Hour 4: Yankee Concerns

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 4: Yankee Concerns

Release Date: June 30, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Title: Hour 4: Yankee Concerns

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1. Introduction to Yankee Performance

The episode delves into the current state of the New York Yankees, analyzing their recent performances and future prospects. Don La Greca initiates the conversation by highlighting the Yankees' commendable weekend performance against the Oakland Athletics, securing two out of three games.

Notable Quote:
Don La Greca (01:48): “The Yankees are up north taking on the Blue Jays at 7:07. Mets are off tomorrow. They'll start a series with the Milwaukee Brewers.”

2. Analysis of Yankees vs. Mets Performance

Alan Hahn discusses the Yankees' ongoing offensive struggles, particularly their performance with runners in scoring positions. He references Joel Sherman’s column, emphasizing the team's declining batting averages when it matters most.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (03:49): “Over the last 15 games, the Yankees are hitting .189 with men on base and .142 when they're in scoring position.”

3. Concerns Over Yankees’ Offense and Pitching

The hosts express concern over the Yankees' offensive inconsistencies, contrasting it with their relatively stable starting pitching. Alan Hahn points out the potential implications for the postseason, where consistent hitting is crucial.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (05:22): “Their offense has gone into the tank, and that you worry about. Aaron Judge has had a prolific season, probably your number one choice for AL MVP, but when he's not performing, the offense falters.”

4. Impact of Weather and Scheduling on Yankees' Performance

Don La Greca brings up the challenges posed by the Yankees' schedule, particularly the extreme weather conditions at their spring training facility in Tampa. The hosts discuss how playing in harsh weather could lead to rain delays and doubleheaders, potentially exhausting the team.

Notable Quote:
Don La Greca (05:55): “They're going to have to play excruciatingly hot weather. They're going to have rain delays, rainouts, a lot of doubleheaders. That is eventually going to exhaust.”

5. Potential Playoff Competitors: Tampa and Toronto

The conversation shifts to identifying potential threats to the Yankees' division lead. Alan Hahn expresses more concern about the Tampa Bay Rays due to their competitiveness and strategic management, despite Toronto's respectable standings.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (08:00): “I worry about Tampa more than Toronto because Tampa always finds a way. They're very competitive. They're annoying.”

6. Strategy and Future Outlook

Alan Hahn emphasizes the importance of the Yankees addressing their offensive woes before the playoffs. He discusses the necessity for the team to optimize their batting strategies and capitalize on their pitching strengths to overcome postseason challenges.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (09:36): “In a playoff series, it's going to be about your ability to know every weakness of every battery and how can I exploit it. The Yankees are showing their flaws in their lineup, which is dangerous.”

7. Listener Interaction: Trade Deadline and Playoff Adjustments

Listener Dennis proposes extending the MLB trade deadline to better accommodate playoff team acquisitions. The hosts debate the feasibility of such a proposal, considering salary caps and team finances.

Notable Quote:
Dennis (13:39): “I think they need to incorporate a playoff deadline where only players that are about to be a free agent can get picked up by a playoff team.”

8. Comparative Analysis with Other Sports Leagues

The hosts compare MLB’s current strategies with those of the NHL and NBA, discussing how different leagues handle mid-season trades and salary caps. They explore the potential advantages and drawbacks of adopting similar models in baseball.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn (22:09): “The NHL has ways to circumvent the salary cap if you've got an injured player. It's not like they broke any rules, but people are quick to jump.”

9. Closing Remarks and Future Discussions

As the episode wraps up, the hosts briefly touch upon upcoming topics, including free agency and team management strategies, setting the stage for future episodes.

Notable Quote:
Don La Greca (25:35): “Talk to you guys tomorrow at 3 here on ESPN New York.”

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Key Takeaways:

• Yankees' Offensive Struggles: The team's batting performance, especially with runners in scoring positions, is a significant concern that could impact their postseason success.

• Pitching Stability: Despite offensive issues, the Yankees' starting pitching remains strong, providing a silver lining for the team.

• Competitors to Watch: Tampa Bay Rays pose a formidable challenge due to their consistency and management, more so than the Toronto Blue Jays.

• Scheduling Challenges: Extreme weather conditions and tight scheduling could wear down the Yankees, affecting their performance in crucial games.

• Trade Deadline Proposal: Listener suggestions for extending the trade deadline to better position playoff teams bring forth debates on feasibility and league regulations.

Conclusion

In "Hour 4: Yankee Concerns," Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg provide an in-depth analysis of the New York Yankees' current season, highlighting both strengths and vulnerabilities. Their discussion offers valuable insights into the team's potential trajectory as they navigate the remainder of the regular season and approach the playoffs. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the Yankees' performance, backed by expert opinions and statistical analysis.

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Find More Episodes:
Catch more discussions with Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg on ESPN New York App, your smart speakers, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the dime Han, Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don La Greca]

I don't think this would be one of the ones that I would have on my list. What do you think?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I know this is later on.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but she's got to keep up with everything.

[Alan Hahn]

Is this like from the Stella Got Her Groove Back soundtrack kind of days? Maybe like, this is from like that time, right?

[Ty Butler]

That's a good pull. I think it might be a little later than that.

[Alan Hahn]

Is it later than.

[Ty Butler]

Yeah, because I feel like it was like late.

[Alan Hahn]

There was a time in the early night, early to late 90s where these. These kind of movies were coming out where it's like, you know, woman, woman gets done wrong by a guy, goes on her revenge tour, like that kind of stuff. There was a couple movies like that.

[Don La Greca]

But that was the big woman Stella got a group.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that movie.

[Don La Greca]

That was a big deal.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, that the. The Mercedes goes on fire.

[Don La Greca]

You just like, yeah, it's.

[Alan Hahn]

Damn, that's a Mercedes. Like, don't do that to my car.

[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

The crowd at the beach bash this. Well, that was really good.

[Don La Greca]

Only one local in action. The Yankees are up north taking on the Blue Jays at 7:07. Mets are off tomorrow. They'll start a series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature at Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, enjoy Tullamore due responsibly. You know, the Yankees had A weekend, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, they did.

[Don La Greca]

They took two out of three, as you should against the lousy A's team. But you know what, the Mets had a lousy Pirate team and got outscored 30 to 4. But now they get a little bit of a test here with the Blue Jays because the Blue Jays are one of those teams that's kind of hanging around I a lot of times because you get, I do have some fans up in Canada because of my hockey work that get on me about me always just not really believing in the Blue Jays. I just whenever they need to come up big, they never do. But you take a look at the standings in Toronto's, you know, they're three back, they're 45 and 38. They've been five and five that have been played. They've been playing okay, but it's a nice test. Tampa's kind of hanging around. So the Yankees, the one thing you could say about this little spurt that they've been on as far as like negativity is concerned, they haven't been able to distance themselves away from teams. I think they're clearly better than, you know, Red Sox since trading Devers, they're done. They're eight out. Orioles have just never been able to gain any traction at all. So it's really a three team race. I think the Yankees are going to win it, but I've been saying that and yet they have been able to get that gap going. So we'll see what they can do. With his four game set against Toronto and just a reminder for Yankee fans because maybe you missed this because it's game two of the series. Tomorrow's game is at three o' clock because it's Canada Day. So that's their Fourth of July up there. So that's a three o' clock start tomorrow. So don't be. You might be surprised by that because usually it's travel day but they're not going anywhere. So Michael's going to be off. I believe Jake Aspen is going to be filling in for Michael Tomorrow from 1 to 3.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don La Greca]

So pay attention to that. But just listen. You, you watched the series this weekend. Any takeaways from the Yankees?

[Alan Hahn]

It just continue. Like you talk about the Mets and their inability with runners in scoring position. That seems to be the Yankee issue as well. Joel Sherman had a great column about the offensive woes and how they just continue to. They're, you know, again, you can tell me all you want. Oh, but they're a really good team and they're not going to get challenged and they're still in first place and all those things. And I can tell you that's fine. I don't like the way it looks. Right. And those are the things when you are looking at a team that you say I can see them being there in October, but the response after that is and I can see them having this same problem in October which means they'll lose in a series. Why? Here's all you need to know. So they that Saturday game was ugly against a bad A's team that doesn't have great pitching. And you went over 15 with men on base 0 for 5 was runners in scoring position over the this is. This is Joel Sherman. Over the last 15 games the Yankees are hitting 189 with men on base and 142 when they're in scoring position. 15 games. But like the June has been they have fallen off in June. They're pitching, believe it or not, they're starting. Pitching has actually been pretty good. Their offense has gone into the tank and that you worry about. And I said this earlier in the show, Aaron Judge has had a prolific season. Once again, he is probably your number one choice for AL MVP as we're at the halfway point of the season. He should win MVP again. And it's really when he's good, the offense is good. When he is just has a game or two where he's not good, their offense goes in the tank. It's a problem. You worry about it in a playoff series.

[Don La Greca]

No, you're right. Thank you. Because I don't think you worry about in the regular season even though it's only a game and a half lead over Tampa. And Tampa has a tendency not to go away. But I thought Michael brought up a great point about a week ago on his show. We forget they're playing down in Tampa at the Yankees spring training facility, Steinbrenner Field. So no dome. They're going to have to play excruciatingly hot weather. They're going to have rain delays, rain out a lot of double headers. That is eventually going to exhaust.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not great for pitching. Right.

[Don La Greca]

We'll see. Listen, if we if we fast forward to the end of the week, Alan, and if Toronto sweeps the Yankees, then I guess that's a problem. But who do you are you afraid of?

[Alan Hahn]

Is it Tampa?

[Don La Greca]

Is it Toronto? Is it Detroit in the playoffs? Like really as much as you have concerns about the Yankees, what team do you worry about?

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I'm glad You brought up the weather thing. Now, if you're the. I'm going to look as a habit if I'm Major League Baseball. Okay. They did do this. I thought so. If I'm Major League Baseball and you know, Tampa's only doing this because something happened to their stadium that was out of their control. Right. The hurricane hit, blew the roof off the stadium. They had nowhere to play. So I would say in the worst months, weather wise of the year, we're gonna put you on the road. So in the month of July, if you look here, they have two, four, they have eight home games. Everything else is on the road. They're in Minnesota, they're in Detroit, they're in Boston. Then there's All Star break. Then they're. You're in Cincinnati and you're in New York. Their only home games are right now versus the Athletics. Right. That's what you have right now. Then after the All Star break, they got the Orioles for three over a weekend at home. That's like the 18th to the 20th, you know, that's Prime Minister 9901 heavy humidity. Right. Then they got the White Sox for three. So there are six straight games. @ home is the most they're going to play at home.

[Don La Greca]

Any day. Games?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Wednesday's a day game. That's a getaway. Sunday, the 20th, noon. Yikes. And everything else is at night. So two games that they have to play day. That's it. If you think about it, it's only two. That's. If you're the league, you should have done this. It's the right thing to do.

[Don La Greca]

The right thing to do.

[Alan Hahn]

So the theory about the Rays playing at home in July is a bit like. But I wouldn't look too much into that because they're really not.

[Don La Greca]

But do you worry about Tampa or Toronto? Like, I need to know.

[Alan Hahn]

I worry about Tampa more than Toronto because Tampa. I know, they always find a way. They're very competitive. They're annoying. Obviously, they have a terrific manager like that. I do think there's something more to be said about that. Even August, Donnie, they're not home a lot in August either.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that also hurts them, too. All right, so now that the league did the right thing by having them play on the road September, but now.

[Alan Hahn]

They'Re playing on the road home the whole month.

[Don La Greca]

All right, so if they're still around in September, that's going to be a big time advantage. They're going to be home.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

And that's going to really help them as Far as like moving forward, something.

[Alan Hahn]

Keep in mind with the race.

[Don La Greca]

I hate to get on you when you want to complain about the Yankees because I do admit there are things to complain about, but I just don't see it affecting them in the regular season. I still think they're going to win this division. All right, maybe, maybe the Tigers are going to be a bit of an issue, but, you know, once you get to the playoffs, even when they win 110 games, Alan, you worry about this offense disappearing. So they've shown. Why can't I? Well, let's play glass half full, all right? Isn't it better that it's happening now? Because now you can take a look, maybe make a move or two or these guys get hot at the right time because that's what. Nobody wants to talk about this, but baseball's becoming like hockey in basketball, especially like hockey, where you know what, as long as I'm healthy and hot at the right time, I can make a run. And if I'm not, all of a sudden, let's see if the bats go cold like they did in the middle of last year, like they did over the last couple of weeks. Best of five series, best of seven series, you're cooked, you're out, you're done. You know, so they can pitch their way through a lot of this, but these bats are going to have to come alive. If you're relying on Judge and Judge is going to bat.203 in the postseason, then it's going to be very difficult to make a run again.

[Alan Hahn]

Bats come alive is one thing, but also showing your flaws in your lineup where the opposing pitchers that you see, like when you are struggling, that's just building up a lot of tape and a lot of scattering. Report that when you get into a series, when it's one team versus the other team and I have my pitching set up to take on your, your offense, it's all going to be about that. The ability to know every weakness of every battery and how can I exploit it. And when you have the weaknesses of this Yankee lineup has. It gets dangerous. And that to me becomes the biggest. The biggest concern for me is that now again, their starting pitching has been pretty good. You know, I mean, Clark Schmidt comes off a no hitter and then he comes out of it and he gets kind of knocked around a little bit in the next outing, which that's what they were worried about, is wearing him out. In fact, I think believe they gave him an extra day. But the pitching has been fine. It has been more about how the offense has been, has been nowhere. Their runners and scoring position stuff is really stands out to me because of the fact that I don't think they know how to play. Put the ball in play and get them, get the runners moving. No, it doesn't feel like they don't. And it drives you crazy because to me, don't you think in a playoff series when the opponent knows, I'm never going to play that way.

[Don La Greca]

See that?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm never going to go oppo. I'm never going to try to like, just put one in the gap. They don't do that.

[Don La Greca]

And by the way, Anthony Pusick reminds us that the schedule came out last July, so they just got lucky.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, wow. All right.

[Don La Greca]

So. Well, let's not give Major League baseball that much credit.

[Alan Hahn]

That's crazy. You're.

[Don La Greca]

You're talking about that way, struggling with small ball. They don't want to play it. Michael brought up all the time, he talked to Aaron Boone saying, why are you relying on the home runs? He's like, take a look at it. You scored just as many runs on off of home runs in the postseason as you do during the regular season. This is how they're built. This is the way they want to play.

[Alan Hahn]

But you face better pitching.

[Don La Greca]

I know. They know that. They know that pitchers, they don't want to do it in the postseason. They don't want to do it. They don't believe that that's the best way to win. And they came away going to the World Series last year.

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

See mintmobile.com Dennis in North Carolina. You're on ESPN New York.

[Dennis]

Hey guys, I got a little bit of a weird scenario. I know that the MLB baseball trade deadline ends at the end of July and that leaves two months of regular season baseball. I think they need to incorporate a playoff deadline where only players that are about to be a free agent can get picked up by a playoff team. Maybe like limited to one or two free agents for a team. You know, the Dodgers might go crazy and outspend everyone, get every guy, but I don't know, something different like that where. And then also some, something for the benefit, some way to benefit the team that's given up the player too. Maybe they get something in return.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know how you can make this work, Dennis, when you have the 3 threshold, the luxury tax, because all that is just regular season. So we were talking about Vegas and Tampa and Florida and the NHL circumventing the salary cap because there's no cap in the postseason. So they could take a player that's on injured reserve, bring him back for the postseason and not count towards the cap. So you're just going to tell the Dodgers they can trade for somebody and not have it hurt them. As far as the threshold is concerned, you could complain if you want to say, maybe the deadline should be August 31, especially with the extra playoff teams. Give teams time to decide whether they're in or out.

[Alan Hahn]

In or out.

[Don La Greca]

Do you realize it wasn't that. Well, it was a long time ago. But in our lifetime, the trade deadline was June 15th.

[Alan Hahn]

Crazy.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, think about that. That's how ridiculous. Like, you didn't even know where you were at.

[Alan Hahn]

But remember, though, there was also very few opportunities to make the playoffs. By a lot of times, by June, you kind of knew what you had. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Because he only had the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

There's the argument of this. I want the trade deadline early so I can make a decision with my, like, I can add a piece and then have, like, work it in, like, not. I'm adding a piece. If you had an August 31, August 31, or August 15, what'd you want to do?

[Don La Greca]

If I wanted to make it, maybe I'd go to the 15th.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know.

[Don La Greca]

If I go to August 31st, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That'S probably too late. But August 15th, you're adding a piece that now has very little time to acclimate. Right. And so that feels more like you're throwing a guy into a situation and then just hoping it works versus if I get more time, I can get acclimated, I start to get comfortable. And now by the time the playoffs come around, I feel like, all right, I'm here. I've been here.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, see that, that's a good point. Just to throw in a player, like, for the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I agree with, with, like, if you think about it, in the NBA, it's. It's two thirds the league now.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. So, you know, yeah, you're right. It's a lot different than it was back in the day when it was only four teams that made the playoffs, you know, two in each league.

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[Don La Greca]

It's the Smuckers Uncrustables podcast. With your host, Uncrustables. Okay, today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome crust. Thanks for having me. Today's topic, he's round with soft pillowy bread. Hey. Filled with delicious PB and J. Are you talking about yourself? And you can take him anywhere. Why'd you invite. And we are out of time. Are you really cutting me off? Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich. Sorry, Crust.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don La Greca]

Coming up at 7 o' clock, it's Ty Butler filling in for Dan Grasso. The Mets are off, so that frees up some radio for Ty. It was great to see you on Friday at the Beach Bash. Looking good, man.

[Ty Butler]

Man, I was very impressed with the performance and I don't know if you heard me talk about it yesterday, but School of Rock's one of my favorite all time movies.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, great movie.

[Ty Butler]

I think we could slide you in if you. Jack Black just decides like Part two. He wants no part of like. You'd make an excellent.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? I never. Ty, that's such a great comp that I never really thought of, but Don McGre in School of Rock Part 2, how about that? That would be a seamless fit.

[Ty Butler]

Jumping into the crowd, taking his shirt off, the solos.

[Alan Hahn]

Fantastic.

[Ty Butler]

Now, we've never seen you with like a full band, so I don't know if like how that works, but yeah, man, I loved it.

[Don La Greca]

Well, thank you. I really appreciate that. And I know you were appreciating our conversation about like, I guess degrees of championship is the way to put it. And of course LeBron James isn't coming here, but if he were to come here and help the Knicks win a championship, of course you're not going to kick it aside. Knick fans haven't seen a championship in their lifetime. And the ones that are old enough, they got to go back to 1973. But wouldn't it hit a little different tie to you if your first championship in your lifetime would be all about LeBron James and his legacy and how he slayed the dragon. And the Knicks, who would win their first championship in 52 years, would be like a bit player, a role player in the whole thing? That wouldn't bother you if you're a.

[Ty Butler]

Knick fan, Don, There were knick fans on 7th Avenue celebrating getting to the conference finals. Like the idea that I would just, you know, dismiss LeBron coming here and winning a championship because it, you know, it removes Brunson being the face of it. It's just lunacy. That's crazy.

[Don La Greca]

Well, I'm not. Again. I'm not. Again, people have said taint or tarnish or as you said, I'm dismissing again. You take it. You have to take it.

[Ty Butler]

I don't care about how it hits, man. I just want to win. I understand, but I'm actually disappointed more in the Met. Take that you had, too. Like, with the, you know, we bought a championship. Who the hell cares, dog? It's been 86.

[Don La Greca]

I know you saw it, but I just. I just. I just find it, like. So, like, here's a guy sitting on $16 billion. None of that money has anything to do with the Mets or their success or how many tickets they sell or how many jerseys they sell. He's sitting on $16 billion, has just lost $200 million with a franchise. So it has nothing to do with. With his team making money, and he just decides, I'm just gonna throw another 50 million. $50 million.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

I would take it because I haven't seen a championship since 1986, but I would like to know that my team did it, were the best at it. They had the best GM and the best coach and the best managers and the best player. Or just happen to have the richest owner.

[Alan Hahn]

Usually the richest owner. That's a pretty good owner to have. That means you can go out and get what's needed to win a championship, which in the end, is all that anybody really wants to do.

[Ty Butler]

And Don, those things aren't mutually exclusive. Just because you have an owner willing to spend doesn't diminish how great your gym is. Like, look at the Dodgers and the Yankees, like, how much money they support. Dodgers obviously won last year.

[Alan Hahn]

How about this tie? When Steve Cohen first came in, what did he do? Scherzer and Verlander, disaster. That was a mistake. And he learned from that. Oh, I can't just go get just to throw money at guys with brand names. I got to do this the smart way. And that's when Stearns came in and started doing it his way. So I do think the money makes the GM better. That's a real thing.

[Don La Greca]

Again, listen. And I've seen tons of teams, including the New York Mets, spend a bunch of money and it not work out. You're right. Padres.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, listen to these Mets is the best story, right?

[Don La Greca]

Because of Saber, Hagen and Coleman and Bonilla. They just they spent the money wrong. But it just, it's interesting to me that I know you're not a big hockey guy, but the NHL has a salary cap, and there's ways to circumvent the salary cap if you've got an injured player. All right, well, just don't play him in the regular season, making sure he comes back for the postseason where there's no salary cap. And at the trade deadline, go load up, and then you'll have more players than you would have otherwise if your player had been healthy. And people jump and go, oh, Tampa and Florida and Vegas circumvented the salary gap. They didn't break any rules, but people are always quick to jump. Oh, they found a loophole. Well, that's kind of like finding a loophole. So, no, I'm not going to kick it out of bed, don't get me wrong. But at the same time, you know, when I see the way that the Thunder did it, or if I see a smaller market team, you know, win, you could say, boy, that just hits a little different to me. Knowing that they use their smarts and their abilities to work through it instead of just throwing money at the problem.

[Ty Butler]

You know this better than me. Sports have always been about competitive advantages gained, whether it's through finances. If the Lakers win the title with Luka, they're capitalizing on maybe the dumbest trade in NBA history. Should I push it back in the table? Say, man, you know, we didn't deserve them. No, I just want to win that.

[Alan Hahn]

That Lakers with Kobe was no good because the Gasoltre should have never happened.

[Don La Greca]

No, no, no, listen, you always take advantage of the stupidity of other people. That, that's, that's being smart, being smarter than another general manager. That's part of winning a championship. Right? So. But. And if the Yankees outspend everybody else, it's like, hey, because we, we draw 50,000 fans and, and yes, Prince money. Because we're the New York Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

That's not why the Mets would have it. It's just they happen to have an owner that has $16 billion burning a hole in his pocket, and he just lost $200 million on the franchise.

[Ty Butler]

Any.

[Don La Greca]

I'll do whatever the hell I want to, Ty.

[Alan Hahn]

How about that?

[Don La Greca]

How about that?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, what about this, though, Ty? Because I'm sure tonight, with the NBA trade deadline now underway, a lot could happen. Quiet right now, but there's a lot of action for you to be paying attention to on your show tonight.

[Ty Butler]

Oh, with the free agent, I thought you were going to ask a question. Yeah, man, I'm excited.

[Alan Hahn]

You got a lot of. I'm wondering if there's something in mind that you're watching, watching carefully.

[Ty Butler]

Well, listen, Ian Begley's going to join us in the 8 o' clock. We're monitoring the Knicks head coach situation. Free agency, I don't know. Like, because of the, the Knicks and their financial, you know, restrictions. They're not going to be a big player, though. The Russell Westbrook thing didn't work with Kawhi, didn't work with the Yokage, didn't work with LeBron. Yeah, it'll work here in New York. It'll work here in New York. Let's get excited about that. Come on, y' all.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually, they loved him in Denver. I don't think it was a bad thing there.

[Ty Butler]

Did they win with Russell Westbrook or Thunder to seven? Or did we see a missed layup on loop because he lost him a game that they desperately needed late in the season?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, look, you're asking me two questions. Do you. Do I love it? I don't love it. No. I like veterans off my bench, but I don't love it. Him and Jordan Clarkson, like, is this what we're doing? Like, that's, that's what it sounds like.

[Ty Butler]

I'm sorry, I'm not, I'm not signing up for that if I'm Leon Rose.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you signing up, are you signing up for Mike Brown as your head.

[Ty Butler]

Coach, I take it? I mean, listen, 2007 did happen, right?

[Alan Hahn]

He don't cut into your time.

[Don La Greca]

Have a great show, buddy.

[Ty Butler]

Great stuff, guys.

[Don La Greca]

Talk to you guys tomorrow at 3 here on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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.