Hour 1: Mets Mess

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: “Mets Mess”

ESPN New York | July 21, 2026

---

Overview

The trio of Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive into a turbulent day at ESPN New York against a backdrop of company layoffs, radio station reflections, and, most importantly, the ongoing catastrophe that is the New York Mets’ season. This hour pivots between sports insight, gallows humor, personal anecdotes, and classic New York candor, focusing on the root causes of the Mets’ troubles (spoiler: it’s not just the locker room chemistry) and what it means to be part of a sports institution like ESPN. The conversation moves organically from heartfelt to hilarious, touching on radio nostalgia, music memories, and the ever-present absurdities of the Mets and local sports fandom.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Addressing ESPN Layoffs and Staff Changes

Timestamps: 01:00–03:20

• Don opens with a somber acknowledgment of recent layoffs at ESPN, specifically mentioning Bart Scott and longtime baseball broadcaster Carl Ravitch.
• Both Don and Peter stress the volatility of the sports media industry:

  “In sports, you're hired to be fired. It's kind of the way things are in television and radio. Nobody assumes they're going to be in it forever, and nobody assumes that they'll be able to dictate their exit.” – Don Hahn (01:28)

  • Peter shares his own recent experiences of uncertainty and how everyone is "thinking about everybody" affected.

2. Celebrating Longevity and Station Nostalgia

Timestamps: 03:20–08:10

• They riff on Peter’s uncertain status at the 25th-anniversary celebration, joking about his value to the station:

  “You can't tell the story of ESPN New York without Peter Rosenberg.” – Don Hahn (04:39)

• Reflections on years of service, with Don noting he’s the "original voice" of the station since 2001, and Peter, soon to hit 11 years, is likely in the top five for longevity.
• Discussion of the peculiar way radio listeners treat newer hosts as perpetual newcomers, even after a decade.

3. Radio and Sports Media Anecdotes

Timestamps: 08:10–09:45

• Don recounts his own firing from “Sports Phone” and the obsolescence of the pre-internet sports score hotline.
• Touches of humor as they banter about old 976 call numbers and the fading relevance of “calling for a score.”

4. The Mets Are a Mess – Deeper than Chemistry

Timestamps: 09:45–18:29
Central Theme: The Mets' Real Issues Lie in Management and Roster Construction, Not Clubhouse Relationships.

• Don deep-dives into the Mets’ woes, arguing that managerial changes or superstar harmony between Soto and Lindor are distractions from the true issue—David Stearns’ competence and Cohen’s ownership:

  “Their problem is David Stearns and he's not going anywhere. ...So what the hell am I doing?...The Mets stink, all right?“ – Don Hahn (09:59, 11:24)

  • The futility of speculating about Carlos Beltran or any new manager is highlighted.
• The Brewers’ continued success after Stearns’ departure is pointed out as damning for his current role with the Mets.
• The idea that Mets fans (and media) over-focus on the alleged relationship issues between Lindor and Soto is lampooned:

  “They could get into a full-on romantic relationship, fall in love...Don, it's still not going to make this team good overnight.” – Peter Rosenberg (13:18)

Memorable Riffs & Quotes

• “If Jack Hughes is not passing the puck to his line mates, the Devils don't score, they lose. ...You could have an entire baseball team despise each other. How does it affect chemistry?” – Don Hahn (14:01)
• “Come on, man, stop. ...Stop focusing on what doesn't matter. ...The problem with this team, it was poorly built.” – Don Hahn (15:07)

Freddie Peralta’s Soundbite

Timestamps: 16:06–16:40

• Short clip of Peralta expressing confusion over his struggles, underscoring the team’s broader dysfunction.

Stearns & Cohen Conspiracy Theory

• Don jokes that maybe MLB or higher powers influenced Cohen to hire Stearns, speculating on hidden motives behind the Mets' mismanagement:

  “He's sitting on $23 billion of stupid because he's going to let this guy stay his manager. It's either ignorance or somebody's making him keep him.” – Don Hahn (17:20)

5. Comic Relief: Broken Screens & Cubs Stadium Incident

Timestamps: 18:29–25:04

• The group riff comically on a newly discovered technical issue—a giant crack in the studio touchscreen—escalating into a mock whodunit and ribbing about “Fat Fingers Rothenberg.”
• Commentary on viral Cubs stadium video of a man slapping another to force him to stand for the national anthem leads to broader laughs and social commentary:

  “If a stranger slaps you out of nowhere and says, get up like you're a child, that's Don. You'd have to pry me off of his dead corpse.” – Peter Rosenberg (22:44)

6. Open Phones & Listener Takes on the Mets

Timestamps: 36:17–42:21

• Several callers echo Don’s views: the Mets’ problems are deep-rooted in roster construction and management, not just in the dugout or clubhouse.
• Don and Peter reaffirm that firing the manager won’t fix fundamental flaws, urging fans and ownership to confront the reality rather than make excuses or scapegoat chemistry.

7. Music & Media Nostalgia

Timestamps: 27:19–34:48

• Mini-segment on musical tastes, triggered by “REM” in the break. Discussion steers to classic albums, recording music off the radio, and parental quirks about AM/FM radio.
• Peter reflects on hearing his dad play REM’s Automatic for the People:

  “My dad was younger than me when he was playing this album in our living room. That’s crazy.” – Peter Rosenberg (30:04)

8. Winding Down: Mets’ Place in MLB Doldrums

Timestamps: 38:38–43:47

• Don lays out cold facts: The Mets are the second-worst team in the National League (42-59), only ahead of the Rockies, Angels, and Royals in all of MLB.
• Frustration peaks at the lack of accountability for Stearns and Cohen; despite the Wilpons’ departure and Cohen’s billions, the Mets remain a baseball embarrassment.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “In sports, you're hired to be fired.” – Don Hahn (01:28)
• “You can't tell the story of ESPN New York without Peter Rosenberg.” – Don Hahn (04:39)
• “If Lindor and Soto start singing Kumbaya in the locker room, they're going to start winning games?” – Don Hahn (13:01)
• “They could get married at Home plate...and it still isn't going to change the roster of this team.” – Peter Rosenberg (13:27–13:51)
• “You could have an entire baseball team despise each other. How does it affect chemistry?” – Don Hahn (14:01)
• “Stop focusing on what doesn't matter... The problem with this team, it was poorly built.” – Don Hahn (15:07)
• “He's sitting on $23 billion of stupid because he's going to let this guy stay his manager.” – Don Hahn (17:20)
• “If a stranger slaps you out of nowhere and says, get up like you're a child...you'd have to pry me off of his dead corpse.” – Peter Rosenberg (22:44)
• “My dad was younger than me when he was playing this album in our living room. That’s crazy.” – Peter Rosenberg (30:04)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:00 – Tribute to Bart Scott and Carl Ravitch, ESPN layoffs
• 03:20 – Joking about Peter’s role at the 25th anniversary; station reflections
• 09:45 – Mets’ dysfunction: Clubhouse chemistry vs. structural flaws
• 13:18 – “Soto and Lindor in a romantic relationship” riff
• 16:06 – Freddie Peralta “I don’t know” audio
• 18:29 – Crack in the studio screen, comic riffing
• 22:44 – Cubs’ stadium slap incident discussion
• 27:19 – REM, music/radio nostalgia segment
• 36:17 – Met callers echo core arguments
• 38:38 – Cold, hard Met stats; "the fourth worst team in baseball"
• 43:13 – Met fans’ pain vs. Yankees’ “problems”
• Long tail – General discussions and sign-off

---

Tone & Takeaway

The show blends exasperation, nostalgia, and brash humor. Don and Peter’s chemistry allows for hard-hitting criticism of Mets management while lampooning the futile focus on locker room soap operas. The message: The Mets’ “mess” isn’t going away with a new manager or papered-over relationships; fixing it means a hard look at the front office. Elsewhere, you get a taste of what makes local sports radio magnetic: inside jokes, irreverence, and stories that only seasoned, beloved hosts can tell.

---

For Mets fans and radio lifers alike, Hour 1 embodies both despair and resilience—the ball keeps rolling, even when the screen is cracked, the manager’s lost, and the Mets are (still) a mess.

Transcript

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo. Three from beyond the logo, every. Did you see that moment? You bet.

[Don Hahn]

What records are going to be broken this season?

[Peter Rosenberg]

All of it. Right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on espn. All season.

[Don Hahn]

Long time I was fighting with obesity. I wore.

[Podcast Announcer]

You're losing, Han.

[Caller/Listener]

Don, Peter. Thank you, Alan. I hope you make the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg, Richard, have you ever heard of brazzers?

[Caller/Listener]

No.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Podcast Announcer]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard on ESPN New York.

[Podcast Announcer]

And streaming live on YouTube 302.

[Don Hahn]

The big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg. Full frontal today. Take it up until 7 o'.

[Caller/Listener]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

A tough day for the company. I'm sure a lot of people heard the news of people that we worked with, indirectly or directly that are no longer here with the company. Most specifically here, Bart Scott. They'll tell their own stories for sure. Just part of the business. Unfortunately, it's never good. I got to know Bart for a long time. He's come to the sasso softball. He's always been there for everybody here at this radio station. Despite the fact that he was a big name and played for the Jets. He took his job seriously. He, he cared. But when you get to these times, it's not really about talent. It's not really about who did what. It's just, it's your time. And that's just kind of the way this business is. And we say it about managers and head coaches. Peter, in sports, you're hired to be fired. It's kind of the way things are in television and radio. Nobody assumes they're going to be in it forever, and nobody assumes that they'll be able to dictate their exit. So very, very difficult day today. We wanted to acknowledge that we'll move on as we always do, and, and everybody that we're talking about today would want us to move on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm, I'm confident in the, in the futures of, of everyone. But it still stinks. And as you know, I experienced that this year at my other job. I used to always tell Natalie, as I kind of sensed the time was coming, I'm like, you know, this, this only ends one of two ways. That's how this business, how this business goes. So, yeah, tough day. And we're thinking about everybody.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we're gonna have some fun and talk about the yo, yo nonsense Sports.

[Don Hahn]

And that's what we do. We just. The ball keeps rolling along and the earth keeps spinning. But I didn't feel right to not at least acknowledge, especially Bart, who worked directly with us and other people. You know, listen, I've, I've. I've had my fun, and that's what it always was with Carl Ravitch. 33 years of the company. You can't think about baseball without Carl. So it's going to be interesting moving forward without him. Plenty of other people, too, unfortunately, too many to mention. Some we knew, some we did not know, but all of them we knew in some indirect way. Because as big as ESPN is, it's small in a lot of ways, too. So whenever there is somebody that moves on, whether they did so voluntarily or involuntarily, it's going to leave a mark with us. So we want to be able to give a couple of minutes there. How are you, buddy? Everything else all right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's the back of your belly for a sleigh ride?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I don't think that's ever been said on Don Juan and Rosenberg. It's a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's the back of your belly for a sleigh ride?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that was a K thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

We still don't know what it means, but it's said quite often.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know I'm doing all right. I mean, there's some trouble. I was listening to some troubling things in the meeting, you know, some talk of 25 year celebration and, you know, my place in the radio station, it seems like I'm being considered much in the way. Like a beloved stapler. No, countless staplers.

[Don Hahn]

Honestly, Peter, you got to look the forest through the trees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

The way you were treated in the meeting, you're lucky you weren't one of the people that were like, oh, today. The fact you weren't. I think you got to look at the box.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right. You're right. The way the meeting went, if you were listening to the way I was being discussed, there were names being banded about.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to give too much away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't give it away.

[Don Hahn]

But there is going to be, you know, a celebration of our 25 years and where Peter fits in it all,

[Peter Rosenberg]

it remains to be seen.

[Don Hahn]

It's up for discussion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Somewhere between. What are those big hole punchers, you know, that you can hit a bunch of.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe a greeter for the guests that do arrive. You could do good. Seat, people. Dan, Patrick, sit over here. Oh, Ryan Ruko.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, Please.

[Don Hahn]

We'll see. We'll see at the after party. No, but you can't tell the story of ESPN New York without Peter Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's very sweet. You know, it is funny that you say that because I appreciate you saying it. At first I thought you were being sort of like flippant and joking, but just now. Yeah, no, I guess you're right. I really have been here, like, in one sense, it's like, well, I haven't been here that long compared to Don. But when you think about a lot of the primary people that you view as like, big players back in the day on your show, on the K show, at different times, I was there, like, I mean, years and years longer than anybody.

[Don Hahn]

Well, honestly, I mean, I'd have to do the math. But of everybody behind the scenes and on the air, Peter, you might be third in longevity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You mean to you and Michael?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I mean, definitely on the air. Mike Brownshirt's been here 18 years, so he would be in the top five. But, you know, I was the original voice September 3rd, 2001. So we're coming up on the 25th anniversary and we'll have more details as we get closer. Now, there have been people that have been in and out. They were here for a while and they left. But as far as consistently here, you're in the top five of your, what, 11 years that you've been here, going on 11 years. That would probably put you in the top five for longevity purposes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You mean of the overall on air or you mean of.

[Don Hahn]

I mean overall, the station period.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, hold on. How long's Rothenberg been on the air? Longer than me or was he partner?

[Don Hahn]

Probably a little longer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A tad. I'm longer than Rick, though.

[Don Hahn]

You're longer than Rick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know what? Rick saved this.

[Don Hahn]

Alan was in and out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not today.

[Don Hahn]

Rick Allen's been here at ESPN for a very, very long time, but there were times he left, he was on the network and then he came back to local.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So that was broken up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

But consistently being here on ESPN New York, local, I think of all the people, you very well may be in the top five.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, you want to know the funniest thing about that is that up until the. I'm not kidding, and Don will probably agree with this. Up until the last six months of the case show, we would still get phone calls where people would say, really enjoy the addition of Peter to the show. I mean, that lasted. Think about how long that lasted, Don. They treated me as if I was like I had just come on. But that speaks to how long you were a part of people's lives, I suppose.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I think there is something very personal about radio. And when you do three, four hours of it every single day for decades, somebody who parachutes in, that's here for five, six years still feels like a newbie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Still like Oliver.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

On the Brady Bunch. It's like, wait a minute, that's. You're, you're, you're kind of a late addition. And then you realize, wow, time friggin flies. The fact that you've been here a dozen years are going on a dozen years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you're saying I'm coming up on 11? Yeah, I guess so.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the first time you were on our air was. That was. The Rangers were in the conference final against Tampa. I was in Tampa to call. I think it was game two of the series. And you were doing your audition, you know, so you were on the show, the whole show. And that would have been in the spring of 15. 15. Spring of 15. So you probably came on somewhere in the fall of 15. So I think this fall will be 11 years for you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's wild, man.

[Don Hahn]

Over a decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And on a tough day like today that we see in the company, it's hard not to reflect on it.

[Don Hahn]

So yeah, just. It kind of popped in our head and we wanted to just acknowledge some of the people that hopefully will move on to bigger and better things. But it's always a tough day. I got let go once in my life and that was Sports Phone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After you ruined it?

[Don Hahn]

No, well, Sports Phone was just Michael. Why do you listen to Michael?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, he says you destroyed it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, life destroyed it. Like who's calling up to get a score now? Even, even when it finally went out of business in 2000, like even in 2000, who was calling 976-1313 to get a score? When you got the bottom line at espn, people had beepers that were computers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was the area code?

[Don Hahn]

Well, whatever area code you were in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So 212-9761.

[Don Hahn]

Was it 976-1313? I don't think it's going to. I don't think anything's going to happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't think it says, hey, you've reached Sportsphone?

[Don Hahn]

I doubt it. Nothing. It's dead. It's a 976 number. Who'd hell's calling 976 numbers? You only do that for porn anymore. Porn was 970.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I remember 976.

[Don Hahn]

Mom we were listening to different things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, let's not get into it.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't think we should. But I was at a company called E. Yotta.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, I remember.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And that's when Dave Herman, the former DJ who's no longer with us, and you know, look it up for yourself. What happened to him when he called me up and said, there are good days and there are bad days in this business and today is a bad day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'll tell you what, it's better than. Yeah, you know what? It's not an appropriate topic for today, but yeah, the call I got last December was an interesting one. Anyways, Don, it feels like the Mets were back to metzing last night.

[Don Hahn]

It's not even the fact that they lose, all right? And Peralta stinks. Listen, the Mets stink, all right? Mets have a problem and their problem is not going to be solved. I don't want all of a sudden Met Splain, but this kind of feels like a Yankee conversation where everybody can identify the problem. Their problem is David Stearns and he's not going anywhere. So we could spend so much time. And I know Jake did a little bit today and Carlin did as well. Who's going to be the next manager? Does it matter if Carlos Beltran decides, you know what, I'll take over the Mets at the start of the 27 season. Start fresh, get a spring training. You know, we talked about it yesterday. He was offered the job when Mendoza was let go. Apparently he said he talked to somebody in the Mets organization. Didn't say it was Stearns, didn't say it was Cohen. But somebody in the Mets organization approached him about the job.

[Caller/Listener]

And.

[Don Hahn]

And he said no. Timing just was not right. Why would you want to take over this dumpster fire in the middle of the season as your first impression as a manager? Remember, he never got a chance to manage the mets back in 2020 because of the whole controversy with the Astros and the cheating. And he was collateral damage for that and has not had a chance to manage since. And I think he will get another opportunity at some point, but that won't be till the start of the 27th season. But if we've identified the problem as a roster problem, as a David Stern's problem. Peter, is it going to matter who the manager is?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

So. And I'll be going to be talking to the wall. It's like Yankee fans complaining about Brian Cashman. Cohen told you he's not going anywhere. He's likely going to finish the contract. So I feel like it's a dead stick. We know what the problem is. We can't change it. So what the hell am I doing? And today, right now, if you look at the standings, Jake Aspen brought this up at the start of his show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead and you told him. Was an incredible open.

[Don Hahn]

The Rays loss. The brewers win. They have the best record in baseball. Milwaukee brewers post David Stearns have not missed a beat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

David Stearns leaves Milwaukee a perennial playoff team, but couldn't do anything in the postseason. They continue to march on as if nothing happened. He comes to the Mets and it's a dumpster fire. How much more evidence do you need? Andy Green is the manager who's just waiting for the season to end so they can kind of report what's wrong with the team. What's wrong with the team? It's not built well. And the other thing, and I really want to hear from people on this at 1-800-919-3776. We hear. Well, you got to bring an adult in the room, Don. Carlos Beltran's going to be able to mend the fence between Soto and Lindor. Is that really the problem? Not necessarily. It's a weird timing.

[Caller/Listener]

Shut up.

[Don Hahn]

For guys. All I did was punch this tape.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's how hard you hit it, Don. You knocked Aaron Boone into talking.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'm sorry, Aaron. You'll get your moment for better, for worse.

[Caller/Listener]

But

[Don Hahn]

I keep hearing, well, you know, Beltran is a Hall of Famer. Beltran is a respected major leaguer. Former major leaguer. He'll mend the fence between Soto and Lindor as if that's the, that's the only problem. Like all of a sudden, if Lindor and Soto start singing Kumbaya in the locker room, they're going to start winning games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got news for you guys. They could get into a full on romantic relationship, fall in love. A story unlike we've never seen in sports before. Don, it's still not going to make this team good overnight.

[Don Hahn]

So you're saying, like, they can get married at Home place and all the, all the Mets hold bats and they walk underneath the bats.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is the most beautiful thing. Oh, my God. Two major league players are in and married and on the same team. Can you believe it? And by the way, the, the wife, Lindor's family's fine with it. It's a blended family. It's beautiful.

[Don Hahn]

You know what? It was her idea.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's her idea. She's a part of it. It's a whole community Thing.

[Don Hahn]

The kids are good. They were all there in the wedding.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everyone's happy. It still isn't going to change the roster of this team.

[Don Hahn]

People seem to think. I think it's the number one problem, Endurance. Come on, grow up, everybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's our problem. Stop it.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not saying it's not a problem, but if you think this team is 17 games under.500 or whatever they are because Lindor and Soto don't get along, come on, man, you're not watching. First of all, half the more than half the season, they haven't even been on the field at the same time. When one got hurt, the other one got bit healthy. When the other one got healthy, the other one got hurt. Come on, man, stop. They just took two out of three from Philadelphia. A better team in Philly for the first time in forever with both of them on the field and both of them not being able to stand each other. We talked about this earlier in the week. If Brunson doesn't get along with Cat, that's an issue. Brunson's the point guard. He's got to throw the ball to Cat. Them not getting along is going to affect them scoring, moving the basketball and winning games. If Jack Hughes is not passing the puck to his line mates, the Devils don't score, they lose. If Jackson Dart can't get on the same page with his wide receivers, the Giants aren't going to move the ball. The Giants aren't going to score and the Giants aren't going to win. You could have an entire baseball team despise each other. How does it affect chemistry?

[Caller/Listener]

What?

[Don Hahn]

Maybe the double play combination doesn't work. Great pitcher doesn't want to throw to his battery mate. Come on, man. Stop focusing on what doesn't matter. I give you chapter and verse. Teams that couldn't stand each other and go out there and win games. The problem with this team, it was poorly built. Oh, I could replace Alonzo at first base with a guy that never played first base before. That won't be a problem. I've got all these young kids that are going to be coming up and only 12 of them can actually hit. Benj can hit, I'll give him that. Ewing can hit. But we've been waiting forever, waiting forever for all these other guys to start tearing the COVID off the ball. Nothing. Can't score, can't pitch, go out and get Peralta. The guy can't pitch into the fifth inning. When he does, he gets shelled. And then after the game tells You. I don't know what's wrong. Listen to this.

[Freddie Peralta (player)]

I don't know.

[Caller/Listener]

I don't know.

[Freddie Peralta (player)]

I don't know how to define it or if there's only one team, but I just. I don't understand sometimes, but I gotta keep fighting and get. Trying to get through this.

[Don Hahn]

When you say you don't understand, is it that you feel like, you know, stuff's still good?

[Freddie Peralta (player)]

Because I feel good. Yeah. And the stuff is good. Everything's there. Velocity is there. I think comparing with last year, even as I have the sweeper or the slider better than last year either, you know, So I don't know. I don't know. I've been working, trying to figure it out, but I'm not going to give up on this.

[Don Hahn]

Just need to play that out. So Peralta feels fine, thinks everything's great. He's. He's a batting practice tee. Oh, but Lindor and Soto, if they got along, Peralta all of a sudden be able to pitch. If Soto and Lindor all of a sudden get along, get married, as Peter suggests, right home late. Senga all of a sudden would be healthy and pitching to the ace we thought he was going to be. Those two guys get along, have a big press conference on how everything's great, all of a sudden the Mets will start hitting, scoring runs, winning games. Stop it, people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stop it.

[Don Hahn]

There is one issue with this team right now, and it's poorly constructed by a general manager that's in over his head and an owner that has no idea what he's doing. He's sitting on $23 billion of stupid because he's going to let this guy stay his manager. It's either ignorance or somebody's making him keep him. That's my old conspiracy theory. Peter's here. Sick of hearing it. But did Major League Baseball say, I'll let you have a team once Stern's contract is up in Milwaukee, you should hire him. He'll be fiscally responsible. You won't spend like a drunken sailor with him as your president of baseball operations. He looks like he's in over his head. So get me. So concentrate on all the stuff that doesn't matter. Go get a new manager who will be handpicked by Stearns who doesn't know what he's doing. Lindor and Soto getting along with each other. Yeah. That's going to fix all their problems. What are we doing? But the thing that makes me sick about it is we know what the problem is and we're not going to do anything about it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, not necessarily. All right, Aaron style. Enough. You'll get your moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you doing?

[Don Hahn]

I don't. What am I doing? I'm not touching anything.

[Technical Support/Producer]

And, Aaron, you notice the giant crack in time in the screen?

[Don Hahn]

Why is there a crack in the screen, Anthony? I'd like to know that. I don't know, because God forbid I spill water, I get called on the carpet that if I break it, I gotta pay for it.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Correct.

[Don Hahn]

Who's paying for this screen? Who cracked the screen?

[Technical Support/Producer]

Well, that I don't know. I'm glad it wasn't any of you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you alleging something?

[Don Hahn]

The screen is cracked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but are you alleging someone. That someone did it intentionally?

[Don Hahn]

Do screens just crack on their own?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

I know the temperature fluctuates here, I don't think. To the point that it's breaking plastic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I just play something and reset the energy for a moment?

[Technical Support/Producer]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'm gonna reset the mood, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, not necessarily. It's a weird timing thing, but I don't have the mouse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

I'm touching the table because I.

[Technical Support/Producer]

So it's a touchscreen, right? We know that that computer is a touchscreen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Technical Support/Producer]

If a touchscreen. Peter, I'll talk to you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Is corrupted because it's broken or bent. No matter what can occur, it might play. So if we need to leave that down, I guess that's what we'll probably have to do until Don's ready to play sound.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because, well, he's.

[Don Hahn]

Why is he talking to me like I did something wrong? I'm not talking to you.

[Technical Support/Producer]

You're asking why it's happening. I'm telling Peter why it's happening.

[Don Hahn]

Let me ask you something. Do you think it's a good idea you try to do a talk show and then management puts obstacles. Now. Now instead of just running the hundred yard dash, I now have. I have to jump over hurdles.

[Technical Support/Producer]

I don't love it.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't love it.

[Technical Support/Producer]

I think it happened to Dan this morning, too, if I'm not mistaken. So it's definitely becoming more of an issue.

[Don Hahn]

I'm sure there's crisis management when that happened to him. Meanwhile, I have it happen, and it's my fault that.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Did I say it was his fault? Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Caller/Listener]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

He's mad when there's a crack in the screen. Aaron, you know he is. Right. Like, it seems like all of the cracks have centralized around Aaron Boone. There you go, talking about there are cracks around.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, by the way, it's.

[Don Hahn]

It's kind of telling the screen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, there's. Some people think there are cracks.

[Don Hahn]

I want to know who's paying for this. Because when I spill coffee or water.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't say that. You're incriminating yourself. I don't care.

[Don Hahn]

I'm told that if anything breaks, I gotta pay for it. Who's paying for this? She loves. Who's paying for this? Who.

[Technical Support/Producer]

That crack's been there for a while. It's just getting progressively worse.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so I didn't realize we were at the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the thing.

[Don Hahn]

The ruins in Rome. Like, oh, now that crack's been there for 10,000 years. Well, maybe over time, Peter, but the

[Peter Rosenberg]

crack may have just happened. Like someone used it appropriately and it still just broke. You're acting as if someone said, you know, remember the drop before I rip.

[Don Hahn]

Before I rip and break this damn computer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you're acting like that's what happened and led to the crack. Maybe it just happened.

[Don Hahn]

All I know is I attempted to rip the computer screen. Yeah, we have a. Like a phone book.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Find it.

[Don Hahn]

Anthony with the Jose Reyes rant.

[Freddie Peralta (player)]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't crack the screen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing happened.

[Don Hahn]

But apparently this just sitting here over the last 18 months of the station. And crack the screen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I. Can I.

[Don Hahn]

Before I. Before I rip and break this computer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, listen. Listen to the strain on the screen. Yeah, I can hear it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me hear again.

[Don Hahn]

Listen again. Before I. Before I rip and break this computer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no.

[Don Hahn]

You can hear. I'm computer sharing it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And nothing happened.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't break. This one apparently was breathed on wrong, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What if it's the same screen and it's now? It's the ill effects from that moment.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you think? It's Dave. It's Dave Fat Fingers Rothenberg. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

What is he doing when he plays Dave? Just mashing Aaron Boone. The loss of cowboy ear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't you think, though, it's possible that Fat Fingers Rothenberg did. You know what?

[Don Hahn]

Then I want to find out that he cut a check for a new screen. Because that's what I was going to have to do. I heard, I heard. You know, between the Mets and the screen, it's a lot. And Anthony, I'm. I'm in a mood now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And do you see the guy at the Cubs game who slapped the guy for not standing up for the national anthem?

[Don Hahn]

I did see that. You know, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I don't care what your views are on patriotism. If a stranger slaps you out of nowhere and says, get up like you're a child, that's Don. You'd have to pry me off of his dead corpse.

[Don Hahn]

But I'm going to tell you, I

[Peter Rosenberg]

stand for the national anthem. So what happened to me? But let's say I forgot. Let's say I'm in my own world. You know, I'm sitting there and someone had just texted me and go, bad news. You just lost $150,000. It's gone. I don't know where it is. It's gone. And you're going. And you're sitting there, and you go, I cannot believe this.

[Caller/Listener]

And.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, sick. And you spend a second, and, you know, Julian's into this. He's got the Cubs hat on. And before you can take a second smack upside the back of your head, I don't know what I would do.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know what's interesting is that we blame everything on, like, our current climate politically. That's been a thing forever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, this is.

[Don Hahn]

That's not, you know, like Colin Kaepernick. I go back to. Remember Mahmoud Abdul Rau.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, go back to the six.

[Don Hahn]

That's 30 years ago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It goes since the dawn of time.

[Podcast Announcer]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Really? Since they wrote the song.

[Caller/Listener]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Francis Scott Key said, listen, people are gonna get slapped if they don't stand for this is how good this damn song is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can you imagine if the attitude. It wasn't about patriotism? It's just some people think the song's that good, right?

[Don Hahn]

Cause I got news for you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If that's the case, what happens when you hear Tiny dancing?

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a song.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. That's amazing.

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

But, you know, does the guy that decides, I'm gonna go get nachos during the anthems, he gets.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, yeah, does that guy go chasing people who are off in the concourse right now?

[Don Hahn]

I believe you should stand, but I also believe you should mind your own business. How about that? I'm a big believer. I think both could be true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The song is about how great a country we are. The great thing about the country is you're allowed to do what you want, right. Without people beating you up.

[Don Hahn]

But I can't blame the current climate because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's not. That's a great call on. People are gonna be lazy and they're gonna go, it's because of where we are now.

[Caller/Listener]

No, no, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Since the dawn of time, there are people going, I'm not standing for this song. And there are people going, you better stand for the song. It's, it's his. It's a tale as old as time.

[Caller/Listener]

No, it is.

[Don Hahn]

It is really a tale as old as time.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're 100, I want you to know right now you could be 110. If you slap me in the back of the head like I'm a child, they're going to have to pry me off of you with a crowbar.

[Don Hahn]

I want you to know that. That's going to start some trouble. 1-800-919-3776 how do you feel about the Met situation? I mean, are you really going to buy into the whole endure Soto relationship? Are we just going to get down to the root of the problem? I don't know what we do about it, people, but the Mets have a problem and they refuse to address it. The Yankees have Mr. Clutch Jazz Chisholm, who's really been saving the Yankees bacon. He may not be the player that he was supposed to be, but thank God you have him. We've got to talk about a Tuesday coming up at 4:30, and I got a good one. It's, it's. I'm really riled up about it, but I'm also really riled up about pest control. Just like the New Jersey Devils bringing city on the ice, Viking Pest control brings the same level of protection to your home. I know this because I use Viking at my own place. The season may be over, but pests are always in play. So time to lock in the off season defense. Do it, everybody. The summertime is here. You want to be able to go in the backyard. You want to be able to entertain. And you only want invited guests, not pests. As the pest control provider and proud partner of the Devil's Viking delivers 45 years of trusted experience to keep ants, cockroaches, stinging insects, rodents, mosquitoes and more out of your zone. Their local team builds a personalized game plan that actually works. And when you build a bundle pest control with mosquito services save big savings big time. One call, one company. Total peace of mind. Visit vikingpest.com protecting your home inside and out.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority. They're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

I'm not a big REM Fan. I respect the work. I'm just not. I don't really like their music. Is that wrong?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it wrong?

[Don Hahn]

No, just preference.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that at their best. The two. Andy. Because there's man on the Moon and then there's the other one.

[Don Hahn]

The End of the World. It's the End of the World as we know it. It's. It's the. That song isn't bad.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't hate that, do you? What about you? Not a Losing My Religion fan?

[Caller/Listener]

No.

[Don Hahn]

But what about the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Isn't there another man on the Moon? But isn't there another Andy Kaufman song? Isn't that the song they made for the movie? But there's another song. Am I getting confused?

[Don Hahn]

There's. What's the frequency, Kenneth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's for sure.

[Caller/Listener]

About. I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

While you're figuring out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess you're right. I guess I'm just thinking of the beginning of the song sounding differently than the chorus.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe.

[Technical Support/Producer]

Maybe.

[Don Hahn]

Good movie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just good. You don't love it? I love it.

[Don Hahn]

I'm gonna stand by. I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's Carrie. I think it's Jim at one of his best.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, he's terrific. What a good movie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love. I love the way that the wrestling stuff is done. It feels so.

[Don Hahn]

They did a very good job bringing everybody back from Taxi for the funeral. Like they. Really awesome. And listen, they were still lucky that everybody still looked good and it kind of made sense. But no. Great performance by Jim Carrey. It's a good movie. I'll stand by it. Okay. Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm putting it all together now. I want to apologize to you and my family.

[Don Hahn]

Do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So man on the Moon is the song about Andy Kaufman.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's from their seminal album Automatic for the People, which is like six years before the movie.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. It wasn't written for the movie. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they actually. So, yeah. They named. They named the movie for the song.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what kind of confused me.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Don Hahn]

That's all right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What?

[Don Hahn]

97.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think 97. 98. And the album's 92. My dad listened to this Album a lot.

[Don Hahn]

Really interesting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you know, it's interesting. Thing about, you know, I'm going to blow my mind here.

[Don Hahn]

Blow your mind?

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

What about mine?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It won't mean the same to you, but I know you like this game too, and Anthony hates it. This album came out in November 92. And I'm feeling weird today. Maybe everything went on so I could get emotional. So just follow along if you can.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's 2026 right now.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Salvin came out 92. That's 34 years.

[Freddie Peralta (player)]

Mm.

[Podcast Announcer]

God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My dad was younger than me.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When he was playing this album in our living room. That's crazy.

[Don Hahn]

That makes sense.

[Technical Support/Producer]

No, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, turns 92. Dear God. That was a good poll.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's well done.

[Don Hahn]

Now that's crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I just like. Yeah. And obviously I had kids late, so none of the timing makes sense in my head.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, no, exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I was like. I was 13 already.

[Don Hahn]

But that's cool that your father listened to contemporary music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did for a while.

[Don Hahn]

They fell off the closest my dad ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't get started with your dad. Your dad in music was a mess. If we're being honest, he's the only man in New Jersey in 1972 who only wanted to listen to country music.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he just. He wasn't a rock fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's like drez, how crazy it is. He was against anything modern.

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he football changing against it. Music. Rock and roll wasn't exactly brand new.

[Don Hahn]

He was. No. He hated Elvis. He hated the Beatles. He hated anything that was popular that caused a ruckus. He would these people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean Elvis, I mean, Hound Dog was too much.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't like him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't like the cut of his jib.

[Don Hahn]

No. Didn't care for the man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what was the most modern piece of music?

[Don Hahn]

He even played the two things. You ready? Air Supply.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's making sense.

[Don Hahn]

And America. Horse with no Name.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't remember what America. I don't. I know. America's a band. I don't remember.

[Don Hahn]

Like what songs are Horse with no Name.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a big one.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You've heard it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And is it surprising that he liked

[Don Hahn]

that or does it go that seemed like he was. That's when he was letting his hair down. He was rocking out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Little America, Little Air Supply.

[Don Hahn]

My father would turn on. We grew up AM radio was where all the music was like this PLJ a little bit later on. But like early on, if you wanted to listen to music, you listened to WNBC or wabc Now, I have a question real quick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was hap. Was FM not around yet?

[Don Hahn]

No, FM was around, but just people weren't connecting with it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I just want to say, tell me if I'm wrong here. Them. While FM existed, them keeping music on AM is the equivalent of the goalpost in the front of the end zone.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you doing? Yes, it is amazing. As you guys know, if you're listening to us right now is a horrifying sound, whereas FM is crystal.

[Don Hahn]

Especially for music like and I. And listen. There might have been people listening to fm, but not in our car because my father probably figured all that fam. That's that bangle hippie band. But if my father did turn on NBC because my mom did like rock music. So if he got in the car and NBC was on, or ABC was on, for my mother driving the car and like My Life by Billy Joel came on, he turned it off as if he was being stabbed by needles. To him, that might as well have been the Sex Pistols.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My Life by Billy Joel.

[Don Hahn]

That might as well, right? That. That was the equivalent of like thrash metal to him. That was Satan's music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I have to imagine, also. And I'm just stepping out here on a limb, I don't want to make assumptions about your dad. It was the theme song of Bosom Buddies. I feel like he wouldn't have enjoyed Bosom Buddies either.

[Don Hahn]

No, the concept was not. Was over his head.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not for him. What about Morgan?

[Don Hahn]

Why don't they just move into a place that allows men?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Doesn't make sense. What about Mork and Mindy?

[Don Hahn]

Yes, he did enjoy that because he was a sci Fi freak.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, that is odd. Sci fi. You wouldn't think a guy who's this not.

[Don Hahn]

He liked what he liked and he didn't like what he didn't like. He was so. You know, you can find a horse with no name. Julian. Not a horse with no name. Good to be out of the rain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if I know.

[Don Hahn]

In the desert you can't remember your name. You'll never.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's not. Ring your version of it.

[Don Hahn]

You've ever been in a dentist's office? Oh, you ever been in an elevator?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

In the desert. Yeah, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anyway, this is your dad letting loose.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, this. This would be like the first time I heard Slayer. That was the equivalent. Anything heavier than that. Then you. You worshiped Satan and you were. You were. You're doomed to be a bad person. Oh, I could tell you stories now

[Peter Rosenberg]

it's just so interesting to think about your brother, your dad. Wow.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

Remember those days where the only way you could hear a song was either purchase it on. On cassette, cassette, single, or just hope that it would come on the radio. And when it came on the radio, it was like Christmas Day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, unless you were smart and you taped it yourself, then you had it,

[Don Hahn]

now you had it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Taped it off the crispy FM radio in my case.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's what I used to do on. My parents used to let me listen to the radio before I went to sleep. And believe it or not, Even in the 70s, we had a radio that had a timer. So my father would set it for a half hour, and then the music would just fade out when the 30 minutes was up. So my brother and I would go to bed and we'd get to listen to the radio for 30 minutes and whoever, you know, same room, same room. And then on Sundays, they'd have PSA shows like Howard Cosell. Speaking of everything. I get all excited. Howard Cosell's on. He's gonna talk sports. No, he was talking politics. He was talking really economics and everything else. And they'd have all these special shows and there'd be no music. So what I would do is earlier in the day, I would record the radio for like a half hour and then play the cassette so I at least be able to hear some music here. Like, you know, Light My Fire by the Doors or the Blues Brothers. Soul Man. Those are some of the songs I remember on the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, your soul man from mid-70s.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, the movie came out in 80. I think the. So I think they released the album like in 79 somewhere. So I was like, 11. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to the busy phones and let's talk to Victor in Florida. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Victor?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, Don. How you doing, buddy?

[Don Hahn]

Good, how are you?

[Caller/Listener]

I'm all right. Yeah, I was just cutting. Blowing my weeds around in central Florida over here. No, I hit a nerve because was a heart strength because I'm also retired from the same company dad worked at.

[Don Hahn]

A pseudonym.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. Did he work for the electric side of the gas side?

[Don Hahn]

Electric.

[Caller/Listener]

Electric, okay. Yeah, I was the gas side. Yeah, I guess. Moved down there like three years ago. Yeah. Horse for no Name I think I could have been a great neighbor for your dad.

[Don Hahn]

How old are you?

[Caller/Listener]

63.

[Don Hahn]

How old? 63.

[Caller/Listener]

Yes. How old was he when he passed?

[Don Hahn]

He passed. He was 59. And that was back in 97. So my dad would have been in his upper 80s. But sounds like you guys are cut from the same jib. So I think you guys would have probably got along with each other. Pse and G was, there was the gas side, there was the electric side. My dad was on the electric side. So you'd have to go to Richfield Park. New Jersey was right off the turnpike and that's where he worked, you know, forever. David and Elizabeth, you're on espn New York.

[Caller/Listener]

What's up, David, what's going on? Don, what's going on? Radio Rosenberg, what up, buddy? Let's talk about the myths like you dream about. All right, so this is what I

[Don Hahn]

want to say a little bit. You had a little chickens going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he's trying.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

Oh, you, you know me, Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

I always, always.

[Caller/Listener]

Oh, yeah. So, so, so look, now this is what I want to say. Yesterday you were bringing up Jake and I agree with him 100. I wouldn't hold on to these prospects, you know, when they're two pieces away from really contending. So I wanted to agree with you on that, even though I couldn't tell you that yesterday. So I wanted to say that first and second is, I want to say with the Met, you're 100% right. If they bring in a new manager, is it really going to solve the whole conspiracy of what's going on with the team right now? No, because, yeah, you know, you'll get these two guys to get on the same page, but that doesn't solve that. The roster stinks. And you know, Sanga's terrible. Terrible. Freddie Peralta, terrible. They're giving us middle school numbers. Like, like you said, getting a new manager isn't going to solve that. We got to get at the head of the snake and that's that. Stearns, man.

[Don Hahn]

I think it's excuse making. And thank you for the phone call of. Well, we just got to get this whole endure Soto thing right. And if we can't get it right, we got a trade. Lindor, what are we doing? We've got a problem here. Fix it. Hey, the Knicks did something similar. We don't think, we don't think Thibodeau's the guy. And it ruffled a lot of feathers. I was slack jawed when it happened. Next thing you know, they win a championship it's okay to admit you made a mistake. You know what's worse is when you double down on the mistake because you're stubborn. Or again, my conspiracy theory is he being forced to to keep this guy. I'm sorry. I'm sure there's nothing down on paper that's a conspiracy theory. If Steve cares about this team, he'd say, I gotta find somebody. This is not good. And we played the Sound from a couple of weeks ago. You remember it, Peter? He goes, oh, well, he doesn't get any. He doesn't get any credit for 24. No, he doesn't, because that wasn't his team, number one. And number two, he didn't believe in the 24 team because he blew it up. And this is what he pivoted to. And now his old team has the best record in baseball. Didn't miss a beat. So maybe it wasn't him. Now, I'm not going to sit there and lie and say there isn't a foundation that maybe he laid that that now allowed the brewers to continue to play well. But it could also be that whatever he was doing really didn't matter, that that's a solid organization that's got a lot of good people that know what to do in a small market and make it work. Now, they have been able to win in the postseason, but they go to the playoffs every year. They got the best record OF baseball on July 21. The Mets have one of the worst records in baseball. Has anybody really paid attention to where the Mets are in the standings? Because everybody gets caught up in how far back you are from. From the what? The last wild card. And, oh, the baseball stinks right now. And all you need to do is be like the Red Sox and win 14 straight games. And you could be right back in it after the Knicks run was over. And now you're getting ready for football. And maybe you've decided, you know what? Baseball's stupid anyway. I'm a Met fan. I don't want to even be bothered watching this team and not paying attention to the fact that The Mets have a.416 winning percentage with a record of 42 and 59, a minus 67 run differential. And there is only one, two, three teams in all of Major League Baseball that have a worse winning percentage than the Mets. Just the Rockies in the National League and the Angels and the Kansas City Royals in the American League. The Mets are the second worst team in the National League, and they're the fourth worst team in Major League Baseball. That's how far they've fallen from being an 83 win team last year and a team that went to game six of the league championship series the year before. Now, I'll repeat myself. They needed to make a change because that team wasn't going to win. But this team, the fourth worst team in Major League baseball and this guy gets to keep his job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's, it's, it's very odd and I just don't understand. Now listen again, I don't think Mendoza did a good job, particularly with the Soto Endor situation. But besides that, what huge impact did Mendoza have on this team?

[Don Hahn]

Well, and also Peter Cohen admitted after Mendoza was let go that it was a mercy fire. So it wasn't so much. He's the reason we're in this situation. Let's let the guy go. He's ruining his reputation being on this team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So it really wasn't the manager. It's amazing to me that we could be sitting here in 2026 and have what every Met fan dreamed of, the Wil Ponds out and you bring in an owner that's worth $23 billion and you're just as clueless as you were before. How. How is that possible? Is it in the water and flushing? What?

[Podcast Announcer]

It.

[Don Hahn]

It's crazy. This is why Met fans get aggravated at Yankee fans complaining about your situation. Your situation's a panacea compared to the Mets. And I know it's the Mets and it's the Yankees. It's different. But how about just competent baseball? You could be anybody and take over a team and if you know what you're doing, get them to win. We saw the Kansas City Royals go to back to back World Series. We saw the Texas Rangers seen it win a championship. John Harbaugh spoke. Go ahead. Or Joe Biden. I forget who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, let me listen.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know what, Peter? I heard I've previewed this sound. It. It's going to sound like Biden. Get ready.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Podcast Announcer]

sausage is made, man.

[Technical Support/Producer]

I just want to know.

[Podcast Announcer]

It's good. 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.