Hour 3: Yankees Lose & Thibs

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Episode Summary: Hour 3: Yankees Lose & Thibs

Release Date: April 8, 2025

In this engaging third-hour episode of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into recent New York sports happenings, with a primary focus on the New York Yankees' performance, managerial decisions, and broader implications for the team’s future. The conversation seamlessly transitions into discussions about coaching philosophies, listener interactions, and personal anecdotes, providing a comprehensive overview for sports enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

---

1. Yankees' Recent Loss to the Tigers

The episode kicks off with a detailed analysis of the Yankees' disappointing 5-0 defeat against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. Alan Hahn breaks down the pitching performance, highlighting Tarek Skubal's exceptional game:

Alan Hahn (00:50): "5 nothing loss from the Yankees... It wasn't like he was mowing them down. They couldn't get hits."

Don La Greca underscores the Yankees' offensive struggles, noting the team's inability to score runs beyond the top of the lineup:

Don La Greca (09:44): "It's an all or nothing offense. Once they aren't hitting home runs, they're not winning games."

2. Aaron Boone’s Strategic Decisions

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Yankees Manager Aaron Boone and his handling of in-game situations. The team reviews Boone's decision-making, especially in high-pressure moments:

Aaron Boone (08:11): "He's as good as he gets... his delivery and the deception that he creates with it just makes him hard to track."

Don and Alan debate Boone's management style, contemplating whether his approach is too lenient or strategically sound.

3. Controversy Over Yankees' Bat Selection

The hosts address the uproar surrounding Jazz Chisholm and his "torpedo bat," which some critics claim gives the Yankees an unfair advantage:

Alan Hahn (09:44): "...we all wondered with his one out, what are you doing getting picked off at third?"

Don defends the bat's legitimacy, suggesting that while it may provide an edge, it's not solely responsible for the team's home run tally.

4. Offensive Performance and Team Dynamics

Alan criticizes the Yankees' offensive inconsistencies, emphasizing their reliance on key hitters and the lack of depth in the lineup:

Alan Hahn (16:51): "This is an all or nothing offense. When they aren't hitting home runs, they aren't winning games."

Don counters by highlighting the team's run differential as a positive sign amid the offensive woes:

Don La Greca (18:39): "They've got a plus 22 run differential, which is still the best in Major League Baseball."

5. American League Standings and Yankees’ Prospects

The conversation shifts to the broader landscape of the American League, analyzing the standings and the Yankees' chances of maintaining their position:

Don La Greca (14:54): "If the Yankees were in the National League, you'd have a very good conversation about them not making the playoffs at all."

Alan concurs, expressing skepticism about betting on the Yankees' playoff success given the current team dynamics and early-season performances.

6. Listener Interaction: Moose on Tom Thibodeau

Listener Moose from Jamaica joins the discussion, passionately defending Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau against criticisms that he has "ruined" players like Derrick Rose and Joaquin Noah:

Moose (31:15): "Tom Thibodeau... ruined Derrick Rose."

Alan and Don engage in a spirited debate, defending Thibodeau's coaching prowess while addressing Moose's grievances, ultimately recognizing the complexity of coaching impacts on player development.

7. Listener Interaction: Rodney on Coaching and Team Performance

Another listener, Rodney from Massachusetts, shares his frustrations with coaching decisions, comparing Tom Thibodeau unfavorably to other coaches like Eric Spoelstra:

Rodney (35:07): "Jerry Thibodeau... we take away to embrace him."

Alan defends Thibodeau, citing his 20-year coverage of the team and his rapport with former coaches, emphasizing Thibodeau's value to the Knicks.

8. Personal Stories: Balancing Parenthood and Sports

The episode takes a heartfelt turn as the hosts share personal stories about balancing parenthood with their professional lives. Don and Peter recount the joys and challenges of raising young children, highlighting the emotional connections and daily routines that shape their lives outside of sports:

Don La Greca (47:33): "I'm trying to cherish these moments while I can."

Peter Rosenberg (43:24): "She's awake... we're still in that phase of figuring out what to do with her."

9. Knicks vs Celtics Game Preview

Towards the end, the hosts preview the upcoming Knicks vs Celtics game, discussing the significance of the match for the Knicks' morale and playoff aspirations. They speculate on the potential outcomes given the Celtics' seemingly indifferent approach to the game:

Don La Greca (25:16): "If they go out there in a game that's meaningless for the Celtics and you're trying to build up some confidence and you go out there and lose by 15 points, that's a problem."

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alan Hahn (00:50): "5 nothing loss from the Yankees... It wasn't like he was mowing them down. They couldn't get hits."

• Don La Greca (09:44): "It's an all or nothing offense. Once they aren't hitting home runs, they're not winning games."

• Aaron Boone (08:11): "He's as good as he gets... his delivery and the deception that he creates with it just makes him hard to track."

• Don La Greca (14:54): "If the Yankees were in the National League, you'd have a very good conversation about them not making the playoffs at all."

• Moose (31:15): "Tom Thibodeau... ruined Derrick Rose."

• Don La Greca (47:33): "I'm trying to cherish these moments while I can."

---

Conclusion

This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers a multifaceted exploration of current New York sports narratives, particularly focusing on the Yankees' tactical and performance issues, coaching debates, and the broader implications for the team's season. Interspersed with personal anecdotes and listener interactions, the hosts provide a well-rounded and insightful discussion that caters to both hardcore sports fans and casual followers.

For those who missed the episode, tuning into Don, Hahn & Rosenberg promises an entertaining and informative dive into the ever-evolving world of New York sports and beyond.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of six collectibles and your choice of.

[Don La Greca]

A Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With spicy nether Flame sauce. Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.

[Alan Hahn]

At participating McDonald's for a limited time. A Minecraft movie only in theaters. This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right into the big 5 o'clock hour we go with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800 now. 193776 is the number. Let's do a game time here. Brought to you by Tulla Mardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's Tully time. The Yankees lose to the Tigers in Detroit. They move that game to the afternoon. That's tomorrow's game as well as an afternoon.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, all three of them.

[Alan Hahn]

The weather was so, was just freezing there. So were the bats. 5 nothing loss from the Yankees. Now you know school was on the mound and you know he's, he's indomitable, of course, but the bottom of the order was brutal. Over 20 from your 4 through 9 hitters. 6 for 12 for your 1 through 3. Just obviously not nearly enough. The Mets, they are in action. Standby.

[Don La Greca]

That's right, bottom three, they're down two one.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, Pete's up. Mets in the Marlins.

[Don La Greca]

And he's got a full count with a runner at first base. Two outs in the bottom of the third.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don La Greca]

One.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. And the sun is out. Oh, there you go. Okay, so he's starting to wake up. Sun is out, but it is obviously chilly and windy here in New York City tonight. The Knicks host the Celtics. Coverage immediately follows us here on 10:50am because the Met game's on 880. Keep that in mind. So Knicks, Celtics on 10:50am and also on the ESP New York app. Pregame starts at 7. They will be simulcast on 880. When the Mets game coverage is over. The Devils welcome in the bruins. That's at seven. Nets pelicans in Brooklyn at 7:30. Like you dream about sexy. And the Islanders visit the Predators in Nashville at 8.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don, how much, how much actual American money would you need to watch beginning to end, from tip to final whistle. Nets Pelicans.

[Don La Greca]

I don't want to be that guy you were asked me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, that's a nice way of putting it.

[Don La Greca]

So what would you, what would I need to be paid to do to throw three hours away, by the way. RBI double for Pete, tied a game.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go. Just making that money.

[Don La Greca]

$1,000.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Don La Greca]

And again, I.

[Alan Hahn]

Reasonable.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, if I were a net fan, I get it. I've. I've rooted for a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, you're not on yes anymore. You can speak free.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just saying that I don't want to. I don't want to be that guy. I'm just saying I. I'm not interested. The nets are out of it. It doesn't contribute to my career. We're not going to talk one iota about tomorrow. So you're asking me to throw two and a half hours out of my night that could be spent with my kids, that could be spent doing something productive. $1,000. And even then I'd feel tremendously guilty. And listen, I'm getting a treat. I'm sure Ian's back from all of his college basketball stuff, right?

[Alan Hahn]

You think they're gonna make him work tonight? He just worked last night. Incredible call, by the way. He was phenomenal last night.

[Don La Greca]

Awful announcing. Just. I don't know. I get a chance to read it, but I was looking at the headline. Is he now in the conversation as the greatest announcer? Going right now. And it sounds like hyperbole, but you.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about it because of his range. Football, he's.

[Don La Greca]

What is he on the B team? On cbs.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

So Nance is A team. Yep. He's probably B. And then.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he is B for NFL.

[Don La Greca]

And you know, and so he's got the college basketball game.

[Alan Hahn]

Number one guy now. College. All right. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And he does the nets full time.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

So I guess if you're gonna put work. Kenny Ranger, announcer number one, hockey. And I think he's probably down to either C or D in the NFL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Kenny probably gets more work, a little bit higher profile, but it's. It's in the eye of the beholder. I know them both very well. So I'm not going to tell you what I think. If I had to pick, I'd probably pick Kenny because I'm closer to Kenny.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I speak completely objectively because I know both of them tangentially.

[Alan Hahn]

Excuse me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think Ian has the higher ceiling.

[Moose]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When it's all said and done, I think that voice is going to be. He's going to be the guy.

[Don La Greca]

That's an interesting. I don't want to get too in the weeds.

[Alan Hahn]

I think they're two different announcers, so they're hard to compare because what they do, what they excel at are completely different things, but also because I think they're, again, they're both fantastic.

[Don La Greca]

But I think what wins it for Kenny is, is that he does all four sports because he'll fill in doing Knicks and so he does basketball very well. Ken, you know that, you know, obviously full time hockey, both on radio and television. Number one guy at tnt. So he's going to call the Stanley cup final this year and he does baseball for Fox and football for Fox.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That's amazing.

[Don La Greca]

Ian's not a hockey guy and I, he love, he, he's a Met fan, loves baseball. But to my knowledge, I don't think he's ever done anything.

[Alan Hahn]

I haven't heard him call baseball. No.

[Don La Greca]

You know, so he does half. But. But you're telling me whose voice is better? Who does better play by play? Again, that's all in the eye of the beholder. But I think, Kenny, there's nobody that does all four sports. Nobody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, listen, he's a freak. The guy can do anything.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, his, his recall and his memory are elite like it really is. It's almost scary. The things that he can recall and remember at a drop of a hat, which is a separate skill set.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's calling, he's calling a trivia slam at Blondies tonight. I mean, the guy can do anything.

[Don La Greca]

He did a great job on the Ovachin goal. I was talking to him about that last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

You know, he goes, you know, he's called a Stanley cup final. He's called championships. You know, the championship's coming. You don't know when the goal's going to come.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

I have a feeling right there on the power play it might happen right now. But you don't know. You walk into that building, he might score, you know, six goals or he might not have any for the next six games. But no, he's, he's terrific. But no, Ian is.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

A national treasure, as Michael K. Used to say. Mona Lisa in a garage calling nets. Right now, the way the Nets are presently constituted. Doesn't it feel like he can do better?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sure Mike Green was there a few times too, back in the day. He knows.

[Don La Greca]

I'm saying to the other, it's amazing.

[Alan Hahn]

How good we have it here in New York when it comes to.

[Don La Greca]

We'll get to the Rangers in a bit because they, they don't deserve a passing comment. We're going to do a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Someone say, someone say passing comments.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. Oh, his way out is going to be game 82.

[Don La Greca]

Instead of playoff game 82, like mathematically eliminated. I mean, there's still time. They can change that. But it doesn't like they're going to change it.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not. No heart there at all. Yeah, we will get to that. But anyway, games, game time. Brought to you by Tullahomore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey. During tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Before we get into Aaron Boone on today's offensive implosion, let's go back to something. Because we were both, we were all three of us, we're curious about Aaron Boone and how he handles things. If you remember, on Monday, Ben Rice was at third on a triple that he hustled. They ran it out, got to third, Aaron judged the plate and Rice was picked off at third. And we're all wondering with his one out, what are you doing getting picked off at third?

[Don La Greca]

And do we have the audio of how Allen predicted? Aaron would answer that?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think we saved any of.

[Don La Greca]

That, but you did very well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd like to, I want to hear the real thing.

[Alan Hahn]

So we all wondered, like, you know, because of how last year and the World World Series ended and the undisciplined, fundamentally, fundamentally poor play that the Yankees had their reputation of doing it, the Dodgers making fun of them, we thought you got to go into the season and say, I don't care. Oh, it's only a couple games in. You've got to nip this in the bud right away. But we all knew how Aaron Boone was going to handle it with kid gloves. So let's see if he handled it the same way I expected him to.

[Aaron Boone]

Mean, even forget judgy, even at the plate in that situation because it was a situation where we weren't going on contact can't be that aggressive. And we know Rogers likes to throw down there. So just a simple where Benny was just too aggressive in his secondary, you know, almost as if we were going on contact in a situation where we weren't. So there's a mistake.

[Don La Greca]

All right, that's fine.

[Alan Hahn]

Little better than I thought.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I mean, he didn't kill him.

[Alan Hahn]

He still goes Benny.

[Don La Greca]

But he said it was a mistake.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, overly aggressive shouldn't be doing it.

[Don La Greca]

I do think throwing out overly aggressive is kind of a compliment during a mistake. Like, hey, just aggressive. You know, he's just too into it kind of thing, but he said it's a mistake. I, I, I don't have a problem with that. Do you?

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I, I thought, I thought for, for Boone that's probably like as harsh as he'll go, right? But at least it wasn't as, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

That'S definitely as harsh as he'll go.

[Alan Hahn]

But it wasn't as soft. In the meantime today, as the Yankees lose five nothing, they get only six hits. All of them were in the top of the order, 1 through 3, 4 through 9, 0 for 20, as we mentioned. And for those keeping score, Jazz Chisholm in the, the torpedo bat that had the whole. Everybody was up in arms and some people wanted it banned, have this investigated, the Yankees are cheating and all this stuff because he had four home runs in his first six games and I think two of them were in one game. Right. If I'm not mistaken, in his last five games, Jazz Chisholm has zero home runs. So can we get over this stupidity of this torpedo bat being, Is it bad for baseball?

[Don La Greca]

Well, it's just a bat. I agree with you that it was blown way out of proportion. But you still have to hit the ball, right? Like you can't sit there and the guy strikes out 10 times. They see steroids don't help. Well, you didn't make contact right. Again, I don't know all of his outs, but not everybody's going to hit home runs every time. I don't think anybody thought it was a cure all. No, but I think both could be true. Like hey, it's, it's. To say it doesn't help is silly. Why would the, why would these teams invest the time and the energy to do it if it didn't help? But is it the sole reason why they hit nine home runs in one game? No, of course not. But it helps.

[Alan Hahn]

It wasn't swing and miss. Chisholm didn't strike out in his four out bats. He was 0 for 4. But still, as we mentioned, it was Tarek Skubal. This is not an easy pitcher obviously to face, but in six innings he had six strikeouts. It wasn't like he was mowing them down. They couldn't get, they couldn't get hits. Right. He only gave up four hits on 87 pitches by the way. So no walks. Very clean game for Scubal. And the Yankees had two on and it was a second and third, but they had two on and Judge at the plate. And Judge, I believe, did he strike out and they just, they, they got nothing out of that in the first inning. And so you got a sense of if you didn't get something there, you were going to be in trouble against school because you had a chance to get on the board early. So Aaron Boone talked about just not getting to him right away.

[Aaron Boone]

He's as good as he gets. So pressure him early like that, you hope you can cash in there. But it's also what makes him really, really good. I thought he was tough today. You know, he had the. I thought his fastball was good, but you know, he's so unpredictable. You know, he can throw that change up or drop in a slider at any point. And again, you see that delivery and the deception that he creates with it just makes him hard to track. And he had a good day against us today.

[Alan Hahn]

He did the approach that the Yankees had. Is the manager happy about it?

[Aaron Boone]

Yeah, I mean, a couple times, you know, we're probably a little aggressive early in the count, but at the same time it's like it's not the best thing to be falling behind aces. So, you know, once he got a little bit of a lead there and really goes on the attack there, he put us on our heels a little bit.

[Alan Hahn]

Carrasco gave up three home runs in the game, by the way, all four of the five runs were from him and four and a third. So, you know, this is what you're leaning on, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I, Can I ask you guys a question?

[Don La Greca]

Yes, dear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You just did another one.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How. How did the Vegas odds never adjust on this team? Like, do you ever think there's a chance? I know it's very early, so I'm not. Yes, yeah, that for starters. And I know it's very early, but they lost a couple to Arizona, lost one to Pittsburgh. Now, Detroit obviously was a decent team, but ragdolling them, and yet they were still the AL pick to go to the World Series. I think there's a chance they're not going to be anywhere close. I think there's a world in which this team kind of stinks.

[Alan Hahn]

I think there's a world where, if you were asking me, would you put money on this team to win the division, I'm saying no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think so, too.

[Alan Hahn]

If you're asking me, are you putting your money on this team to make the playoffs, I might even hesitate on that as well. I agree, because the offense at the start was fun and all that stuff. But what we're seeing, and I keep saying this, but it's true, this is an all or nothing offense. Once again, it really is And I don't know if this lineup has enough in it for Jason Dominguez, the Martian. What's going on there is that here's a guy that maybe it's unfair because he's young, but there's a guy that it was like, hey, last year everybody thought this guy's going to step in for Verdugo, take over left field. And he's just be a monster because his numbers are great in the minors. And there's an adjustment period. Trent Grisham you never expected. But you can't bet on that for the rest of the season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remove yourself from there's not enough at.

[Alan Hahn]

The bottom of this order.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's not enough at the top of the order.

[Alan Hahn]

But he keeps changing the lead off. Goldschmidt let off today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Who was the only bright spot.

[Alan Hahn]

But like you didn't have Bellinger, he has food poisoning. All the food blogs that everybody's doing with the Yankees and he ends up getting sick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And respectfully to Goldschmidt and Bellinger, they're veterans to have here. But you look at this team and after judge where is the surefire hitting.

[Don La Greca]

But when you're analyzing or prognosticating coming out of the American League, then who is going to come out of the American League? Take a look at the it's still very early Super. But right now they are tied with the Red Sox at 6 and 5 of the division. So the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, all six and five. There are nine teams under.500 in the American League. Best team right now is Texas at 8 and 3. Angels are 6 and 3. I don't think that's going to sustain. Detroit's in first place in the American League Central. They're the only team above.500 in the American League. Now you go over to the National League. You've got the Phillies 7 and 2, Mets 7 and 3. You've got the Cubs 8 and 5. YENL west and then the NL West. Padres 9 and 2, Giants 8 and 3, Dodgers 9 and 3.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A murderers are up there.

[Don La Greca]

If the Yankees were in the National League, you'd have a very good conversation about them not making the playoffs at all. But in the American League you can have them coming out because outside of Texas, who won the World Series two years ago, but that's another division. So the Yankees still should win this division. And they match up very well against all the Central Division teams, honestly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess you're right. I guess you're right.

[Don La Greca]

And they know that if they keep the odds Juicy. The Yankee fans will bet them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess you're right. And so maybe I need to reframe my argument. Maybe it's not about whether or not how far they can go because the league is not good overall, but this is not a special team, guys. Minus. You have to think about the fact that they lost two of their three best players from last year, period. Full stop. Two thirds of their core are gone.

[Don La Greca]

But Goldschmidt and Bellinger can also be good. Not so good.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But to lose Cole and Soto and act like nothing's changed. Keep on rolling.

[Alan Hahn]

And Stanton.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, and currently Stanton, too.

[Alan Hahn]

You can't forget that, Stan. Well, we don't know Stanton. I mean, you're getting. This is how four PRPs. The elbow can't even swing a bat. Like we don't know what that is. And we saw in the playoffs how important he can be in this lineup, that is. Those are all the concerns. Luis Heel will be back at some point. Clark Schmidt will be back at some point. But you don't know what you're getting. Like, is Luis Heel going to pick up where he left off and be, you know, a formidable pitcher in your rotation? You hope so. But you know, rookie of the year is one thing. Doing it the second year once the league knows you is another. There's a lot of reasons why you have to just have cause for pause when it comes to what the Yankees could be this year. You don't know.

[Don La Greca]

But that American League is going to leave them very much in the conversation. They're going to be equipped to get better because he'll come back.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

They can make a deal to try to get better if pitching is a problem, probably more so than a lot of other teams because not just the payroll, but they've got prospects they can move. And you look at last year, this is the argument that I got in with Michael last year, that you could say the Yankees had a better year than the Mets because they went to the World Series and the Mets didn't. But the Yankees, sorry, they beat two Central Division teams and went to the World Series. The Mets had to beat the brewers, the Phillies, and then they lost to the Dodgers, too. Not going to get into. They won more games against the Dodgers. That's just silly. But.

[Alan Hahn]

But you're right.

[Don La Greca]

These were in the National League. How far would they have gone? And if they're in the National League this year with their flaws, there's a legitimate conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Not a playoff team.

[Don La Greca]

They're not a playoff.

[Alan Hahn]

Not a playoff. They're Not.

[Don La Greca]

But they don't have to apologize for that. All right? They're in the American League. They'll take advantage of it. But. But when you're, you know, prognosticating how far they can go. I'm sorry, you're also analyzing the other teams they're going up against.

[Alan Hahn]

And once again, it continues to be that, well, the American League's bad, so they'll do this. And that stuff bothers me because it is the lowering of the standard. Let's take Simon in New Haven. What's up, Simon? Hey, how you guys doing? All right, what's up?

[Rodney]

What's going on with this lack of hitting here? I mean, we had these new bats.

[Don La Greca]

And we started hit good. All of a sudden it's like we falter.

[Rodney]

What's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

I just think the bats were over. It was overplayed. The whole thing was a gimmick that media bought into and it turned into conversations to have early in the baseball season and the whole league started buying these bats and it became, you know, this is going to change the sport. This can change everything. And it changes nothing, especially when your approach doesn't change. They are still an all or nothing offense. When they aren't hitting home runs, they aren't winning games. When they aren't facing, you know, when, then when they're facing top pitching, they have a hard time.

[Don La Greca]

They still, like you said, it's hit or miss with this team. They've got a plus 22 run differential, which is still the best in Major League Baseball, which tells you that they will all of a sudden just put up ton of runs. Yeah, but when they go up against good pitching, and we've seen it in the playoffs, these bats can be silenced. But over 162 games, there's a lot of bad pitching, there's a lot of bad pull pens. They'll be fine. It is cold, so that's probably one of the reasons they're not hitting as well. So you blame the pitching, I guess, because you know what? Detroit found a way to be able to get the allotted runs to win the last couple of days. So they're both playing in cold weather. But it wasn't like Detroit. They hit what, four home runs today, but they didn't score 20 runs. You know, it's, it's something to keep an eye on. But I don't think that this Yankee, you want to say they're going to be fine. I still think they're going to make the playoffs, but the division, it's got to be like 50, 50 at this point. Right. Red Sox have gotten off to a decent start. They're also scoring a ton of runs. They got plus 14.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they got. Right and they got Devers. Right. Like that. That's where it's. It's. They got off to a terrible start, but they've been. They've gotten right lately. Yeah. So. No, it's. But it's. It's where they are. So where do you see the Yankees right now? It's. It is. I hate saying it's still early because I always talk about first impressions and Don, you said this about the Mets. What you don't want to do is start chasing. The last thing you want to do is have to chase in a season. They have to get healthy. Yes. But if you are constantly seeing the same thing year after year, we kind of like, yeah, we've seen this. We know how the story ends. And I'm in that place again. I know how this story ends.

[Don La Greca]

There's. There's a couple of reasons for not saying it's too early. Number one, everybody's got a calendar. They know how early it is. Of course, but these games still count. And you know why I'm excited about the Mets being seven and three is because the Braves are one in eight.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

All right. So that's a gap that the Braves are going to have to make up. Like they could bury. You could bury yourself. I still think the Braves are a good team, but you know what? They just this profar. They're. They're waiting for Acuna to come back. They're one in eight, so that's a lot of heavy lifting they're going to have to do. And the Mets have taken advantage of it right now. That's a good thing. Also, the Phillies are off to a 7 and 2 start, so I want to be able to keep pace with them. So, yeah, we know it's early. I get it. But if we're not going to. We're not going to discuss them because it's early, then, you know, wake me up in July. But as long as we're having a conversation about how the Mets and Yankees are doing, I'm going to be happy that my team. Seven and two or seven and three.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And I'm allowed to be disappointed if they're not playing well.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm going to be mad that this offense continues to look the same. And in fact, without the brand names in the lineup, it might look worse.

[Don La Greca]

This is a mini meditation guided by Bombas. Repeat after me I'm comfy, comfy. I'm cozy, cozy. I have zero blisters on my toes blisters. And that's because I wear Bombus the softest socks, underwear and T shirts that give back. One purchased equals one donated. Now go to bombus.com espnpod and use code espnpod for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B-A-S.com espnpod and use Code espnpod as the number and.

[Unknown]

Severity of third party breaches continue to rise, companies are increasingly vigilant not just about how they handle their own data, but how their vendors do as well. For security and compliance leaders, this means more security reviews are coming across their desk every day and valuable time is being wasted on manual security reviews. With Vanta Questionnaire Automation, security and compliance teams can complete security reviews up to five times faster, giving you time back to focus on running your security and compliance programs. Over 8,000 global companies like ZoomInfo, smart recruiters and NOIBU use Vanta to save time on security reviews. Visit vanta.compodcast to learn more about questionnaire automation. That's V A n T a dot com Podcast when you think about businesses that are selling through the roof, like Aloe or Allbirds or Skims. Sure you think about a great product, a cool brand and brilliant marketing. But an often overlooked secret is actually the businesses behind the business making, selling and for shoppers, buying. Simple. For millions of businesses, that business is Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet and the not so secret secret with shop pay that boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts going abandoned and way more sales going. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell wherever your custom customers are scrolling or strolling on the web, in your store, in their feed and everywhere in between. The secret's out. Businesses that want to grow, grow with Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout untuck it uses. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.comnetwork. all lowercase. Go to shopify.comnetwork to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.comnetwork.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Listen up New York City soccer fans. New York City FC is back coming home to Queens and Citi Field for the first time this season. Come Watch the boys in blue take on Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union this Saturday in a can't miss matchup. Can't miss. Peter, get there early for Fan Fest. You got music, games, family fun for supporters of all ages. Enter for your chance to win free [e-mail] or on the ESPNWYork app. Just find the contest tab. Submit your entry. Don't miss the action. Grab your seats [e-mail] NYCFC be there this Saturday. Citi Field, 800-919-3776. We got a lot of Nick conversation going on here, guys on the call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As it should be.

[Don La Greca]

Why not?

[Alan Hahn]

Because the Knicks play the Celtics tonight. So I'll ask both of you, is there anything that the Knicks can do tonight to change the narrative? Which is. Well, they're not good enough to beat the Cavs and the Celtics, knowing that Boston probably won't be playing everybody. They're not really playing for anything. We don't know what they're going to do. Lineup wise. There are guys that are listed as questionable. I haven't checked it recently, but is this one of those they can't win, they can't lose kind of games?

[Don La Greca]

This is one of them games where you're not going to impress me on the positive. Where I'm going like, oh, I know they can be the Celtics. No matter what happens, Celtics don't need the game. They probably don't care. But a negative thinking that they get blown out, that's disturbing.

[Alan Hahn]

Very, very disturbing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you can't have that.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, just for your own psyche, you want to beat the Celtics. You don't. It's not, it's not your fault if they play nobody. It's not your fault if the Celtics don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

But if you go out there in a game that's meaningless for the Celtics and you're trying to build up some confidence and you go out there and lose by 15 points, that's a problem. Now, now they're. They're firmly in your head. So win the game by 20 points. All right, Good. Nice. Do whatever what you will. It's not going to change my mind about them beating the Celtics in the playoffs, but it'll definitely make me reevaluate how close they are if they lose this game. Come on. Or get blown out again. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Jalen Brown's questionable. Chris has Porzingis is questionable. Jason Tatum is questionable. Al Horford's out. The probables are Drew Holiday and Derek White. I just told you their whole starting five, right? Right. Their entire starting five and their backup center is all on the injured list in some way. Probable, questionable, or out.

[Don La Greca]

This is smart by them because again, I don't know if these guys are legitimately hurt or whether it's load management or, hey, we'll both. But as much as I hate it and I'd love to go mano a mano, how does it benefit the Celtics? Go out there full bore. You know, if you go out there and you lose the game, then it's like, oh, look at you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just given that you're giving Scott, there'd be no sense.

[Don La Greca]

Wouldn't you want to just say, hey, you beat us? But you know what? We held back.

[Alan Hahn]

There's.

[Don La Greca]

You don't want to show them anything anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. There's. There's 90 reasons. There's number one, we're almost at the playoffs. Let's just chill. There's. Why are we showing this team that might have to play anything?

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's. Why have a. Why go hard and lose a game when we could also end our series with them for the season knowing when we tried, you never beat us. So there's no. There's no reason at this point. The only thing I could think is.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to keep it in their head that they can't beat you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would be the only thing.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the only thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't care that much. The Celtics believe they're that good.

[Alan Hahn]

First quarter. You go all out with who you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they're not.

[Alan Hahn]

Because they dominated the first quarters. The Celtics have been beaten the knicks, by like 17 a game in the first quarters of these matchups. Like, the Knicks are just not ready to start these games. And so the Knicks are chasing the scoreboard the rest of the game. So to me, the blueprint I would look at because Joe Missoula, by the way, he. While we're all thinking the logical thing, he's maniacal. I want to beat him. I want to beat him. This is what we're supposed to do, beat him. And they're a great road team. Do they have this mentality of, all right, first half, we try to, like, blow the doors off them. And the second half, if it's, you know, like, we'll play if it's close, but otherwise we're going to back off because it doesn't serve us and we don't want to risk any injury.

[Don La Greca]

How they handle things this year as far as load management, lately, they've been.

[Alan Hahn]

Resting guys like Jaylen Brown's got. I think they Say he's got a bone bruise, so they've been kind of controlling his minutes.

[Don La Greca]

You know what?

[Alan Hahn]

Stuff like that.

[Don La Greca]

Then why would you play this game any different? You're. You're the one being chased, right? So why do you have to do anything? All you care about is yourself. Why. Why do you care about a team you might play in the second round, Right? This is all about the Knicks trying to get well, this is all about the Celtics preparing themselves for a long run. If all of a sudden they pivot from what they've been doing to now playing everybody full minutes trying to win the game, and then you end up losing. Like, how does that benefit you at all? You know what? Just. And if the Knicks want to cry about, oh, you're afraid to play, dude, we're the defending champions. You're chasing after us. We don't have to make. We don't have to accommodate you, Right? To the victor goes to spoils, Right?

[Alan Hahn]

They said the last time they played them, they. They said that they, they knew how much that game meant to the Knicks because they already were.02 and they, they wanted that game. Like, that was one of those. We want to let them know, like, that they're not at our level.

[Don La Greca]

What else do you have to prove that?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Well, that's what makes tonight's game kind of interesting, because it really is for the Knicks. They can't win, but they can lose.

[Don La Greca]

They could definitely lose.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, and I don't mean the game, I mean just on the perception level.

[Don La Greca]

Well, it's. It's our open tomorrow. If they, if, let's say they lose the way they lost to the Cavs, blow a big league, you lose by 15. Whatever. Come on. We're destroying them tomorrow.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Is anybody with a straight face going to be able to call tomorrow and say, I still think we can beat the cells?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don La Greca]

No, you can't.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I, I do feel like this is one of those. It's not a must win, obviously, but it feels like I can't lose, right? Like, it feels like it's one of those. You can't lose this game. You're home, you're finally whole, everybody's healthy, you got a band together and go on a mission to go out there and just get a dub and walk off the floor and at least say, you can't say we never beat him. I don't care about who played, who didn't. You can't say we didn't beat him.

[Don La Greca]

Now, if you wanted to play it safe and just say you know what, we're just going to limit Brunson's minutes. But you want him to play, you want him to build up everything getting ready for the play.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. He's got to get right.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, I think we overthink it sometimes but you know, but in the final analysis you're going to have a lot more to lose than win tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So it'll be very interesting. Game again. Coverage begins at 7 on 10:50am and of course on the ESPN New York app. Let's go to Moose in Jamaica on the Knicks on the app. What's up Moose?

[Moose]

What's up Don Allen and Peter. Good afternoon. Good evening.

[Don La Greca]

How are we?

[Alan Hahn]

Good evening.

[Moose]

Glad to hear you do well. I'm doing well, thanks for asking. So yeah, I want to first comment on what you discussed when you open the show about the, the knives coming at the throat.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Moose]

Of Thibodeau. Like you have to understand like Knicks fans like from a Nets fans perspective but even more so a basketball fan's perspective. The last four NBA champions all had a nucleus that were together for three years at minimum prior to winning the title. So like you need to build some scar tissue by going through losses in the postseason. And the last team was the 2020 Lakers Mickey Mouse championship prior to that was LeBron winning in 11 but they lost in 10. So like this is the first year of this team. I know a lot of the Knicks fans are upset. Randle and and Divincer was traded but Deon Rose swung for the fences try to build a top notch contender. So you have to let it breathe not knowing if Bridges will be traded for another piece or other pieces will be moved from a Knicks fan. From a Nets fan perspective I was upset that Kyrie sat out like 78 games to have his boy Harden traded to the team. When we had Jared Allen, a future all star, Caris Lavert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taure imprint first round picks and the Nets franchise hasn't recovered since that timeframe. So like Knicks fans you have to calm down and about the Knicks possibly like we should let the, the playoffs start and and you know the playoffs is a wild ride. It's a live or die by every game, best four out of seven advances. So like tonight's game may give an indication of where it's swaying but until it's May. Yeah you won't and we're in the second round and you get past the first round Knicks fans because as a Nets fan perspective I was 144 size shoe away from getting to the Eastern conference final in 2021.

[Alan Hahn]

That KD thing, that'll live forever. Thank you, Moose. I mean, but it is true. Look, it is true. You won't know till you get to the postseason. But the amazing thing to me has been since Michael Malone, if you're just joining us, Michael Malone, the Denver Nuggets head coach who won a championship with them just a couple of years ago, they just fired him. There's five games to go in the season. He's gone. They fired him. The GM is out. Like they're. They're a playoff team now. They've lost four in a row. They're in jeopardy of falling into the play in. There was some panic going on in the upper management and they decided to clean house. At a bizarre time. Between that and the Memphis Grizzlies making their decision to move on from Taylor Jenkins is another playoff team. It does have. At least on my timeline. You could tell me if I'm wrong, but this has got a lot of either Nick fans or so called Nick fans that have the torches out and they're almost hoping that Thibodeau is next, which blows my mind, but that's what I'm seeing and I don't understand it. Rodney in Massachusetts. Rodney, you're up next. Listening on the app.

[Rodney]

Hey, fellas. Hey, fellas. How's it going, man?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Don La Greca]

Same.

[Rodney]

First time, long time. I think you guys do a great job of how you guys have people waiting on hold. All the anger that I had behind. I'm at work. I kind of lost a little bit, man. So I took down some notes. First off, I want to. All right, I want to salute Don Rosenberg, especially you and Ebro. That's where I know you from. And shout out to Han, man. But listen, dude, Han, I have to call you a caper. Why do we caper for things like this? The dude is a very good to great regular season coach, but he's reached his limits with this team. You know what he is? He's that other guy you guys be talking about. Where you go to a team, you take them from the doldrums, make them respectable. And it's just time to go now. Let me run through my notes real quick. I don't want to hold you guys. Yesterday I heard on the. On a playback.

[Alan Hahn]

Ronnie, do me a favor. If you have us on speaker, take us off speakers so you're not echoing and you sound better on the air.

[Don La Greca]

Because you want to hear this.

[Rodney]

All right, cool, cool. But I have to look at the notes, something about how old. What happened to Chicago when Tom Thibodeau last. Listen, he ruined Derrick Rose. So when he left, there was no Derrick Rose there.

[Alan Hahn]

Ask Derrick Rose if he ruined him. Ask Derrick Rose who gave him a huge. Well, because you're talking for Derrick Rose, though. You're talking for. He ruined Derrick Rose. Ask Derrick Rose if he ruined Derrick Rose.

[Rodney]

Okay, okay. Let's be fair. Let's be fair is Derrick Rose did Derrick Rose reached the pinnacle that he would have if he stayed healthy. Let's just be fair.

[Alan Hahn]

But he didn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you have another example besides Derrick Rose? Everyone always says Derrick Rose, who physically may just be sort of a broken guy. Is there anyone else who's on that list?

[Rodney]

Joaquin Noah.

[Alan Hahn]

He broke. He broke. He broke them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think that's. Those are all. Okay, all right, all right.

[Alan Hahn]

How have the Chicago Bulls done since Thibodeau?

[Rodney]

Say it again.

[Alan Hahn]

How have the Chicago Bulls. Are they still winning 50 games a year like they were with Tibbs?

[Rodney]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Or are they now like a team that just. Just fights their way in with the play in and stuff? Like, where are they now?

[Rodney]

But that's what I said, though, hun. Derrick Rose was injured, so he didn't leave them with anything. If Derrick Owens was there and then he left, I would like to see what they would have done. But he left. He went to Minnesota. He got. Ran out of town.

[Alan Hahn]

He came here, ran out of town in Minnesota. Okay.

[Rodney]

Did he not. Did he not lose the locker room when Jimmy Butler and all of them was going crazy over there? Why is he not there then?

[Alan Hahn]

But literally because of what you said. Jimmy Butler went crazy. He brought in Jimmy Butler because they needed.

[Rodney]

How does somebody go crazy on your watch, hun?

[Alan Hahn]

Because it's Jimmy Butler. Are you new to the NBA? Have you seen him? Pat Riley gave up on Jimmy Butler.

[Rodney]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Oh, it's Jimmy Butler, right? So Dan, Julius, random Julius Randall go crazy on his watch plenty of times. Let's not do that. That's not what I want to talk about. Because, you know, Julius went crazy plenty of times under his watch. So that's two players, if you want to say, oh, it's Jimmy Butler. Jimmy goes crazy everywhere.

[Alan Hahn]

Julius went crazy on the fans.

[Rodney]

Julius wasn't pushing. I'm pushing personnel on the sideline, going at it with teammates, trying to hold it back.

[Alan Hahn]

Who was he going after? Teammates. Did you see something I didn't see?

[Rodney]

Oh, so he didn't go at it. He didn't go at it quickly for A little bit. He didn't push the computer guy on the sideline.

[Alan Hahn]

Computer.

[Rodney]

When they were trying to show him some plays. Listen, listen.

[Alan Hahn]

You, you.

[Rodney]

You painting all the arguments. The argument is this.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Rodney]

Malone. Malone got kicked. Jenkins got kicked. Dwayne Casey got kicked after winning coach of the Year. It's been done. I feel like you try to make Tibbs untouchable. Untouchable.

[Alan Hahn]

Look what he. Rodney, you're right. Rodney, you're right. I've given you a ton of time. Almost four minutes. But, Rodney, I gotta say, you're right. I do try to make Tom Thibodeau untouchable. You know why? Because I've covered this team for 20 years and he's the best freaking coach they've had in those 20 years. And I'm actually friends with some of the guys who were coaches, so I feel bad saying that they weren't as good as him, but they weren't. He's the best coach they've had in 20 years. And you want to get rid of the guy who was the best coach they've had in 20 years because you don't like his face.

[Rodney]

No, no, no, no. Let me just say this and I'll let you go because I've been on the call for a while. When you say he's the best coach he's had in 20 years, I can't disagree with that. But I will also say, what has David Fitzale had? So David Fisto went from a dude to coach Memphis.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't make me say things about David Fitz. He's a friend of mine. Don't make me start breaking down David Fisdale. David Fisdale has not gotten a head coaching job since. Nor will he.

[Rodney]

No, I think Tish is better than him.

[Alan Hahn]

But my point is, I'm glad you think that we agree on that, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He'S better than Physio.

[Rodney]

What have these coaches have to coach like? Thibodeau has had better rosters than these coaches. You're making it seem like he took these. Like he took nothing but bums and then made him respectable. But he did make us respectable, and I'm grateful for it.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so. So he took a team with New Orleans Noel and Alfred Payton, and they were a playoff team, man. Rodney, Rodney, Rodney, please. I know you're at work and I know you're on hold for a long time. You got a lot of energy and you wanted to get. I gave you as much time as I could because I don't. I know there's a lot of people Like Rodney out there. They are trying to create. They take little things that every coach deals with. Do you remember, you know, Eric Spoelster? We all agree. Great coach, right, spo? Great coach.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the best.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you remember when on the sideline when Jimmy Butler and Udonis Haslin got into it and Jimmy Butler walked away from the huddle and all. Is SPO a bad coach? No. Remember when SPO told him, like was barking? Oh, that was big stuff happening there. Oh. Can't control his players. Can't control his players, Kenny. Like. Like, guys just stay in reality when it comes to this stuff and what you're seeing, that's. That's all I got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's not all I got. I have something very critical to say and it's about Amazon Pickup and what it can do for you. Because first and foremost, you're thinking Amazon. I love Amazon. I use it all the time. I watch prime video. It's a daily part of my life. What is Amazon Pickup? Well, glad you asked. Amazon Pickup allows you to send your orders to a secure pickup location that you can choose. So when delivered to your home or apartment is an ideal. Packages go directly to a convenient pickup location like an Amazon locker or a counter. And then, you know, listen, between my schedule, the work, the baby at home, things are crazy. Amazon Pickup gives me peace of mind, lets me pick up my packages on my own time. So you order online and at checkout. Simply select the pickup location that works best for you. When your package arrives, you get a delivery confirmation email that notifies you that the package is ready with pickup instructions. Great for when you're out and about. Amazon Pickups, a secure and convenient delivery solution to pick up your Amazon packages at no additional cost. Head to Amazon.com pickup MVP to learn more.

[Alan Hahn]

TaxAct knows filing your taxes can be complicated. And that's why we have live experts to help you with any questions. They can hold your hand through the process, beginning to end, metaphorically, of course. I mean, they can't actually hold your hand in person. I suppose you could hold your computer mouse while you chat with the expert about capital gains or whatever, which is sort of like holding hands. Sorry. Point is, our tax experts can make filing easier. Tax Act.

[Don La Greca]

Let's get them over with.

[Alan Hahn]

I was never really a runner.

[Don La Greca]

The way I see running is a gift. Especially when you have stage four cancer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon, presented by bank of America.

[Alan Hahn]

I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life even with cancer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Join bank of America and helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.comSupportAnn what.

[Don La Greca]

Would you like the power to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

References to charitable organizations is not endorsement by bank of America Corporation Copyright 2025.

[Alan Hahn]

Lowe's is the destination for EGO outdoor power equipment this spring. See what's new and exclusive like the 17 inch string trimmer with line IQ technology that auto feeds to save you time and the 22 inch select cut self propelled mowers with a multi blade system for precise cutting. Shop EGO days happening now during spring fest at Lowe's we help you save. Selection varies by location while supplies last. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

What's the story behind this one?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a Drake. What?

[Don La Greca]

Drake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's no reason. Just drizzy. You just felt like getting some drizzy.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel you last minute scrambling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just the last minute scramble. Throw on some Jersey Drake. It's all good. I mean, listen, that's Jersey Drake too.

[Don La Greca]

We do some Drake and kickboxing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Don La Greca]

Where the. The big song, the one that I like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's. There's a lot of.

[Don La Greca]

You know the one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nope.

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Started from the bottom.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that literally it?

[Don La Greca]

That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Don La Greca]

But that.

[Alan Hahn]

That was just a guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought you'd like that. It's not biggest.

[Don La Greca]

Every time he says started from the bottom in the song. We got to do a burpee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a lot. That's a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

Man, that sucks. I'd hate that song.

[Don La Greca]

I hate burpees too.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no. Who likes burpees?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don, I'm so proud of you. This is such a great thing you've done. I gotta get my ish. I'm starting to get my ish back. The post baby work. I'm starting to find my way. It's been tough. I'm not gonna lie nights like last night. I'd love to be active when I get home, but Natalie had been on baby all day long.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, you can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so I walk in and she's like, can you? I want. She's like, I really want to get a massage. Can you handle.

[Alan Hahn]

And I go, I used to work out Gracie. I'd be home with Gracie. Right. Stephanie went back to teaching. And so it was just Gracie and I. And she's a, you know, infant toddler.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

I would. It Was whenever it was, you know, like, I mean, obviously Maya's not this big yet. I would put her in a highchair and I would work out, and she would just laugh because she's watching you. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you know what? It is interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

Give her some Cheerios. Just sit there and just pick a Cheerios and watch you work out. Just talk to her while you do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm the phase I'm currently in with Maya, who will be three months in a week.

[Alan Hahn]

That's crazy. That's crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She'll be three months in a week. So this phase that I'm at with her right now is she's awake, obviously more than she used to be. So, like, she used to basically, you know, a month ago, she was sleeping after. Every time she ate, we'd burp her for a half hour. We put her down, she sleeps again. Now she sleeps big in the morning, so she'll wake up after a great night's sleep. She will eat, get burped, and go right back down for four hours. She's ready to sleep again. That would be the window. Except in that window, a lot of times it's podcasts, it's the other crap or whatever. But in the late part of the day, she's now awake a lot, which is great, except we're still figuring out what to do during some of that time. A little tummy time. I've been putting her in the stroller, the doona and letting her just sit and kind of like, look and hang out while we're eating dinner and be around. But we're still in that phase of figuring out what to do with her because she still can't really do anything. We read to her some. We show her some pictures, crumple up some things, give her some sounds. But we're still kind of. We're right in that. In between.

[Don La Greca]

You'll get plenty of working out when she gets wheels, when she starts moving, she'll start moving and life will change.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know. Even the crawling I hear is high speed.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, listen. She'll be out of the room. Are you still carrying channels? And all of a sudden, she'll be in the basement.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you still.

[Don La Greca]

What the heck happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, which would be really alarming because in my building, that means she went to the elevator.

[Don La Greca]

You know what they love? Pushing button.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you still carrying the kids upstairs?

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are they weighing these days?

[Don La Greca]

50 plus.

[Alan Hahn]

That's awesome.

[Don La Greca]

Both dead weight, too. But whatever reason, when they fall asleep, she's. She. She's a lot easier to carry. Because she just wraps herself around me so I don't even have to, like, hold her. She's, like, clinging to me. He's just like dead weight, like lifting a log. But they know every morning, get him up, stand up, he grabs his night night, and I got to pick him up and take him down the stairs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, in the morning? Oh, yeah, sorry.

[Don La Greca]

I'm like, half asleep. Wait, wait, 35, the alarm goes off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, hold on. I need a reset here. I thought the carrying part was at night. If they fall asleep downstairs.

[Don La Greca]

Well, no, no, no, no, no. If they fall asleep, for sure.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

But they still want to get carried upstairs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean? Just. Oh, it's just fun.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, just like Daddy carries upstairs. And so now take us through the morning, though. In the morning, you have to go in and carry them to breakfast.

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't understand what's going on, Alan, I am not at this stage yet. Can you explain what's going on? Why is he carrying them to breakfast in the morning?

[Alan Hahn]

Because he wants to and he can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

And they want it.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, they want it.

[Alan Hahn]

And that'll get him up, get him out of bed, get him going, like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got it.

[Alan Hahn]

That was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now what? At what point do you go, you know what? Enough. Go to breakfast yourself.

[Don La Greca]

They'll tell you, if I'm not feeling it or, you know, whatever, then it might happen. But listen, the advice that I've gotten from everybody. Everybody is there's going to be at some point where they're going to want nothing to do with me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

So I'm trying to take advantage of them wanting to be in my arms. Because there'll be a point where I'll say, good morning, Jalen. And she's going to. It's going to be silence. And then the next word she'll say, go scratch.

[Alan Hahn]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What?

[Don La Greca]

And those days are kind. I know. That's why I'm trying to cherish these moments while I can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now still physically able now. And now, Alan, did tell the truth. Did any or all of your kids get to a phase of, quote, not wanting anything to do with you? Or did some or all of them never have that phase?

[Alan Hahn]

And they're all, fortunately, no boys, too. Zach and I, Zach, Zack. I think we're boys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He never had a time.

[Alan Hahn]

He's my best friend, and I'm his best friend. That's how close we are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, that's another topic. No, no, I know, but it's a good topic.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's. We're that click. We're that close every single day. We talk, we catch up. Like, it's just. That's how we've gotten. That's. He's like, you know, he's obviously. He's a grown man now. Right. Like, so it's different when he's a little kid. I mean, he's a little kid, but we just, every day, everything, like, all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, keep going, but go through all of them.

[Alan Hahn]

But like, you know, Gracie, when she got into tween, we were worried because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The side eyes, she wasn't having sex.

[Alan Hahn]

Waking up in the morning and not really wanting to talk, staying in a room, we were worried, we were going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But she got through it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, she's phenomenal. Yeah, she's phenomenal. I love spending time with her, so. And she's 17 now. Like, and yet you would think that's the age they really pull away. No, Emma. I've gotten closer to Emma since she went to college. Even closer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the reason I asked this, a.

[Alan Hahn]

Lot of optimism there. And then Callie is the last. She's the little one. She's 10 now and she's one. Like Don said, Like, if she says to me uppies, which was the little baby thing of pick me up, she'll still say it to me randomly. And I will pick her up every time. Every. She's 10, she's £100. But I don't care.

[Don La Greca]

I don't anticipate having an awful relationship with my kids. But there's gonna be a time where can you drop me off a block before school.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Friends don't see you, by the way. All I'm saying, the only reason I brought it up was, is I hear what you're saying. I think it's absolutely the right way to prepare. But sometimes it doesn't happen. Sometimes kids don't go through the phase of, like, especially if you're a cool dad, like, in a cool moment might not happen.

[Don La Greca]

No, I advise from people, but the thing is, is that I love it. They still love me, they still want to be around me. I'm taking advantage of. Maybe it'll be for the rest of my life. Well, you know what? I'm not taking anything for granted. As long as I'm able to carry them, as long as they want me to be around, I make a promise. Like, because they're in bed by the time I get home after the Ranger game last night. So I make a promise to her, pinky promise that I'll rub her back before I go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, I'M so, I am so emotional right now because of Maya's age. I could cry just from Don saying, yeah, like, like I, I.

[Alan Hahn]

But quickly, I'll say this. What you're, what you're doing there. We'll send you to a place where now both girls sit down on the couch. I'm trying to watch the game last night, and the first thing they do is they both just tap their shoulders like as if now I'm the masseuse in the house, and I've gotta, like, you know, take care of business.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, you want the flip side of where you want the flip side of.

[Alan Hahn]

Where that goes on the other side?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nah.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me the flip side on the other side.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The flip side on the other side.

[Alan Hahn]

On the other side.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. Remind me.

[Alan Hahn]

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