Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Hour 1: Judge v Trout & Mets Struggles
Date: April 14, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Source: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
This lively hour kicks off with Don La Greca in Detroit, Alan Hahn phoning in from TD Garden in Boston, and Peter Rosenberg in studio, as the trio dig deep into the high drama of Yankees-Angels (Judge vs. Trout), the continuing woes of the Mets, and a meandering but entertaining ride through New York sports, music, and more. The tone is classic banter: passionate, sarcastic, self-deprecating, and full of both sports insight and New York attitude.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Scene Setting, Knicks, and the Boston Celtics (00:30–03:06)
- Alan Hahn describes sitting in TD Garden, surrounded by Celtics championship banners—now 18, not 17, as Don corrects him after a brief NY-vs-Boston jab.
- Peter Rosenberg urges Alan to "curse the building" in response to the Celtics’ manipulation of recent NBA playoff positioning.
- "Leave something behind, you know, a little cursing there. Because it was diabolical what they did…" (01:44)
2. Yankees-Angels: Judge vs. Trout – Theater in the Bronx (03:06–10:32)
- Game Recap: Yankees win a dramatic, wild game vs. the Angels with both Aaron Judge and Mike Trout flexing their superstar credentials. The outcome hinged on wild plays and timely hitting.
- Star Power Dynamic:
- Rosenberg notes Trout is usually "a bland star, but you could tell he had a little juice...you could tell Judge was into it." (03:38)
- Showdown and Narrative:
- Discussion about the rarity of seeing MVPs battle—three on each side, rare for April baseball.
- Notable Quotes:
- On the weird excitement of the game:
- "You got to do something insane last night called, I think, win a win, and maybe even enjoy the game." – Don (03:18)
- Trout’s Missed Exposure:
- "There's never been more of a sports waste than Mike Trout ... one of the greatest players never seen." – Alan Hahn (05:08)
3. Is Mike Trout the Greatest Star Nobody Sees? (05:34–10:32)
- Missed Opportunities: Trout’s historic greatness overshadowed by late-night games and poor team visibility. Compared to NHL’s McDavid, whose moments in the Stanley Cup made him a household name even in a less visible sport.
- Trout’s Choice & Personality: Discussion on whether Trout's choice to stay in Anaheim compounds the issue; he prefers a quiet, "country" life over big-market stardom.
- Sports "Wastes"/Comparisons:
- Barry Sanders, Ken Griffey Jr., and various football/basketball analogs are floated, but none seem to match Trout’s lack of big-stage moments.
4. Yankees Trending Up: Judge, Grisham, and the Value of Entertainment (10:32–11:54)
- Outlook: After the Yankees’ despair, there’s hope in Judge’s leadership, Grisham’s breakout off the bench, and the bullpen’s shakiness possibly being a long-term concern.
- Entertainment Value: Emphasized that, in April, all you really want from baseball is entertainment—both the stars delivered.
5. Mets’ Abject Struggles: Six Straight Losses and No Signs of Life (11:54–18:50)
- Dire Straits:
- "It’s Don. It’s an abject disaster..." – Don (12:17)
- Mets were three-hit by the Dodgers’ backups, with Yamamoto and Ohtani still to come.
- Lindor Under Fire:
- Team leader Francisco Lindor is under the spotlight for both performance and (rumored) team chemistry issues with Soto.
- Alan: "If there's truly something between him and Soto, and I think there's enough smoke there...You're supposed to be the leader of this team and this is a chance for you to be able to lead..." (12:24)
- Lineup Construction & Hitting:
- 22 ground ball outs the previous night, unable to get the ball in the air.
- Discussion on manager Mendoza’s future ("it's probably a gorilla, not a monkey, on his back.") and possible firing.
6. Mets: Luck vs Roster Flaws (18:50–20:44)
- Mets’ 'expected' stats (xBA, OBP, SLG) are much better than outcomes—raising the question: is it bad luck or a true offensive problem?
- Alan: "I think bad teams run into bad luck. So I’m not going to give them a complete excuse for where they’re at." (19:39)
7. Callers on Mets Accountability and Trout’s Legacy (20:44–37:04)
- Mets Fans’ Calls:
- Frustration with Mendoza but skepticism about firing him while best players are hurt.
- Discussion on the invisible superstar status of Trout—echoed by a caller who has “seen him play twice.”
- Hahn and Rosenberg agree: Trout shows no desire to leave Anaheim for a bigger market or contender, likely content where he is.
- Comp Finding: Listeners and hosts continue to struggle to find an apt comparison for Trout in any sport, further highlighting his unique dilemma.
8. Yankees Fan Perspective: The April Overreaction (37:04–39:17)
- Yankees fans call in to remind everyone not to panic in mid-April.
- "Every year the Yankee fans overreact to the first two weeks of the season. I mean, we're in April 14th." – Glenn, caller (37:16)
- Alan: "Despite these lulls...you can write down 94, 95, 96 wins every year, barring catastrophic injury." (38:09)
9. Yankees Lineup Drop & Lighthearted Banter (39:17–44:25)
- Don announces the Pinstripe lineup, with the hosts riffing on player names, poking fun, and blending in hockey references.
- Off-Topic Swerves:
- Side discussions about Hall of Fame music selections, Wu Tang Clan’s credentials, and even poker guests fantasy lineups remind listeners it’s as much a comedy/variety hour as a sports show.
10. Wrapping Up and Preparing for Hour 2 (44:25–END)
- The hour wraps with more calls, music trivia, and Don riffing in a movie trailer voice about "endings and beginnings" before launching into the top of hour two.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Mike Trout’s legacy:
- "Is there a bigger sports waste in the history of the planet than Mike Trout?" – Alan Hahn (05:34)
- On the Mets’ futility:
- "This is 20 now. Shutouts. Third time in the last four games...they can't get the ball in the air." – Peter Rosenberg (13:53)
- On Lindor’s leadership void:
- "Soto gave you an inadvertent opportunity here because of his injury to take back the reins...and it's gotten worse." – Alan Hahn (13:06)
- On Yankees fans’ reputation:
- "We're the worst. I'm the first to admit we are. We are the worst." – Peter Rosenberg (36:57)
- On overreactions to the Yankees:
- "Just because they'll be fine. Who's playoffs? Who knows?" – Alan Hahn (38:23)
- Comic relief on poker tables:
- "Then of course you may just be with like an 87 year old Vietnamese American woman who you have nothing to talk about with...and she's raking right now, but she doesn't want to talk to you." – Don LaGreca (31:05)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening banter, Knicks/Celtics scene: 00:30–03:06
- Yankees-Angels, Judge v Trout, game breakdown: 03:06–10:32
- Why is Trout so underexposed?: 05:34–10:32
- Yankees’ trending up: 10:32–11:54
- Mets issues, Lindor focus, Mendoza’s job: 11:54–18:50
- Are the Mets unlucky or just bad?: 18:50–20:44
- Caller on Mets moving on from Mendoza: 20:44–22:15
- Caller: Would Trout ever move to NY/somewhere to win?: 32:19–34:15
- Mets/Trout analogs, more callers: 34:43–37:04
- Yankees early panic/"April overreaction": 37:04–39:17
- Yankees lineup and comedic interludes: 39:17–44:25
Final Thoughts
This episode is a full-spectrum New York sports hour—devoted equally to impassioned baseball analysis and breezy, personality-driven tangents. The Judge vs. Trout game provides a backbone, while Mets despair and questions about athlete legacies supply stakes and emotional heat. Callers are woven in seamlessly, amplifying the show's energy and realness.
If you haven't listened:
Expect high-octane banter, honest self-deprecation, real sports critique, and the feeling of eavesdropping on a three-way group text between the funniest, most passionate fans you know.