Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Hour 4: Calls & ABS System
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Notable: Don La Greca absent (prepping for Islanders-Devils preseason)

Overview

Hour 4 of the show dives into classic sports radio territory: caller-driven debates, an examination of "second-tier greats" in sports (i.e., stars not recognized as all-time legends despite championship credentials), and spirited discussion of the recently approved ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenge system coming to MLB. While Don La Greca is absent, Alan and Peter expertly steer a lively hour through fun sports hypotheticals, historical context, and thoughtful takes on evolving technology in baseball.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sports Updates and the New York Playoff Picture

• Brief rundown of upcoming New York sports matchups, emphasizing the Mets' precarious playoff fate.
• Han and Rosenberg express disbelief at how the Mets' season unraveled:
  • "If you told me in May, the last week of the season is not going to determine whether or not they win the division. It's going to determine whether or not they make the playoffs... that's so hard to believe." – Alan Hahn (01:22)
• Michael Kay called the Mets' season an "epic fail," leading to musings about possible organizational shakeup.

2. Debate: The 'Yeah, But' Champion – Eli Manning & Athletic Parallels

Prompt:
Is Eli Manning the greatest "Yeah, but…" athlete of all time: a main character on championship teams who is never in the conversation as an all-time great at his position?

Caller Contributions & Responses

• Tracy from Amityville:
  • Suggests Robert Horry as a parallel.
  • Han pushes back—Horry as pivotal supporting cast, but never the "guy":
    "He’s more Ori... a very important supporting cast. I would almost put Ori in the category of Posada. Is that being disrespectful?" – Alan Hahn (04:15)
• Daryl in Roselle:
  • Offers Islanders’ Billy Smith—backbone of 4 Cup teams but not often cited among goalie greats.
  • Both hosts agree: Smith, like Eli, was "money" in big moments, rarely seen as a top regular-season player.
• Mike in Ridgefield Park:
  • Madison Bumgarner brought up—strong postseason credentials but only modest regular-season numbers:
    "15 years in [the] league, 10 games over .500 for his career, two World Series championships, and absolutely money in the playoffs. It’s Madison Bumgarner." (06:11)
  • Han: "That's a great one. Because again, multiple championships, main character, but yet... only 10 games over .500." (06:33)
  • Quick stats comparison to Eli Manning; appreciation for "Mad Bum" nickname.
• Dan in Massachusetts:
  • Cites Giants' QB Charlie Conerly (1950s)—championship winner, never quite an all-time great.
  • Peter: "That fits perfectly into the category of random old timey football..." (09:01)

Notable Quotes

• "Is there Another player in the history of sports that was a main character, great player for championships, but was never considered an all time great at his position...?" – Alan Hahn (02:00)
• "He was never the best goalie in the league, but when it mattered most, that's the guy you wanted between the pipes." – Alan Hahn on Billy Smith (05:13)
• "He's more, he's more Ori, or he's a different Bird altogether." – Peter Rosenberg on Robert Horry (04:10)

3. What Makes an All-Time 'Brand Name' Quarterback?

• The hosts wrestle with what constitutes a true "brand name" QB—legends instantly recognized outside of their teams:
  • They try to name 32 (one per franchise), realize they can’t get to 20.
• List includes Unitas, Staubach, Bart Starr, Namath, Farve, Brady, Montana, Elway, Marino, Peyton Manning, Mahomes, Rodgers, Bradshaw.
• Peter: "If I said this name in the middle of Times Square, everybody knows I’m talking football... it’s gotta be a name like that." (11:52)
• Reflection: Some teams have multiple, others none; the "brand name threshold" is higher than simple Hall of Fame status.

Notable Quotes

• "Most teams really don't have great ones. And I certainly feel that way about my franchise." – Peter Rosenberg (09:16)
• "Are there 32 all-time great quarterbacks? No...Did we get to 20? No." – Alan Hahn (09:47)

4. Jamal Murray – Is He an Eli/Mad Bum Analog in the NBA?

• Jay from the Bronx suggests Jamal Murray: clutch in playoffs, underwhelming regular season.
• Han counters: "It’s Jokic’s team, though... he is a main character guy, but... that's a Jokic team." (13:09)
• Recognition that some players "turn it up" in the postseason, but discussion centers on primary franchise identity.

5. Tight Ends and the Struggles of New York Football

• Jay's second question: Why haven't the Jets or Giants prioritized elite tight ends to support young QBs?
  • Hahn notes: "That is almost like your security blanket... a tight end where you just know where he is." (15:26)
• Points to other teams' success:
  • Brady had Gronk.
  • Mahomes has Kelce.
  • Baltimore has Mark Andrews; emphasis on the importance of the tight end to a young quarterback’s development.
• Rosenberg adds: "Even in my little moment, the last two years Zach Ertz [has] been huge for Jaden. Philly thought he was over the hill." (15:13)

6. ABS (Automated Ball/Strike) System: MLB’s New Tech

The New Challenge System

• Two challenges per team—initiated by pitcher, catcher, or batter immediately following the pitch.
• Challenges replenished in extra innings.
• Cameras around the field track pitches; stadium shows immediate graphic of results—a la tennis’ cyclops system.
• Han: "If we can track every pitch, we need to challenge it? Can we just get it right every time?" (18:54)
• Rosenberg: "I think people like the culture of an umpire... it’s just built into it." (19:12)
• Debate over removing the human element entirely vs. only using automation for clear errors.
• Han suggests early challenges could "set a tone" with umpires about their zone.
• Hosts agree: Tradition and the drama of arguing calls are part of baseball’s appeal, but the trend is clearly toward automation, at least for crucial calls.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On automation:
  "Would that change baseball if you had automated balls and strikes called every time? All the umpire did was line up... and in his ear, he gets ball or strike, and he just makes the call." – Alan Hahn (21:34)

  • Rosenberg: "I'm fine with that, too. Because that way, you're still getting the human part of it. They're just not getting it wrong." (22:02)
  • Both: Can't lose the dramatic "punch out" move.

• On replay:
  "Where I never want human element in baseball? On the bases. That's where I want [tech]." – Peter Rosenberg (20:40)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "If you told me in May... the last week of the season is not going to determine whether or not they win the division. It's going to determine whether or not they make the playoffs... that's so hard to believe." – Alan Hahn (01:22)
• "Is there another player in the history of sports that was a main character, great player for championships, but was never considered an all time great at his position?" – Alan Hahn (02:00)
• "He's more, he's more Ori or he's a different Bird altogether." – Peter Rosenberg (04:10)
• "[Billy Smith] was never the best goalie in the league, but when it mattered most, that's the guy you wanted between the pipes." – Alan Hahn (05:13)
• "So you still want the umpire that has his strike zone... and it's just the ones that are egregious, you're like, no, no, no, that's... no." – Alan Hahn (19:41)
• "Where I never want human element in baseball? On the bases. That's where I want [tech]." – Peter Rosenberg (20:40)
• "You still need the punch outs... those are still fun. Come on." – Alan Hahn (22:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:22 – Mets collapse and organizational critique
• 02:00 – Introduction of ‘Yeah, But’ champion athlete discussion (Eli Manning analogy)
• 03:36 – Robert Horry/Eli Manning comparison
• 05:03 – Billy Smith discussion
• 06:11 – Madison Bumgarner as a comparable
• 08:22 – Old time QBs: Chuck Conerly & Giants history
• 09:16-11:52 – ‘Brand Name’ QB debate, realization most franchises never had one
• 13:04 – Jamal Murray as a potentially underappreciated playoff performer
• 14:32-15:26 – Tight end discussion; New York’s lack of focus and NFL examples
• 17:53 – Detailed breakdown of the new MLB ABS challenge system
• 18:54-22:20 – Spirited discussion of automation, tradition, and the future of umpiring

Tone & Character

Throughout, the tone is conversational, knowledgeable, and inviting to callers. There’s a clear appreciation for both the data-minded and the traditionalist perspectives, and the hosts interlace nostalgia, humor, and modern insight. Rosenberg’s playful skepticism balances Hahn’s analytical leanings, while both show real affection for the idiosyncrasies of sports culture.

Summary takeaway:
If you love big-picture sports debates, especially the quirks of ranking greatness, generational changes in the game, and the messy intersection of tradition and technology, this hour is a must-listen (or, with this summary, a must-read) snapshot of New York sports radio at its best.