Hour 4: Yankees Offseason Plans

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Yankees Offseason Plans

Date: November 22, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode focuses on the New York Yankees’ offseason strategy, with hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg analyzing current roster moves, free agency challenges, trade rumors, and structural concerns around the team’s competitiveness for the upcoming season. The conversation includes critical takes on management decisions, speculation about high-profile player moves, and broader Major League Baseball (MLB) trends affecting the Yankees and their city rivals, the Mets.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees’ Offseason Priorities

[00:43 - 01:39]

• Brian Cashman’s Update:
  • Cashman outlines that regaining outfield certainty and replenishing the roster after significant free-agent departures (notably Bellinger) remains the front office’s top concern. Talks are underway with agents Scott Boras and Casey Close, exploring both trades and free agency.
  • Quote:

    “The team that we had last year, which was really good on paper but fell short of our ultimate goal, is now depleted because of free agency. So we got to find a way to at least get back to where we were. But the ultimate goal is to make it better.” — Brian Cashman ([01:22])

2. Roster Moves and Minor Contract Details

[01:48 - 02:36]

• Departures and Arbitration:
  • The Yankees part ways with pitchers Mark Lighter Jr., Ian Hamilton, Scott Effross, and Jake Cousins.
  • One-year deals to avoid arbitration are granted to Clark Schmidt and Oswaldo Cabrera, with surprise voiced at Cabrera’s cheap, utility-man agreement.

3. The Grisham Move and Outfield Questions

[03:00 - 03:35]

• Fan Discontent:

  • Rosenberg notes confusion among fans about prioritizing Trent Grisham, suggesting it may block playing time for younger outfield prospects (Dominguez, Jones).
  • Quote:

    “I found it interesting the comments about like celebrating getting Grisham back when the fan base is like, what are you doing? You're landlocking two of your young star outfielders...” — Peter Rosenberg ([03:01])

• Bellinger's Likely Departure:

  • There’s an undertone that Cody Bellinger is as good as gone, given Cashman's comments and general tone.

4. Trade Rumor Mill: Corey Seeger Speculation

[03:52 - 05:05]

• Seeger to NY?
  • A speculative discussion arises about Corey Seeger, who, per some rumors, could be available from Texas. The hosts dissect the context: Seeger’s no-trade clause, willingness for a move, and fit with the Yankees.
  • Rosenberg and Hahn debate if acquiring a superstar shortstop like Seeger justifies letting Bellinger leave.
  • Memorable Moment: Peter physically reacts (“rubbing his eyes”) at the depth of hypotheticals being explored ([05:03]).

5. Cashman on Outfield Competition

[05:42 - 06:13]

• Outfield Options:
  • Cashman states the team plans to let young prospects Dominguez and Spencer Jones compete alongside Grisham and Judge, with the option to make further moves if the right trade or signing arises.
  • Quote:

    “Worst case scenario, those two kids fight it out and may the best person win.” — Brian Cashman ([06:11])

6. Bellinger and the Mets: What Should the Mets Do?

[08:29 - 10:53]

• Mets’ Big-Game Hunting:
  • Talk shifts to the Mets’ own ambitions, with Rosenberg emphatically saying yes to the idea of signing Bellinger and Scubal, signaling a strategy of pushing “all in” for the upcoming season.
  • Speculation over possible changes to the Mets’ core, with moves involving Pete Alonso (“the polar bear”) and possible involvement of Soto, Lindor, and Nimmo.
  • Quote:

    “This core has not proven to you that it's championship worthy for an entire season.” — Peter Rosenberg ([10:08])

7. Pitching Staff Uncertainty and Injury Concerns

[11:02 - 13:09]

• Cashman’s Cautious Outlook:

  • The Yankees have pitching vulnerabilities due to Cole and Rodón’s recoveries, possibly out until May. Cashman highlights organizational pitching depth but admits rotation needs “fortifying.”
  • Hahn queries the severity and expected timeline of the injuries.

• Trade Targets & Contract Situations:

  • Scubal is discussed as a possible high-risk, short-term addition, akin to the Soto situation—underpinning the uncertainty in the coming market climate (potential labor stoppage, new cap rules).
  • Hahn foresees MLB possibly introducing an amnesty or buyout provision to address long-term, unwieldy contracts should a hard salary cap arrive.

8. Seeger’s Durability & Volpe’s Future

[16:14 - 17:12]

• Player Availability:
  • The hosts double-click on Seeger’s injury history (rarely reaching 140+ games/year) and weigh whether the Yankees should move on from Anthony Volpe at shortstop.
  • Quote:

    “At some point you've got to... spit or get off the puck.” — Don Hahn ([17:06])

• Yankees’ Early-Season Depth Puzzle:
  • They explore the dilemma: should the Yankees “overload” on pitching to start the season or rely on offense to tread water until the staff is healthy? Reference to injury-prone, rotating cast points to early setbacks but late-season advantage.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Yankees’ “Certainty” in Outfield

  “Now we have a lot more certainty. And so I can play with making even more certainty by bringing another free agent. If we can find the matches we want or a trade...” — Brian Cashman ([05:55])

• Debate on Seeger’s Fit and Health

  “He’ll fit right in... He hasn’t had a—he had 151 games that first year in Texas, and then 95 the last in Dallas... Availability is an issue.” — Peter Rosenberg & Don Hahn ([16:21])

• Yankees’ Roster Philosophy and Unsettled Future

  “Are you as a Met fan saying, go get him, Bellinger?” — Don Hahn ([08:29])
  “At the end of the day, it’s... still a toilet, right?” — Don Hahn, on selling gold toilets/fan priorities ([08:54])

• On Mets’ Instability

  “There has not been a lot of stability with this team. 101 wins, then you finish with 90 losses the next year...” — Peter Rosenberg ([10:08])

• On Salary Cap & Contract Amnesty

  “I still think MLB, if they’re going to do a salary cap, especially a hard cap, you have to do an amnesty provision that gets you out of at least one massive contract...” — Don Hahn ([13:09])

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Important Timestamps

• Main Yankees offseason priorities and Cashman’s state of play: [00:43 - 01:39]
• Roster departures, arbitration notes: [01:48 - 02:36]
• Trent Grisham controversy / fan reaction: [03:00 - 03:35]
• Corey Seeger rumor breakdown: [03:52 - 05:05]
• Cashman on outfield plan: [05:42 - 06:13]
• Mets free agent strategy/Bellinger: [08:29 - 10:53]
• Yankees pitching depth and injury report: [11:02 - 13:09]
• Discussion of Seeger’s durability and Volpe’s future: [16:14 - 17:12]

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The Episode’s Tone & Style

The hosts combine hard-nosed New York sports skepticism with playful, sarcastic jabs, especially regarding management “spin” and perennial woes of both city franchises. There’s a strong undercurrent of fan perspective and frustration, sharpened by Rosenberg’s directness, Hahn’s sportswriter’s knowledge, and La Greca’s classic broadcaster demeanor.

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Episode Summary:

With an uncertain roster and pressing injuries, the Yankees’ offseason narrative is marked by fan discontent, trade speculation, and the financial/labor climate’s looming unpredictability. Critical points include whether the outfield can reach championship caliber, if the franchise should gamble on a big Seeger deal, and how both the Yankees and Mets will use their financial pull to solve persistent instability. The episode closes with Knicks talk, but the focus is squarely on the unpredictable baseball landscape this winter.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

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

[Brian Cashman]

Oh, yeah, baby. All right. Well, Brian Cashman spoke to Michael K. And Cash was asked what's the biggest priority this offseason.

[Michael Kay]

You know, it depends. First order of business, we got Grisham in the fold. One of our big hitters and defenders is back. So that solves one area of our needs. But we have two big important free agents that left us. Christian was one. Bellinger is another. We'd love to have Bellinger come back. Talked to Scott Borish yesterday about Belly and other free agents of his. I talked to Casey Close today about his free agents. He's got Kyle Tucker, amongst others. So that's the nature of the beast and the winner. You play it out. You talk to the different teams. I had several conversations with teams today. Try to find a way either make a trade or add a free agent and keep going and keep going and keep going. So the team that we had last year, which was really good on paper but fell short of our ultimate goal, is now depleted because of free agency. So we got to find a way to at least get back to where we were. But the ultimate goal is to make it better. So got a lot more work to do and the whole winter to do it.

[Brian Cashman]

Apologies, that was not to Michael K. That was while sleeping in Times Square.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, he was doing his annual.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sleeping in Times Square.

[Don Hahn]

Well, but it's obviously for the homeless, I think. Yeah. Now it's slipping my mind. I feel terrible because it's a very good charity. No, it is, but so the Yankees. So there's going to be obvious changes. As you know, they always happen every year. But some names to move on from. One is Mark Lighter Jr. So like him. Ian Hamilton, Scott Efros, believe it or not, he was still on the team. Never saw him pitch. Jake Cousins, all these guys are now moving on but they did, they did agree to one year deals to avoid arbitration with 2. Clark Schmidt, not a surprise, right? No, but Oswaldo Cabrera was that a surprise. Now it's very cheap. It's like a, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that's why.

[Don Hahn]

But he was utility guy. But yeah, it's Covenant House. That's what it. Well, I, I'm sorry. No, it's a very good charity and I feel terrible for that. But it is obviously the Covenant House is for homelessness and to bring awareness to the fact that we have a major problem in the city with homelessness, of course, and especially when it comes to young adults.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I found it interesting the comments about like celebrating getting Grisham back when the fan base is like, what are you doing? You're landlocking, you know, two of your young star outfielders for a guy that I think everybody collectively believes just had a career year and isn't going to do it again and you're going to pay him over $22 million for the, the pleasure of that.

[Brian Cashman]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but he made it seem like, hey, we got him back and, and boy, it might just be him talking just the way he talked. Didn't it seem, just based on his tone, the Bellinger's gone.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, it does sound like that because that's why they're, they're seeing opportunity for, you know, Spencer Jones and Ford Dominguez that they, they, there isn't a door closed on those guys. But did you see the rumors with Corey Seeger?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So there was a, there was something put out by, by, by a Texas Rangers reporter that Corey Seeger could be had and it's been shot down by others saying there's no chance that's happening. But boy, if the Yankees would make a move like that, which I, he has a no trade, you would expect he would wave it for the Yankees, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, if I'm not mistaken, the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Are not on his preferred teams.

[Nick from Bayside]

I believe he's not, they're not on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The list of don't trade me to this team.

[Nick from Bayside]

Okay, so he can be traded.

[Don Hahn]

So this, it's all right. That's a semantic thing. But then you obviously with the Anthony Volpe situation, you just kind of like say okay, we can move on from Volpe because it does. It did feel like last season of the Yankees were pretty close to changing their tune on that because only two years ago Brian Cashman was being very combative in his defensive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Volpe. Right.

[Don Hahn]

But with. If a guy like Seeger's available, do you Say then about Bellinger now I'll sacrifice Bellinger for a move to bring in a guy like Corey Seeger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the interesting thing, I love that.

[Don Hahn]

Peter's rubbing his eyes.

[Brian Cashman]

So I don't. I told you, I don't feel great today. This isn't an indictment.

[Don Hahn]

It's just. It's the visual, that's all.

[Brian Cashman]

No, I'm sure the timing of that, that's funny. Said Corey Seeger. And you just see my glasses go.

[Don Hahn]

You just went, oh, my God, we're going. We're going deep into the weeds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But correct me if I'm wrong, but.

[Brian Cashman]

I don't get it.

[Don Hahn]

It's. It's sleepy time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, Bobos, it's.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's no longer laugh time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, if I'm not mistaken, Corey Seeger was one of the shortstops that the Yankees could have had, but they didn't get them because of alt becoming.

[Brian Cashman]

Did you say Yankees outfield? Real quick, let's just hear from Cashman hinting on what the outfield could look like next year.

[Michael Kay]

Now, instead of being the two outfielders down, you know, we have the kids, Jason Dominguez and Spencer Jones competing and we have Grisham and we have Judge. Before that there was, you know, it was just Judge and the two kids, which was a lot of uncertainty. Now we have a lot more certainty. And so I can play with making even more certainty by bringing another free agent. If we can find the matches we want or a trade or if not, the fallback would be those. Worst case scenario, those two kids fight it out and may the best person win.

[Don Hahn]

So that's the new play it out music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow. I like this some, you know, change it up a little bit, right?

[Don Hahn]

I do like this actually. If it's a really boring cut and.

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[Don Hahn]

Now, Don, if, if that's the case, are you as a Met fan saying, go get him, Bellinger?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

So Bellinger and Scubal, that sets chips to the middle of the table, get all in. And Cohen's money's on the table. And he's got it. He just sold a golden toilet. He's got plenty of money. 12 million he got for this toilet. Golden toilet. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At the end of the day, it's.

[Don Hahn]

Still a toilet, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's gold million. But it's gone.

[Don Hahn]

And if you're rich enough to put money finds toilet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Peter, you know, listen, you want, you, you want to change the kind of vibe of this team, but there's only so much you can do and you still want to try to be competitive. You bring in Bellinger, you're bringing school, you're, you're, you're, you're going to be competitive and you still have.

[Don Hahn]

And the expectations now go through the roof again, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, exactly. Especially with these kids that got called up at the End of last year, me and McLean still there. Now you got to probably replace Diaz because it looks like he may be gone, especially if the Dodgers are putting their toe in the water on him.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, you know, Bellinger would be a huge addition for them, and maybe that allows them to part ways with, you know, a couple of. A couple of different things that you could move. Right.

[Don Hahn]

Because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the feeling is the polar bear can now go and Bellinger can now become the big bad to replace him with Soto. Whitland door, maybe Nimmo gets moved. That's been, you know, bandied about, too. But it feels like they want to.

[Don Hahn]

Change out some of the pieces of the core from the team that gave you about a half. A half season worth of a fun run. But for the majority of the last two years, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, you just said it. You just said it. It was a half year of a fun run. Yeah, right. There has not been a lot of stability with this team. 101 wins, then you finish with 90 losses the next year, then you come back and you have, you know, a miserable start to the season, but then you get hot and you take a run to game six in the league championship series and you follow that up with a, you know, a very average season. So this core has not proven to you that it's championship worthy for an entire season. They made. They made one little run, but you could talk about the Rangers making runs, right? And what did that matter? At the end of the day, they're kind of at that crossroads, but there's pieces you can't move. Soto's not going anywhere. Lindor's not going anywhere. So those are. Those are two really good players that you want to build around and you can't.

[Don Hahn]

Those are givens. You're not moving them.

[Brian Cashman]

Let's see if this worries you. Alan. Here's Cashman being asked, will you add an arm?

[Michael Kay]

Nobody necessarily specifically, but yes, we have concerns. Our rotations on paper are going to be really good when healthy. We start the season with Rodin and Cole recovering from their surgeries, so they won't start probably till May. And because of that, obviously there's some vulnerability in the front end of the season with that. So if I can fortify the rotation a little bit and you want to make sure the other guys stay healthy, that's always a risk. We got some good young pups pushing up, so you saw what Cam Schlitler did. But we got other guys behind the scenes that they are making a name for themselves. ERC Lalanae to name a few. But ultimately I think yes. Important pitching both on the rotation and the Bullet and we lost Weaver and Devin Wayne what was see and those guys were.

[Don Hahn]

It definitely got to play out.

[Michael Kay]

Those are Bednar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we got a lot of.

[Michael Kay]

We got a lot of.

[Don Hahn]

You can go ahead. I. I need to hear again what he said about Cole and Rodon and May. Was he saying wouldn't be available till May or wouldn't start ramping up to play till May?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I think he said available till May. I mean, I don't know why Cole would be that long. He missed all of last year. So I would think he'd be back by May maybe. Or Don different. I don't love that.

[Brian Cashman]

No, none of that Cut sounded nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Nothing there is good. And again, Scuba could be available to the Yankees as well if they wanted to dabble, if they wanted to make that move and all that stuff. But that's a high risk of okay. Another it's a. It's a Soto situation. Again, you have him for a year and hope he wants to sign and hope you want to be able to afford to give him what you also are giving Freed and you got to give them more than freedom Coal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, just be careful. Like that's why school becomes interesting, right? Because it's only the year. Right. Because you're going to. You're going to have a possible work stoppage and we don't know what the climate's going to be financially in 2027. Is there going to be a cap like so you don't. You've got to. That's got to be considered too. And you wonder. Cashman usually is pretty forward thinking. Is he going to make sure that he's got some maneuverability in case something does come like that next off season where you. You're dropping a cap and you're gonna have to start moving some guys around.

[Don Hahn]

I still think mlb, if they're going to do a salary cap, especially a hard cap, you have to do an amnesty provision that gets you out of at least one massive contract or they have to have a grandfather situation. That that's why maybe this would be the year to sign. Get everybody now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what you're saying, like kind of like like a buyout situation where all right, you decide to buy out the last two years of Stanton's contract, it won't count towards the cap, but you're going to have to. You're still going to have to pay him.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course you double the term because that's what happened to Rick with the Islanders.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, you're gonna have to create something like that to get out a certain contract. And when you said that Stanton was the first one to pop into my.

[Don Hahn]

Mind, you're paying out of pocket. You're paying out of pocket, but it's not hurting you on right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the Yankee can do that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So I think that's probably why, if, if there is an opportunity, you might want to do it now, because you might never be able to do it again.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Brian Cashman]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just one great song after another. Consume this weekend, Peter. You'll enjoy.

[Brian Cashman]

I'm wanting to put you in a.

[Don Hahn]

Mood, that's for sure.

[Brian Cashman]

What album is this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ah, was this their second album? Believe it was.

[Brian Cashman]

Enjoy their work. A bigger fan than even realized, it seems. You know what I mean? It was from their third album.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm told the. The issue with Seeger Allen, 102 games last year. I know, 123 the year before. 119. Did leave the league in doubles, though.

[Don Hahn]

He'll fit right in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he hasn't had a, you know, he had 151 games that first year in Texas, you know, and then 95 the last in Dallas. I mean, because remember, he had the Tommy John surgery, like, so he's.

[Don Hahn]

I know availability is an issue. Yeah, yeah, it's fair. But he's an elite player on both, Both sides. Both. Both defensively and with the bat and Volpe right now. Right. Like he is. He really fell off last year. And how much are you willing to go through another year hoping that he can show you something? I mean, at some point you've got a. Yeah. Spit or get off the puck.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also not available at the beginning of the year. They're going to be a mass unit at the start of the season. Seriously, it's.

[Don Hahn]

It's like the pitching thing gonna wait until May. It's so interesting. Right. Like, think about it, Anthony. Now we're talking about this during the break. If, if you really want to go all in and get yourself another pitcher, you know, obviously Scuba would be the, the great move if you could do it. But now you're overloading yourself with starting pitching because you'll get everybody back. Because think about it. It's. It's going to be Freedom, Schlitler, Warren, Heel. Right. And then probably Ryan Yarborough as like the fifth guy because they signed him for another year. But once guys start coming back, you're not going to need Heel, you're not going to need Warren. You're expecting Schlitler, you hope will pick up where he left off and still be, you know, look like a guy that's going to become a dominant pitcher. But then by do. Are you healthy enough before the trade deadline to say, okay, we can move off a hill, we can move off a warrant, because you're gonna have all of a sudden this overload of starting pitching with guys who probably as starters aren't going to give you much in the bullpen. It's, it's a, it's a, It's a.

[Brian Cashman]

Weird place to be.

[Don Hahn]

Or do you invest in offense, which it doesn't sound like they're going to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

And just try to outscore your pitching until you get all your guys back?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or is it just, hey, we'll get off to a slow start. So what We've seen teams before, Mets, couple of years ago. Slow start. But then we'll get everybody back and we'll make a run.

[Don Hahn]

Now.

[Brian Cashman]

We started the day with Jackson Dart Talk, boys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure did, Jordan.

[Brian Cashman]

Ron on tweeting. My understanding after speaking to multiple sources is that Jackson Dart didn't have a setback. He's feeling better. He still participated in practice Friday on a limited basis. This decision was made by the doctors to play it safe with the young quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, that's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So if this game meant something, he might be playing.

[Brian Cashman]

That's what it sounds like. Or it's not necessarily a setback, but it's just been a slow. It could still mean it's been a slow progress to return back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's weird with concussions, right? Like, if it's a knee, all right, he can play with the pain. He can't damage it anymore. But concussions, he's getting there. I just don't like. Well, if it's an important game, he'd play well. Can he survive a hit? Kind of just.

[Nick from Bayside]

I don't know.

[Brian Cashman]

Well, remember this, Don. It'll help. Over the weekend, he cared for me to stop crying in the corner and start being funny on the show again, like little yo, yo, monkey boy. He wanted me to jump up and make the jokey, jokey so the people go, laugh time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm glad that wasn't taken from us, guys.

[Brian Cashman]

And before we close out tonight, how about a little game time brought to you by Tullamore. Do Irish whiskey.

[Don Hahn]

Because you did it again.

[Brian Cashman]

I did.

[Don Hahn]

It's funny, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Brian Cashman]

I really did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't notice. I'm sorry you're feeling under the weather, Peter. I know you sounded fine all day.

[Don Hahn]

I was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree.

[Don Hahn]

He, he. No, no. He told us all in the group chat. Sorry I'm not 100. Yeah. And all that stuff. And I'm like, I didn't notice. Did you notice?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Not fighting through it like a true Yankee.

[Brian Cashman]

God bless. Well, I'm not going to be like Michael K. Who if he doesn't feel good, shows up and tells everyone, you know, I shouldn't be here. I should be in an iron lung. But I'm here today. That's not me. But game time brought to you by Tullimore. Do Irish whiskey. Because when it's game time.

[Don Hahn]

I like when he holds it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's the. Yeah.

[Brian Cashman]

All we got is the Nets and the Celtics in the NBA cup.

[Don Hahn]

It's a complete crap.

[Brian Cashman]

Tullamore du the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's talk to have to win if they want any chance at the Cup.

[Brian Cashman]

You mentioned the Nets. How about the Knicks? Here's Nick and Bayside.

[Nick from Bayside]

What's up, Nick, Don, Han, Peter. Thank you guys for taking my call. Hey, I just wanted to bear with me because I'm stopping to get some female products from my wife here at Walgreens. So I got some good pick points, though. I got some good Nick points to make. So I want you to hear me out. So I don't know what's going on with the Knicks. The defense, obviously, as we all know, is just Swiss cheese lately, as our friend Clyde puts it. But the starters last the other night. They don't come back into the second quarter until a little less than six minutes to go. Mike Brown is playing Yabaselli. I know OG's out, but he's playing Yibacelli. Nine minutes in the first half, 17 minutes for the game. He's 0 for 5 from 3 point range. Those are 17 minutes that he could have easily spread around between Hart and Deuce and Clarkson. I'm not sure what he was thinking with that, but they got a gift last night. They got a gift the other night for that win with the refs and that miracle call. But they could easily be right now looking at 8 and 6 and be seventh in the Eastern Conference. Something needs to change. And I don't know what you guys think about this, but it's very concerning. As the Knicks fan, I really don't see them being higher than the fourth seed this year the way they're playing right now.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Nick from Bayside]

One last thing. If I could say, shout out to my friend Stephen Cunningham. He is a huge Ranger fan, but he is also soon to be father of. Of twin. Twin boys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, great.

[Nick from Bayside]

Thank you, guys.

[Brian Cashman]

There we go. Thank you, buddy.

[Don Hahn]

There's a lot there. Yabushelli's playing four or five position. He just named three guards that could have played instead of a four or five guy. So I, you know.

[Brian Cashman]

So you're done. What you're saying is you're good?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, there's a lot. There was a lot there that you don't remember from Billy Madison. You know, what you just said at.

[Brian Cashman]

No point during your rambling.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, but. But he's also shopping for women's products for his wife right now, so his mind's probably something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do we really need to know that.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't need to have that detail. And I'm sure his wife's probably mortified that he said that.

[Brian Cashman]

That isn't. You know what? That is interesting.

[Don Hahn]

But he offered it, so.

[Brian Cashman]

Hey, Jack. What's up?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, guys.

[Don Hahn]

All right, two quick things.

[Michael Kay]

We were talking about coaches getting fired and joining the giants earlier.

[Nick from Bayside]

Mike McDaniel, offensive coordinator.

[Michael Kay]

That'd be awesome. And the other thing is, Peter, I.

[Don Hahn]

Don'T want to jump on you for being a hypocrite, but before, when you.

[Michael Kay]

Guys are making fun of people for.

[Don Hahn]

Rooting for teams based on players, aren't.

[Nick from Bayside]

You a Larry Bird, Celtics fan?

[Brian Cashman]

Yeah, but not. It wasn't because of that. I didn't become a Celtics fan because of Bird, but I was. That was the example. In my mind. Bird and Lemieux were the players who were, like, the best players on my team and my favorite players in the world. I did. Those were the moments. But that's not why I was a fan of either team. I have other, you know, regions. Reasons that wasn't it Deemed to be fraudulent, but not that.

[Don Hahn]

But it wasn't even the Len Bias, Maryland connection, right?

[Brian Cashman]

No, no, no, no, no. Yeah, because remember, back in 85, I was still more interested in Georgetown than Maryland.

[Don Hahn]

That's a fair point.

[Brian Cashman]

You know what I mean? Although the whole area was, you know, obsessed with Lynn Bias. Guys, guys. Let's pray, guys. Let's pray we get a pick or two right over the weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I'll be insufferable if Shador wins. Insufferable.

[Brian Cashman]

See you Monday.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Brian Cashman]

I don't want to know how the.

[Don Hahn]

Sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN News York app, and your smart speakers. Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster Zero Ultra. That's the OG it kicked off this whole zero sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise, and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch.

[Brian Cashman]

So if you've been living in the.

[Don Hahn]

White can, branch out, out.

[Brian Cashman]

Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe.

[Don Hahn]

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