Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Yankees, Woody & Kenny (October 9, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the persistent struggles of the New York Yankees, examining why consistent regular-season success hasn't translated into World Series victories. The hosts debate the underlying issues—leadership philosophy, roster construction, spending, and accountability—while drawing comparisons to other New York franchises and MLB contenders. The show also previews an eventful New York sports night and welcomes guests Damian Woody for NFL talk and Kenny Albert for Rangers insights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Yankees: The Same Old Story – Regular Season Giants, October Letdowns (01:34–21:31)

Frustration with Familiar Endings

• Alan Hahn expresses the perennial frustration of Yankee fans: "It's frustrating to be a Yankee fan...I always talked about spoiled Yankee fans...but I understand the frustration of never seeing it come to fruition that you've got a plan and you know you're good enough and you just can't get it done. And last year stung. ...you thought you were going to run away with this division then because you played with your food." (01:38)
• Discussion of the Yankees' playoff failures: "Facing an opener in an elimination game and you scored two runs, and that's the same old song and dance." (02:53)

"Same Old Yankees" vs. "Same Old Jets"

• Don Hahn draws a distinction: "'Same old Yankees' is not at the same level as 'same old Jets,' of course. But it's very similar in that the way they're losing feels like the same way." (03:43)
• Despite playoff consistency (8 of 9 years), the endings always feel like missed opportunities and self-inflicted wounds: "Every year you walked away feeling empty, like, no, there was more for this team to give. It just didn't do it." (04:41)

Pointing the Finger: Leadership and the Lack of Change

• Don Hahn: "You can't keep changing the players and then keep blaming the players for failing. At some point you stop and say, hang on a second...A formula that really works well in the regular season always seems to get shut down in the postseason. Why?" (05:18)
• Alan Hahn: "That starts at the top with Brian Cashman. But also we can't exempt Hal from this conversation either..." (06:45)

The Hal Steinbrenner Question

• The perception that Hal is content with consistent playoff berths and financial success, even without championships.
• Alan Hahn: "Maybe Hal is perfectly happy with...Brian Cashman, because, I don't know, you get me to the playoffs all the time." (08:37)
• The dilemma: Go all in for a title (risking future mediocrity) or sustain annual contention.
• Alan Hahn: "He always said, I want championships, not a championship...If he presented that to Hal, how would he go? I do want that championship, but I also like the fact that we go to the playoffs every year." (10:12)

Spending Money Wisely

• Don Hahn: "It's not the talent. I'm saying it's the style of play."
• Alan Hahn: "The style of play is conducive to the end game of we go to the playoffs every year. And I don't want to ruin that by going and throwing a bunch of decisions into one year and have it come at the expense of the future." (12:05)

Accountability Gap

• No major leadership changes despite repeated failures. "Every year is looked upon as a failure, yet no one is held accountable. So I have to assume, Allen, they're cool with this." (12:34)
• Don Hahn: "Which is worse. The 18 years that it took from 79 to 95 without a, without a World Series championship, that you were just a dumpster fire of a franchise...or what could be 18 years if they don't get there next year and they've made the playoffs every year?" (14:13)
• Debate about whether it's better to be consistently good but never win, or to tear it down and build sporadic greatness.

Notable Quote

"All we know is they're lighting cigars today. Good job, guys. Another season of sellout crowds. Another season of record ratings on YES. Another playoff round. Yeah, it stinks that we didn't win the World Series, but great job, everybody."
— Alan Hahn (16:05)

The "Dirty Little Secret" About Cashman

• Alan Hahn: "I don't think Brian wants to spend money. I think he wants to win with the knowledge and the analytics. He'd love to go to Pittsburgh and win a World Series with a $30 million [payroll]. Because he doesn't want the championship to look like it was bought." (20:52)

2. NFL Preview: Giants vs. Eagles, Saquon Discussion, and Coaching Talk with Damian Woody (25:08–36:50)

Giants-Eagles Preview

• Damian Woody shares keys for the Giants: "Don't give them anything cheap meaning, don't turn the ball over. Play a clean game...That Giants defensive front, get after this Philadelphia offensive line...Force turnovers if you can." (25:56)
• On Giants' offensive strategy amidst injuries: "If your personnel, you know, strength dictate that you need to have multiple tight ends on the field, then that's what you got to do...Run the football, utilize the RPO..." (27:50)

Saquon & the Giants Divorce

• Both hosts and Woody are ready to move on from the narrative:

"Who cares? Like, we're over a year removed from that now. He went on to Philadelphia, obviously had...one of the all-time great seasons. They won the Super Bowl...We're now over a year removed from that. ...me, personally, I don't care. I don't care about any of that."
— Damian Woody (29:15)

Bill Belichick at UNC – Is It Over?

• Woody thinks it's time for Belichick and UNC to part ways. "They're not even competitive guys. … at some point, is it even worth it to have Bill Belichick as your head coach at this point?" (30:00)
• Coaching future: "I think coaching in the NFL is over." (30:56)
• On pettiness and damage to UNC players: "You're hurting a young man in the program as well. ...it's just unfortunate that it's gotten to this point." (31:59)

Jets in London & NFL Tidbits

• Getting out of NYC headlines could help the Jets: "The biggest thing for the Jets is...Stop hurting yourself. ...haven't gotten one turnover in five games." (32:33)
• On Aaron Glenn's coaching: "I haven't wavered on Aaron Glenn...the guys on the field got to have more pride in their profession...AG is not on the field. The players are on the field." (33:20)
• Culture change in losing franchises: "The way you flip it is I have to be the person that's gonna go make the play. ...If you have a collective group of guys that's thinking like that, then things will start manifesting..." (34:20)

Baker Mayfield’s MVP-Level Play

"The thing I love about Baker—he's playing his best at the most important time in games. ...When we talk about MVPs and these awards, it's about moments. And Baker Mayfield seems like every week has moments that just like, yeah, that dude, he's that guy." — Damian Woody (35:04)

Notable Quote

"By the way, this is the best time of year in sports." — Damian Woody (36:47)

3. Hockey Talk: Kenny Albert on the Rangers’ TV Booth and Season Outlook (41:03–50:28)

Rangers TV Transition

• Kenny Albert discusses moving to television after 29 years of Rangers radio: "So thrilled for Dave [Maloney]. ...Sam Rosen, his retirement was announced...and Joe Micheletti did not announce his decision until after the season. So to take Dave with me as well is such a thrill..." (41:03)
• Tribute to their former radio team, with Alan Hahn expressing his honor to have worked alongside them.

Giants’ Thursday Night Woes

• Trivia exchanged with Kenny Albert on the Giants' last Thursday win: "They're 0–10 on Thursdays in the last 10 seasons...Can you tell me when their last win came and who it was against on a Thursday?" (41:51)

Rangers Season Preview

• Albert expects playoff contention: "Definitely think they can make the playoffs for sure...once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. So much is based on your health at the time, goaltending, the matchups, who you wind up playing...They have a great coach in Mike Sullivan..." (44:28)
• Discusses changes under new coach Sullivan: "It's a bit of a different defensive style under Sullivan—zone as opposed to man-to-man...He certainly demands a lot out of his players." (46:24)

The Challenge of Switching to TV

"...On radio, the play-by-play person is pretty much calling the game for the entire time...On TV, there's more time for the analysts to come in. It's a little more conversational than it is on the radio side...you definitely pull back as far as the call on television." — Kenny Albert (47:56)

Notable Quotes & Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• "Facing an opener in an elimination game and you scored two runs, and that's the same old song and dance." — Alan Hahn (02:53)
• "You can't keep changing the players and then keep blaming the players for failing." — Don Hahn (05:18)
• "Maybe Hal is perfectly happy with...you get me to the playoffs all the time." — Alan Hahn (08:37)
• "Every year is looked upon as a failure, yet no one is held accountable. So I have to assume, Allen, they're cool with this." — Don Hahn (12:34)
• "All we know is they're lighting cigars today. Good job, guys. Another season of sellout crowds. Another season of record ratings on YES." — Alan Hahn (16:05)
• "I think the one thing, my one observation with the Jets is like, sometimes when you're down and you lose it, like everyone's waiting for, well, who's gonna make a play? ... I have to be the person that's gonna go make the play." — Damian Woody (34:20)
• "The thing I love about Baker—he's playing his best at the most important time in games." — Damian Woody (35:04)
• "By the way, this is the best time of year in sports." — Damian Woody (36:47)
• "It's a bit of a different defensive style under Sullivan—zone as opposed to man-to-man...He certainly demands a lot out of his players." — Kenny Albert (46:24)
• "On radio, the play-by-play person is pretty much calling the game for the entire time...On TV, there's more time for the analysts to come in." — Kenny Albert (47:56)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:34–21:31: Yankees October woes and front office debate
• 25:08–36:50: Damian Woody: Giants-Eagles, NFL hot topics
• 41:03–50:28: Kenny Albert: Rangers broadcast transition and preview

Tone & Language

The discussion is frank, emotional, and often a bit exasperated—mirroring the tone of many New York sports fans. There are witty asides, playful teasing, and passionate arguments, but the hosts always circle back to genuine insight and mutual respect.

Useful for Those Who Haven’t Listened

This summary outlines the episode’s debates, the pain points of each franchise’s fandom, and the broader questions about team direction, success, and leadership—making it essential listening (and now reading) for any follower of New York sports or organizational dynamics in sports.