Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Episode: Hour 3: Yankees Expectations
Date: October 1, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
In this third hour, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive deep into the New York Yankees’ current playoff predicament after a frustrating postseason loss to the Red Sox. With the team facing elimination, they discuss the decision-making behind pitching changes, the ongoing issue of lackluster playoff offense, expectations for Game 2, and the weight of analytics on modern baseball. The hosts also banter about the “greatest right-handed hitter of the 21st century” and engage directly with passionate callers, capturing the tension and hope felt across the Yankees’ fanbase.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Yankees vs. Red Sox: Facing Elimination
- Game Setup: Yankees must win Game 2 tonight to avoid elimination. Rodón is on the mound, with the regulars (Judge, Bellinger, Stanton, Chisholm, etc.) back in the lineup. (02:14)
- Optimism & Pressure: "I still like the matchup tonight, right? I know Rodón doesn't have a great history, but he's had a phenomenal season." – Rosenberg (01:58)
- Pressure isn't just on the Yankees: The Red Sox face a vulnerable rotation with Giolito out, making tonight pivotal for both sides. (02:38)
2. Pitching Decisions: Rodón’s Trust Factor & Bullpen Concerns
- Rodón’s Track Record: Solid season but mixed playoff success. If he’s performing, he likely “won’t let them take the ball.” (05:11)
- Crucial Question: If Rodón struggles early, how long do you stick with him? "Would they have the confidence to let him continue to pitch, or would they pull the plug right away?" – Rosenberg (05:53)
- Trust in Bullpen: The hosts debate the “trust factor” for bullpen options, essentially concluding nobody rates higher than Rodón, even if he's shaky. (06:29)
"Who in the bullpen is any higher than a 7 or even a 6? Nobody." – Don Hahn (06:53)
3. The Yankees’ Persistent Postseason Offensive Struggles
- Critical Offense: "How about at home the offense does more than score one run. How about that?" – Don Hahn (07:34)
- Recurring Theme: Year after year, the Yankees' bats go cold in October, despite regular season dominance. (07:46)
"You’re trying to win that game one-nothing. You know how hard it is to win a playoff game one nothing? ... We end up focusing so much on the pitching... No offense in the playoffs." – Rosenberg (07:46)
- Missed Opportunities: Bases loaded, nobody out, and failure to score. The hosts emphasize that if the Yankees had delivered a big inning, the pitching decisions wouldn't be the focal point. (08:04-09:01)
4. Analytics vs. Instinct: Managing Pitchers
- Taking Pitchers Out Early: Ongoing controversy about pulling starters (e.g., Freed, Crochet) based on pitch counts versus letting them "fight" through trouble. (17:09-17:49)
- Host Perspective: Players today are conditioned by analytics, used to coming out after 100 pitches, which removes the fight and old-school grit.
"They've all been taught, don't be a hero. Once you get to 100 pitches, the manager wants to take you out... It's so ingrained in these guys in their careers, that's just kind of the way that it is." – Rosenberg (16:45)
5. Clubhouse Vibe and Fan Energy
- Locker Room Friction: Hosts detect frustration among players over management’s reliance on analytics rather than trust. (26:39)
"To me, it's what the clubhouse sounded like after the game bothered me. They were ticked off between what Freed said, what Jazz said or didn’t say." – Don Hahn (26:39)
- Fan Tension: With elimination looming, Yanks fans are anxious—the energy at Yankee Stadium could swing dramatically on early-game outcomes. (27:03-27:48)
- Wild Card Format: The rapid shift from the “hottest team in baseball” to “facing elimination” intensifies both team and fan pressure. (28:31)
6. Greatest Right-Handed Hitters Debate (Whiteboard Wednesday)
- Segment Setup: The crew debates the greatest right-handed hitter of the 21st century—Judge, Pujols, Manny, Trout, and A-Rod surface in the discussion. (11:36)
"Aaron Judge has had seasons in the last four years that have never been had or the last time they were had... since people have done what he's done without PEDs." – Don Hahn (13:03)
- Recurring Jokes and Banter: The segment includes friendly razzing about co-worker choices and Yankee bias in the votes. (13:41-14:29)
7. Callers Weigh In: Management Decisions and Team Mentality
- Pitcher Resilience & Analytics: Callers echo frustration with quick hooks and question why managers don’t trust their aces to go deeper, comparing to legends like Garrett Cole. (15:05-16:03, 16:17)
- Changing Generational Attitudes in Sports: Callers and hosts reflect on how old-school toughness (“walk it off”) has faded, replaced by cautious, data-driven player management. (18:05, 20:01-20:57)
- Statistical Oddities: A caller points to reliever Luke Weaver’s strange ERA splits by inning, wondering about the Yankees’ analytic logic. (24:04)
"Luke Weaver had a 278 ERA in the eighth and a 686 in the seventh. So I don’t know why they put him in the seventh." – A.J., caller (24:04)
8. Situational Management and Second Guessing
- Lanes & Trust: The hosts dissect the "lanes" system for relievers and question if it's too rigid in close games. (24:59-25:53)
- Caller: “Blown Bullpen Games” Multiple callers bemoan the organization—and Boone—for repeated bullpen disasters in the playoffs, pinning blame both on moves and bullpen performance. (41:37-42:18)
- Variables: “Every play is designed to work…” Whether a decision is good or bad depends on player execution—managers get scorched when it doesn't pan out. (35:40-37:23)
"If Weaver does the job, there’s no complaining. That’s a real... but decisions are made all the time. If the players execute, it’s not talked about.” – Rosenberg (35:40)
9. Previewing the Next Game and Looking Ahead
- Tonight’s Hopes: Despite doom-and-gloom, all agree the Yankees still have life and a strong chance tonight (Rodón v. Red Sox). (22:05, 27:57)
"You’ve got to shake it off, move on to today. And I think you got the better pitcher on the mound. You got your true lineup out there." – Rosenberg (22:05)
- If They Win Tonight: Yankees’ path gets easier, especially with Red Sox pitching in chaos for a possible Game 3. (22:05)
- Show Scheduling: Quick sidebar on ESPN programming logistics for upcoming playoff games. (38:26-39:47)
10. Classic SportsCenter Hosts & Other Sports Banter
- Quick digression on the greatest SportsCenter anchor duos, lamenting the “golden age” of Patrick & Olbermann vs. the newer eras. (30:19-32:13)
- Lighthearted local sports updates, including Knicks preseason, and a nod to the hosts' commitment and inside jokes. (40:33-41:15)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Trusting Rodón:
"If Rodón is pitching well and feels good, there's no way he's giving the ball up." – Don Hahn (05:11)
"But you also know he does melt down sometimes... he does get a little rattled if that happens. But we'll see." – Don Hahn (06:34) -
On Yankees Playoff Offense:
"We end up focusing so much, with good reason, on the pitch... No offense in the playoffs." – Rosenberg (07:46)
"How about at home the offense does more than score one run. How about that?" – Don Hahn (07:34) -
On Modern Pitcher Management:
"They've all been taught, don't be a hero... Once you get to 100 pitches, the manager wants to take you out. ... That's just kind of the way that it is." – Rosenberg (16:45)
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Generational Perspective:
"My instinct is always, 'Come on, get up. You're okay.' That's probably not the right thing to do, but that's how I was taught." – Don Hahn (18:05)
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Analytics Frustration:
"They trust the numbers more than they trust us." – Don Hahn (26:47)
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Clubhouse Vibes:
"Wouldn't it be cool tonight ... to finally see, like, the energy. The anger, the player saying, like, something, take the notebook and rip it in half and throw it out." – Rosenberg (26:57)
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Classic Banter:
"Who is the greatest right handed hitter in the 21st century right now? There should only be one photo and everybody should have their name right." – Don Hahn (11:58)
"Aaron Judge has had seasons in the last four years that have never been had ..." – Don Hahn (13:03)
Important Segment Timestamps
- Yankees' Elimination Game Setup: 01:15 – 02:38
- Pitching/Bullpen Trust Factor: 05:11 – 07:32
- Yankees Postseason Offense Woes: 07:34 – 09:57
- Analytics and the Modern Game: 16:45 – 18:05
- Clubhouse & Fan Energy: 26:39 – 27:48
- Greatest Right-Handed Hitter Debate: 11:36 – 14:29
- Caller: Luke Weaver Stats: 24:04 – 25:00
- Managing by the Book vs. the Moment: 35:40 – 37:23
Summary & Takeaways
The hour channels the tense mood swirling around Yankee Stadium and among Yankees faithful—part dread, part hope—as the team faces a season-defining Game 2. Hosts Don, Alan, and Peter blend sharp analysis and passionate frustration over old wounds: questionable hooks, silent bats, and the ever-growing shadow of analytics, all while keeping plenty of space for humor, banter, and fan engagement. If the Yankees can pull off a win, hope will return; if not, expect the postmortem tomorrow to be as lively (and cathartic) as ever.