Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Episode: Grading the Mets Offseason (Hour 1)
Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Overview

This episode centers around grading and analyzing the New York Mets' bold and active 2026 offseason moves. The hosts break down notable trades and signings—including the Boba Shet deal and Freddie Peralta trade—while weighing the emotional impact of losing fan favorites against the need for roster improvement. The conversation also veers into the psychology of New York sports fans, culinary adventures with Don in Vancouver, and the generational weight of championship droughts in New York. Callers join to share memories and evaluate recent transactions.

Key Discussion Points

1. Mets-Nets/Knicks Recap & New York Fan Mentality

• Opening banter about Knicks’ blowout win (54-point margin) over the Nets, highlighting highs and lows of sports fandom and how quick New Yorkers are to critique celebrations over regular-season milestones.
• Alan teases Don about being "too happy" after a Knicks win:

  “I think the way that Alan's acting is actually even more of a bad sign for the Knicks than the Nets. You see what I'm saying?”
  — Peter Rosenberg, [01:36]

2. Don’s Vancouver Sushi Adventure

• Don debates trying sushi in Vancouver, with Rosenberg dismissing starting with California rolls ("sushi gateway") and urging Don to go for authentic options with the help of Rachel Herzog.
• Don’s vulnerability and group encouragement serve as comic relief and camaraderie.

  “My fear is I don’t like anything. Then why do I... Do I exit? Is there something I can order?”
  — Don La Greca, [06:44]

3. Grading the Mets Offseason

• Shift to detailed Mets discussion, recapping how the offseason suddenly moved "from 0 to 100":

  • Bo Bichette signing: Seen as aggressive but risky due to his contract flexibility.
  • Freddie Peralta trade: Praised as a front-line move, showcasing a willingness “to spend and do things that are smart.”
  • Losses of fan-loved players (Nimmo, McNeil, Alonzo) countered by the acquisitions of established talent like Luis Robert and Devin Williams.

• Don emphasizes the importance of patience and not holding on to past favorites at the expense of team improvement:

  “I want to get there. This year is going to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the last time the Mets won a championship... the guys that are always going to be special to me are the guys that got me the ring. And I'm not going to let my love for those players stand in the way of improving this team.”
  — Don La Greca, [18:11]

• Alan compares the fan experience to Knicks’ nostalgia:

  “There’s no connection between Ewing's Knicks in the 90s and the Mets at all. Because that team, 15 straight years made the playoffs... but these guys were around for five minutes.”
  — Alan Hahn, [19:46]

4. Evaluating the New Mets Roster

• Discussion of whether the Mets are, on paper, improved:
  • Pitching depth: Nolan McClain, Peralta, Senga, and options in the bullpen.
  • Lineup: Lindor, Soto, Bichette leading the way, with Polanco, Alvarez, Beatty, Robert, and debating the bottom of the order.
  • Defense: Noted upgrades at center, second, and possibly first base.
• Concern about Luis Robert’s durability and whether the gamble will pay off.

5. The “Championship Parade” Critique

• Don responds to “incarcerated Bob” on Twitter poking fun at annual Mets optimism:

  “Why every time a fan base celebrates their team improving, it's all, well, they think they're gonna win the championship?... Just being happy does not mean you're making any kind of bold prediction.”
  — Don La Greca, [33:00]

• Acknowledgement of New York's built-in rivalry culture:

  “We have two of everything. So there's always half that's going to be mad at you for being happy.”
  — Alan Hahn, [32:39]

6. Mets Press Conference: The Bo Bichette "Opt-Out" Moment

• Discusses Bo Bichette’s tepid press conference, where he deferred a hard question about his contract’s opt-out to his agent, raising mild concern:

  “He looked like—whoa, whoa, whoa. Like, he looked a little overwhelmed.”
  — Alan Hahn, [39:21]

• The hosts criticize the Mets PR and agent for not preparing him for this inevitable question. But, Don empathizes:

  “Nobody wants to hear the new, shiny new toy on the team saying he might only be here for a year. We know that... That's a bad job.”
  — Don La Greca, [39:17]

7. Baseball’s Structural Flaws & League Inequality

• The hosts lament small-market realities after Milwaukee, despite being a contender, deals Peralta for prospects because they can't afford to extend him:

  “The Milwaukee Brewers, a contender, just traded away their best pitcher because they don't believe they can afford to pay him... So that's the sad aspect of it too. Right. Listen, the Mets benefit from that, but…”
  — Don La Greca, [35:47]

8. Calls, Generational Sports Memories & Fan Emotions

• Fans call in recalling first iconic sports moments, from the 1986 Mets to the 1958 Yankees, highlighting the generational gap and the enduring hunger for a Mets title.
• Discussion on how different generations of New Yorkers see their peak sports experiences in “grainy video.”
• Peter Rosenberg’s B+ press conference grade for John Harbaugh sparks a passionate call, leading to a witty defense:

  “Maybe it's different for me because I was kind of a B plus. Kind of student.”
  — Peter Rosenberg, [53:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Patience with Mets Moves:

  "This is why we need to be patient. All the Met fans wanted to fire Stearns. What a joke the organization is... But at the end of the day, we start to see the vision."
  — Don LaGreca, [09:54]

• Sports Fan Emotion:

  “I'm tired of hanging on to favorites that almost got there. I want to get there.”
  — Don LaGreca, [18:11]

• Offseason Optimism & Rival Trolling:

  “Anytime you have something nice in the off season, there's always gonna be people that are gonna want to smash the cake.”
  — Alan Hahn, [32:34]

• Preparation Blunders at Pressers:

  “How this was not approached him before the press conference... That's a bad job by the Mets. Bad job by his agent.”
  — Don LaGreca, [39:17]

• New York Fan Dynamics:

  “Why is there a leap always made to being happy that your team had a good off season... to those people taking the leap that we're guaranteeing anything?”
  — Don LaGreca, [32:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Knicks/Nets Talk: [00:38]–[03:36]
• Don’s Sushi Nerves & Group Banter: [04:31]–[08:07]
• Transition to Mets Offseason Moves: [08:07]
• Don’s Offseason Grading Philosophy: [09:54]
• Roster Construction & Defensive Analysis: [12:13]–[16:36]
• Fan Favorites vs. Championship Mentality: [18:02]
• Championship “Grainy Video” & Generational Gaps: [21:59]–[24:08]
• Mets Press Conference & Bichette’s Agent: [25:08]–[39:26]
• Mets, Brewers, and Baseball Economics: [35:47]
• Caller Generational Sports Moments: [47:46]–[50:33]
• Fan vs. Host Sparring (Harbaugh, Press Conf. Grades): [51:15]–[53:57]

Summary & Takeaways

• The Mets’ new, bolder offseason has both excited and divided fans as the team decisively moves on from popular faces—betting on big names and higher risk, higher reward players.
• The hosts emphasize that loyalty to nostalgia should not hinder building a contender, especially as New York's ever-critical climate demands results, not just sentimental favorites.
• Press conference optics matter: Preparation is key when introducing franchise players, as even small communication missteps can stir unease.
• Caller contributions underscore how the longing for another championship defines fandom across generations, particularly in a city accustomed to both glory and droughts.
• Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg blend sharp analysis with city-wise wit and relatable humor, making the episode a quintessential New York sports talk experience.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content banter, focusing on substantive discussions, fan interactions, and memorable host exchanges.