Hour 4: Last Call Crew - Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast - Hour 4: Last Call Crew
Release Date: July 7, 2025

Introduction

In Hour 4: Last Call Crew of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a vibrant mix of New York sports, personal updates, and listener interactions. The episode, released on July 7, 2025, provides insightful commentary on the Mets and Yankees' baseball seasons, discusses Peter Rosenberg's exciting new role in sports broadcasting, and explores broader topics in the NHL and NBA.

Listener Call-Ins and Personal Updates

The episode features several listener calls, adding a personal touch to the discussions.

Danny from Long Island (00:29-01:37): Danny reminisces about attending a live performance at Madison Square Garden in 1984 with his friends and shares heartwarming stories about spending time with his grandchildren. He humorously describes tapping out from the chaos of amusement park rides, highlighting the joys and challenges of being a grandfather.

Danny (01:05): "Just back from seven days of coordinating with my grandchildren in South Carolina... I tapped out."
Jimmy from Montclair (08:39-10:13): Jimmy congratulates Don LaGreca on his new role as the lead play-by-play voice for the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks. He shares his excitement as a die-hard Rangers fan, comparing Don’s feelings to his own when rookie player Soto signed with the Mets.

Jimmy (08:46): "I love it, man. I was jumping up and down when I heard the news... welcome home."
Anthony from North Carolina (10:18-12:01): Anthony offers congratulations to Don and delves into a conversation about the Rangers' rebuild, questioning how long it will take and expressing optimism about the team's potential under coach Mike Sullivan.

Anthony (11:11): "Congrats, man. Someone that's in this field that's still young, it's an inspiration..."

Peter Rosenberg's New Role

A significant highlight of the episode is Peter Rosenberg announcing his new position as the lead play-by-play voice for the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks.

Announcement and Reactions (05:28-17:22): Peter shares his excitement and reflects on his journey, from calling baseball games off the TV as a child to now taking on a professional broadcasting role. He expresses gratitude for the support and discusses the legacy of previous broadcasters like Gary Thorne and Doc Emmerich.

Peter Rosenberg (05:30): "Don LaGreca named lead play by play voice for the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks."

Peter Rosenberg (10:07): "It is a dream come true... thankful for the opportunity."
Listener Reactions: Listeners commend Peter on social media and during calls, expressing their happiness for his achievement and curiosity about his future with the Devils.

Peter Rosenberg (21:12): "This is something that's exciting and now it makes us look forward to the hockey season even more."

Baseball Season: Mets vs. Yankees

The hosts engage in an in-depth analysis of the current state of the Mets and Yankees, evaluating their performances and prospects.

Mets Performance (01:02-03:37): Danny praises the Mets for winning games with their secondary players, highlighting key contributions from players like the McNeils. He contrasts this with the Yankees' reliance on solo runs from stars like Aaron Judge.

Danny (02:00): "You have to feel good about the Mets because at this point, the Mets win games when they're secondary Players... the McNeils."
Yankees' Struggles (02:50-03:37): The conversation touches on the Yankees' difficulties despite having a talented roster, emphasizing the need for consistency and teamwork to remain competitive.

Alan Hahn (03:00): "You got to ignore how we got here and look where we are... You have to be thrilled if you're a Met fan."

NHL Insights: Rebuilding the Rangers

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the New York Rangers' rebuilding process and their prospects under the new coaching regime.

Team Dynamics and Prospect Evaluation (12:01-14:51): The hosts analyze the Rangers' roster, highlighting key players like Miller, Panarin, Adam Fox, and Igor Shusturkin. They discuss the balance between rebuilding for the future and maintaining competitiveness in the present season.

Peter Rosenberg (12:01): "There's no reason why this team can't compete for a playoff spot now."

Alan Hahn (14:11): "Usually, Crosby, when you have... you generally find yourself... this is the next generation."
Challenges and Opportunities (13:39-14:51): They debate the impact of not having a generational player and the potential for up-and-coming talents to bridge that gap. The conversation acknowledges past draft missteps but remains optimistic about the team's future.

Peter Rosenberg (14:20): "Could Byfield end up being a better player than Lafour... are they Connor McDavid?"

Alan Hahn (14:36): "They have too much talent to be bad... They do not want it to come at the expense of the present."

MLB and NBA Rule Discussions

The hosts explore specific rule changes in baseball and basketball, offering their perspectives on their implications.

MLB's Error as a Hit Controversy (22:49-23:04): Michael K. points out the inconsistency in how errors are counted as hits in baseball compared to other sports. The hosts debate the fairness and logic behind this scoring method.

Alan Hahn (23:04): "You should not deserve a hit."
NBA's "Mike Breen Rule" (23:34-24:10): Alan introduces a new NBA rule, nicknamed the "Mike Breen rule," which affects how long-range shot attempts are scored. The hosts discuss how it might encourage more buzzer-beaters and change player strategies.

Alan Hahn (23:34): "If it goes in, it's a bucket. If you miss, it's not against you as a player."

Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

As the episode wraps up, the hosts talk about upcoming sports events, including the introduction of the Rangers' new coach and previewing upcoming Mets and Yankees games.

New Coach Introduction (17:22-19:18): Alan shares details about the Rangers' new head coach, Mike Brown, and teases an upcoming interview. They express excitement about the team's direction under his leadership.

Alan Hahn (18:06): "Mike Brown was named the head coach. They put out the press Release."
Upcoming Games Preview (19:18-21:29): The hosts discuss upcoming baseball matchups, focusing on key players like Aaron Judge and Raleigh, and speculate on MVP candidacies based on current performances.

Peter Rosenberg (19:48): "If Seattle stays in the race and he ends up winning the home run title... as a catcher."

Alan Hahn (20:00): "He does have a couple more RBI than Judge... a catcher is something that I think..."

Conclusion

Hour 4: Last Call Crew delivers a rich and engaging episode filled with personal anecdotes, in-depth sports analysis, and interactive listener engagement. From celebrating Peter Rosenberg's professional milestone to dissecting the intricacies of team dynamics in baseball and hockey, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offer a comprehensive look into the vibrant world of New York sports. Whether you're a die-hard Mets fan, a Yankees supporter, or a follower of the Rangers' journey, this episode provides valuable insights and entertainment for all sports enthusiasts.

Notable Quotes:

Danny on Grandfatherhood (01:05):
"I tapped out."
Jimmy Congratulating Don (08:46):
"I pray to God you get the job play by play for the Rangers because this is before they announced Kenny Albert..."
Peter on His New Role (05:30):
"Don LaGreca named lead play by play voice for the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks."
Alan on the Rangers' Rebuild (14:36):
"They have too much talent to be bad."
Alan on MLB Errors (23:04):
"You should not deserve a hit."
Peter on NBA's New Rule (24:10):
"It won't count either. So it's sort of the same thing."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of Hour 4: Last Call Crew, providing listeners with a clear and detailed overview of the episode's key discussions and takeaways.

Transcript

Don LaGreca (0:00)

With the Venmo Debit card, you can Venmo everything. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show.

Peter Rosenberg (0:05)

You can Venmo that.

Don LaGreca (0:06)

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank in a pursuant to license by Mastercard International, Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

Alan Hahn (0:15)

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast that sounds like heaven to me. Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers Don.

Peter Rosenberg (0:29)

Hahn and Rosenberg take Level 7 and Pat O' Keefe lot to talk about. Mets Yankees 1-800-919-3776. Always a pleasure to talk to our buddy Danny on Long Island. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Danny?

Danny (0:43)

Danny, Danny, who heard that song perform live at Madison Square Garden in 1984. We took, we took a limo in, me and eight guys. 1984, the album. Yeah, that was the last one with, with yes, David Lee Roth.

Alan Hahn (1:02)

Yeah, that was quite a nice, quite.

Danny (1:05)

A night for what I can remember of it. But yeah, those are the days. Just back from seven days of coordinating with my grandchildren in South Carolina and a similar moment in my life. God, I passed. I, I had a passing. I went from young grandfather. I was blessed to become a grandfather. 55, 54. So now it's 68 hours of water park, amusement park rides, roller coasters, lines, crying kids. I said to my son, you got it for the rest of the day. And I laid down in the lounge chair and I took a nap. I said, I tapped out. I tapped out.

Peter Rosenberg (1:37)

I tapped out.

Alan Hahn (1:38)

I said, isn't that the best thing about being a grandfather, is that you can do that?

Danny (1:42)

I got to say, listen, they want to go on a couple more roller coasters. I'll be right here when you are done. But that water pool takes the hell out of you because you're just getting knocked around and it's, you know, it's just, it's just drained you after a day of being out in the sun and the roller coasters, which I don't really like, but I had to go on because the kid couldn't go on. Anyways, I'm down there. I'm enjoying the, you know, the Mets, obviously both our baseball teams are in a little state of stress at this point. But you know, you got to feel good about the Mets because at this point, the Mets win games when they're secondary Players the nemos of the world, the McNeil's. And McNeil's a solid, you know, player when they contribute. And that's I think what the Yankees aren't getting at this point. They got it to an extent, but it's always these solo runs like Wells and these guys. I'm just happy that's 1, 2 out of 3. I don't care if it was against the Yankees. Means nothing to me. There were two really good wins, especially Saturdays. Was a great game. Let's just, let's just finish up strong now. Enjoy the days off. Let's just reload, rearm. And I always think of like, you have to ignore how we got here and look where we are, look at the record, look where we're sitting. You have to be thrilled if you're a Met fan. I know you finished. You know, what do you think they were going to be 20 over 500 and then finish 30 over 500. There's always going to be a little low in the action, you know, the Yankees. You know what guys, you may just have to fight this one out. You know, not everybody gets to be Napoleon and defeats every army in front of them. You know, Napoleon had won a little. Maybe if the Yankees struggle all year and put a little magic together in October, it might actually mean something more that it was a struggle all the way through and you had some doubts and that makes it, you know, you know, what's Rudy for? Remember the year the Yankees, their ratings were down on television because they were winning 107 games and they're winning by 10 runs every game. So there was no drama involved. Baseball needs drama to be, to be, needs tight games. It needs pennant races. Otherwise, you know, it's not that it's a slow moving sport. I went to two minor league games while I was down there. It's, it's a, it's not football, it's baseball.