He understands players and the player perspective. How much of this is Boone kind of going, like, you know what, guys? Like, we got to get this lineup right because we got some guys that are uncomfortable playing out of position. The confidence level, like, we got to get everybody back on track. Remember, I said, this is tough. This is get right time.
- [23:53]
Don Hahn
Yeah.
- [23:54]
Alan Rosenberg
Like, maybe, just maybe, the Yankees have reached that point where they're like, all right, we got to stop forcing it, and we got to start understanding that we don't want to lose that room. We got to keep the. Keep our guys confident and feeling good and putting them in positions to succeed. So it's the right move. Even though it broke someone's heart, even though it hurt someone's feelings, and even though DJ walks away from the Yankees probably pissed off, you got to do it. It's a business decision. And the right one.
- [24:24]
Don Hahn
What would you be the last? Listen, I understand DJs got a tremendous amount of pride. I wouldn't be happy.
- [24:29]
Alan Rosenberg
I don't blame him.
- [24:30]
Don Hahn
But what did you want the Yankees to do?
- [24:32]
Alan Rosenberg
Right?
- [24:32]
Don Hahn
I mean, think about 37 years old, he can't move. You can't pay him another, you know, 15, whatever it was left on his stats.
- [24:41]
Alan Rosenberg
This is the post, by the way.
- [24:42]
Don Hahn
A chance to catch a game. White Sox beat the Blue Jays today, ending their winning streak. So a chance to get a game tonight.
- [24:48]
Alan Rosenberg
Lemayhue, listen to this. He was ranking 435th out of 498 in sprint speed, just not agile enough to play a position defensively no matter what, whether, you know, even at second base. It wasn't like great, they don't need him at first and third base, forget about it.
- [25:11]
Don Hahn
And I give the Yankees credit for dfma him, but at the same time, it was a bad contract. It was. He did not live up to the expectations. Now all the fans wanted it, but they gave him a six year contract extension. Didn't work out. And if you look at Brian Cashman's track record, whether it was Severino back in the day or Hicks back in the day giving these contract extensions, listen, you gave a guy that was already what, 32 years old, 31 years old. Now granted he had a great 2020, but part of being a general manager is, okay, what's this contract going to be like? DFAing a guy's contract halfway through to second to last year of his contract and really not getting any bang for your buck in the previous four and a half years. Not a good contract, not good. But they did make the moves. And just another example, they're gonna tell you things. Don't listen to what they say, Listen, watch what they do.
- [25:59]
Alan Rosenberg
Yes, actions over words.
- [26:01]
Don Hahn
That's I think ultimately what you have to take from this. Let's go to E. He's in Queens. You're on ESPN New York.
- [26:08]
Caller
What's up E. What's going on guys? It's been a while. Just wanted to talk about the Soto thing and I was listening to K earlier and I think it's sometimes incomprehensible for most Americans. Understand. And I'm not, you know, protecting him or backing him up and he could use some PR coaching on what to say in the post game interviews. But I think it's unfathomable for most Americans that are going to Dr. Not to Punta Cana where the resorts are, but the level of poverty that exists in that country and the fact that you're given the ability to earn that much money regardless if it's $100,000 or 765 million million. He's not gonna play baseball forever. And what he's trying to do is protect himself and his family and ensure that they're okay.
- [26:54]
Don Hahn
You sound ridiculous.
- [26:55]
Alan Rosenberg
He's been here, he's been a teen since a teenager. He's been in the US and he is already has generational wealth beyond anything he could even imagine or his family. While I get what you're saying about the plight of a lot of Dominicans and I have I have a lot of compassion for that. This is not that. This is a guy who has been a major league baseball player and a multimillionaire who was making a joke and no one got it. That's all that was. That.
- [27:25]
Caller
No, but I think it goes. I think it goes back to even his original decision on choosing the Mets deal over the Yankees as well. The way that people criticized him for choosing the Mets. Going for the money. It's his job.
- [27:40]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, of course.
- [27:45]
Don Hahn
That'S two separate arguments.
- [27:47]
Caller
I'm not saying. I'm not saying that you guys criticized him at all, but I'm saying the. The. The ridicule that he received and he will continue to receive for the rest of his career.
- [27:57]
Alan Rosenberg
Okay, can I tell you something that you got to understand this? And trust me when I tell you, if he was purple, if he was from Mars, people will still say negative things about taking the money. It doesn't matter about your background. The people don't like that. No, it's not their money. So they'll always criticize the background for taking more money. They do it because it's not their money. So they're jealous. They don't like it. You're always going to backlash, even though.
- [28:33]
Caller
People are fanatics and they're fans and they love teams. This is his job. And I think people need to understand that. If you were offered a job to go to another station or another opportunity.
- [28:44]
Alan Rosenberg
We did this. We did this. And you know what else? It's also the example of Don and fans, like Devil fans saying, you're not a true Devil fan because you, you worked for the Rangers. Hey, moron, the Devils weren't gonna pay me right now, but the Rangers were. And I need money, so I took the job. That's just life.
- [29:04]
Don Hahn
That's just business. But. But that's two separate things. Most of the people that criticize Soto for taking the money were Yankee fans. They were butthurt at the fact that he didn't choose the Yankees.
- [29:13]
Alan Rosenberg
That's it. And so they found a reason to hate it.
- [29:15]
Don Hahn
Right? They found a reason to hate it.
- [29:16]
Alan Rosenberg
Stupid.
- [29:16]
Don Hahn
But E's point about, listen, he comes from a place of poverty. He probably pays attention to the money. No, it doesn't look good when making $750 million over the next 15 years. $100,000 is like a penny to you and me. All right? So when he. And I really believe he was joking and nobody laughed. And so now he's looking like a jerk.
- [29:39]
Alan Rosenberg
Right?
- [29:39]
Don Hahn
I still am going to defend him and say he was only.
- [29:42]
Alan Rosenberg
But he did bring up Michael K. Though. Michael K. Did have a take on this.
- [29:46]
Don Hahn
Michael did have a take during his show today. One to three, right here on ESPN New York. Talk about being tone deaf. Come on, Juan. The last I looked, I didn't put that much research into it. You're making a smidge under $47 million this season. And you're upset that you're not making the All Star Game because of an All Star bonus that you have in your contract.
- [30:10]
Alan Rosenberg
You know, bad that looks that you.
- [30:12]
Don Hahn
Said that even if you thought it fine. I mean, what kind of expenditures do you have? You do make $47 million this year.
- [30:19]
Alan Rosenberg
To even speak that.
- [30:21]
Don Hahn
Do you realize how it makes you look?
- [30:23]
Alan Rosenberg
There are players that make $40 million.
- [30:26]
Don Hahn
A year that they're going to look at that and they're going to roll their eyes.
- [30:28]
Alan Rosenberg
Why would you even speak that into existence? Do you know how bad it makes you look?
- [30:35]
Don Hahn
So it's not even on the table for Michael that he was just kidding.
- [30:39]
Alan Rosenberg
That it was an awkward joke.
- [30:40]
Don Hahn
Honestly, it was. I really believe, and I could be dead wrong about this, maybe is greedy and a bad guy, but I thought he got. He heard the reaction when he said, play it.
- [30:54]
Alan Rosenberg
Here it is. Yeah.
- [30:55]
Don Hahn
Asked if he wanted to make the All Star.
- [30:57]
Alan Rosenberg
What do you think?
- [31:01]
Brian Cashman
I mean, I think it's a lot.
- [31:03]
Don Hahn
Of money on the table. Obviously, if I make it, it's a.
- [31:06]
Alan Rosenberg
Lot of money on the table. Obviously if I make it.
- [31:09]
Don Hahn
Is it really a lot of money to a ballplayer that's making over $47 million a year? Is $100,000 that much money? Is that. Honestly, how do you not think it's a joke when you say there's a lot of money on the table? Is $100,000 a lot of money to a guy making $47 million a year that's already made a ton of money in his career?
- [31:31]
Alan Rosenberg
Yes, $100,000 is still a lot of money, even if you make 47 million a year. You know why? Because it's still 100,000. There's a lot you could do with that.
- [31:40]
Don Hahn
Michael. Michael might be right. But just as a human being, when you see something that's outlandish, wouldn't you just say at least can you entertain the possibility that it was just a bad joke? He reacted to the laughter. Figure, I'll tell you another joke. But of course, here in New York, anytime you talk about money and bad guy, tone deaf, all that stuff, now the jokes are over. We're not gonna laugh at you anymore. And now we've got another story to write. Thank you. Juan, we were just gonna talk about you getting stumped for the All Star Game. Guess what? We've now created talk radio. We've now been able to create more articles. Thank you very much. Instead of saying, you know what? I think he was just kidding around. And unfortunately, a bad joke or a good joke is only judged by the reaction of the joke. And no one laughed, so now he looks like a bad guy.
- [32:32]
Alan Rosenberg
Would Aaron Judge ever say this?
- [32:35]
Don Hahn
I think Aaron Judge is savvy enough to know it, and so you're going to credit. So does that make Juan Soto a bad guy?
- [32:43]
Alan Rosenberg
No, it doesn't.
- [32:44]
Don Hahn
But that. You know what? He didn't read them because he doesn't have.
- [32:48]
Alan Rosenberg
And that's, again, all part of the superstardom in New York City, especially. The more money you make, the more attention you're gonna get and the more you're gonna be critiqued about who you are and what you're about. An Aaron Judge has a halo over his head and walks on water. We know this. He just always says the right thing or he says nothing.
- [33:09]
Don Hahn
Right?
- [33:09]
Alan Rosenberg
Right. So even when he speaks, there's times he says nothing. When his team's playing bad, he says nothing.
- [33:14]
Don Hahn
And you know what you're saying.
- [33:16]
Alan Rosenberg
But Soto is not wired that way. He doesn't have that same type of savvy. It doesn't make him a bad guy.
- [33:24]
Don Hahn
You know, Aaron Judge is kind of just going through the motions because he doesn't want. He knows everything that he says is going to be dissected.
- [33:31]
Alan Rosenberg
That's right.
- [33:32]
Don Hahn
So he doesn't have as much of a personality. He's been here longer, not showing any kind of human emotion, just being a robot, just spitting out cliches because he knows it's all going to get turned around. And Juan Soto, who, by the way, is like a lot younger than Judge, and he's only been in New York now, his second year, decided to be a little human and maybe tell a little bit of a joke. And now we wonder why these players don't say boo. They show no personality. Now you wonder why these players don't want to talk and don't want to come on and do interviews and why they hate the media. Because if everything's got to be dissected and now it's the end of the world. Instead of a bad joke, instead of just saying, I told the joke and it fell flat, now he's a greedy SOB that all he cares about Is the money that all he. It's just, it's so unfair. I think it's unfair. 1-800-919-3776 More conversation about this.
- [34:22]
Alan Rosenberg
How do people really feel about this?
- [34:24]
Don Hahn
Honestly? I mean, I gave our opinion as.
- [34:26]
Alan Rosenberg
Much as it bothered Michael K. Because I think he was just, it was an awkward moment for him. They laughed at the first joke. He threw one more line in, no one seemed to get it. And now all of a sudden he's a bad guy.
- [34:36]
Don Hahn
Yeah. So first of all, he belongs in.
- [34:37]
Alan Rosenberg
The freaking All Star game. Let's can we all agree he should be in it, so he should be pissed off that he's not playing in it. But let's not make him a villain. He's not a bad guy. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made fifteen dollar bills, but it turns out that's very illegal.
- [35:03]
Don Hahn
So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to 15 per month required. New customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra cement.
- [35:15]
Alan Rosenberg
Mobile.com thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [35:21]
Don Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [35:22]
Alan Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [35:30]
Don Hahn
Sports Center 50 States in 50 Days he's coming to Somerset, New Jersey for the Jersey Diners game on Saturday, July 12th. Join the Somerset Patriots award winning alternate identity as they serve up fireworks, food and fun with a taping of SportsCenter at the ballpark. Get your tickets today at somersetpatriots.com youm can win a family four pack of tickets right now. Just be caller. Hmm. What's a number that's kind of floating around? Oh, Rafael Flores was number 10. So how about caller number 10 at 888-987-3776? That's 888-987-3776 to win my family's tickets for this Saturday's game with the New Jersey Diners. Your tickets? The New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
- [36:17]
Alan Rosenberg
Guess you can't go.
- [36:18]
Don Hahn
I can't go. You know why?
- [36:20]
Alan Rosenberg
You're giving away the tickets.
- [36:21]
Don Hahn
You know why? I can't go.
- [36:23]
Alan Rosenberg
Why can't you go?
- [36:24]
Don Hahn
Tickets to Rick Springfield taking Nancy Jesse's Girl. Yeah.
- [36:28]
Alan Rosenberg
Can you name another hit by Rick Springfield?
- [36:31]
Don Hahn
Oh, there's a. There's a. Now you put me on the spot.
- [36:36]
Alan Rosenberg
Come on.
- [36:37]
Don Hahn
I'm not the biggest fan, but she is. And that's why the tickets were for her.
- [36:40]
Alan Rosenberg
Shock that she's a fan.
- [36:42]
Don Hahn
You gotta love somebody.
- [36:45]
Alan Rosenberg
There you go.
- [36:46]
Don Hahn
I think that's Love somebody, right?
- [36:47]
Alan Rosenberg
Probably.
- [36:50]
Don Hahn
There's a few. Working class.
- [36:52]
Alan Rosenberg
State. State of the Arts. State of the Heart is a great song. Don't Talk to strangers. That's the one I was trying to think.
- [36:57]
Don Hahn
Okay, so this. Yeah. You know them when you hear them.
- [36:59]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah. Affair of the horror. Yeah. But that's about it. I think we're done.
- [37:03]
Don Hahn
John Waits is also going to be part. It's like an I love the 80s kind of thing.
- [37:08]
Alan Rosenberg
I'm missing you. Right.
- [37:10]
Don Hahn
And that was great song. Nancy and I song back in 84. So that was a good song.
- [37:14]
Alan Rosenberg
Really.
- [37:14]
Don Hahn
He was in the babies.
- [37:15]
Alan Rosenberg
Yes, he was.
- [37:16]
Don Hahn
So are we talking Too much music, John? 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to my buddy, Floral Flavio. Excuse me. Couldn't spit it out. From Hawthorne. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Florio?
- [37:28]
Alan Rosenberg
We're still waiting for him to emerge as a Yankee.
- [37:31]
Don Hahn
Still wa.
- [37:33]
Caller
Hey, guys, great show. Before. Before I talk about the Soto thing, Don, I just wanted on behalf of me, the town cast. Everybody from Hawthorne, congratulations on the new gig. You're gonna have a whole new slew of devil fans, Right?
- [37:49]
Alan Rosenberg
Is Don the biggest celebrity in Hawthorne?
- [37:51]
Don Hahn
Oh, that's an interesting question. No, no, no, actually.
- [37:54]
Alan Rosenberg
Who came out of Hawthorne?
- [37:55]
Don Hahn
He's gonna. He's gonna tell you. Say it. Fabio.
- [37:58]
Caller
You know Debbie Harry.
- [38:00]
Don Hahn
Debbie Harry.
- [38:00]
Alan Rosenberg
Debbie Harry. What?
- [38:01]
Don Hahn
Kingston Avenue. Yeah. Went to school with my mother in law.
- [38:05]
Alan Rosenberg
Big Debbie Harry fan.
- [38:07]
Caller
Yeah.
- [38:07]
Don Hahn
I can't get there. I'll take number two.
- [38:09]
Alan Rosenberg
Right. Number two is not bad, though. That's pretty good.
- [38:13]
Caller
Number two is not bad.
- [38:14]
Don Hahn
And you know, I got to look up his name.
- [38:17]
Alan Rosenberg
Can we get Debbie Harry on the show?
- [38:18]
Don Hahn
There's an actor from Hawthorne. He's a little younger than us. Flavio there was in the movie the Breakup with Jennifer Aniston.
- [38:26]
Caller
He's from Hawthorne, but was it Fulvio. Fulvio Cesare.
- [38:31]
Don Hahn
Yes.
- [38:32]
Alan Rosenberg
So he's been in a.
- [38:33]
Caller
He was the referee and Cinderella Man.
- [38:36]
Alan Rosenberg
Wow.
- [38:36]
Caller
So you remember that boxing does that.
- [38:39]
Alan Rosenberg
No, I know it.
- [38:40]
Don Hahn
Does that make him bigger than me? And I got to settle for three more.
- [38:43]
Alan Rosenberg
We talk about I'm insane movies.
- [38:48]
Caller
He moved to Canada. So he doesn't count anything.
- [38:50]
Don Hahn
Oh, you got to be quiet. Was there a war I didn't know about?
- [38:57]
Caller
Well, congratulations. Really excited.
- [38:59]
Don Hahn
Thanks, man.
- [39:01]
Caller
So, you know, this whole thing with Soto, I.
- [39:05]
Alan Rosenberg
You know.
- [39:06]
Caller
You know, I'm happy he left. I think the Yankees did. Did better. They picked up Free. They picked up, you know, some great players. And to me, he's just. I 100% agree that his comment was. Was true. Like, he actually meant that he's missing the money. Of course, it hit his ego. He didn't get into the All Star, you know, he would. There was no April or May. He did great in June, you know, to make the all. If he was hump you. You asked about Judge, if he was humble like Judge. I picture what Aaron Judge would have said. What? Something like, I need to play harder. The guys that are on the team, the guys that made the team, they played hard. I need to play harder. I'm gonna bring it the second half of the season. But he did. He said, oh, there's a lot of money on the table.
- [39:54]
Alan Rosenberg
What do you think he made a joke?
- [39:56]
Don Hahn
No, but you stop seeing. He said. He said, what do you think? Everybody laughed, and I. You might be right. But you're a Yankee fan, right?
- [40:06]
Caller
Well, I am a Yankee fan, but, Don, I think the reason why you don't see it that way is because that wouldn't be you.
- [40:14]
Don Hahn
That's true.
- [40:14]
Caller
That guy.
- [40:16]
Don Hahn
I'm just taking a guess. I don't know. And listen, just because I'm a Met fan, it's not like I'm defending him. And I'm not saying just because you're a Yankee fan that you're killing him. But I do think sometimes we can give these players a little bit more of the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping down their throat every time they say something. And then you wonder why these players are so protected. Like, all right, Judge is a different guy. Like, he gets it. He's like Jeter. Michael had the best line about Jeter. Jeter will open the door, but he won't open the screen door. Like, he's not letting you in. He'll give you the essence of the door being open, but he's not letting you in. Is that what we want? We want our professional athletes to just give you the stock answer.
- [40:56]
Alan Rosenberg
No.
- [40:57]
Don Hahn
Just give you cliches, not actually tell you what's on their mind because they're so afraid that if they misspeak, if they tell a joke that falls flat, they're gonna get destroyed. Right.
- [41:08]
Alan Rosenberg
Is that fair? No, but that's, you know. Again, I think this is more because people are very sensitive when it comes to the money conversation. We talked about this and of course our crack staff decided to do some research. Don.
- [41:22]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [41:25]
Alan Rosenberg
Most famous people from Hawthorne, New Jersey, according to Google Search.
- [41:30]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [41:32]
Alan Rosenberg
Deborah Harry, number one, which you would expect. Now is the list going left to right or top to bottom? Now that's why I was confused because I'm like, if we're going top to bottom, you know, Don, Don. If we're going like if we're going left to right, you are right below Deborah Harry.
- [41:50]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [41:50]
Alan Rosenberg
Debbie Harry.
- [41:51]
Don Hahn
Of course. That makes me proud. Or if it's the other way.
- [41:54]
Alan Rosenberg
If it's the other way, it's Ivan Sergey.
- [41:56]
Don Hahn
That's the guy that was in. Ivan Sergey. That was Right. Not the guy. He was the guy that was in the breakup.
- [42:03]
Alan Rosenberg
Ivan Sergei and then C. Alfred Vijelli. Who's that?
- [42:08]
Don Hahn
Don't know.
- [42:09]
Alan Rosenberg
Old time. Old timey looking dude.
- [42:10]
Don Hahn
Doesn't. Doesn't.
- [42:12]
Alan Rosenberg
He died in 1984. He was 1904. He was a bishop. So he was a bishop. So he was very famous, apparently. And then, so then you're. If you're going right to, you know, we're going through that. Then it's you. Then there's Roberta Nas. No. Nothing. Okay. Edwin J. Vandenberg.
- [42:34]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [42:34]
Alan Rosenberg
Very, very important.
- [42:35]
Don Hahn
That must be old timey because the Vandenbergs are pretty big in Hawthorne.
- [42:39]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah. And then there's the, the guy that he mentioned.
- [42:44]
Don Hahn
He mentioned Fulvio Cesare.
- [42:46]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, he's like way below you and.
- [42:49]
Don Hahn
He was the referee in Cinderella Man.
- [42:52]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, you're right there, man. Like Debbie Harry can't be Deborah Harry.
- [42:58]
Don Hahn
That's it. Done.
- [42:59]
Alan Rosenberg
And then you. I think you're right.
- [43:02]
Don Hahn
There was so where I read her book in like, like early life. She was just talking about Lincoln School and Kingston Avenue. It was really cool that.
- [43:09]
Alan Rosenberg
Right.
- [43:09]
Don Hahn
I. I always love you love where you grew up. Right. You. You still.
- [43:13]
Alan Rosenberg
Now I'm technically. For me, it's, it's, it's was made famous in Seinfeld. That's Ron Konkoma.
- [43:19]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [43:20]
Alan Rosenberg
Like that's where I. My childhood was. I'm a Huntington guy now.
- [43:26]
Don Hahn
Who's the most famous person from Ronco?
- [43:27]
Alan Rosenberg
No idea.
- [43:28]
Don Hahn
Well, they can go to work on that.
- [43:30]
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah. I don't know.
- [43:30]
Don Hahn
You know, maybe it's something that can possibly lead enn. We don't know.
- [43:33]
Alan Rosenberg
We don't know. You don't know that. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.