Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 3: Yankees Win Home Opener

Date: April 3, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca

Overview

This episode dives deep into the New York Yankees’ strong home opener victory against the Miami Marlins and the remarkable start to their 2026 season. The hosts draw historical comparisons, discuss pitching excellence, the overall outlook for New York sports teams, and explore issues of competitive balance in Major League Baseball. The show also features candid banter, listener calls, and broader discussions about fandom and sports economics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees’ Home Opener Victory and Historic Start

• Game Recap: Yankees defeat the Marlins 8-2, improving to a 6-1 MLB-best record. Both Ben Rice and Aaron Judge hit home runs.
• Pitching Dominance: Yankees’ starting rotation allowed two or fewer runs in each of the first seven games—a feat achieved only once before in franchise history, in 1911.
  • “Their starters have allowed two runs or fewer in the first seven games. That’s the second time it’s happened in franchise history. The first time was 1911.” — Peter Rosenberg [01:11]

Historical Perspective and Significance

• The hosts contextualize the Yankees’ early-season stats, tying the fewest runs allowed (eight) through seven games with the '02 Giants and '93 Braves.
  • “Fewest by a team in its first seven games ever. Tied with the ‘02 Giants and the ’93 Braves.” — Alan Hahn [01:49]

2. Rotation Depth and Expectations

• Potential of the Rotation:
  • The Yankees are thriving without injured stars Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon; their eventual return is expected to make the rotation even more formidable and deepen trade deadline options.
  • “This rotation is only going to get better with the return of two high level starters, which gives you so many options.” — Alan Hahn [02:50]

Comparison to Past Teams

• Hosts compare the current staff to the legendary 1998 Yankees rotation and bullpen (Pettitte, Wells, Cone, et al.), raising the question of whether this year’s staff could be better.
  • “This rotation potentially could be better than that [1998 rotation].” — Peter Rosenberg [08:35]
  • “But I think that this could be a better rotation. [Though] it’s hard to be a better bullpen when you’ve got Mo [Rivera] there.” — Peter Rosenberg [09:58]

3. Yankees’ Winning Formula: Pitching > Hitting

• Emphasis on Pitching: While the Yankees’ offense is expectedly solid, the pitching is “the real story.”

  • “Usually there’s always something to complain about. With the Yankees ... But if you’re a Yankee fan right now, what is bothering you?” — Peter Rosenberg [04:10]
  • “Knowing that if Cole and Rodon come back ... you’re going to have every night a really good to great starter—how do you not win?” — Peter Rosenberg [06:00]

• Offense: Judge is slugging, but not hitting for average—“but when he makes contact, half the time it’s going out.” [04:30]

4. The Pirates, Prospect Deals & Small-Market Woes

• Connor Griffin’s Debut:

  • 19-year-old Pirates phenom Connor Griffin makes his MLB debut with a $140M/9-year contract, drawing comparisons to Soto and Harper and sparking a broader discussion about small-market challenges.
    • “He’s the first teenager to make his major league baseball debut since Juan Soto in 2018.” — Alan Hahn [14:21]
  • Griffin walks, gets an RBI in his debut; the Pirates lead the Orioles.
  • “Some prospects, they just have it, right? … A walk, a hit, an RBI. Tremendous.” — Alan Hahn [28:24]

• Retention Challenges:

  • Recognition that small-market clubs like the Pirates often lose homegrown stars before they reach free agency.
  • “His chances of staying in Pittsburgh beyond 26 or 27 are slim because they’re not going to want to lose him as a free agent.” — Peter Rosenberg [29:20]

• Trade Rumors & Yankees:

  • Discussed rumors that the Yankees tried to acquire pitcher Paul Skenes, but the Pirates rebuffed all offers [16:25].

5. CBA, Salary Cap, and Competitive Balance

• Imminent Labor Uncertainty:

  • Hosts predict a lockout at the expiration of the CBA (Dec 1), noting MLB’s chronic balance problems and need for a salary cap and spending floor.
  • “Baseball and basketball are two sports that are incredibly top heavy ... That’s not a real thing in baseball.” — Alan Hahn [31:42]
  • “In the NBA, you don’t have to worry about drafting a forever talent and then having to move that talent because you can’t afford to pay them ... but in baseball, I can draft the next Aaron Judge and I’m pretty much guaranteed to have to get rid of them." — Peter Rosenberg [33:09]

• Revenue Sharing Debate:

  • Listeners and hosts debate if revenue sharing could work as in the NFL/NBA; hosts argue only a true salary cap plus a floor will prevent small-market decay [46:05].

6. Listener Calls & Classic NY Sports Talk

Iconic Fan Dilemmas

• Dual-Fandom “Fraudulence”:
  • Caller asks if it’s “fraudulent” to root for both Yankees and Mets (an issue tied to NY's MLB history).
  • “Pick a team and live with that team. ... If all of a sudden you root for the Mets when the Yankees are out, ... you don’t know the pain of winning and losing.” — Peter Rosenberg [37:13]
  • “That’s all I’m asking… that you’re a die hard Yankee fan. That’s the only team.” — Peter Rosenberg

Music and Marital Trivia

• A fun segment questions the plausibility of Dan Fogelberg’s "Same Old Lang Syne" (how long could you be gone for whipped cream without your spouse calling?) [44:03].
  • “My question to three three married men. How long would you be gone to get the whipped cream in the cell phone world before your wife called you and said, where the hell are you?” — Danny [44:43]

7. Memorable Moments & Quips

• On replacing pitchers:
  • “If you could turn, like, it’s like Will Warren, you could turn him into Gerrit Cole and ... keep Freed and keep Schlittler; think about that for a minute. That’s not nothing, as you would say, Don.” — Alan Hahn [02:50]
• On TV coverage of first pitches:
  • “[You] have to air Jack Hughes’s first pitch. ... Commercials to sell. It’s the first pitch. You’re the Yankees.” — Peter Rosenberg [25:37]
• On fandom:
  • “It’s like, listen, I’m having a problem with my wife today ... so I’m going to go over to the girlfriend’s house ... That’s what you’re doing.” — Peter Rosenberg [37:14]
• On small-market despair:
  • “Pittsburgh to me is the cautionary tale ... to sustain greatness, it’s almost impossible.” — Peter Rosenberg [33:21]

8. Lighter Banter & Behind-the-Scenes

• iPad hijinks:
  • Repeated interruptions as Peter’s son’s friends FaceTime during the show, leading to a discussion of “Do Not Disturb” settings [11:26].
• Doppelgängers:
  • Peter insists Adam Ottavino resembles Matt Martin, sparking laughs and skepticism [03:37; 24:33].

9. Other Local Sports

• Knicks, Mets, Nets, and Islanders:
  • Knicks vs. Bulls and upcoming call assignments for Alan Hahn.
  • “Nobody wants to listen to that. … This is Knicks Bulls.” — Alan Hahn [23:05]
  • Fun banter about the perceived relevance of various NY teams and radio games.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Their starters have allowed two runs or fewer in the first seven games. That’s the second time it’s happened in franchise history. The first time was 1911.” — Peter Rosenberg [01:11]
• “This rotation is only going to get better with the return of two high level starters, which gives you so many options.” — Alan Hahn [02:50]
• “How do you not win? Because you’re not going to be able to hit. Hitting goes into slumps. ... but your pitching shouldn’t go into slumps.” — Peter Rosenberg [06:00]
• “I find it very difficult to believe that the Pittsburgh Pirates can compete with the Yankees and the Mets and the Dodgers and the Phillies when it comes to salaries.” — Alan Hahn [30:10]
• “In the NBA, you don’t have to worry about drafting a forever talent and then having to move that talent because you can’t afford to pay them ... but in baseball, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have to get rid of them.” — Peter Rosenberg [33:09]
• “Pick a team and live with that team. ... you don’t know the pain of winning and losing.” — Peter Rosenberg [37:13]
• “It’s like, listen, I’m having a problem with my wife today ... so I’m going to go over to the girlfriend’s house ... That’s what you’re doing.” — Peter Rosenberg [37:14]
• “Pittsburgh to me is the cautionary tale ... to sustain greatness, it’s almost impossible.” — Peter Rosenberg [33:21]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Yankees Home Opener/Stats & Pitching Discussion: [00:30] – [10:57]
• Rotation Comparisons, 1998 Yankees: [08:21] – [10:15]
• Pirates/Connor Griffin/New Prospect Contracts: [14:01] – [18:12], [28:24]
• Salary Cap & Baseball Economics: [29:01] – [34:22], [46:05] – [48:52]
• Listener “Fraud” Call/Dual Fan Debate: [34:22] – [38:14]
• Dan Fogelberg Whipped Cream Song Trivia: [44:03] – [45:51]
• Revenue Sharing/Competitive Balance Call: [46:05] – [48:52]

Final Takeaways

• The Yankees are off to a historic start, powered by strong pitching and depth, with much-anticipated reinforcements due soon.
• Comparisons to the 1998 dynasty evoke optimism but also invite measured skepticism.
• Rapid prospect promotions and huge contracts, like the Pirates’ Griffin deal, drive home MLB’s small-market pains—fueling spirited debate over whether a new economic system (salary cap, floor, revenue sharing reforms) is overdue.
• Interspersed with classic New York banter, the show blends hard sports analysis, nostalgic fandom, and the realities of sports business, making it a lively listen for Yankee fans and sports enthusiasts alike.

This summary captures the spirit, content, and candid energy of Hour 3—the day after the Yankees’ 2026 home opener.