Hour 1: Alonso's Hot Start

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Episode: Hour 1: Alonso's Hot Start

Release Date: April 3, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the hosts—ESPN New York legend Don LaGreca, seasoned sportswriter and broadcaster Alan Hahn, and opinionated Hip Hop veteran Peter Rosenberg—kick off with a lively discussion centered around Pete Alonso's impressive start to the baseball season. The episode blends sports analysis with humorous banter, showcasing the unique chemistry among the hosts.

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Pete Alonso’s Exceptional Performance

Alan Hahn opens the conversation by highlighting Pete Alonso's remarkable performance, particularly his ability to hit critical home runs that have propelled the New York Mets to an early-season success. Alonso's recent three-run homer is discussed as a pivotal moment that not only tied the game but also boosted team morale.

Alan Hahn (12:30): "He hits the ball hard three other times. That wasn't like Volpe's home run last night where it just sort of was the one moment for the Yankees in a night of dead bats."

Don LaGreca emphasizes Alonso's evolution as a player, comparing him to historical figures like Dave Kingman and praising his improved batting average and reduced strikeouts.

Don LaGreca (14:20): "He's hitting .286. He's got five walks and only two strikeouts. That was a nine-pitch at bat."

Comparisons to Legendary Players

The hosts draw parallels between Alonso and past baseball legends to underscore his potential lasting impact on the Mets. Peter Rosenberg suggests that Alonso could become a "forever guy" for the Mets, much like Bernie Williams was for the Yankees.

Peter Rosenberg (22:00): "He's got a chance to really make a statement here. He's still Lindor's team, I think, but as he struggles...Pete's really shining through."

Don LaGreca further explores this idea by reminiscing about iconic moments and players, arguing that Alonso's consistent performance could carve out his legacy despite not having the same high-profile status as teammates like Lindor and Soto.

Don LaGreca (24:10): "If this team goes on some sort of a run and Alonzo and Soto and Lindor are part of a bunch of championships, the guy that the fans are going to remember and love a little bit more is going to be Pete."

Team Dynamics and Future Prospects

The discussion shifts to the broader team dynamics, with Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg debating Alonso's role alongside stars like Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. They consider how Alonso's presence in the lineup provides essential support, allowing Soto to thrive without bearing the full brunt of offensive expectations.

Alan Hahn (21:33): "Just produce when they put him on base, when they pitch around him, when he's on first base, when I have opportunities to get runners in, I can do that."

The hosts speculate on the Mets' potential to secure championships in the coming years, contingent on the continued performance of key players and the strategic support Alonso brings.

Creative Storytelling: The Pool Party Analogy

Injecting humor into the episode, the hosts engage in a fictional storytelling segment envisioning a pool party featuring Mets players. Don LaGreca describes Alonso performing cannonballs, likening him to characters from "Boogie Nights," which serves as an analogy for Alonso's lively and unpredictable nature on the field.

Don LaGreca (28:11): "He's doing cannonballs into the pool. Pete Alonso, like cannonball. Like Dirk Diggler and Boogie Nights."

This segment not only entertains but also reinforces the hosts' appreciation for Alonso's vibrant personality and its positive influence on team spirit.

Caller Interaction: Fan Perspectives

The episode features a caller from Long Island, Danny, who resonates with the hosts' portrayal of Alonso's critical home runs. Danny shares his excitement about Alonso's potential to secure his place in Mets history, emphasizing the importance of consistent performance in building a lasting legacy.

Danny (44:18): "If Pete goes on to hit 25, 35 home runs consistently, he benefits from having Soto. He has a great year. Can you imagine it all came down to that one at bat."

The interaction underscores the fanbase's hope and belief in Alonso's ability to become a cornerstone of the Mets' success.

Entertainment and Off-Topic Banter

Interwoven with sports discussions, the hosts engage in light-hearted conversations about movies, leveraging pop culture references to add depth to their camaraderie. They discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's films, the proposed "Naked Gun" reboot with Liam Neeson, and reminisce about classic movies like "Punch Drunk Love."

Peter Rosenberg (41:57): "It's very good. ... He was on the show Extras, the Ricky Gervais vehicle on HBO."

These segments provide a balanced listening experience, blending insightful sports analysis with entertaining interludes.

Closing Thoughts

As the episode winds down, the hosts reiterate Alonso's significance to the Mets and his potential to shape the team's future. They express optimism about the upcoming games and the role Alonso will play in the Mets' quest for success.

Don LaGreca (36:16): "But he’s not Aaron Judge. No, he’s not Juan Soto, we're well aware of that. ... but I think there's nothing wrong with that."

Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg conclude with reflections on Alonso's clutch performances and their anticipation for his continued impact throughout the season.

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Conclusion

"Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" delivers a captivating first episode that effectively combines in-depth sports analysis with engaging personalities. The hosts' dynamic interaction and focus on Pete Alonso's impressive start provide listeners with both entertainment and insightful perspectives on the Mets' prospects. Notable quotes and thoughtful discussions make this episode a must-listen for fans seeking a blend of humor, expertise, and genuine enthusiasm for New York sports.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [12:30]: "He hits the ball hard three other times. That wasn't like Volpe's home run last night where it just sort of was the one moment for the Yankees in a night of dead bats."

• Don LaGreca [14:20]: "He's hitting .286. He's got five walks and only two strikeouts. That was a nine-pitch at bat."

• Peter Rosenberg [22:00]: "He's got a chance to really make a statement here. He's still Lindor's team, I think, but as he struggles...Pete's really shining through."

• Don LaGreca [28:11]: "He's doing cannonballs into the pool. Pete Alonso, like cannonball. Like Dirk Diggler and Boogie Nights."

• Danny [44:18]: "If Pete goes on to hit 25, 35 home runs consistently, he benefits from having Soto. He has a great year. Can you imagine it all came down to that one at bat."

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Timestamp Highlights:

• 00:00-00:56: Hosts' banter and introduction.
• 12:30: Discussion on Pete Alonso's hitting prowess.
• 22:00: Alonso's potential as a key player for the Mets.
• 28:11: Creative storytelling with the pool party analogy.
• 44:18: Caller Danny shares fan perspective on Alonso's impact.

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Additional Notes:

• The episode includes humorous and off-topic segments, providing a well-rounded and entertaining listening experience.
• While advertisements and non-content sections are omitted, the core focus remains on Pete Alonso's performance and his significance to the New York Mets.
• The dynamic among Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg offers a blend of expertise, humor, and genuine passion for sports, making the episode both informative and enjoyable.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of six collectibles and your choice of a Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets.

[Don LaGreca]

With spicy nether flame sauce.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.

[Alan Hahn]

At participating McDonald's for a limited time. A Minecraft movie only in theaters time.

[Don LaGreca]

A lot of virgins working in one room together. A lot can be accomplished.

[Alan Hahn]

Hahn. I just got excited.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg, Alan just expressed theoretical arousal about the Dolly Parton puppet.

[Don LaGreca]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on 8, 80 ESPN and the ESPN New York app. All right, here we go. Is it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

Is it Thursday?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, Thursday. Oh, sure.

[Alan Hahn]

In New York City. You know, you'd think if I'm going to open with the day, I probably should prepare and look up the day before I start.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It usually doesn't require a lookup from us.

[Don LaGreca]

Michael made a living of giving the right day, but always the wrong date.

[Alan Hahn]

He would. He would give the date.

[Don LaGreca]

The day was always wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't forget today's date. I can't. April 3rd. I can never forget today.

[Don LaGreca]

Why'd you get married on April 3rd?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's my. It's Gracie's birthday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Don LaGreca]

Happy birthday.

[Alan Hahn]

17 years old.

[Don LaGreca]

I can't imagine Jalen being 17.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're gonna have to.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's something that, you know, you just start feeling chest pains at this point. Like. Like, even 16 is still, like, kind of like, all right, that's cute. 17 that you're like, okay, so. Because now I'm gonna start digging the moat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So 17 hits more than 16 on account of it being, like, you're kind of almost adult, like, for real.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just a real thing. And you know that next year when she celebrates 18. Not only celebrate 18, but she'll be graduating high school, which I see her as the little blondie with the sunglasses and the little skirt and the little pocketbook, you know, the polly pockets and all that stuff. Like, that's what I see even when I look at her now. She's 5 10, blonde, beautiful, and yet I still see that little girl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's your. What's your order of ages again for your kids? Top to bottom.

[Alan Hahn]

Emma's gonna be 24. All right, and then Zach will be, not for a while, 23. He's later in the year. Gracie, 17, and Callie's 10.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you've done this before with a daughter. You've been here?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah. MI went and you got through it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then at some point you regulates and you're used to it, right?

[Alan Hahn]

But I again when you have Callie is allowing me to still not be completely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's gonna be the one that really that might be takeoff work when she turns 17.

[Alan Hahn]

Kind of sad. Dad knows that that's it. I have no more children in my life. They're all just grown up. But yeah, I still have. I still have Cali. So I have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank God for Cali, right?

[Alan Hahn]

We say that every day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, today was the day I ran out of luck. Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Uh oh, parking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is why I'm walking in the door two minutes ago. I've been. I spent 20 minutes.

[Alan Hahn]

Were you doing the European vacation? I did the Big Ben Parliament.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I ended up just having. I got a random meter on Varrick but like down blocks. But like it it was. I finally ran out of gas. Thursday's apparently the day. Monday's light. Tuesday felt light. Thursday. People decide to actually work in this era on Thursday.

[Don LaGreca]

My streak on sixth as continues.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got another six guy.

[Alan Hahn]

This guy's every day that I've worked here.

[Don LaGreca]

I found a spot on six.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You get in prettier. What time are you gonna you get in pretty soon.

[Don LaGreca]

I got in like 12:30 because I had an appointment. Usually I. It's like 1:30. Usually 1:30. 1:20. So maybe that's catching people during lunch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe that's what you're doing.

[Don LaGreca]

You catch the streak's gonna end.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, we'll see. I mean you're Cal Ripken right now. I mean this is no one. No one's gonna be on a streak like this. Peter and I were both at Seaport this morning. I had a little get up work Peter on first take.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

In another splendid suit, by the way. I didn't know he owned more than one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've.

[Alan Hahn]

Did you see today's suit?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So many suits.

[Alan Hahn]

Today's suit.

[Don LaGreca]

And I also love the fact that he didn't, you know, cave to the cult and wear white sneakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No way. I'm not caving to that.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel attacked right now. You did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were sneakers.

[Alan Hahn]

I was wearing sneakers. But not white.

[Don LaGreca]

But why is it white?

[Alan Hahn]

White sneakers with the suit works. When the suit. When the pants are tapered and it's summer, it works.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just don't like it when you.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T have the pants tapered. It doesn't look right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, that's bad. That's just bad.

[Alan Hahn]

Awful. It's got a tapered Pants. Summer, like after. After Memorial Day, you'll see me. I'll probably do it a couple of times. Right. Low socks, you get. You're fine. But you. Like, now. No, you shouldn't do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? I'm actually going to agree with you on this. I think you're right. You get into firm summertime, where it's like. It's literally vacation for people.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, you get on tv. I would maybe even go, no socks. Show a little ankle. Well, you do whatever you like.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. I was saying, like the no shows.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You go like that. Yeah. Like, you're literally going to be a smelly animal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you could show calf. I don't have a problem with it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but. But I would if I had them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I. I didn't know. I'm gutless. Anthony wrote me and he texted me. He was watching the show, I guess, and he texted me, and he goes, you're going to say anything to Stephen A. About the sneakers? And I said, no, I'm gutless. It's his show. I want to come back. I'm not going to mention the sneakers today. But it was everybody.

[Don LaGreca]

It was.

[Alan Hahn]

It was Harry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was sham. Sharania was Sneakers.

[Alan Hahn]

Always. Always does that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was.

[Alan Hahn]

But they looked at, like, Harry. Suit was great. Sham suit was great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everyone looked. Everyone looked good. I just. To me, it's like, you're already there. Take it a step further. Like, I like wearing nice dress shoes.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought you looked great. Like, I keep getting like. And don't take this the wrong way. This is a compliment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're getting choked up. Like, it's my first day of school. So you said last time.

[Alan Hahn]

Every time I see him in a suit with his glasses, I go, kojak.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, I'm not offended by that.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean? Kojak is a kind of man, has that like. Kind of. I like the cut of your jib when you're. When you're. When you're outfitted like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Thank you. It's a professional, man.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I mean. No, also a dead serious man. You walk in the room, serious man. It's like, yeah, come in. I got some business.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta say, I'm a serious man.

[Alan Hahn]

I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I. Listen, I enjoyed it.

[Alan Hahn]

Good for you, Don. How did you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry, Don. We gotta get Don on a show. It's not right.

[Don LaGreca]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's already pun.

[Alan Hahn]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look here. He said. He said he's good.

[Alan Hahn]

No. Yeah. You don't Say I'm all right. Cause you're not all right.

[Don LaGreca]

One time, Squidward right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Looking through the window.

[Don LaGreca]

One time I did first take, it was up. And we went up to Bristol.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember it.

[Don LaGreca]

There was me, Rick and Peter. They actually added somebody to fit me in because they just couldn't have just Peter and Rick and not have me. So I thought, what happened? That's exactly what happened. That's exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

When was this?

[Don LaGreca]

We want Peter and Rick, but if we do it and there's no Don, Michael's got a Yankee game, then it's really gonna look bad. So they had me go up there. It made no sense. I was like a third wheel. It made really. It was just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was.

[Don LaGreca]

It was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you feel like they looked at.

[Alan Hahn]

You like every now and then? Oh, that's right. Don's Don. What do you think it was Charity.

[Don LaGreca]

And I killed and no one cared. And I've never been asked back since.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, neither had I. And again, I jokingly, the other day, I was having some fun and said, you gotta go kiss some fanny. And Don doesn't do that. And while I was peeing over the top in what I'm describing it, this is a very big company we work at.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you have ebbs and flows within that company. And if you don't, like you mentioned, you'd bounced around from local to national. When you ended up on national, you ended up getting eyeballs in front of certain people. Boom. Opportunities.

[Alan Hahn]

You're on espn. And we were actually. Because I was with Keyshawn and J. Will for a while.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

You were on espn, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that was national again. So you're in the national circle. All of a sudden, Boom. Now Alan's thought of when I first got here, in the time before they put me on the K show, there was a debate about would I go to be Ryan Rosillo's partner in Bristol or would I go to the K show? In that time, I did everything. They threw me on all the shows and I built relationships. But then I didn't water the flowers for a long time.

[Alan Hahn]

You stay in touch and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I got too busy doing this. They would ask me to do stuff, and he goes, peter can't do it anymore. He's busy every day three to seven. There is no more. And this time, when the new contract came up, I just made sure my team said, hey, get aggressive. I want to do stuff again. I still work at this company. I can offer things honestly. The first take is a Rosenberg show. It's a generalist sports show. Like, get on and have big opinions on the biggest topics. That is me as a sports personality. I'm not a granular stat guy. I'm gonna argue the big topic guy.

[Alan Hahn]

You are. You are the shallow end of the pool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you. Thank you, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

I love that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love the shallow end. Get a little tan up top. Hand me a beverage while I'm standing here. I don't need to swim. And so for Don, it's about a talking to people and finding the fit. When I always think of Don, though, and roll my eyes in anger is when I see like our ESPN doubleheader and the NHL this Saturday. I'm like, how is he not a part of. That's where the place for Don truly is. Completely agree and is not right. Like, he should be a focal point of what we do with hockey. Not that he can't do it all, but just in terms of where his passion point lies.

[Alan Hahn]

But I will also push back. Go ahead and say this as now we are agents of Don McGregor and.

[Don LaGreca]

I am in the room, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't leave, by the way. He may hire us, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. But this is a fair thing to say. You've been on first take. I've been on First Take. I have been around that show. You gonna tell me this guy couldn't handle?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, of course he could.

[Alan Hahn]

When he gets it going. Like, I love Chris Russo. He's a phenomenal talent. He's also like a great guy to lean on. He's so quick with advice and to help you. He's awesome human being. But, like, his. The whole thing he does is very entertaining because he gets animated, excited, and he hits. He has points. And he also has a great recall of memories and history and things that have happened in sports. Who do I just describe right there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don McGregor. But I will push back on something else.

[Alan Hahn]

The same thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But while we're fighting about Don in front of Don, we're continuing to fight about don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Think the parents talking about the kids.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me say something else, and I think Don will be the first to admit this, though, not to say that Don wouldn't crush a first take or get up. I think he'd do great on all of them. But also, he's not Chris in the sense that Chris will put it on. If Chris is showing up on a day where there's not a topic that he cares about, he will make one up. Yeah, Don will. They will get to Don. And if he truly doesn't care, might look at them and go, I'm good. Like, he is not gonna get up there and dance like Don the rant man. He's not gonna do that. Like, he's gotta care about the topic. He's an authentic guy. So it is a little bit of a different space, but I will say this. There's not a place the guy couldn't crush. He just can't get on his cell phone and watch a Calgary Flames game if there are important executives in the room trying to talk to him.

[Alan Hahn]

And is that what happened?

[Don LaGreca]

It wasn't a. It was. It was Helia Kovalchuk's first game as a Duck.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My favorite.

[Don LaGreca]

We were at the super bowl having dinner. Believe every sucking up decay. Michael, Michael, Michael. Tell me about the Yankees. Tell me what it was like to call a Rick Serone home run. And so I'm like, all right, I want to see what Koval.

[Alan Hahn]

The catcher, not the PR guy.

[Don LaGreca]

And I watch the game and I'll do it again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He'd do it again.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you would. He would. Well, here's the other problem that maybe you and I now need to start, like, bringing this up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that, you know, one of the most influential people on First Take is Stephen A. Smith.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd say so.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually. I would not want to be. He is. What does he ever say? Don Juan McGregor loves him, loves Don, loves him. I don't know how this has not become a thing yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because again, if I knew. Don't. If I knew Steven as long as Don did. Don did. I'd probably just send the text myself and say, hey, all right.

[Don LaGreca]

I saw him in the airport, gave him a hug.

[Alan Hahn]

Hockey playoffs are coming up. They'll have. I mean, they don't really bring a lot of people in, but they do have to, especially the Ovechkin stuff. Right. There's going to be moments where they. They want to do that. I just think it's an obvious thing. Even if you had to go for one segment in each hour, 10 minutes of your time, it's worth it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He'd do it.

[Alan Hahn]

He'd do it. Bring you in, tell the world what this is about, why they should care.

[Don LaGreca]

They just can't wander in there and do it.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, you know, there's another. There's another. There's another important person of influence that we're not mentioning who Don also has a great relationship with. Molly, who you were with on today. No, absolutely not, Greeny.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To Jump on, get up and do the hockey thing on get up too during the playoffs. Like why not? What are we talking about?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean again, I see no reason why not. In the meantime. 800 and now we're not Pete Alonso. 7, 7, 6.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, Pete Alonso giving us vintage.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm distracted by weather right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Vintage Pete Alonzo last night in the post game that was.

[Alan Hahn]

I love the man but that's a good sign, is it not? Oh, I love seeing now obviously getting an 8th inning, 3 run home run to tie it when they, the bats look dead, the offense looked dead. They couldn't get anything going. And yet he comes up in a big spot. But what's important to know is that he hit the ball hard three other times. That wasn't, that wasn't like Volpe's home run last night where it just sort of was the one moment for the Yankees in a night of dead bats. This was, he was on it that whole game. And then in a big spot they pitched to him, which they probably shouldn't have, and he absolutely crushed it. If you heard the, the Marlins call, in fact, before the that pitch, I don't know who the analyst was, but he had said something like, you know, Alonzo has hit the ball hard his previous two at bats. They probably don't want to give him anything in the strike zone. Next pitch gone like, like as if he saw it coming. But how important is it? Even though as we know it's one game in 162, it's, it's early in the season, but still the value of Pete Alonso in this lineup already showing itself.

[Don LaGreca]

And the thing is, is that Pete was always to me kind of like a Dave Kingman where it would seem like a home run or nothing. He didn't hit for average, didn't get on base a lot, strike out a lot. Not a great fielder, but boy, could he connect on a fastball and hit it a long way. And what he's now developed into is a guy that can hit for average. He's hitting.286. He's got five walks. He only has two strikeouts. That was a nine pitch at Batman. And on the ninth pitch, he hits the home run. He fought off two nasty curve balls, fouled him off to stay alive. A different Pete Alonso strikes out. You know, where you don't have to, you don't have to pitch to him. And then this is going to help Soto eventually they got to get villain to going. He's really struggling both in the field and with the bat. But bringing Pete back and he's still got something to play for, man. It's not like he signed some 10 year contract. He wants to stick around here. And I think it was. I think the contract was in his head last year. Now he got that out of the way and now he's kind of found himself. He's improved. I know it's a very small sample. We're talking 21 at bats. But it's 21 at bats with two home runs, eight RBIs. And he saved their bacon. They've got three wins and two of them are because of big hits. He got the grand slam home run and the home run yesterday they were dead in the water. He had two doubles and nobody else had done anything. And they finally get a little something going and they get a big home run. Now they're 3, 3. Got to take advantage of this.07 start. The Braves are in. Got to take advantage of it. And the Mets have. Not just yet, but maybe they'll get going. They come home. They haven't even played a home game yet. Tomorrow should be really cool. The weather's going to be crappy, but what are you going to do? Take advantage of the Blue Jays and get going. But listen, a lot of focus on Soto, and rightly so, a lot of focus on Vientos because of the kind of postseason he had last year. But Pete's got a chance to really make a statement here. It's still Lindor's team, I think, but as he struggles, as he typically does in the beginning of the season, you know, Pete's really shining through. I like it a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's big. And he, he talked about last night again yesterday. It was a big night for him on many levels. Was big to get the win to send him home to win the series. It was big for him to show, though, how important it is to have him in this lineup. Because Juan Soto, as we saw in that story, the. Tom Forducci. Sorry. That the concern that Soto had for the lineup was was there enough protection for him in the lineup. The Mets then hustled and called Pete Alonzo and said, okay, we kind of need you, so we'll give you. And they gave him more than the original offer as far as like annual goes. Try to show them a little respect. Bring you in and let's make this work. And it has.

[Pete Alonso]

I'm just happy I was able to come through for, for the team right there. Yeah, today was obviously a really important game for us and. Yeah, just happy to Help contribute. For me, I'm just looking to just get a. Get a good pitch to hit over the middle of the plate. Thankfully for me, like, I was fighting off some really tough pitches there. I mean, he came at me with his best stuff and he located some good ones, but especially early in the count. But I was able to just standard control and let the ball show up where I wanted it to. And thankfully I was able to capitalize.

[Alan Hahn]

And as you mentioned, they finally do now get to have their home opener on Friday. What is the weather supposed to be Friday? Do we have, like, I think the.

[Don LaGreca]

Whole weekend is supposed to be awful.

[Alan Hahn]

Just rain. Yeah, Cold and rain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it cold, too? I'll tell you right now.

[Don LaGreca]

We'll get to the weather.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going to otan.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me a little weather update for the weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got. Here's your weekend weather brought to you by Peter Rosenberg. Friday, high 66, low 54. Chance of rain.

[Alan Hahn]

Chance of rain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Saturday, high 54. Low 47. 75% chance of rain. Sunday, high 62, low 47, 70% chance of rain.

[Don LaGreca]

It's Marcos. It's opening day for Marco's baseball on Saturday. They have the whole big parade thing and hopefully they'll be able to do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Man, I wouldn't, I wouldn't say it's a weekend that you dream about, weather wise.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the mets are what, the 310? His first pitch on Friday, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then you're talking about a 141st pitch.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, Saturday, I believe, is a night game.

[Alan Hahn]

Saturday's the night game. 140 is Sunday.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that means they think they made Saturday a night game just in case there was a problem on Friday. But it looks like there's a problem on both days, so I don't know what they're gonna. And the Blue Jays, it's interleague play. It's their only time in town to be a bit of a problem, so they're probably going to play. But it might not be the most ideal conditions.

[Alan Hahn]

It's always this time of year. We say it's a good thing they didn't put a roof on the stadium. Pete Alonso is excited, though, to finally get back to Citi Field, where he knows the fans. Remember they booed the owner about not signing him. Remember that thing that they did in the off season? So he knows he'll be hearing it from the crowd.

[Pete Alonso]

Stoked to be back. Stoked to be back. This is a great group playing in at City Field is. Is so super, super special. Like it's it's such a sick place to play. I love it like bats fans have embraced me. Like this organization has embraced me. They. They've believed in me since day one. And for me it's just amazing to be back and yeah, hopefully we can get a dub.

[Alan Hahn]

The only thing, I think they've really embraced him though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I mean their contract showed that they. There was embrace. Well, willing to potentially let you walk away.

[Alan Hahn]

Some of the fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, the fans have embraced. Oh, yeah, sorry, sorry. The fans.

[Alan Hahn]

Fans absolutely have embraced.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think he's gotten a lot of love. Listen, I don't think Pete is like, it's a hard. It's hard to pinpoint exactly. Don't you think, Don? Where. Where Pete lives in like Met fan lore. He's not obsessed over, but people really. The home run last year really solidified.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a true moment.

[Don LaGreca]

What you saw after that home run, which is a. I know it didn't result in a championship, but they did win that series.

[Alan Hahn]

That doesn't matter.

[Don LaGreca]

That's like the start ever.

[Alan Hahn]

That's like the Starks dunk. It's right. Like it didn't lead to a championship, but it was a moment.

[Don LaGreca]

I just love how. And I know it's a different organization that hasn't done a ton of winning until recently, but you know that Carlton Fisk home running Game 6 of the 75 World Series was forever. They didn't even win that series. They won that game and they lost game seven. You know, we had Howie Rose on talking about how, you know, Pete Stiemkowski's overtime goal against The Blackhawks in 71 still gets talked about. They lost the next game and lost the series.

[Alan Hahn]

Great example.

[Don LaGreca]

So the Mets won the series and that allowed them to beat Philadelphia. It allowed them to go six with the eventual World Series champion Dodgers. So that's a forever moment. I'm telling you. Believe me, as a Met fan, if we were to do, you know, top five moments that might find its way in there, it would. They only got two championships all time. I wouldn't put it there. But, you know, this is a franchise.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel like a list is coming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There was.

[Don LaGreca]

This is a France. You've heard my Robin Ventura ring.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But that was considered like a top moment, which it wasn't even a. It was avoid getting swept in a series. It's like, come on, give me a break. So there's not a lot to choose from. But seriously, that's a walk off. Not a walk Off. But a home run to win you a series is a big deal. What? Chris Chambliss's home run's not a big deal?

[Alan Hahn]

That's what made me a Yankee fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But they lost. They lost that world.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm aware.

[Don LaGreca]

They did not win another game.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm embarrassed. In that one, yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Not win another game in the postseason.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm aware.

[Don LaGreca]

But that moment, that's still a forever moment.

[Alan Hahn]

The visual and emotion of that moment was so compelling, it made me feel now a lot.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, here's the thing. A lot's happened since then, you know, where maybe the Chambliss would fall by the wayside just because they had so many championships.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, Chambers felt like the gateway to what became a couple of championships. Return of the Angels.

[Don LaGreca]

Right, because. Right, because then they went on. They won in 77 and 78. But you didn't know that at the time when he hit the home run in 76. We don't know. Maybe the Mets will win a bunch of championships and they'll. But it's still, in the moment, a big deal. And then you saw the reaction to Cohen when he spoke at that Met Fan fest, where the fans are like, we want him back. And now they sign him, and now he's raking to start the season. Couple of big hit, not raking, but you know what I mean. He's had a couple of big home runs to kind of salvage what's been a very pedestrian start for the Mets. He's got a chance here to be that forever guy. And I still believe that that's what a lot of fans are hoping for. That's what I was hoping for.

[Alan Hahn]

And think about it this way for Pete Alonso, and, you know, this is exactly what Scott Borris should be saying to him. Think about it. This is your opportunity. And all you have to do is produce with Soto on base. Because once you do that, the organization's gonna say, okay, we found our guy, and Soto's gonna want you there. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's exactly what you do, is you just prove I'm the guy you need here, not Vlad Guerrero. Save your money. You don't have to give him $700 million. Right. So that. That's his opportunity right now to prove that to the organization. I'm homegrown. The fans love me. This is an easy sell. And all I have to do is more often than. Well, not more often than not, because it's baseball. Right. Less often than not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

More often than others.

[Alan Hahn]

Closer to more often than not. Just Produce when they put him on base, when they pitch around him, when he's on first base, when I have opportunities to get runners in, I can do that. And he has proven throughout his career that's the one thing he does do.

[Don LaGreca]

And let's face it, God love him. But Pete Alonso's not Aaron Judge. No, he's not Juan Soto, we're well aware of that. And I think there was a moment where he thought possibly he can get that kind of generational money. And it became very clear he wasn't going to get it. So if you're going to get marginally better someplace else, like isn't it better to just kind of stay put and just be that guy that plays for the same team forever?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, and by the way, that goes both ways for the Mets too. If you're going to do marginally better, keep your guy, keep the guy. And that's why once he had the moment, when he hits the home run, I go, he's locked. Because now he's solid every year. He's a true Met. He has his signature moment in the playoffs. You're keeping this guy. Why would you not?

[Alan Hahn]

And the right, exactly what we're talking about, right?

[Don LaGreca]

And you know, listen, we'll see if it gets to this level. But Peter, we've always discussed, what is it, Doc and Darryl, why is that such a thing? Because during that 86 run, they were the homegrown guys. You know, Gary came over from Montreal, Keith had come over from St. Louis. Like they made some trades, but those were the guys that were the homegrown, came up with the team. So there's always going to be a special place in your heart for guys like that. You know, I don't want to call them mercenaries, but in a way they are the guys that you, that sign the big contracts. The Lindor's, the Sotos, yeah, they've got a chance to be forever Mets down the road. But I tell you what, if this team goes on some sort of a run and Alonzo and Soto and Lindor are part of a bunch of championships, the guy that the fans are going to remember and love a little bit more is going to be Pete. Right. And is that worth something? Can you monetize that? Is it worth going and signing with the Blue Jays and having a great career for another 10 years and then when it's over, it's like you were a Met, you were a Blue Jay, it was nice, you made a ton of money, but you really don't have a Home. You don't have a place where the fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why it worked out great. It worked out great for everybody. The Mets didn't overpay. He still made a ton of money. He gets to stay here. Like, listen, do you hear the guy yesterday? I mean, what he said? Can't wait to get home. Be there, be square. This I'm starting to go from. Here's where I'm at. Okay. I'm starting to feel like when initially I thought his personality and being a little bit of a nerd was kind of a hindrance to his brand, I'm now. Now I'm finding him charming. Now it's becoming like, oh, he is a little awkward, but he's our awkward guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Right? You know what I mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It takes time to get there, but I'm getting there.

[Don LaGreca]

When we talked about that, I'm not the one to speak for you. I never meant it to be a negative. It was just an observation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He wasn't. And by the way, we never said nozzle. We never said nozzle.

[Don LaGreca]

The analogy, Alan, that I'd always use is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's very good.

[Don LaGreca]

Is at the pool party. There's a big pool party. All the cool kids are at the.

[Alan Hahn]

Pool, and he wears a T shirt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, no. Let's set the scene for you.

[Alan Hahn]

Can we do it on the other side?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The pool party? The pool party on the other side. You want to set the scene for the pool party?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, I look forward to this.

[Alan Hahn]

How long is this going to take?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, I want music, too. Yeah, I want music for the pool. Get Summertime by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, it's sound effects. Splashing.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So when we come back, the scene set for the pool party. Analogy about Pete Alonso and the mess. Of course, you don't want to miss it. TaxAct can think of a million things more fun than filing taxes. Tax act is going to name some now. Sitting in traffic, folding a fitted bedsheet, listening to your co worker talk about his fantasy team digging a hole. Digging an even larger hole next to that original hole. Unfortunately, TaxAct's filing software can't make taxes fun, but TaxAct can help you get them done. TaxAct, let's get them over with. Springfest and Ego Days are here at Lowes right now. Get a free select EGO 56 volt battery with purchase of a select trimmer, blower or mower kit. Plus, shop today for new and exclusive items you need for your lawn. So get ready for spring with the latest in innovation from EGO, the 1 rated brand in cordless outdoor power only at lowes we help you Save. Offer valid through 4:2. Selection varies by location while supplies last.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a gift. Especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life even with cancer. Join bank of America in helping Ann's cause. Give if you can@b of a.comSupportAnn what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not an endorsement by bank of America Corporation. Copyright 2025.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right? So picture it. Oh, yeah. Songs playing. Everyone's pulling up. The Lindor's are hosting, actually.

[Don LaGreca]

Beautiful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The babies are out. They got a slip and slide. People's kids are there.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, let's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lindor is walking around in his trunks, like, kind of cool looking trunks. He's in great shape. He's ripped, he's wearing a few chains. You know what I mean? He's picking up his little baby, having a great time. I'm trying to picture. Who else would look? Oh, Soto, you know, shows up. Soto's not married, right? No. Soto shows up, some hot lady. She's in a bikini, hanging out. He's at the pool having a beverage, maybe a little tequila on the rocks. Having a good time. And then you noticed a loud sound, screaming. And when you look over to the pool area, Don, what do you see?

[Don LaGreca]

He's doing cannonballs into the pool. Pete Alonzo, like cannonball. Like Dirk Diggler and Boogie Nights. What? He basically describes the pool party in Boogie Nights and Dirk Diggler's doing cannonballs. And Aaron Judge is, by the way, he's at the bar wearing like, khakis, no socks, but, like, really, like nice shoes, really nice dress shirt. And just like laughing like, who's the clown, man? Who's the clown? Jumping into the pool and doing the cannonball.

[Alan Hahn]

They drag him out of the pool later because he somehow shot himself with a dart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With a dart.

[Don LaGreca]

You guys are crazy. Is this bad?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is this bad?

[Don LaGreca]

But yeah, there's a Frank the Tank energy about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Which.

[Alan Hahn]

But you love that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's growing on us.

[Don LaGreca]

But there's different types of cool. Like, I think because we'd always talk about how Aaron Judge had that cool about him and Alonzo didn't. But at the same time, at that pool party, there's gonna be a lot of people hanging around Aaron Judge because how cool he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there's also gonna be a lot.

[Don LaGreca]

Of people hanging around Alonzo because that's how fun he is. And there's coolness in that as well. He's just a guy that doesn't put on airs, doesn't exactly say all the right things. But you know what? You're gonna have a good time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know what else? There's nothing cooler in sports. Then you are on the verge of your season being over. And at the last possible moment, someone digs deep and hits a home run in the most clutch situation ever. And it's nothing cooler than that.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's that guy and it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the cannonball when he get, when.

[Alan Hahn]

He gets the home plate and he's like, what just happened? I just liked it. That's what you love about him. And I mean this in the. In the, in the. In the most sincere way. Isn't that so on brand Mets?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, and isn't it. And what we described with Judge is so on brand Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, the Yankees are very corporate, very buttoned up. And the Mets have always. And that was by design. When the Mets first came into the league, they realized we can't compete with the Yankees. The Yankees are the gold standard. So we're going to allow you to bring in, as Casey Stengel called them, placards in. We're going to come up with funny. We're going to have a mascot, you know, Mr. Matt. We're gonna do the funny things for the kids and all that because we're not gonna be very good. And we can't compete with the Yankees, you know. And now it's 60 years goes by and that's kind of. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Right. And that's kind. And you own it. There's nothing wrong with that. That's fine.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why everybody believed Sid Finch.

[Don LaGreca]

Because everybody, everybody believed it to do.

[Alan Hahn]

That guy's not even wearing a shoe. But they didn't care.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, I remember being. I mean, it was. I'd get my hair cut around. Around the block from my house. Mosiarty was my barber still around. And I remember reading that Sports Illustrated.

[Alan Hahn]

Tremendous.

[Don LaGreca]

Waiting to get my haircut, running home to tell my dad that the Mets had a prospect they can throw 120 miles per hour. He was breaking the hands of catchers. And it ended up being the greatest April Fool's joke in the history of sports. Sid Finch.

[Alan Hahn]

So. And you know the set, how disappointing it was that it wasn't true, that. Well, you wanted it to be true so bad.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, this was. This was before the Mets 19, 1985. It was just as the Mets were starting to get good. You're like, this will give you the guy to get us over the top. But that's. And I think Pete represents the Mets well. And that's why I wanted him to stay. Because the whole basis of the Ed Cream pool rant was that, do we have our forever guy? Guys are going to come and go, but do you have a guy that's going to break all the records? Been here forever, but it's also really good. Ed Krimple was a heck of a player, but you're hoping to have somebody like Pete Alonso, maybe one day possibly go to the hall of Fame and he's your guy that played.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the beauty of what they've done with this team. Now, he might be your forever Matt, but over the next seven years, if all goes as planned, not his team. I think we all agree it will likely be Lindor's team and Soto's team. And Alonzo gets to be just the dude who steps up in the moments.

[Alan Hahn]

He needs to with no pressure on him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

None.

[Alan Hahn]

He's the guy that just can play and not have to carry the weight of expectations. Everything else, he's just like you said, the dude. And when he does something great, everybody loves him. And when he doesn't, it's the other two guys fought that he was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That it was on him in the first place.

[Don LaGreca]

So the hope that he's going to be.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a good spot to be in. I'm bad. I might take less for that opportunity.

[Don LaGreca]

So Yankee dynasty, is he Bernie Williams, Islander dynasty, is he Clark Gillies? Like, there's always the guy that's beloved. They retire his number.

[Alan Hahn]

Pretty good.

[Don LaGreca]

But he's not the guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but he's our guy. That's pretty good. Those are good examples of, again, like the great teams that's.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm trying to think the Giants.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. The two giant Super Bowls who were the constant after Eli and after, like, talk.

[Don LaGreca]

So because you think of those giant Super Bowls with the wins against the Patriots, right. It's Eli, it's Tuck, it's you Minor. Yeah, but who would be the other guy? Probably somebody on the line like a Chris Snee, maybe like somebody like that.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if they have a call because the running backs were different.

[Don LaGreca]

Could he be Banks? Like with the, with the, with the 86, 90 Super Bowls? Where are, you know, you know, the Phil Sims, Jeff Hostile. They're two different quarterbacks. But he's not Lawrence Taylor, but he's Carl Banks.

[Alan Hahn]

That's pretty good.

[Don LaGreca]

He's.

[Alan Hahn]

He's.

[Don LaGreca]

He's not nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

He's still amazing. He's still our guy. Like, so maybe that's. If the Mets end up going on this dynasty run. Please, God, hear me. I don't ask for much. And it's Lindor's better, Soto's better. But Pete's. He ends up being remembered.

[Alan Hahn]

He ends up being the glue. Guys like that end up being the glue. Right? They're not the one that you're always looking at to get it all done, but somehow, some way, they're the one that kind of keeps it together.

[Don LaGreca]

So 90. So 94 Rangers. Is he Graves?

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great one.

[Don LaGreca]

So he's not Messier. He's not Richter. He's not Leach.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't he score 50 that year?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, right. Yeah, he wasn't nobody, but he's 50.

[Alan Hahn]

And it was always like, he's like the fourth best player on the team.

[Don LaGreca]

Messier is in the hall of Fame. Leach is in the hall of Fame. Richter. Richter's not in the hall of Fame, but, you know, he's the goalie.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Now they all have their number retired. So would Graves be fourth on that list? But he's still Adam Graves.

[Alan Hahn]

That's pretty good. Yeah, that's probably the best way to put it.

[Don LaGreca]

He sits next to me over on the bridge. It's.

[Alan Hahn]

He into it.

[Don LaGreca]

It's pretty cool. They're just. It's, it's. It's.

[Alan Hahn]

I.

[Don LaGreca]

Because I asked him, do you remember your first game? Because Gabe Perot was making his first. He's made his NHL debut.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don LaGreca]

He's talking about. Yeah, his first game. He was a Red Wing, so Jacques Demares threw him out there. And he said, you know, and he told him just. He put like two hands together, like, just dump it in and get off. And he. He got. He had like nine minutes of penalties. And he's like, I love the guy. He never played me, but I loved him. But just great stories. But he's such a nice guy. But he would be the first to admit he's not Mark Messier.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. He's not Brian Leach, but he's still wasn't a homegrown Ranger but he became beloved. But yeah, so that was more his personality.

[Don LaGreca]

So yeah, listen, Bernie was a homegrown and Gilly's never played for anybody else. He didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

He might.

[Don LaGreca]

But so it's not, it's not the straight apples to apples where it's like because maybe. Maybe Pete's that guy but at the tail end of his career at 39 and 40, he plays for somebody else or something like it doesn't have to be. You played every. But you know what you mean.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Just because you're not, you don't have to be the best player to be the man. Right. Is that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, again it's not at all. It's who you are, personality wise. So with the Knicks fan base, those.

[Don LaGreca]

70, 73 Knicks, that's a lot harder.

[Alan Hahn]

Because they all were like hall of Famers. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But somebody had to be the glue guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I don't. I. I don't know what.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, well let's modernize it a little bit. Well, I would just the run. The run in the 90s, the 90s Ewing but so Oakley Starks was the loved guy. Stark's story was also amazing, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That how he survived making the team because Ewing hurt him in. In preseason and you know that, right? Like he was going to get cut.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And he went up for a. He went to dunk on Ewing. He knew he was going to get cut in the scrimmage before the season started. He went to dunk on Ewing and Ewing's like this ain't happening and just dropped him and he ended up ripping his knee up and you can't cut an injured player. So he went on injured reserve for the whole season and at the end of the year got healthy and was able to be available. And at the end of the year everybody was hurt so they had to play him and he played his way into favor.

[Don LaGreca]

I had forgotten.

[Alan Hahn]

And then Pat Riley when he took over his coach, he saw him. He just loved how hard he plays. I'm keeping this guy. But that's a great story.

[Don LaGreca]

But don't. Let's. Let's not completely discount the possibility that he will be the better player.

[Alan Hahn]

Pete Alonso.

[Don LaGreca]

But you don't think he can have a better year than Lindor. He's not going to be Soto, I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, have a better year is different than better player. No, but I will say let's say the Mets win.

[Don LaGreca]

Is there. Is there a world where the Mets win a championship. I don't think it's going to be this year.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's the mvp and he's the.

[Don LaGreca]

Guy because I brought up Bernie Williams. There were times Bernie Williams was the man, hold the record. Broke the record for home runs in the postseason. Like there were better players. He's not Derek Jeter, but there were times Bernie Williams was the man.

[Alan Hahn]

I think we already know he can hit 52 home runs. Right? We already know he can do that. Yeah, right. So that exists in the world. He can do that. Which would be significant if he had another season where he just. And especially if he's seeing better pitching because of Soto. Like does he take advantage of it and become that guy again? It's The Adam Graves 50 goal season in the midst of all the other greatness, the Norris Trophy. Brian Leach. Right. The Con Smythe, you know, Mark Mike Richter won the Conn Smythe. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

No, Leach.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. It wasn't Leach. Okay. So just the dominance of all the other players. And oh, by the way, this guy had a 50 goal season which at that time was still pretty significant. So it's special but it's good to see and it's important. And that the Mets decision to turn back and say, hey Pete, we changed our mind, we'll bring you back now when it felt like they were ready to walk away from him. It is a significant so far development in the early part of this season. All right, we got lots of calls to get to 800 now. 193776 we do have to get to the Yankees and how all of a sudden the whole story about the bats have turned back into the story of the all or nothing offense that the Yankees seem to have going right now. And so we have to discuss that before he get calls that the Knicks, of course, to get to after last night. But first, Peter, a message please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Pretty please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. All right. You want me to. I can give you a message if you really want.

[Alan Hahn]

It tells me here that you have a message.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I can give you a message. It was supposed to be a message at 6 o'clock but you'd like to be deliver it now. Someone tell me if I should. Legally, yeah. All right, here's what I'm going to tell you. FanDuel is America's number one sportsbook. Okay? It's the best place to bet on sports. And there's an absolutely loaded sports calendar this week and whether you're into basketball, baseball, hockey or any other sport. Alan, I'm laughing now thinking about when you were like, you have a message. And I just went, no. We could hear that again during Ann.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's not even supposed to be this message.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So many different options for you. All right. All you got to do is check out their promotions. Ding or Tuesday hump day parlays and golf profit boost tokens over the weekend. Maybe parlay some of the torpedo bat guys into a homer tonight. They're overdue. And right now new customers get $200 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. Visit FanDuel.com Peter to make every moment more 21 and over in physically present New York. First online real money wager only $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as non withdrawable bonus bets which expires seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail], for up with a gambling problem. Call 877-8-Open Wire text open wire 467-369. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if you knew this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] for slash switch.

[Alan Hahn]

Upfront payment of 45 for 3 month plan equivalent to 15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee. Full [e-mail] thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don LaGreca]

See, Was that because of the Boogie Nights reference? I mean one of my favorite movies all time.

[Alan Hahn]

You love it.

[Don LaGreca]

It's not for what you think. It's brilliant.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course it is. And he. He's really.

[Don LaGreca]

Because Paul Thomas Anderson, right. With Quentin Tarantino. Know how to work in a soundtrack?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Oh yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's his other Paul Thomas Anderson's? What are his biggest movies besides that?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you've got Magnolia also, I think outstanding alth as highly commercial as Boogie Nights.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I recently played on Whitish Wednesday the. The big song from Magnolia.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they were with all the characters. I forget it's a female singer. I forget who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Amy, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, Amy man.

[Don LaGreca]

It is a good song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good tune.

[Don LaGreca]

What was the. What was the one with Adam Sandler?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Punch Drunk Love? Yeah, he did that too.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a. You got. It's an acquired no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's dark. It's dark. But I enjoyed it by the way. You see this. Speaking of movie news here. This is very funny to me. Liam Neeson is getting a Naked Gun reboot.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I find that just hilarious only on the strength that the star of Naked Gun is Leslie Nielsen and they went with Liam Neeson. Like if there are two people whose names I randomly sort of associate just from similar sounds, it's those guys. Very odd.

[Alan Hahn]

How is that gonna work?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess because you know when you know. Have you ever seen him on. He wasn't on Curb. He was on the show Extras, the Ricky Gervais vehicle on hbo. He's very good at being a sarcastic ridiculous version of himself.

[Don LaGreca]

But Leslie Nielsen, he could do just so it was so his character.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a.

[Don LaGreca]

It happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's going to be different than Leslie Nielsen's version was has to be there.

[Don LaGreca]

There will be blood was the other which is completely off the what you kind of know from him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Mage also.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's give you a game time brought to you by Tullamardu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time it's Tully time. Yankees close out their series with the Diamondbacks tonight. Can they get a win? 705. First pitch. We're at there. Are we at 30 degrees again tonight? It's been cold at the stadium. Do we constantly going for the weather app.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Part of my weather. I didn't do a full enough weather update.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought you just would have noticed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tonight It'll be down 9:00. It'll be in the 60s so no not freezing tonight. Yeah, it's 73 right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Balmy nets and they have the Timberwolves at 7:30. I wonder if a rod will be there. We'll have coverage of heat grizzlies by the way, like you dream about. That's coming up on 880 right after us at 7pm game time. Brought to you by Tolomardu the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore do or try the new Telemore do. Honey. During tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemore do responsibly. Lots of calls here to get to fellows. Let's get to them. 800-919-3776. Let's go to Danny on Long island to start his. What's up Danny?

[Caller]

Good afternoon gentlemen. Thanks for making my call. Unusually called two Days in a row. But Peter, wonderful, wonderful imagery. Setting a pool party. That was just. Just like I could feel myself by the pool with it with a margarita in my hand. That was outstanding.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where do you think, Danny, you'd be in this pool situation? Where are you pulling up to have conversation? I sort of see you trying to go sit down. I think the managers, the Yankee and Met managers are sitting together, playing cards, smoking cigars. I think maybe you plop down over there.

[Caller]

Well, first of all, we won't be at Michael K's house for a pool party. We know that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he doesn't believe in more than two people in the pool.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's right, you can't swim.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's instantly a strange group sex effort. The second you invite friends over to swim for some reason.

[Caller]

Come on over on a 90 degree day, don't bring your suit. What?

[Alan Hahn]

Otherwise he's uncomfortable with half naked people all in the street.

[Don LaGreca]

I think I'm going.

[Caller]

Listen, I'm going right to Cohen. I'm going right to Cohen too. Long island guys. Tune the Fed.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go. That's how you do it.

[Caller]

That's the way to do it, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you guys exact same experience working the street. Blue collar cop Danny and good old Uncle Stevie. But I can see you guys getting along.

[Caller]

Listen, islanders growing up, 73 Mets, there you go. We got some things to talk about. I know. Listen, you know who ruins the party, by the way? Soto's girlfriend. Because everybody, all the other mothers are there with the mom bathing suits. And here comes.

[Don LaGreca]

Here comes whoever Soto brings bikini pouring out of.

[Caller]

Pouring out of a bikini drunk. Now you can't even look in her general direction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you got to pale.

[Caller]

You with the tongs.

[Alan Hahn]

Describe the mom bathing suit, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go in one piece, you'll see it eventually.

[Alan Hahn]

One piece, right with the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we already know Alan would be disgusted by that. Because when Allan sees people over the age of 50, even peck, he gets nauseated.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I can't see it.

[Caller]

Listen, before we talk, before I go, I got a list for Don. But listen, I'm very happy for Pete. As you go back to last October, can you imagine that one at bat that if he doesn't hit that three run home run, we're all done with Pete. We saw him struggle and struggle. His whole life would be different. Now we don't know how it's going to turn out. But if Pete goes on to hit 25, 35 home runs consistently, he benefits from having Soto. He has a great year. Can you imagine it all came down to that one at bat. If he strikes out with him. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, I have a list. Is it Mr. Destiny?

[Caller]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Jim Ballistic.

[Caller]

I got a list for you, Donald.

[Alan Hahn]

How his whole life changed because of what.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. What's the large?

[Alan Hahn]

Scott's favorite movie.

[Caller]

Okay. Okay. Our great Val Kilmer passed away. Don, I'm gonna give you the four people he was famous for. Date, for dating. You can all. You can all give. You can all rate them one to four in their best day. Ready for these four. This is the 27 Yankees, by the way. Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Darrell Hannah and Prime Share. Guys, have a great day. Enjoy the weather.

[Alan Hahn]

Danny dropped the mic with prime share. Because. Prime share. Prime share. Should be, like, mid-70s.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it should be, but. Prime share. I could turn back time when she's on the. On the ship and all the sailors are going nuts.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that the. Is that in the 90s?

[Don LaGreca]

Late 80s?

[Alan Hahn]

That's late 80s.

[Don LaGreca]

She's definitely in her 40s. I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Her Prime's way before that. Respectfully.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Prime. Cher is, like, right after Sonny.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe.

[Don LaGreca]

Maybe her career as far as musically, but as far as, like, yeah, everything else.

[Alan Hahn]

Pre surgery. Pre. All, like, the things.

[Don LaGreca]

But she just toned up too and everything. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, yeah, I. I didn't like.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, who. All right, so what are we doing here? Like, Crawford, Jolie, Hannah share.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was the. It was Daryl Hannah.

[Alan Hahn]

Darrell. That's right. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This isn't my kind of list. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

It's. It's awkward.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's. It's like.

[Alan Hahn]

Is it awkward?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like. I like. I like Jolie a lot. I'm not putting her at, like, the top of any one list.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think this is easy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Crawford's at the top.

[Don LaGreca]

Crawford's got, like.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Crawford's not even my favorite, like, supermodel of that era. Out of this group, I get. I guess. But, like, wow, this. This whole group. Can I tell you the truth? And this is Danny giving us some information. Maybe Jolie less than the others, but this is like a very tall and kind of waif group.

[Alan Hahn]

Not your thing. He said 27 Yankees. I gotta tell them that's not the 27 Yankees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, no. And let you guys know for. You guys already know my favorites. I'm very open about them. Salma Hayek, Halle Berry. You know, not as much height. Put other directions. You know what I'm saying? I'm more into other directions is what I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Square footage is the same.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the same square footage.

[Don LaGreca]

It's all different places. The one thing he was right about it, and we talked about it at the time, too, was the amount of pressure Pete was under in that at bat. Not only is the season online, he knows his whole legacy with the Mets, his contract, and if he strikes out, they lose, he's gone. And no one bats an eye. So it's one of the most clutch home runs you're ever going to see. You could do a mini 34 series, but, you know, joke. That was not game seven. Yeah. He didn't have a whole contract and legacy with the team on the line when he hit it. So it was unreal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's, it's. You could do a mini doc on that at bat. You really could.

[Alan Hahn]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was. That was. That moment was. I remember Natalie and I were going to the beach house that weekend. We were going to our beach house. Sounds aggressive, but all the people who hate me think I'm rich. We're going to our place on Long island, lovey. It's a very small. It's a small.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you ready to go to the beach house?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a small, It's a small, very, very, very regular spot. But we enjoy it. And we were on our way out and the game is in the place that it's in. And you know when you guys do these things with the wife, you have to be the one who's carrying nine different things to get to the car. She's handling the dogs. And I'm looking up at the TV and I go, all right, this is a disaster. I'll turn on Howie when I get in the car and just hear that the game's over.

[Alan Hahn]

And then you heard this. The pitch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Swing and a drive in the air to deep center field.

[Alan Hahn]

Samoa back and there she goes. Home run. Pete Alonso, dead central. Onto the grassy knoll to the right of the 400 mark.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has tied the game. A great at bat for Alonso.

[Alan Hahn]

A three run homer, his second home run of the year. We're all even. The Mets for the Marlins for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Could not believe it. Could not believe it.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon at 3 on 8:80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.