Hour 3: Yankees Expectations

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Yankees Expectations

Released on February 11, 2025

In the latest episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg delve into the anticipated performance of the New York Yankees for the upcoming baseball season. Skipping over initial advertisements and introductions, the discussion primarily focuses on team improvements, managerial decisions, player performances, and the overall culture within the Yankees' organization.

Season Outlook and Team Improvements

Alan Hahn begins by addressing the Yankees' offseason moves, highlighting both losses and strategic acquisitions. He notes the departure of star player Juan Soto but emphasizes the team's proactive approach in strengthening their lineup: “They lost Juan Soto. Yes. But they went out and got two legitimate bats, a really good pitcher, a really good relief pitcher, and the Mets went out and got one of the singular talents in the sport” (03:09). This balance between losing key talent and reinforcing the roster sets a positive tone for the Yankees' prospects this season.

Peter Rosenberg echoes this optimism, stating, "This is setting up for, again, we get out of the doldrums of our football team sucking and get into where. And that'll be fun" (03:47). Both hosts agree that the Yankees are poised for an exciting season, especially after a less successful period in other sports, and are hopeful about the new additions enhancing the team's competitive edge.

Managerial Decisions and Organizational Culture

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Yankees' manager Aaron Boone and his decision-making processes. The hosts critique Boone's handling of high-pressure situations, particularly in the postseason. Peter Rosenberg raises concerns about Boone's bullpen strategies: “Show me if he gets off to a slow start. Yeah, listen, they will look for things” (09:18). This highlights the scrutiny Boone faces when making pivotal game-time decisions.

Alan Hahn extends the critique to the broader organizational culture, suggesting that Boone's decisions are influenced by higher management rather than solely his expertise. He remarks, "I think it's more organizational decision than it is Boone. Now Boone's on board with it, and I guess he's got to take the hit" (25:12). This points to a systemic issue within the Yankees' hierarchy, where managerial choices may not always align with on-field performance expectations.

Player Performance and Team Motivation

The discussion shifts to player performances, with a particular focus on Aaron Judge's role and leadership within the team. Hahn compares Judge to legendary Yankees like Derek Jeter, emphasizing his critical role: “Because he’s the Yankees and all the great players, even eventually Alex Rodriguez... Judge is an amazing player, but unfortunately... he’s going to yawn until you do it in the postseason” (07:12). This underscores the immense pressure on Judge to consistently deliver high performance, especially during the postseason.

Peter Rosenberg adds that the Yankees currently lack the "edge" that characterized past successful teams. “The one thing I can't say about last season's Yankees and really the last couple of years Yankees, is I never felt like that was a team that played with an edge,” he states (15:59). This sentiment is shared by Hahn, who reminisces about iconic Yankees players known for their competitiveness and determination, such as Darryl Strawberry and CC Sabathia: “There were guys that weren't gonna take any bs... where it's all about winning here” (16:33). The lack of this fierce competitiveness is seen as a potential weakness for the current roster.

Fan Concerns and Accountability

Engaging with callers, the hosts address fan frustrations regarding Boone's managerial strategies and the perceived lack of internal accountability within the Yankees organization. A caller named "Gabe" expresses disappointment with Boone’s decision-making, prompting a robust response from the hosts. Peter Rosenberg advises fans to trust the information provided by the podcast and ESPN’s coverage, suggesting that fans might be misled by unverified opinions found on social media: “...if you listen carefully, we are telling you the truth. And just trust us, like that's the simplest thing you can do” (34:03).

Alan Hahn counters the notion of a "championship or bust" mentality, questioning organizational accountability by pointing out that neither Boone nor GM Brian Cashman face repercussions despite the team's shortcomings: “Is there a level of accountability? ... If they replace Boone, they're going to hire a guy that's probably going to bring in the guy that you don't want to see brought in” (41:32). This highlights a frustration among fans regarding the lack of consequences for leadership when the team underperforms.

Interaction with Callers and Broader Perspectives

The episode includes interactions with multiple callers, including "Jose" from Georgia, who challenges the hosts on Yankee fan criticisms. Don LaGreca advises a balanced perspective, acknowledging legitimate frustrations while highlighting the team's strengths: “...the Yankees are in a really good spot” (29:18). Peter Rosenberg emphasizes the need for fans to be better informed and trust the insights provided by the hosts, who have direct connections and understanding of the team’s inner workings: “...trust us, like that's the simplest thing you can do” (34:03).

Additionally, Spike from St. Petersburg shares personal anecdotes about witnessing sports legends and the emotional connections fans have with the sport, adding depth to the conversation by blending personal stories with analytical discussion.

Concluding Insights

As the episode wraps up, Hahn and Rosenberg reiterate their anticipation for the Yankees' season, acknowledging both high expectations and potential pitfalls. They emphasize the importance of internal motivation and the need for the team to play with a competitive edge that matches the legacy of the franchise. Rosenberg concludes with, “They have got to have a reminder about what was said about us. It should be bulletin board material...” (05:34), highlighting the necessity for the Yankees to internalize past criticisms and use them as a driving force for improvement.

Alan Hahn summarizes the overarching theme by asserting that while the Yankees have a clear path to potential success, it requires consistent performance, strategic management, and a renewed sense of urgency to finally break the championship drought that has hampered the franchise since 2009.

Overall, this episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" provides a comprehensive analysis of the New York Yankees' prospects, blending expert insights, player evaluations, and fan perspectives to paint a vivid picture of what to expect from one of baseball's most storied franchises in the 2025 season.

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Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8:80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. Big 5:00 hour.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Legrette, the best threesome I've ever heard.

[Don LaGreca]

Saturday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Excuse me, Threesome.

[Michael Kay]

Richard, have you ever heard of brazzers?

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did an.

[Alan Hahn]

He ever heard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did answer it quick, though. He did answer that quickly. He didn't pause. Don Lagrequer, Peter Rosenberg, I'm Alan Hahn. I love Richard. 800 now. 3776. Did you, did you feel it today? It's cold and we're supposed to get more winter winter mix and everything else over the next two days.

[Alan Hahn]

We got three storms this week. No, we got the storm tonight, which can be about 2 to 3 inches.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What? I thought we were getting like one rain ish tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no. That's to that. That's Wednesday into Thursday night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, great.

[Alan Hahn]

Will be the wintry mix. And then we're going to get a similar thing I think Saturday into Sunday. That's going to be mostly like into like torrential rain on Sunday. So this is three separate.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we're getting a late winter happening right now because it was pretty, it's about time, though. Pretty mild.

[Michael Kay]

We haven't had. It is February and we haven't had anything for years, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it is February and you know, pitchers and catchers.

[Michael Kay]

Oh, can't wait to dream about like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'S, this is usually when you start now having those images of warm weather, sunshine, green grass, pitchers and catchers.

[Alan Hahn]

I kind of roll my eyes like, all right, so like I, like I joked yesterday. Well, now we know where they are. So if they were missing, now we know that they're in Port St. Lucie and Tampa, Florida, respectively. But we're still not. I mean, we're getting closer, inching closer. But when Kay's talking to Boone and I think he's going to have Mendoza. When is that, Anthony? Tomorrow. Thursday you know, now you get a feel you're talking about it, but we still are like, what, six weeks away from, like, legitimate games here. And for a hockey guy, and you're a basketball hockey guy. You know, we've got stuff going on, so we, you know, if you're just a football, baseball guy, you're hungering for this because you don't have any answers.

[Michael Kay]

That's not a. That's not a thing.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, it's a. Peter, it's a thing. It's a thing whether you want to make it a thing or not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I look at it like this is like Groundhog Day for me. It's that sense of, okay, spring is coming. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then when that wintry mix happens, you'll realize you snap back into reality.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But that still, it's that feeling of.

[Alan Hahn]

And this is going to be, especially this year, a big deal because both of these teams should be legit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good. Well, they were Final four teams last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Final Four. And both, I think you can make the case, have improved. Now you could say, well, how do the Yankees improve? They lost Juan Soto. Yes. But they went out and got two legitimate bats, a really good pitcher, a really good relief pitcher, and the Mets went out and got one of the singular talents in the sport. And so you got to feel like, hey, this is going to be really, really. And after coming off of what was the polar opposite, NFL wise. Yeah. With two football teams that didn't know what they're doing. And listen, the Knicks are great and we'll see what that ends up being. But this should be a lot of fun in the spring and summer and into the fall.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. It's setting up for, again, we get out of the doldrums of our football team sucking and get into where. And that'll be fun. And obviously for the summer, it's two teams with the baseball teams that, you know, there was some off season fireworks with the idea that one team stole another team's free agent away, which we've never seen happen that way before. And so there's a lot to talk about, but I just feel like, and I said this at the time when all the stuff happened with the Dodgers celebrating their World Series and the pot shots they were taking at the Yankees on several podcasts and at the parade as well. And I was like, I feel like. And you could tell me if you think this is kind of silly and this might be, you know, a little too high school, but I do feel like if I'm Aaron Judge, if I'm Garrett Cole. When everybody does reconvene together and they're in the clubhouse in Tampa and they're getting ready. All right. Start preparing for the season. I do feel like there needs to be a reminder about what was said about us. It should be bulletin board material, don't you think? Don't you think it should be something that does bother them enough to focus on it a little more and lock in a little more? I know they're professionals and I get it. But, Don, when have we ever seen this happen before where a team wins a championship and they got their. Their peripheral players taking shots at the team they beat? That never happens, but it did this year. And that Yankee brand got damaged. And then a guy left, a big money player said, I'm taking money to go somewhere else. I'm not staying here. The brand has been damaged and somebody has got to do something about it. And these players have to care that they're getting mocked or they got mocked for last year that they. That they auctioned off the ball that Aaron Judge couldn't catch. Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

That's got to bother you in a way. Although it's way like subterranean compared to the Yankees is what I'm hoping happens with the Giants is that when you're getting trolled, when you're being made fun of, you hope that motivates the franchise. Now, the Giants are way down here as far as where they are close to a championship, but the Yankees are close, right? That should be motivation enough. But you almost take it as a compliment, right? Because it's still the Yankees who haven't won anything since 2009, but they're still the Yankees. And that's what the Dodgers were doing. Because as great as the Dodgers are, as internationally known as the Dodgers are, they're not the Yankees. So that's why they took those shots. Because beating the Yankees is on a different level than beating anybody else just is. It's like beating the Cowboys in the NFL or beating the Canadians in the NHL or beating the Celtics in the NBA. It hits a little different because it's them. So you could take it as a compliment, but at the same time, it should be just a one of a dozen motivating factors to go out there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And win this year, but that's definitely one. As players, it's embarrassing the Giants players, they have no control over Saquon Barkley leaving and this Eagles winning. You know, like I had to watch Kayvon Thibodeau on some bit on some commercials that we saw as well. Like Dancing around stuff. And it's like, I don't think for the Giants players, it's more in the organization, it's more upstairs with the Giants that they're a little more embarrassed. I don't think the players are, because the players are. They're here. You brought me in here. Saquon left all that stuff. But for the Yankee players, especially Judge, did they auction the ball you didn't catch?

[Alan Hahn]

Because the weird thing is, though, you went out and got a bunch of players that don't even care because they weren't Yankees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

But the guys that are here. And it really just comes down to Judge. He's your captain, and I don't think it's unfair to compare him to Jeter because it was a different era, it was a different team. He was a different type of guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He wouldn't have dropped that ball.

[Alan Hahn]

True. But listen, you're not there without Judge and Judge. Judge is an amazing player, but unfortunately, because it's the Yankees and all the great players, even eventually Alex Rodriguez win that chip and he has none of you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's the motivating factor. The problem with the Yankees is that. Let's say Judge decides to take it out on the baseball for 162 games and hit 100 home runs and drive in 200 RBI. Everybody's going to yawn until you do it in the postseason. So that's the frustrating thing is no matter what they do in the regular season, win the division by 20. It's a fact. Actually, you just hit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fast forward to October, but I can't enjoy the season.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no, no. Because Yankee fans don't. Al, ask Peter how many summers when Michael's off and we're taking phone calls. They complained about the Yankees when they were running away with the division and Judge was breaking the American League home run record. Do you think Judge can do anything in the regular season that will wipe away dropping that fly ball in the fifth inning of game five?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Until he wins a ring. Ask Rodriguez. He will be hounded as the guy that can do it in the regular season, but not in the postseason. That's what stinks from the Yankee perspective, is that he can have a historic season. And most Yankees. I'm not saying all, but a lot of Yankee fans, especially the guys that call this show, are going to say, okay, show me an October.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I need the satisfaction of coming out of the gate looking like a team that is not running the bases with mistakes and not having defensive mistakes and not Having lazy at bats or bad at bats and all the things that frustrated you about this team. Now Verdugo's not there and Glaber's not there. There's no more punching bags. Who's left?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, DJ LeMay here is the last.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guy that everybody's going to bat around punching back.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, maybe, maybe it'll be judged. God forbid he gets off to a slow start. Yeah, listen, they will look for things. I'm not trying to pick on the Yankee fans, but it's just true. They're going to sit back and if you go out there and have an amazing season while you're supposed to, but if you have the audacity to get off to a slow start or struggle for any period of time or do the things that you talked about, base running, mist, they still. You want a punching bag. There's no bigger punching bag than Aaron Boone. They're going to be all over him. And he lost every series loss.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Isn't he in the last year? Right. Isn't he a lame duck manager? Basically.

[Alan Hahn]

But Cashman, you know, Cashman will be another punching bag. So believe me, there'll be plenty of targets.

[Michael Kay]

Well, you're making me dread the season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, don't. No, I'm not. I'm actually, I'm really. And I'm dead serious. I am looking forward to this for those reasons. This has to be the vengeance season. Like, that's what you got to see here.

[Michael Kay]

But they won't even.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You need to see it. I don't like. I want to see it in it April and I want to see it in June and I want to see. I don't want to keep saying, oh, but nothing matters till October because I have said that before.

[Alan Hahn]

That or now I'm really interested now again, we're not on. Yes. And you know, Michael's gone, so maybe the audience is a little bit more diversified when it comes to baseball and it comes to Yankees. But Peter, I'm kind of interested to hear Alan when the Yankees rattle off that 10 game winning streak and he's all pumped up and we get that first phone call about why did Boone pinch hit, why is Judge batting third?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The calls that say they almost lost the game in the six because they. He did.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm warning. Okay, they're coming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I listened to your show.

[Alan Hahn]

So you know that two seasons ago should have been like Orgasmatron for Yankee fans. He's on his way to hitting a thousand home runs. He's breaking Roger Maris's record. They're running away with two years ago and all we got because that was. The summer was off. So Peter and I. It was a loss killing Boone. Why'd he do this? I'm telling you, Don. It's an album by Motorhead. Look at it. I love not if I was dumped. I'm gonna punch somebody in the forehead. That is an album by. By Motorhead.

[Michael Kay]

It's real orgasmotron.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, it is.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a song too. I didn't know I am the one. Orgasmatron. Find it. Jacob, do me a favor.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got dumped again.

[Alan Hahn]

What? No, it didn't.

[Michael Kay]

No, he's. He's scaring you. Calm down. It's just a goo.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I don't know here. I really don't know anymore. Well, when I got dumped yesterday, I knew.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you had to feel.

[Alan Hahn]

But Jacob can find. It's a really good song. Motorhead's a fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's on that. So I want to.

[Alan Hahn]

So we got that covered.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to hear the response though.

[Alan Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Saturday.

[Michael Kay]

Excuse me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to hear Aaron Boone's response to the Dodgers and all the trash talk that has come from la. This is Boney on with Michael K.

[Aaron Boone]

Yes, I did not like it, but I don't know if that bulletin board material stuff is necessary. I feel like that fire has got to come from a different place. It's got to come from the internal. From each other. From how you push and motivate each other on a daily basis. Whether that does on some level, hard to say. I mean, I'm not going to lie and say I liked it, but, you know, and hopefully we're in a position to, you know, be where they were. They're the champs and the reality is they have the right to say whatever they want as the champion. And hopefully we're in that position this time next year. And like you said, hopefully we handle it with a little more class.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. The last line saved the whole sound.

[Alan Hahn]

Bite, but I didn't have a problem with it because you don't want to come across as whiny. That's not lost. No, but if you're like, oh, I can't believe they.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's not what you say. He. What he was suggesting is right. It's if him saying it's got to come from within. I get it. But let that set the tone that forces something. We haven't seen enough with this team over the last couple of years and that is that internal accountability. Because I don't think that exists, at least from the outside, it doesn't look like that accountability didn't feel like it was coming from within. And I'm talking about from the leadership of the players. Now, I'm not in the clubhouse to know nobody is when the doors are closed. So you don't know what's set. But you also can see a team that has that accountability where a player knows, I let the team down, I've got to make up for it. And then there's the players who just feel sorry for themselves. Their heads go down. Now, like I said for Dugo, he was bad at that. Torres was bad at that. They wore it on their sleeves. It was obvious they're not here anymore. So is there a better mental toughness about this team? We're going to find out. But. But Boone said at the very end, that's the shot I was looking for. And if we are in the place that they are in next year, we'll handle it with more class. End of story. Mike dropped.

[Alan Hahn]

And doesn't it kind of feel like that the odds are that that is going to be the match? Because the Dodgers keep adding, you know, and as much as I think the Mets have an excellent chance, they still got to get through a division that's got the Phillies, that has the Braves, the Padres are still going to be heard from at some point, probably is a wild card. So nothing's guaranteed in baseball because they've got parity. But the Dodgers have retooled after a championship season, and I think the Yankees are the clear favorite in the American League. So usually you don't have that conversation in baseball, like, let's get to the World Series first. But the feeling is, if the Yankees get to the World Series, odds are it's going to be against the Dodgers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, we're going to see what.

[Alan Hahn]

We saw in the 70s or, you know, 77, 78 and 81, where it just seemed like every. And then going back when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn, this was kind of a routine every year. Every year it was Dodgers, Yankees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Giants screwed it up one year. That was awesome. Here's Boone talking about, all right, so you made the World Series last year. Does the team need an edge now going into this year?

[Aaron Boone]

You can have a great situation, a great culture, a great closeness about your team, a great professionalism about your team. I think sometimes the separators where a team that's good can be great, a team that's great can be a champion. What have you is that hunger that is Not a given. Even with the best of people and the best of teams, there's no question in my mind, last year we had that edge. We had a hunger, maybe in part due to coming off a season in which we didn't make the postseason. You know, for the people that experienced that here, I think that showed itself very early in camp. But we got to work at that. You know, that's not a given. And what I'm seeing so far across the street, I'm very encouraged by, like, the level of focus, the level of commitment seems to be there. But we got to work at that every day. We got to fight for that every day. That's the thing. You kind of hold each other accountable. Like, we want to walk in these doors every day with a hunger that, you know can be a difference maker, especially in a long, tough season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look, the one thing I can't say about last season's Yankees and really the last couple of years Yankees, is I never felt like that was a team that played with an edge. They were really good, a lot of talent. Judge was indomitable so many times, adding Soto. That was something to watch. That was overwhelming for a lot of teams, but a team that played with an edge, I never felt that. Never have I felt that about this group. And that's something that's missing because that.

[Alan Hahn]

Doesn'T seem like it's Judge. He does have those moments.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, yeah, he does it with the. He doesn't do it with emotion. He does it with that glance into the opposing dugout when he hits a home run that kind of lets you know. He doesn't really show that demonstrative emotion, which I do appreciate, because you go.

[Alan Hahn]

Back to the 86 Mets, if you go back to those late 90 Yankees, like, there were guys that weren't gonna take any bs, like Darryl Strawberry was gonna get in your face. He was gonna charge the mound. He was gonna, you know, CC Sabathia Ray and cost himself a bonus. Like that kind of stuff. Where, dude, it's all about winning here. It's all about setting the culture. It's not about anything else but winning a championship. And listen, Boone, I think, has an edge. He's been thrown out of games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He does.

[Alan Hahn]

He has a snarl to him, but it's gotta.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

It can't come from your manager. It's got to come.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You get it from Cole.

[Alan Hahn]

You do get it from Cole a little bit. Although what happened last year with the Red Sox, that's not. That's not.

[Michael Kay]

He did the opposite.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the opposite.

[Michael Kay]

And also, respectfully, Cole's a dork. Stop me when I lie. Stop me when I lie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just stopped you.

[Michael Kay]

Have you heard Cole talk?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have.

[Michael Kay]

He's a freaking dork. I'm. But this is offensive. But he'll.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hello. He sounds like. He sounds like Patrick Mahomes.

[Michael Kay]

He has no. He has no charisma, dude.

[Alan Hahn]

But no, we're not talking about charisma. We're talking about. He'll brush your back. He'll call out.

[Michael Kay]

You know, he'll brush you back sometimes. Or he'll decide to play Nerf.

[Alan Hahn]

Bryce.

[Michael Kay]

Besides that.

[Alan Hahn]

But you. Absolutely. That's a problem. But he does have that in him. We've seen that from him before. But he did lose it in that Red Sox series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought he was trying to be funny, and it backfired on him. That's what that was. Because he had already talked about how this guy owns me and all that stuff. It was. I think he was trying to be funny, and it did backfire. He's got a bulldog. He's got a bulldog.

[Michael Kay]

But something you would agree, though, something will have to happen for that to get forgotten about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, no. When they fake. Oh, no, no.

[Michael Kay]

He's got to do something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely agree with you. Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

This can't just go him down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then point to the dugout instead of pointing to first.

[Michael Kay]

Correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, you got to.

[Michael Kay]

Like, something's got to happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Three pitches and then point to the dugout. Take your ass back there. I'm just saying that has to happen.

[Michael Kay]

The vibe that we're. The vibe that we're talking about hasn't truly existed on this team since the guy who we just found out yesterday will be wearing Yankee hat when he goes into Cooperstown. That's CC Sabathi.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I completely.

[Michael Kay]

They have not had that dog since.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It has been missing.

[Alan Hahn]

And because of the way that it's set up. Back when we were younger, the Yankees wouldn't play the Dodgers until they met in the World Series again. They will play in the regular season. So maybe somebody has to get plunked. Maybe there has to be some message that sent in that. In that regular season game, the two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mouthy guys were both pitchers, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it. Am I wrong? I know one was Kelly. Who was the other one? There was another one, I don't think.

[Alan Hahn]

I think a Dodger gets hit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it her name?

[Alan Hahn]

The guy that spoke?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, maybe it was.

[Alan Hahn]

Whatever. Just to say, hey, this is the Dodgers. This team we have to beat play with that sort of an edge there's something DK Hernandez.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's back. So you plunk him, you know, or brush him back or say something like, go in with Chip or, you know, beat him 10 nothing. Yeah, I know it's the regular season, but that's the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If I remember, just get a pound of fish.

[Alan Hahn]

I just remember. Was it Bob Knepper with the Red Sox? He gave up the home run the Strawberry in the Game 7 of the World Series in 86, and he Cadillac'd around the bases. So they met each other in spring training, and that per hit him because there wasn't going to be another meeting. It was only spring training, and I didn't forget.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But just, hey, if you're really upset about it, if it really bothers you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got to bury it.

[Alan Hahn]

Let them know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, put it away or file it.

[Alan Hahn]

Away for when the moment strikes. Because if the Dodgers are going to dance on your grave, guess what they're going to do when you meet them in the regular season and they're up 5?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you think they're going to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're gonna dance because they know they own you right now. And they'll start doing the who's your daddy and all that stuff. You know how that works.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Michael Kay]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Richard]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Richard]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Kay]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We're talking Yankees right now. Pitchers and catchers are in Tampa and Aaron Boone talking with the media and we're already talking about the Yankees and the prospects of the season by the way.

[Michael Kay]

You know what sorry I got to cut you off you did. Boone's a real sob.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What happened?

[Michael Kay]

He texted me the night of the Eagles Commanders game apropos of nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Michael Kay]

Just to talk just to talk trash in my lowest love it just a filthy that's what you nasty they don't I was that's a friend I wasn't trash talking him he just waits till.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I what time but now you know you should have now you know it's.

[Michael Kay]

Open but I well no and when it comes back around because I didn't do it when we beat them the time before that he wrote we this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guy'S French all of a sudden.

[Michael Kay]

You know what he did?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Michael Kay]

You know oh tight end. He sent me a picture of his family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Michael Kay]

He sent me a picture of the family wearing the gear Nice and then the next thing is a wave.

[Alan Hahn]

So he's the Dodgers.

[Michael Kay]

He's a bad guy.

[Alan Hahn]

He's trolling you so he shouldn't talk. It was by the way I'm sorry I made a mistake but you could understand my mistake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was it thank you to Thomas not orgasmitron.

[Alan Hahn]

No Bob Knepper pitched for the Astros in 86. Al Nipper was the one that Daryl took deep.

[Michael Kay]

The Nipper.

[Alan Hahn]

Nipper.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I don't feel bad.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going on the 40th anniversary and the names are kind of close, so listen, but thank you, Thomas. I wanted to be able to get. But you can't. He's trolling you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's great. I love that. I love that. That's, that's a good friend. That's what a friend does at your lowest moment. Reminds you you root for the wrong team.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's not that. That's a friend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah. Hell yeah. Gabe and Rockman. What's up?

[Alan Hahn]

Dodgers just close to the Yankees. They are. Hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good afternoon. How are you?

[Michael Kay]

Hey.

[Spike]

I appreciate taking the call.

[Alan Hahn]

So I wanted to comment because I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Heard Don, you know, talking about how.

[Alan Hahn]

We could be negative as Yankee fans and New York fans general, and I've.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Called in and I've shared that.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I do hate that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wish some people are a little.

[Alan Hahn]

Bit more positive around here, but I.

[Spike]

Do want to comment.

[Don LaGreca]

I, I, I feel like some of.

[Alan Hahn]

Some of the you guys get frustrated and some of those questions and concerns are warranted. I mean, Boone, we've seen Boone mess up in the playoffs, bring in guys out of the bullpen that, you know, have not worked out, and obviously Nestor Cortez and I remember the, you know, a couple of years ago, Clark Schmidt, he was bringing Clark Schmidt out of the bullpen and that was a disaster.

[Don LaGreca]

I think winning is great.

[Alan Hahn]

And when we go on those 10 game winning streaks and, and judges having, you know, the historic season that he had two years ago and even last year was incredible. It just, it's frustrating when your team is that good. But then we get to the playoffs and every year something just seems to, I don't, I don't, I don't mind that hate on the organization is our point because if they replace Boone, they're going to hire a guy that's probably going to bring in the guy that you don't want to see brought in. That's the analytic world that we live in. So I don't mind you being upset that Nestor Cortez came into that game. It ended up being the wrong decision, but I think it's more organizational decision than it is Boone. Now Boone's on board with it, and I guess he's got to take the hit. But after all these years, don't you understand that those are more organizational than I think you're giving him credit for?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I do think there's something there, Gabe. And you know what else, too, Gabe, is what we also. What you don't like. Now, again, Gabe, I'm a Yankees fan. It's the only team that I have never. I've never covered them. And so I've been allowed to just stay a fan, not knowing too much. And so. But I've even learned that the idea that they've got to change their ways, that there'll be some type of epiphany, and all of a sudden Hal Steinman will realize we're going in the wrong direction. We need to change everything about what we do that's not happening. They believe in what they do. That's why Brian Cashman is where he is for as long as it has been. And so with that in mind, it's not like. Like we've got to go get a different type of manager who's going to, you know, kick over or punch water coolers and curse in the media and call out players. All the stuff that fans sometimes like. There's not going to be that sudden change in direction. This is who they are. So, as Don said, I know Michael has said this many times as well. If they were to fire Boone, whoever they hired would be cut from the same mold. And we just have to. I said this a couple of weeks ago or recently, the Yankees that we knew don't exist anymore. No, they just don't. This is a different franchise run a different way, and you have to accept it. That's a reality. So, Gabe, you can be mad and you can be frustrated and all that stuff, you can complain, but to demand change is not something that I think we're ever gonna see as long as HalSteinbrenner is owning this team.

[Michael Kay]

Agreed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jose in Georgia. Jose, hey.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, Alan. This is Jose in Georgia. I'm a little bit nervous my first time calling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't be nervous.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a P1. So talking about from the old show, you know, I love the new show, but I really got to push back on this Yankee fan thing. You know, I'm from New Jersey. I just moved to Georgia three years ago, so I consume sports much more than I did ever before. I got you guys on all day while I'm working, and I watch everything I can when it comes to the Yankees now because there's nothing to do in the southeast corner of Georgia. So every time I watch the. I watch the pre and post guys are killing Boone decisions. I listen to Michael K. And he kills fans for complaining about Boone and then we'll go on a monologue regurgitating all the complaints of the, of the fans. I mean, I get my. I get everything from you, Don, and, you know, and Michael K. We're just regurgitating what you guys are saying because we watch it and then we notice it. I don't know what should we call in and give.

[Alan Hahn]

Boom.

[Don LaGreca]

Flowers when he makes terrible decisions, when the team has a terrible demeanor, to them, they. They don't do anything. I mean, something has to be on the coat.

[Alan Hahn]

But, but I understand coming off the 82 and 80 season, but you won your division going away and you went to game five of the World Series, so you can't. Don't make it seem like it's all bad. There's a lot of good with this team is all we're trying to tell you. And that sometimes the decisions that you're putting on Boone, that he's a terrible manager because he did this or he's a talent manager because he did that, are organizational decisions that aren't necessarily going to change if you change the manager. So if you want to get mad, get mad at the Yankees overall. But really, how bad do you have it, right? You're the favorite to win the American League. So that, that's all, that's all I'm saying, Jose, is that I think you guys in a really good spot.

[Don LaGreca]

I agree with you, Don. But sometimes, you know, when you have the whole team, when you have the pitching staff and the only person that we can point to is Boone, we don't know that the assistant general manager.

[Alan Hahn]

Is calling down Jose, that's on you. You should, man. If you're watching baseball and if you've listened to this show and you listen to Michael Cage show, then you should know that it's an analytic world now. These games are all played out before they even start. Pitchers don't go three times through the order. And you don't bunt anymore. You don't steal as much as you used to, although that's changing just a little bit. And you got to know that.

[Michael Kay]

And demeanor wise, I don't think the Yankees have an appetite for anyone who's more fiery than Aaron Burns. I think he's about as fiery as.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'Re interested in moments.

[Alan Hahn]

And Michael will disagree with this. And we kind of got into it. I think the Dodgers just a better team. All right. I know that fifth inning was ugly and it seemed like you handed it to the Dodgers, but the Dodgers, I think were better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Dodgers that were 11 loss away from not even getting to the NLCS. Right. The Dodgers, who won. Oh, they won so many championships in the last 10 years. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But last year, other than summer camp.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One, they finally won one last year.

[Alan Hahn]

But last year, I believe if you power ranked the baseball teams, the Yankees might be fourth or fifth playoff teams right now. Well, just if you're going to say, well, they went to the World Series, so obviously they're the second best team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, who was better?

[Alan Hahn]

I think if the Mets, the Phillies, if the Braves or the Padres were in the American League, they might have gone to the World Series too. And the Padres were really good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Were the Mets a better team than the Yankees? Than the Yankees?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, if you looked at the regular season, they won all four games. Not that that's all the end all be all, but the way the Mets were playing, if they played the Yankees, I don't think you could definitively say the Yankees would beat them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's my issue. Don, what you just said, the way the Mets were playing, it's the way the Yankees were playing that had so many of us just up in arms with this team. The way they played is what bothers a lot of fans.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's why.

[Michael Kay]

So where, where is that? And that seems to happen year after year. So where is that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's. It's starting to happen year after year. I think that's the frustration is that you're just seeing this sort of approach to the game that, that feels almost dispirited. Right. And they're front runners. When they are hitting home runs, all of a sudden everybody's great. This is like in the NBA when a team that makes a lot of threes, everybody's celebrating having a great time. But if the threes aren't going down, they have no chance of winning. So it's the same thing. And that's how I felt with the Yankees.

[Michael Kay]

But you don't think it's boom. And you don't have a problem with the way judge leads.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, again, so where is. You said that, what you said to Jose. Donna, I want to just piggyback because it's off the point you're making. Peter, the fans do have to do something for me here this year, and they should have been doing it all along. And you're right. Be a better fan. Not necessarily how you act, but what information you take in. Because as Jose said. Well, we don't know that Boone is being told this. Yes, you do, because this station tells you that stuff. I have told people this many Times you can listen to fan analysts who have just the same passion that you have, but guess what? They have the same freaking information you have to. They read the newspaper and they regurgitate that. Then they give you their opinion or talk to people who are literally in the business who talk to the people who make decisions, who understand how it works. And instead of side eyeing it like, well, you're never gonna tell me the truth, maybe, just maybe if you listen carefully, we are telling you the truth. And just trust us, like, that's the simplest thing you can do. Sometimes when you have somebody on your station that literally talks to the people, whatever sport it is, we have that here. Everybody has some connection to some organization here in some way. We know what's going on. We explain it to you as such. And you have to trust that information. It's very simple. Or just go with the people who yell and scream because they're fans. If that makes you feel better, fine. But don't act, don't say you don't know or never been told, because you are being told.

[Alan Hahn]

And the other thing, too, to piggyback off of what you were piggybacking off of, is that just pay attention to the rest of baseball. And I know you get focused. It's a regional sport. You care about the Yankees, but there's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Too much going on.

[Alan Hahn]

The way the Yankees do it is the way the Dodgers do it. The way the Mets are doing it now. Everybody is doing it this way. And stop comparing it to the way Joe Torre used to do it or the way that it was done by, you know, Billy Martin or Bob Lemon or anybody else. It is done differently now. So when I get that phone call in the middle of the summer, why isn't Aaron Judge batting fourth? Well, get your head out of 1975 and realize that as much as you hate it, 2025, baseball's a lot different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And the way the Yankees are doing it is not that much different, or if not identical, the way rest of Major League Baseball, although you would argue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That it did from a little different because they were not athletic. They had to get athletic. They started to do. That's why Jazz came around.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not perfect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had to get more athletic because they weren't doing it like everybody else.

[Alan Hahn]

Not perfect. But, you know, the killing boon for bringing in Cortez. Yeah. It ended up not working. That's what I'm telling you. There's a lot of other managers that would have done the same thing, and maybe some of them would think outside the box. And if they got it wrong, they probably would get fired. That's the thing that we've been saying over and over again. But people don't want to think about that because they think the game is the way it was when they grew up. I hate it, but you got to accept it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

800 now, 193776. More your calls coming up. Peter, a little Fanduel for me, please.

[Michael Kay]

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[Alan Hahn]

It's me, Angel Reese. You can't beat the post game burger and fries, right? Know what else you can't beat? The Angel Reese special. Let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drink. It's gonna be a high C for me.

[Michael Kay]

Sound good?

[Alan Hahn]

All you have to do to get it is beat me in a one on one. I'm just playing get the angel re special at McDonald's now. Ba da ba ba ba.

[Richard]

I participate in restaurants for a limited time.

[Michael Kay]

This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like you know to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Kay]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So game Time brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. When it's game time, it's telly time. Knicks and the Pacers tonight coverage immediately following us right here on 88 ESPN at 7. It's on TNT. It's also on MSG, everybody. I'll be heading down that way in a few.

[Alan Hahn]

That's four subway stops.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, thanks for telling everybody how I'm getting there. Game Time brought to you by Tullimore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, turn tonight's action glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew.

[Alan Hahn]

We all know that MSG's got a stretch waiting outside all warmed up for you when you get out of here. I'm just saying, for us philistines, it's a 4 subway stop, right, Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Philistines. I can't. I can't wait for it. Now you get the. You know, the. The close talker will be right next to me on the train.

[Alan Hahn]

No, they know not to talk to the talent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, you want to sit right here? Sit right here and talk to me. Can the Knicks win today?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God, this is terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're going to get that.

[Alan Hahn]

These are good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is what you get.

[Michael Kay]

Did you just kill Knicks fans on the train?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Tell Knicks fans it's people that would do what Don just suggested. Like, oh, he's gonna be on the train. I'm gonna go down there. Like, that's what you'd want to avoid.

[Michael Kay]

No, come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to avoid that.

[Michael Kay]

Someone who's gonna. Who's literally gonna hear, Alan Han's gonna be on the train. I'm running to the train right now, hoping I meet him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, the guests. That's the guy.

[Michael Kay]

You gotta work at his eye level.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, I'll tell you what. I'll let everybody know when you're heading down.

[Michael Kay]

Well, no, no, no. I said this to you the other day. No one sees me. No, I am 58 on my best day, right? So I go on the train with my headphones on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You put a whole costume, but I.

[Michael Kay]

Have a Hat and headphones on. I'm nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't do a hat. I gotta go on the air.

[Michael Kay]

You're such a tall drink of water that people already go, oh, is that a ball player? You're gonna get looked at like you might be someone, but. And then they go, oh, my favorite. It's almost a ballplayer. It's Alan Hobby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember from Seinfeld, when. When Costanza said to Seinfeld when they were doing the. The school appearance.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he said, they get a chance to Real. Real. To meet a real live Yankee. And then he said, and you have a chance to meet a lot of very disappointed kids.

[Michael Kay]

And you know what they say? They go on the train, Don. They go, who is that tall guy? They look up and they go, oh, my God, that's Wally's herbiac.

[Alan Hahn]

No, that's true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That. That Wally.

[Michael Kay]

That was a good hit with Wally the other day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, I enjoyed that. Excellent, excellent. Very good.

[Michael Kay]

Much better than Rothenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

He got it wrong about Saturday, though. He's like, knicks are winning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he got a little aggressive. You want to take some more calls here, please? Want to go to Spokane and talk to Lake? Really? Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

What's going out there on the Pacific Northwest? Hey, fellas. So I just wanted to talk more about. So, like, I didn't.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I live in Spokane right now. Grew up in Northern Idaho, and so I'm not really a part of the kind of Yankee culture that I think.

[Aaron Boone]

Happened was set because of George and.

[Alan Hahn]

Just this, like, you know, it's championship.

[Aaron Boone]

Or bus every year.

[Alan Hahn]

But as Twitter. As I've become more of a fan, Twitter kind of took over.

[Aaron Boone]

And so I was very reactionary, bought into the whole championship or bust. And so, one. I think social media plays a big part.

[Alan Hahn]

Agreed.

[Aaron Boone]

In continuing to kind of push that narrative.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Agree. I'm telling you, man, I have seen it myself. I do feel like some fans buy too much into what you see on social media by those who don't really cover the team or have any connection to those who know things and they just spew their own frustration out there. And everybody else seems to just. It's the momentum of it all. You just get caught up in it because you're frustrated.

[Alan Hahn]

True. But don't you think the whole mission statement of championship or bust also emanates from the organization? Don't the Yankees talk like Hal had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Said that several years, we don't win a championship. It is not. It's a failed season.

[Alan Hahn]

But yet. But what I would Say is don't look at what their actions speak louder than words. If it's championship or bust, how does Cashman still have a job? How does Boone still have a job? Well, how come there aren't massive changes every time this team doesn't win a championship? So forget the narrative. Take a look. Is there a level of accountability? Allen is telling you this is a huge season. They need to play with a chip on their shoulder. They were embarrassed by the Dodgers. Show me, if they end up losing in the wild card round, is anybody losing their job? And the answer is probably no. So why are you holding them to a different standard than everybody else? That's a championship or bust. Where have you seen Hal Steinbrenner conduct himself as if it's championship or bust? Who, outside of a strength and conditioning coach over the last decade has lost their job despite the fact the Yankees haven't won?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of significance.

[Alan Hahn]

Of significance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Joe Girardi is the last. Well, Joe Girardi, that was the last significant.

[Alan Hahn]

And yet Aaron Boone has just this year finally surpassed how far Gerardi got going to Game 7 of the League Championship Series in 2017, and yet not even close to losing his job. So I'm not saying they should lose their job.

[Michael Kay]

I mean, after Gerard's win, he did have that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but I'm saying when he got let go the best they did with the current, they thought they could do better. And up until this year, they had not.

[Michael Kay]

Yeah, right.

[Alan Hahn]

So stop with the mission statement because unfortunately, George Stein, that died with George Steinbrenner. It just did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can we take spike down in St. Pete? I mean, talking about St. Pete, we're talking about some baseball weather, Spike.

[Spike]

There is great baseball weather. First of all, let me, let me make a comment here. This show is so good and I'm so happy for Peter. We all have little girls. They'll always be little girls. Guys. I mean, Peter and I, I, I was telling Anthony the give and take with you guys, it's like you've been together all your life. I'm really enjoying it. And, and with basketball, my main sport, getting Allen is just. It's just a plus. So. Let me make one comment on Sunday, Alan. You know where I'm going. I watched UB Brown, who's been kind of my hero to listen to over these years, and I had tears in my eyes. I really did, knowing because I connected with his son towards the end of his life. He just liked what I said on the radio and dropped it in my dms. So that hit me hard. But let me, let me say one thing about Sunday. The outpouring of affection and love. And I worked up at five star. My father knew golf pretty well. You know the guy named. And that was the place to be. And UB was the quintessential clinician in basketball. He made you feel like you were in his family. He never rushed you. And I just, I just was so enveloped in that, that broadcast. Yeah, he's 91. He didn't miss a weak side switch. I just was. So there's hope for me. 79. So last thing for you, Peter. I ran into J.J. redick. Never was my favorite downtown. He lived in Dumbo. I had a business. I was down there fixing, finishing off.

[Michael Kay]

All right.

[Spike]

And I ran into him on the street. Easy days when short sleeve shirts attached, the sleeve attached. And I walked over them. I introduced myself, I shook my hand, I said, just want to say hello to you. I'm a huge fan. He stopped. He had one of his boys with him 15 minutes. We talked hoops, and I mean UB hoops. We size switches, pin downs. And he said, what you like about me? I said, you were as good off of curl as anyone I ever saw. Shoot. And that's my opinion, Alan.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, we could argue that he was, he was.

[Michael Kay]

I won't, I won't ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I won't ever take that, Steph Curry.

[Michael Kay]

But okay, yeah, well, well, but hold on. Yeah, but Spike, I hear you. I won't take that away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a great.

[Michael Kay]

He was very good at it.

[Spike]

I said, he gave me all the time in the world. I thanked him. I said, I knew you were portrayed as Duke as kind of a villain. I know, your first. I knew his whole background. Obviously I'm a basketball trophy. But he walked away way and said it was a pleasure talking to you. And I said, same here. And I had a good opinion of him. So look, you can't judge it by one quick meeting. Can't do that.

[Michael Kay]

But, but he was a great guy. In your experience. I'll tell you.

[Spike]

I know, I know how you feel about Duke. You're a talent. I understand all that. But boys, let me tell you, you guys are gonna kick ass and take names. This is a great show, man. And, and you, you play it on, off each other beautifully. And I'm enjoying it. I'm back listening to the radio.

[Michael Kay]

There he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you, Spike. We appreciate you, man, hear from you.

[Alan Hahn]

I appreciate that, buddy.

[Michael Kay]

And I listen, I'm sure JJ Redick's a nice enough guy. I hate him. But it's my job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you have reason. Of course.

[Michael Kay]

It's built in, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I, I've got to get into that limo now.

[Michael Kay]

You mean the train?

[Peter Rosenberg]

This guy?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can't wait to take the.

[Michael Kay]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can't wait to take the. I'm going to take a picture. I'm going to show you. Tell Jeeves. But what I do do. All right. Well, I'll see everybody on MSG and we'll talk to you guys tomorrow. Don and Peter. Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

We're not leaving. I see Richard on hold and we have. There's one one of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Enjoy it. Thanks for listening to the Don, Han 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 Pete Theater weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.