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- [00:00]
Alan Han
Calling all sightseers and selfie takers. Welcome to Texas, where a day on our hiking trails will lead to a lifetime of memories. And family road trips become family legends where thrill seekers make a splash into spring fed pools and picky eaters will clean their plates. This is your invitation to visit Texas and see it for yourself. Visit traveltexas.com and plan your family's trip today. Let's Texas Don.
- [00:31]
Don La Greca
She fell in love with the sex.
- [00:34]
Alan Han
Han Sauce was everywhere.
- [00:35]
Peter Rosenberg
And Rosenberg, if you want to stay.
- [00:37]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Up, he's got the energy that matters.
- [00:40]
Don La Greca
This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.
- [00:43]
Peter Rosenberg
This is Don, Han and Rosenberg. John Frenchy Fuqua on 8 80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app.
- [00:53]
Don La Greca
Happy Thursday, everybody. It's Juneteenth. A lot of people with the day off. If you are off, hopefully you're enjoying what has been kind of apocalyptic weather out there. It's one second it feels like it's a hundred degrees, then there's thunderstorms and dark clouds and then the sun comes back out again. And if you're stuck at work, well, then we're gonna be with you either streaming or on the app or when you get back home. Just enjoy your day and be safe out there. How are the boys, everybody? Good?
- [01:23]
Alan Han
What's happening, guys? How we doing today? Like, it's, it's one of these rare middle of the week days that it's not, you know, obviously it's a national holiday and so it's. But it's middle of the week kind of thing. Right. So it's, we still have tomorrow, but it's, it's kind of an odd day. Like the end of school's coming out. Like you're getting that today's that first. Like, Don, you mentioned weather and we've been complaining about it.
- [01:45]
Carlos Mendoza
Yeah.
- [01:45]
Alan Han
We're such old men. It's all we do is talk about weather.
- [01:48]
John Frenchy Fuqua
But today you really are old.
- [01:50]
Alan Han
Today felt like the first true day of summer.
- [01:54]
Don La Greca
Yeah, it felt like, like it's supposed to.
- [01:57]
Alan Han
Yes.
- [01:57]
Don La Greca
And Peter had mentioned that he's going to complain when it gets hot. That's right. But complaining about how hot it is, how cold it is is one thing. That, that's, that's the way of the world. What we were complaining about is it shouldn't be 60 in the middle of June fair. Right. The complaining about, like what has happened to the weather. So, you know, do what you want, but I just want to feel like it's, we're on the eve of summer. It's just a what, like what, 36 hours away or whatever. And you know, summertime is supposed to be warm. So let's do it, man. Let's have at it here. And usually when we talk about the summertime, we talk about baseball. And on the one hand we've got two first place baseball teams here in New York. So all supposed to be good, right? It doesn't feel good right now. It doesn't feel good now. The Yankees are up 4, 3 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rodin's given up a couple of home runs, but they are winning. But they lost their sixth consecutive game last night. Again, can't come up with a big hit. Volpe's been an issue at shortstop. And the Yankees have their longest losing streak since 2023, which Allen is significant because that team didn't make the playoffs. That was a nine game losing streak, I believe in August. And with the injuries, they finished 82 and 80 and missed the playoffs. The Mets have now lost five in a row. Cannot beat the Braves. They're going to try to salvage the game later on tonight, which will be right here on 880. And they all of a sudden can't hit. And they blew a game on Tuesday. That really kind of set the tone for last night. Even though it's Blackburn versus Sale, but the Mets get shut out. So here we are, two first place teams. But Allen, you talked a lot yesterday about how it looks. It just doesn't look great right now. It doesn't look great at all. Despite the fact that we're talking about two first place teams, both likely headed to the postseason.
- [03:48]
Alan Han
I said too, because they're going to see each other, obviously, fourth of July weekend. Right. You're going to get the fourth and the fifth, Mets and Yankees at Citi Field. And it's sort of okay, where are they now? And after these two weeks, what will both teams look like? And both teams, the schedules are interesting. The Mets a little bit tougher, more division opponents, the Yankees a little bit lighter. At least that's what it's supposed to be. But. But the Angels have sure given him a hard time. And it's like, where will they be and will they both? Remember I said to you, Don, both or only one or neither will be in first place when they meet on July 4th. And you said both. You were very confident. You said it with your chest.
- [04:23]
Don La Greca
Yeah.
- [04:23]
Alan Han
Can you still say that?
- [04:24]
Don La Greca
No.
- [04:25]
Alan Han
With the Phillies now a game back with even the Yankee lead is not, you know, completely safe. Now they gotta hang on today and we'll see what happens. But it's not as if they finally broke out. The same mistakes are still being made. Volpe just got caught stealing. So there's a lot of that that, you know, that does concern you. I keep saying to anybody that gets mad at me and I can't believe, by the way, what is it with this time slot and these Yankee fans? I've got people like, they lose their mind on social media coming at me like, I don't know what I'm talking about. Like, I've never watched the Yankees before. You got to get to know me. Everybody listening that doesn't know me. I have been a Yankee fan for my entire life. They were the first team I rooted for.
- [05:03]
Don La Greca
The one thing, Alan, you could be passionate about. The one sport you haven't never covered it.
- [05:07]
Alan Han
I never covered the Yankees. I didn't want to. I even had Newsday when they would send you out during your off season and, you know, they'd have fill ins and stuff like that. I did a ton of Jets, I did a lot of Giants. I never. And I did Mets. I was down in Port St. Lucie. I've never covered the Yankees and I never really wanted to. I always told them, just don't. I don't want to do it because I wanted one team that I could stay a fan of.
- [05:30]
Don La Greca
Right.
- [05:30]
Alan Han
And I mean, in the late 90s, that was definitely a team you want to stay a fan of. But I don't understand how everyone takes it so personal when you speak about the team. And it's just like, it's a long season, they're gonna lose games. Like, guys, you know what you're looking at as a fan, you know, it doesn't look right. So that's my case. On that side of it, it's not just trying to come up with drama and all that crap. Nobody wants to do that. But Don, tell me about the Mets. Does that not look right?
- [06:00]
Don La Greca
Well, before we do that, Alan, we would be negligent if we didn't wish you a happy birthday.
- [06:09]
Alan Han
No, it's too soon.
- [06:10]
John Frenchy Fuqua
It's borderline. It's borderline negligence already that it took this long.
- [06:13]
Don La Greca
Really. I had reached out to Alan earlier, so I felt like I did my due.
- [06:18]
Alan Han
You both did. No, you both did.
- [06:19]
Don La Greca
I greatly appreciate this is all performative because we've already wished him a happy birthday. But I do think the audience needs to be aware of the fact that Alan Han is celebrating his 29th birthday. So happy birthday, Al.
- [06:31]
John Frenchy Fuqua
You'd believe it. You'd believe it with his shirt off. You'd believe 29. Say that right now.
- [06:34]
Alan Han
I'm not sure about that. Not in your hole. I spent two and a half hours in the pool today because it was that kind of day.
- [06:41]
Don La Greca
It was gorgeous. I did too, until, like, that rogue rainstorm came.
- [06:45]
Alan Han
Oh, you had a. We didn't get that. Is that. So that's something in the forecast because it didn't come this way.
- [06:50]
Don La Greca
It's one of those days where just if you get. If you're under the wrong cloud. And then as quickly as we grabbed the electronics and dove into the house, as if, like fire was coming from the sky, all of a sudden the sun came back out and it was 100 degrees again. But we had already dried off and got in the house, so we had some lunch. But it's definitely like one of those days, so.
- [07:08]
Alan Han
Oh, we do. Oh, 7pm 30% then 50% at 8pm Thunderstorms.
- [07:16]
Don La Greca
Yeah. See, so it's that kind of a day. But to answer your question about the Mets, here's why I'm concerned. When I talked about will, will one of. Or either of these teams be in first place when they meet? It'll probably be the Mets that might fall out of it just because of the fact that I just. I think the Phillies are better than the Blue Jays or the Rays or the Red Sox. So I think they're more of a threat. And right now the Mets are reeling. I mean, they've lost five in a row. Again, Blackburn versus Sales, not a great matchup. Blackburn gave up three runs in the first inning. Mets didn't hit, Sale was on his game and the Mets lose. Really what it comes down to is wasting the opportunity to win on Tuesday. Guys. Now put the onus on, you know, hurting yesterday and now even more so today where you've got Clay Holmes and we'll see what he can do.
- [08:02]
Alan Han
He's been good.
- [08:03]
Don La Greca
He's been good. But, you know, since we didn't break it up with. With pass, and we should. The next time we have him on that, he has a lot of home run in every outing since he said he's right.
- [08:11]
Alan Han
That was a little thing we forgot to say to pass.
- [08:13]
Don La Greca
But you've already lost the series and now, you know, we were saying win five out of the seven games this, these next 10 against the Braves and you can put them to sleep. Well, now you're gonna have to win every game you play with them now because you've. You dropped the first two and now the first game against Philly you don't have a starter because Senga's on the IL, McGill's on the IL. So timing is bad. So I don't. I don't want to panic about the Mets in totality, but right now, because of the injuries to Sanga McGill, you're pitching Blackburn. You don't know. You're probably going to have an opener to start the series against Philadelphia, so you're not putting your best foot forward here because of the injuries everybody screamed about. Terence has to be the starting catcher because Alvarez is playing poorly. And then you see something Allen you never see.
- [09:00]
Alan Han
I've never seen that. I didn't even know that was a rule. Touching the ball with the mask. I guess you can't do that.
- [09:08]
Don La Greca
Can't do it. You can't use any piece of your.
- [09:10]
Alan Han
Equipment to corral the ball.
- [09:11]
Don La Greca
To corral the ball. So the ball got away from Thrones and nobody was going to advance. It got like five feet away from him, but I guess just had a brain fart and got lazy. And instead of picking the ball up with his hand, he kind of scooped it up, Peter, with his mask. Runners advance, run scores. And it just. It just makes you just scratch your head, like, what are you doing? We're just complimenting you that you're the better catcher. You used to be the starting catcher over Alvarez, and then you do something as egregious what Alvarez did the day before when he was throwing a second base, like, come on, man, you're struggling. You've got injuries. You can't play with your head up your. No, you know what? And they even said during that, because I was still in the car when I was driving home, that that's something you might see, like one out of a thousand games like that. That just never happens, ever. And it ends up happening at the worst possible time.
- [10:03]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Well, isn't it. Isn't that what a bad streak is all about? Yeah, all of the things happening at the worst possible time.
- [10:09]
Alan Han
Right. When it does seem to be, like, when it rains, it pours. Like the old adage. Right? That does seem to be what happens when you're in a real losing streak. And when you get the five, that's real. Right. That's a real losing. And Don, does it feel. Is it stupid to be. Must win tonight?
- [10:25]
Don La Greca
Well, it's. Well, here's why I lean towards that. Honestly. Now we are out of. Take the literal out of it because, no, not literally. You know, that beyond this earth, you.
- [10:35]
Alan Han
Know, the idea of, like, everyone in that room just Says like, you know, we gotta, gotta lock in, we gotta get this one. Like you gotta get this one tonight.
- [10:43]
Don La Greca
Alan, it's them, it's them. Everybody's got a them. The Yankees have the Red Sox. Yeah, you hate the Astros and yeah, the Rays can be a pain in the neck, but the Red Sox are them. To the Mets, the Braves are them. As much as the Phillies are the bigger threat. As much as they are, they're the closer, rival. And I'm not saying I got any love for the Phillies or the city of Philadelphia, but they're not them. The Braves are them. And that building, whether I don't care what you call it, I don't care how many new buildings they put up in Atlanta. In that city, wacky things happen. And the Met fan base and the Mets organization all fought because of what happened in the first game of that doubleheader last year when they came from behind, down three nothing and won that game and clinched a playoff berth. That they exercised the demons in Atlanta. And then you see the Braves get off to an awful start, 13 games under.500 at one point, 13 games back in the Mets to start this series and you're thinking, now we got a chance to put them to bed and what happens? Same old, same old. You blow a 41 lead in the 8th inning against the Braves. You're a no show yesterday because it's them. And I'm sorry, not every loss, not every series is equal lose to anybody else. All right, it's just one of those things. But when it's the Braves, it just feels like do they have our number? Is this an issue? Are the players thinking about it? We thought we exercised the demons. And yet the next two times going into that building, you're owing to disgusting loss on Tuesday, no show on Wednesday. So yeah, you want to put that to bed because you don't want to limp in riding a six game losing streak against Philadelphia. And at that point you might completely have lost your lead in the division depending on what happens against the Marlins with the Phillies and then, oh by the way, have to play the Braves again and then how the fans going to react if you're, you know, limping and losing eight of nine. It's just Allen, it's just, it's because it's them. And that's why it feels like getting swept by a team under.500 and who it was, it just hits way different.
- [12:51]
Alan Han
And that kind of what I said when the series started, the idea of who it is, like it's the same thing as the Red Sox. It's who it is. It's not about the records. You know, again, the old cliche, when these two teams play, you throw the record. Yeah. Like, but it's, it's a real thing when you play certain teams that are the thorn in your side type teams that even in their worst years, when you play them, they just still have your number. And that's what I thought about going into this area. And I remember you're going to play them twice now, they're going to come to City Field. And now you almost think to yourself, you got to win tonight. And then you got to. You got to spank them in City Field just to make sure they're still 11 games back. But you said, you can really bury him. And I said, but you also don't want to open the door either.
- [13:31]
Don La Greca
Right.
- [13:32]
Alan Han
You don't want to give them a little life. And so that's, that's why this series is one of those in the midst of a big long season with. Where losses happen and stretches happen where you don't play well. We all acknowledge that there are certain teams and certain series that you could take out that you can just say, you know what, it's a long season. But these three games have a different feel to them. These matter. And that's why we're going to talk about them with a little more emphasis than maybe we do when they play the Marlins. It's as simple as that. And I think that's just a real thing. Peter, we've said this a million times. The baseball season's a long season, and you can't overreact. It's like game one. You can't overreact to game 70, 100. But there are moments and series and stretches that do catch your attention and give you a reason to say, all right, hang on a second. Let's assess. This is that time right now for both these teams in the.
- [14:28]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Well, I think the real question is who's worse off in this moment? I mean, I guess. I guess the more obvious one is the Yankees just for the sheer lack of offense consistently and. Whereas the Mets. Yeah, exactly.
- [14:42]
Alan Han
Excuses. They're starting pitching now, is starting to break down.
- [14:44]
John Frenchy Fuqua
The Mets have injuries and they're starting pitching and they're losing in different ways. But in some ways, you could say that's worse. You know what I mean, Don? Like, it's not one thing. The Mets are now just losing in some, in some cases, like two days ago, just dumb games. You shouldn't lose. But the but the Yankees have what feels to be like a chronic issue and it's clearly a mental problem.
- [15:04]
Don La Greca
Yeah, well, there's, there's issues and we'll dive deeper into the Yankees once their game is over.
- [15:08]
Alan Han
Bottom seven, still four, three.
- [15:10]
Don La Greca
But the reason I disagree with you, Peter, like you're, you're right in the sense that the Yankees issues seem to be more chronic than the Mets issues. So ultimately that might be a bigger problem. But the Mets don't have the margin for error the Yankees have. And yes, I know the Rays are only a game and a half back two in the lost column. Blue Jays are lurking too. They're only back two in the lost column. Red Sox are only four and a half games back. I get. But I can distinctly. I could say, as Allen would say with my chest, that the Yankees are better than all the other teams of the American League, maybe with the exception of the Tigers. So they're better than everybody in their division. So even if they can't figure out this chronic problem, Peter, I still think they're winning this division. I believe they're going to the playoffs as the American League east champions. And the only team that they have to fret about right now is, is the possibility of facing Detroit. The Mets have no margin for error because the Phillies are really good. I can't say with my chest that the Mets are better than the Phillies. I think they are, we'll ultimately see at the end of the day. But they've got a one game lead on Philadelphia. Now, Philadelphia, they lost eight, nine just a couple of weeks ago. So everybody kind of goes through this. But if the Mets, Peter, lose out on this division, which is a distinct possibility, they right now, you know, with 29 losses, they would be okay. They would fall into the first wild card. But the Giants, who are struggling a bit, but they've lost four in a row. But once Devers gets going, I think the Giants are going to be better. I think the Padres are going to play better. They've gotten off to a slow start. So you go from winning the division to all of a sudden maybe having to play three road games in the wild card because you're the second or third wild card. The Yankees are going to win this division. I'm telling you, we'll reconvene every couple of months to see maybe things will change. But right now, Al, am I wrong? You feel like they're better than everybody else in the division. I can't say that about the Mets and the Phillies. And if they lose this Division and they have to battle to get you know, three home games in the wild card. That puts you in a really tough spot in a really difficult National League. They could really screw up a run with where I think the Yankees have way more of a margin for error in the American League.
- [17:25]
Alan Han
And it also makes it interesting what happens at the end of July when the trade deadline comes around and you know how aggressive. We know the Yankees, their aggressive nature isn't really there because of the budget situation. Right. How much you're spending already. They don't like giving up young players and we know they always are going to pay in a tax. We know any kind of high end player that they are trying to to acquire is going to cost them prospects. They don't want to give up.
- [17:50]
Don La Greca
Right.
- [17:50]
Alan Han
We saw it last year with was Flaherty right out of Detroit when they were going to make a move for him. They decided not to because the asking price was too high. Dodgers didn't care, they did it so. But the Mets to different story. The Mets probably will be a little bit more aggressive.
- [18:05]
Don La Greca
When you say just by nature I think the Yankees, the Yankees.
- [18:10]
Alan Han
The Yankees feel like they're going to get Luis heel and that'll give them another starter. You are anticipating Luis Hill will pick up from where he left off as a rookie of the year last year. But there's obviously no guarantees of that. But their starting pitching has been fairly steady. It has not been a major issue. Their offense has been the issue. Goldschmidt's having a good day today. But point is is that offense for them especially bottom of the order, third base situation, is LeMayhue going to hang on any longer? Are you going to move on from him? There's a lot of little things there that they could change if they made a move, an aggressive move at the deadline and there's names that everybody knows it's out there that have been talked about enough. Then you know they're going to cost. They're going to be rentals and they're going to cost. But for the Mets is it bullpen like really for the Mets I think they might be the more aggressive team and they might have to be for all the reasons why you mentioned. Yeah, because the opportunity is there, right Don? It is there for the Mets to do something come October. They have a really good team that's been established.
- [19:10]
Don La Greca
Both teams are feeling it because the Yankees went to the World Series last year. So I would think anything short of a championship will be looked upon as a disappointment. And I'm not talking about the Yankee fans that are disappointed every year they don't win a championship. You want to take the natural step. You went to the World Series and now you want to win the World Series, that anybody would do that. But. And the Mets now want to go to the World Series. So if they went to the World Series and lost, I guess you could say, yeah, you're disappointed, but they did take the next step. So you're at the top of the mountain now. One team is trying to win a championship, the other team's trying to get to the World Series and also win a championship. So this isn't, hey, let's sneak into the playoffs like the Mets maybe felt last year. These are two teams that are battling for the same real estate. The difference is the Yankees notoriously seem to be a team that has faith in their roster and they're not going to make moves for the sake of making moves where maybe Cohen might be a little bit more aggressive. Now Stern's, you know, we'll see how aggressive he'll ultimately be if he feels like they're close. If this catching situation doesn't resolve itself, do they need a catcher who is going to be healthy by the time we get to the trade deadline at the end of July? I think there's always room to add in the bullpen, especially when you have starting pitchers that don't go past five, six innings anymore. And does Manaya and Montas come back and pitch well? Like, yeah, that'll be. That's kind of similar to the Yankees, right? They're expecting to get heel back. The Mets are expecting to get Montas and Maniah back. Those will be like transactions. But how do they do? Are they going to look good? So I feel like, correct me if I'm wrong, the Mets might be in a position to be a little bit more aggressive than the Yankees, just historically speaking. Both teams will do things, but Cashman doesn't mortgage the future. I don't know enough about Stearns to know what his track record is. He probably leans on not wanting to do that either. But how much pressure does Cohen put on him to say, hey, I want to strike while the iron's hot here? We've got to make sure that we take the next step. I don't know if Hal is pressuring Cashman to do the same thing.
- [21:16]
Alan Han
What kind of summer is it going to be for us here in New York? What kind of summer is baseball going to give us here? Because last year the summer kind of was a flip, wasn't it the Mets got off to a terrible start. We thought they were going to blow the whole thing up. They got hot in August, but it wasn't really until September where you had a feeling for what this team could become. And then there was some magic that had to happen once we got to the playoffs. The Yankees were on that kind of trajectory already of a team that you were just having high expectations of and, you know, and the Soto thing was something that followed through. I thought this would be the summer of Judge versus Soto, but I'm so off on this now because it really isn't. It doesn't feel like, like Judge has gotten off to such a great start. He's almost like way ahead at this point that Soto's not even in his class when it comes to this season. So I really did. I had a. I thought this would be a Star wars kind of summer here in New York, but I'm getting the vibe that it's now that we're getting into the summer and the warm weather and all that stuff. I'm wondering if either team has the juice right now to carry us. Well, I, honestly, I don't know. They're both first place teams, but for how much longer? At least with one of them.
- [22:26]
Don La Greca
I'm going to answer that question when we come back. Also, we're going to hear a little bit from Mendoza about how he feels about his team at this particular point. We'll keep updated on the Yankees. Yankees up a run in the seventh. So we'll keep an eye on that as they're trying to avoid getting swept and losing a seventh consecutive game. It just seems inconceivable.
- [22:46]
Alan Han
Five, three, top of the eighth, just so you know.
- [22:48]
Don La Greca
Yeah, good. So we got that. Five, three. So they did tack on a little bit of insurance a little bit later on. Guys, we've got the, you know, it's Thursday, so the Thursday rewrite's coming up at 4:30 and we got en at 6. But tonight a champion can be crowned in the NBA. And no matter what happens, whether the Pacers come back and force a game seven and win or the Thunder win their first title since going back to the Seattle days, we've got a situation where there's parody versus dynasty. And we have it in hockey and we're having it in football, but we've got parody in baseball and basketball. It seems. What's better? What would you rather have? Oh, I, you know, chasing after the two or three dynasties or having a different champion every single year? And literally of the four major sports, two do it one way and two seem to do it another way, right? So it's really split down the middle.
- [23:44]
John Frenchy Fuqua
You thought you knew the answer, but then you don't, right?
- [23:47]
Alan Han
See, to me, I don't think there's. It's so perfectly said, Peter. I don't think there's a right answer. I think there's a preference.
- [23:55]
Don La Greca
Right? No, that's what I think. It happens, you know, things happen in sports. But I'm just wondering, and I'll be honest, I'll give you a little hint. I thought I knew what I wanted. Now I'm not sure anymore.
- [24:07]
John Frenchy Fuqua
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- [25:10]
Peter Rosenberg
Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [25:13]
John Frenchy Fuqua
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [25:14]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:22]
Don La Greca
Game time is brought to you by Teleportu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time guys. The Mets close their series with the Braves coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:35 while the Yankees and Angels are playing in the eighth inning. 53 Yankees trying to snap their six game losing streak. They got the two run lead. Liberty play host to the Mercury at 7 Tullamore du the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Du or try the new Tullamore Du honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Duke responsibly. So after the Mets dropped a five nothing decision to The Braves lose their fifth in a row for the first time this year. Carlos Mendoza talked about how the offense struggled against Crasso.
- [26:19]
Alan Han
Yeah, no, you got to give him credit. He was on tonight, you know, throughout.
- [26:22]
Don La Greca
The course of the year, you're going to be facing guys like that.
- [26:25]
Alan Han
And today he was on.
- [26:26]
Don La Greca
So tip your cap, you come back.
- [26:27]
Alan Han
Tomorrow and, you know, get ready for Strider.
- [26:32]
Don La Greca
Now, Strider hasn't pitched well. He's 15 on the year high earn run average. But still, history is kind of on his side a little bit. Francisco Lindor. You know, we could talk about who the best player on the team is. Who's the most popular player on the team. I feel like he's the leader of this team. So I think what he says in that room means something on the team needing to fight their way out of this 100%.
- [26:56]
Carlos Mendoza
I mean, we did a really good job the first two months and a half of playing things through. And this is the time of the year that we're going through it. You know, everything goes through it. And as a team, we got to continue to push each other. Like you said, we got to dig deep and continue to climb. At the end of the day, everybody here wants it and we all understand it's a long. It's a long year. We're going to deal with adversity, put our heads down and work as hard as you can to get back to the winning side and then don't look back.
- [27:29]
Alan Han
You know what I don't like? And again, I didn't spend a lot of time covering baseball as a reporter, but I did spend some time on the Mets side. I find it funny that in baseball of all sports that we use terms like that, like he was asked the question. So it's not Lindor's fault, but a lot of times you guys have to just fight, fight harder. Fight more like using fight in baseball is. Is silly. Trying harder in baseball is silly. Being more motivated being. Being like sometimes it's aggressive and all those things that you. Those are football, yes. Basketball, sure. Hockey, absolutely. Baseball, never. It's the one sport where it's almost like the harder you try, the worse it is. It's the one sport that you can't think of fight and all that stuff. It's. You got to play the game. That's all. If you need to be more locked in, laser focused and things like that. But I can't. Like, it's just a side part. I know it's. It has nothing to do with his answer. It Just always makes me laugh when, when. And he had to answer it. Yeah, Yeah. I guess we have to fight harder. Like, come on. Like, it's not the sport.
- [28:35]
Don La Greca
I, I guess the counter to that, guys, would be just the mental aspect of it. Like, we just got to be a little bit more prepared. We got more lock in more. Because you're right. I mean, it's not. I've got to hit the hole harder, I've got to tackle harder, I got to drive to the net harder. You know, it's not like that in baseball. Baseball is a mechanical sport.
- [28:57]
Alan Han
It's not a contact sport.
- [28:59]
Don La Greca
It's about just the focus of it. Lindor. Just because Lindor went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts last night doesn't mean he wasn't trying. Maybe trying a little too hard. But that's the thing with Lindor. He's batting.154 over his last seven games.224 over his last 15. So he's struggling a bit right now. And he says he's got to play better.
- [29:24]
Alan Han
He sure does.
- [29:27]
Don La Greca
So we do not have it, I guess.
- [29:28]
Alan Han
And I agree, he certainly does have to.
- [29:31]
Don La Greca
I know how he can definitely get better.
- [29:32]
Carlos Mendoza
I can get him base for, for Pete, for Soto, for the rest of the guys. I can run the bases better. You know, just at the end of the day, it's tough to win games when your little guy is not getting on base. And yeah, that's, that's, that's what I would, I would do. Try to get better. Try to be a better hitter and get on base for the guys.
- [29:52]
Don La Greca
Now if you didn't know the Met situation, you would think who. He just called out one of his teammates. No, he's calling out himself. He's the lead off hitter. Right. Like, so that's what you like about Lindor? I don't. I. Honestly, guys, I think it's all kind of just a way of saying, I'm the leader of this team. If I could be critical of myself, if I could tell everybody I need to play better, then everybody can follow suit. Nobody can look in the mirror and say, I'm good. If Lindor can say it, then everybody else should say it. So I like the fact.
- [30:24]
Alan Han
Point the thumb, not the finger. That's what you do as a leader.
- [30:27]
Don La Greca
And you know what? We never even, on our conversation yesterday about the Yankees and Boone, nobody's saying the panic, but I do think you have to acknowledge there's an issue and always say it's early to say we'll be fine or we're barreling up, you know, no, just, hey, it's an issue. We're on it, we're focused on changing it. It's not the end of the world. But just acknowledging there's an issue, I agree.
- [30:50]
Alan Han
I completely agree.
- [30:51]
Don La Greca
And five losses in a row might be good enough for some teams, might be okay for some other met teams, but for this team, you know, with the, with the Phillies crawling up their back and with the Atlanta Braves trying to fight back into this thing, it's certainly not what you want. As a once former Yankee manager said. 1-800-9193776. Let's go to Javier in Queens. You get us started here on Don Hanna. Roseberg.
- [31:17]
Javier
What's going on, guys? My absolute pleasure to be lead off and first and foremost, happy birthday to big, sexy, handsome Alan. Live it up today, my brother. Live it up.
- [31:32]
Alan Han
Yeah, yeah. That's how, that's how I live. I live it up.
- [31:36]
John Frenchy Fuqua
What's the dinner plan tonight, by the way, Alan?
- [31:38]
Alan Han
Nothing, nothing. Come on, get off the air and we'll just eat. You know, I think actually we didn't have a taco Tuesday. I think we're having taco Thursday.
- [31:44]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Well, that's, that's a, that's something for you though because we know how you.
- [31:47]
Alan Han
Feel about, you know, so the problem is this because, you know, Stephanie was talking about dinner and all that and I said, well, we got game six tonight and I have get up tomorrow, so there's really not a lot of going out tonight. Now this weekend we'll see what happens. You know, all bets are off this weekend, but no one, it's up for grab.
- [32:07]
Don La Greca
Yeah, that's the true definition of the phrase, the proper.
- [32:12]
Javier
I didn't suspect Alan to be a tall boy on the Long Island Railroad celebrating his happy birthday kind of guy.
- [32:18]
Alan Han
But I mean if we are, if it wasn't a holiday that we did, you know, we were going to be in, that's probably, that's what it would have been. Tall boy in the, in the bag. Me and the boys.
- [32:28]
Javier
Happy Juneteenth. And you know, just a little complaint. I know the Yankees are winning right now, but you know, this offense, it's like you were saying the other day, it's like you've seen it before. It's very swing for the fences, not a lot of situational hitting. And to expect them to kind of change that, I mean they're going to, they could sleepwalk to the playoffs, but to consider that they're going to change their kind of offensive Style at this point, it's just tough, man. And, like, it's shocking. Judge couldn't miss the ball, and then all of a sudden, he can't hit. It's. You know.
- [33:04]
Alan Han
This is. Of course. So he just got a double. Yeah, just had a double. Stanton was. Stanton walks. It is two on, right. Nobody out in the. In the bottom of the eighth. Guess what just happened at the stadium.
- [33:14]
Javier
The rain, baby. Rain. The. The famous yes. Network Ray music will be on for. For Allen's birthday.
- [33:20]
Don La Greca
They knew he wanted least Avi. And thank you for the phone call. We do have an official ball game, so they should be okay.
- [33:27]
John Frenchy Fuqua
There you go.
- [33:28]
Don La Greca
Alan, you mentioned it at the start about how, like, you know, the fans, like, are getting on you. Like, you got to prove that you're really, you know, worthy to talk about the Yankees. The thing. The thing that took me by surprise is, like, how overwhelmingly positive most of our callers were yesterday. Like, I give Boone a break. You know, it's early in the season, and I don't know how you felt about it, Peter, but when I was going through the show yesterday, and I'm like, what sh. This is a different show. Like, it finally felt like a different show for the first time. Usually The Yankees win 12 straight games, and all our callers would be finding something wrong with the team. Now there's actually something wrong with the team. And all we did was take calls. Oh, it's too early. Why you killing Boone? They're going to be fine. And I thought about it last night. Is it a generational thing? Like, let's be honest. When we were on. Yes. I would think most of our Yankee audience that called in 70 and older was on. Yes. Because they were home and they just called. That was their program, you know, and it was easier. They were home. They didn't have to worry about, you know, driving or being distracted. And most of them are older and are older fans. Older fans skew more negative than younger fans. You would think it'd be the opposite. Like, an older person would be like, I've been through this before. I know the game. I know it's too early. Let's not panic. Is it possible that the younger generation is a little bit more optimistic than the older generation? Or was it just one of those days?
- [35:00]
Alan Han
My theory is this. The younger generation of Yankee fans who are old enough to. Whether it's been in the car listening to us or have it on their phone or whatever it is that's not in school, although that's going to be ending soon, that generation of fan, if you think about it, only knows barely won World Series.
- [35:17]
Don La Greca
Yeah, that's probably it.
- [35:18]
Alan Han
The older guys, they, they like, they only know World Series. Like, like when you said, Peter, if you only go back to 1975. Right. So 50 years. Right. 50 years of Yankee baseball, they still have the most World Series of any team in the sport. Seven, seven. Did I get that right? Yes. No. Eight. Is it eight?
- [35:39]
Don La Greca
Well, so it's 77. 78.
- [35:42]
Alan Han
And the four. Right.
- [35:43]
Don La Greca
And then, and then the five. So seven, seven.
- [35:46]
Alan Han
Yeah. So it's still more than anyone else is. A bunch of them had. Are tied for four of them, but the Yankees have seven. But yet, as Don noted, only one in the last 25 years. So that's something that I think the younger generation of fan doesn't have that same type of, and I'll say it because I have it, entitlement. Or at least that's our standard. Our standard is it's the Yankees. They're supposed to play and win World Series. And this new standard is sort of like, man, our team's good every year. You never have to worry about having a bad team. And if, you know, we got to win a World Series, that'd be great. But there isn't that same feeling. And maybe that's what it is. Maybe the expectations of the younger generation is different than the expectations of the generations after them.
- [36:32]
Don La Greca
Well, and that would make sense, right, because the older fan is going to remember the four championships in five years and say, well, what happened to that? And now it's different. Matter of fact, there's other, you know, the Patriots are way more of a dynasty. The Chiefs, the way that they've won at the clip that they've won, way different than the Yankees, who, like, literally have won one championship in 25 years. Now they've been in the playoffs every single. They've been above.500 every year and they've gone to the playoffs most of those 25. But yeah, I guess the standard's a little different than the old curmudgeon who's going to say, well, back in my day, you know, George would have had everybody fired because we didn't win 12 in a row. You can't honestly, you know, be in that. In that way if you're a current Yankee fan right now. Let's go to Tal Tal. He's in Long Island. You're on espn, New York. What's up, man?
- [37:23]
Tal
How you doing? Happy birthday. First of all, Mr. Han.
- [37:26]
Alan Han
Thank you. Tal Tal, can I first correct Don.
- [37:30]
Don La Greca
What's that?
- [37:32]
Alan Han
Don said that you were in Long island and we had to. We had to make sure that we don't do that on.
- [37:39]
Don La Greca
But I usually do that. I just screwed up. Go ahead.
- [37:43]
Alan Han
Can't have that be held accountable if I didn't say it. So, you know. You know, it is around here.
- [37:47]
Don La Greca
Sure.
- [37:49]
Tal
Well, accountability is a good, Good segue, I guess, because I wanted to talk about. I think it's time to put the sea on Lindor's chest real soon. I think just watching him, watching him every night, the way he's able to talk to the media and just take any heat that needs to be taken, whether it's little, whether they've lost one in, you know, in crushing fashion, or they lost five in a row like they did. Now, anyone who's played at that level, especially in New York, will tell you that having a guy who's going to stand up and take that heat, when you're exhausted, you're pissed off, you've lost a few in a row. That's a big deal.
- [38:29]
Alan Han
He's become a good. He's really become a very good spokesman for the team. You got to admit that Don, Right. The last couple years didn't start out great, obviously, with the thumbs down and all that stuff, but it was a long time ago. That does feel like a long time ago.
- [38:40]
John Frenchy Fuqua
It was.
- [38:41]
Alan Han
He's. He's really emerged as a guy that has. I think. I think Tal makes a great point. He is the voice of the team, is he not?
- [38:50]
Don La Greca
He definitely needs to be said.
- [38:52]
Alan Han
He says it.
- [38:54]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [38:58]
John Frenchy Fuqua
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [38:59]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:07]
Don La Greca
Tal called up on Long island, not just before, about how the Met should make Francisco Lindor the captain. Put the sea on, as he put it. Well, here's the Met's history of captains. They started in 1962. Their first captain was Keith Hernandez in 1987. So they gave him the captaincy after they won the World Series in 86. Stayed the captain till he left after 1989, the final year of Keith's final two years of Keith's existence with the Mets. He shared the captaincy with Gary Carter. So Gary Carter was the CO Captain 88 and 89. There was not another captain until John Franco, which having your closer be a captain is kind of a joke, but he was a leader on the team.
- [39:51]
Alan Han
He was a leader.
- [39:52]
Don La Greca
Why?
- [39:52]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Who cares?
- [39:53]
Don La Greca
No, it's stupid. It's like. It's like when Luongo was the captain for the Canucks as a goaltender. It just. It's not. It's silly.
- [39:59]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Why in the locker room?
- [40:00]
Don La Greca
Because you're not an everyday player.
- [40:01]
Alan Han
But it matters in the locker room.
- [40:03]
Don La Greca
I guess it does, but it's just silly to. But.
- [40:05]
John Frenchy Fuqua
And a closer is like every day at Chase. I mean, you're there, you're sitting there every day.
- [40:09]
Don La Greca
You're with David Wright from 13 to 18. So those are the only captains or co captains the Mets have had in their history.
- [40:15]
Alan Han
Right.
- [40:16]
Don La Greca
The reason why I think it's kind of a joke in baseball is because, listen, the leader is a leader, right? It's a thing for the Yankees because of who wore the captain. So, you know, Lou Garrick was a captain, Thurman Munson was a captain. You know, Derek Jeter was a captain. So. And not every year did they have a captain. You don't have to have a captain. There's no responsibilities to the captaincy on the field like there is in hockey, where there is a responsibility as a captain of the field.
- [40:46]
Alan Han
Talk to officials.
- [40:47]
Don La Greca
And even in football where the captains go out for the coin toss. So there is no responsibility for a captain other than being a leader. So if you're a leader and in the one year they had, they. They had Keith wear the C and it just looks silly, it looks stupid.
- [41:00]
Alan Han
Didn't Franco have the C?
- [41:01]
Don La Greca
I think he did, too. Yes.
- [41:02]
Alan Han
I thought Franco had it.
- [41:03]
Don La Greca
Also, the thing with the clothes, I just think having. I guess, Peter. Yeah. You're a captain in the locker room, so there's no reason to signify wearing a C because it doesn't mean anything other than to the people that are in the room. But to wear the C means that there's some sort of a duty you have on the field. And as a closer, you're not always on the field. So, like Keith Hernandez, he's at first base, he's going to get the meeting on the mound. Like there's. I don't know, it just seemed like it hit a little different than with Franco. Again, Franco was a leader, but he didn't have to be the captain. Think you have to throw a C on Lindor. He's the leader. If you want to make him the captain, go ahead. I don't think it's necessary in baseball to announce that it really was only a thing for the Yankees because of who the captains were, but it's just not a thing in baseball. I never felt it was A thing in basketball, Allen, even football, it's okay. To me, it was always more of a hockey thing than anything else because they do have.
- [42:01]
Alan Han
I agree.
- [42:02]
Don La Greca
Duties on the ice of talking to.
- [42:03]
Alan Han
The officials, something that you're designated to do. I mean, football has captains, and the captains come out and they meet and they do the coin toss and stuff like that.
- [42:11]
Don La Greca
Could have as many as like eight captains.
- [42:12]
Alan Han
Yeah, they have a million captain. Then you have your captain. Captain for the dead.
- [42:16]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Football. Football doesn't hit.
- [42:18]
Alan Han
Yeah, but I think, I think hockey.
- [42:20]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Is the biggest one.
- [42:20]
Alan Han
But they do have the letter, though. They do have the letter on the, on the jersey they wear the. And the stars that indicate the years and all that stuff. But I, I again, it's all designation and it's something that it just acknowledgement. Like, again, Jalen Brunson, right. He was named captain of the Knicks. I was there when he was. It was announced. It was, it was more like just in a way to honor something that was already understood and like, acknowledge it publicly. And that's basically.
- [42:50]
Don La Greca
It does.
- [42:50]
John Frenchy Fuqua
But I.
- [42:51]
Alan Han
But wouldn't it matter, though, for Lindor? Like, I think in that case, doesn't it at least hit a little different if you just sort of. If the Mets came out at some point this season, you know, Steve Cohen, even during the All Star, whatever it is. And Steve Cohen just said, you know what? No, we want to acknowledge that that's our leader because he's earned that to get that distinction. And it's important for us to identify him as such. That's it.
- [43:16]
John Frenchy Fuqua
I think, I think it could hit. And I think even the Brunson thing hits a little bit, I think referring to the person as the captain. And I think all that stuff exists. And I think to the caller's point, whether or not it's an important thing in baseball or the Mets is sort of beside the point. But his point about who Lindor is, I think is dead on. He is that guy. This.
- [43:38]
Don La Greca
I've.
- [43:38]
John Frenchy Fuqua
I felt that way for a while, and it just appears like no matter how well Soto plays and no matter how well Pete plays, Lindor is the guy.
- [43:46]
Alan Han
Yep, he's the guy.
- [43:47]
Don La Greca
We had the conversation, I guess it was last week about, like, who do the fans love the most? Or who's the most important, important guy to the team? Like, that's all debatable. I don't think there's any debate who the true leader of this team is, who the pulse of this team is, and it's Lindor. And that's not to take away from anybody else on the team, but. And you'd have zero issue.
- [44:05]
John Frenchy Fuqua
You'd have zero issue with him being captain. It's just whether or not the captain.
- [44:07]
Don La Greca
Matters, I just don't. If. Yeah, I just think it's. It's almost redundant in a sense. If they had the press conference, like, everybody knows he's the leader of the team. Now. If you wanted to signify it with a press conference, I think when they did it for Jeter and Judge, it meant something because who the captain was before Dom Mattingly was a captain, so when Derek Jeter was the leader of the team, you wanted to signify that, to say, hey, we've had captains of significance before. Here's what we think of you. We're giving you the C because we think of you the same way we thought of Lou Gehrig and Thurman Munson and Don Mattingly. And then the same thing with Judge, when he got that contract, he became the captain. It's like, this is what we think of you. I don't think it hits the same with the Mets. Not to take anything away from Wright, Carter, Hernandez or Franco, but they're not Garrick, you know, Thurman Munson and maybe, maybe Don Mattingly, but you know what I mean, it just, it became a thing with the Yankees because of who the captain who wore the captaincy.
- [45:08]
Alan Han
So it's the history of it.
- [45:09]
Don La Greca
The history of it is significant, but maybe they will.
- [45:13]
Alan Han
But it's an acknowledgement though, of what Lindor's become.
- [45:15]
Don La Greca
But I think anybody that follows team knows that he is the true leader of this team. Let's go to Matt and Cherry Hill here on Don Han and Rosenberg.
- [45:26]
Javier
Don Juan, lookweck of forever 247 champion Peter Rosenberg and birthday boy Han Solo. What's up, baby? You guys good?
- [45:32]
Alan Han
What's going on, man?
- [45:35]
Javier
Good, good. I figured it's a birthday. Got a question for you. You get one Sports related birthday wish, Alan, what would it be?
- [45:41]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Could be anything.
- [45:42]
Alan Han
It's pretty simple. Next year at this time, the Knicks are playing for a championship.
- [45:46]
Don La Greca
Wow.
- [45:47]
Alan Han
I mean, it's just really what it is. Like, it's been long enough. You know, it's, it's. It's the only wish I could possibly have left. I can't even bother wishing about the jets, you know, like. Like for me, it's, it's what I saw. And I'm. And I mean this, and I know it's obvious and cliche for me to say Knicks, but I'm doing it because from what I've. What I saw in the fan base over this last year especially, but the last couple of years and how it has really just connected to the team again, another generation of fans have been built. There's so much passion for this team. The way the city kind of lights up and to get them to the conference final to see the celebrating and all that stuff and you know what else to, to see a lot of the, the mocking that was done of the passionate fan base around the country, as if, you know, they don't how to act. It's like I remember reading somebody that did this whole like, act like you've been there before. And I'm like, if you've been paying attention, they don't know how to act because they've never been here before.
- [46:48]
Don La Greca
They don't know.
- [46:49]
Alan Han
So I would love to see it because I think for New York City, for this area, for the Tri State area, you know, we're separated by a lot of different teams and sports and politics and religions and everything. The Knicks to me are the greatest unifier that we have in this city of anything other than the fact that we all can agree that traffic sucks.
- [47:14]
Don La Greca
Right?
- [47:15]
Alan Han
But I'm talking about on a positive. The Knicks are something that just feels like a great unifier and we really need it. And I'd love to see it. That's my wish.
- [47:27]
Don La Greca
You know what? You know what that was? It wasn't quite beauty pageant answer, but it did have a universal feel to it. Like you want to give something with your wish. It's not just selfish. Like, I want to see a championship for, for the team I cover and the team I grew up following. You wanted to do it for the city.
- [47:43]
Alan Han
I want to see it. It was yours to be. It would be spectacular to watch it.
- [47:47]
Don La Greca
You want to do it for world peace.
- [47:49]
Alan Han
That's right.
- [47:50]
Don La Greca
You want to. You want to feed the hungry with this?
- [47:52]
John Frenchy Fuqua
You mean meta world peace?
- [47:54]
Don La Greca
Yeah, there you go.
- [47:55]
Alan Han
That too.
- [47:56]
Don La Greca
Perfect. Perfect.
- [47:56]
Alan Han
Just one of. Just want to unify people. Just bring people together on our show.
- [48:00]
Don La Greca
Of course, you know, we'll get the Yankee fans who are watching the Yankee game aboard with us.
- [48:05]
Carlos Mendoza
They.
- [48:05]
Don La Greca
They're in the bottom of the 8th inning with a 5, 3 lead. Looks like at least right now they're on their way to snapping their six game. Can you believe it, Streak? We'll get into that, but I want to get into the paragraph.
- [48:13]
John Frenchy Fuqua
I just want to point out one thing. Don, real quick.
- [48:15]
Don La Greca
Yes.
- [48:16]
John Frenchy Fuqua
Just remember this moment at 357, if they somehow lose just think about where we'll be.
- [48:22]
Alan Han
We are in the rain delay.
- [48:24]
Don La Greca
Yeah.
- [48:24]
John Frenchy Fuqua
If they. If they end up picking it back up and they lose 65 caster jinx.
- [48:28]
Don La Greca
Thanks.
- [48:28]
Alan Han
You did it, La Greca.
- [48:29]
Don La Greca
I said it appears. It does appear. It does appear. But I will wear it if it does happen. But we got to get the weather going and finish up the game, so there'll be plenty of time to get into that.
- [48:41]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [48:45]
Alan Han
I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.
- [48:47]
Peter Rosenberg
Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.