Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Opening Night & Meredith Marakovits (March 25, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with high-energy banter among hosts Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and remote guest Don La Greca as they get ready for the opening night of the baseball season. The trio discusses traditions in sports broadcasts, "Drop Madness," recaps recent Knicks and Devils games, and welcomes Yankees reporter Meredith Marakovits to dig deep into the Yankees' roster, Aaron Judge's perception, and the outlook for the upcoming MLB season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Open and Host Banter (00:31–04:19)

• Sleep Deprivation Humor: Alan and Peter joke about Alan's lack of sleep and reliance on his "Whoop" fitness tracker. The casual, jovial tone sets up their chemistry.

  • "Yeah, my whoop hates me. You're like, why are you still awake? Like, it's yelling. It's, it keeps buzzing: 'go to bed.'" — Alan Hahn (01:31)

• Lunch Drama: They engage in playful ribbing over not inviting Peter to lunch at Black Tap Burger, and discuss dietary choices during Lent.

• “Drop Madness” Allegations: First mention of on-air inside jokes and playful accusations regarding their sports “Drop Madness” contest.

  • "Don actively lobbied to get Marcos to win... It's like paying off the refs to get your kid a win." — Peter Rosenberg (05:20)

2. Knicks, Devils, and “Drop Madness” (06:36–13:11)

Knicks Game Recap (06:36–08:36)

• Strong Game vs. Pelicans: Alan and Peter praise the Knicks' entertaining win against the Pelicans, highlighting improvement and the contributions of Towns and Brunson.

  • "When it came time for winning time... Brunson, the entire fourth—big 15 point quarter he had—put it away." — Alan Hahn (07:14)

• Knicks Standings: The Knicks surpass the Celtics in wins for a virtual tie in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Devils Hockey Recap (08:41–10:44)

• Don’s Legendary Call: Don’s “absolutely filthy” call for Hughes’ second goal and playful banter about announcer collaborations.

  • “There comes Hughes. Absolutely filthy.” — Peter Rosenberg (09:01)

• Playoff Hopes: Devils' playoff chances are analyzed, with the consensus being a miraculous run is required.

“Drop Madness” Follow-up (11:00–12:00)

• Host Drop Impressions: The hosts joke about their broadcast personas, inventing “Absolutely Filthy” as Don's new rap name.

3. The MLB’s Opening Night—Tradition vs. Change (13:11–22:38)

• Opening Night Lacks Tradition: Detailed discussion on how MLB’s single-game “opening night” (on Netflix) diminishes the excitement and communal feeling of traditional, full-slate opening days.
  • "Tonight just feels like a random game at night and it doesn't have that feel of the whole league is back..." — Alan Hahn (14:43)

Notable Quotes:

• "It's not baseball, Susan." — Peter Rosenberg (17:05)

• "For me, opening day in baseball... this is one thing that I would think that I would try to keep [the tradition]." — Alan Hahn (22:20)

• Modern Broadcast Frustration: Fans miss local voices and coverage (YES Network) due to exclusivity on Netflix. Nostalgic “I’ve been a Yankee fan since…” clips are played to illustrate generational fandom.

4. “Drop Madness” Second Round (23:02–25:37)

• The March Madness-style "Drop Madness" continues, with listeners encouraged to vote on Twitter.
  • Fun, irreverent drops: “diarrhea you dream about” vs “you stink,” “yo yo, monkey boy,” Maya saying “mama.” Atmosphere is lighthearted and competitive.

5. Yankees’ Hyped Video & Social Media Drama (31:07–36:02)

• Soto “Rent Free” Tweet: Discussion about Juan Soto reacting sarcastically to a Yankees promo showing him being struck out:

  • "Soto tweets 'rent free.'" — Alan Hahn (31:29)
  • "The Soto Yankees breakup with him going to the Mets, it's not going away." — Peter Rosenberg (32:27)

• Mets/Yankees Rivalry and Social Media: They reflect on the inevitable fan/media drama surrounding high-profile transfers in New York baseball.

6. Tackling Social Media Trolls (35:29–36:02)

• Alan and Peter urge not to “give oxygen” to online trolls—advice extended to athletes and public figures:
  • "What you want to do...is take the oxygen out of it until it dies." — Alan Hahn (35:37)

7. Don’s “Drop Madness” Defense (36:09–38:00)

• Playful Defense: Don insists his tweets did not unduly influence “Drop Madness” results:
  • "Did LeBron James help his son...I did the identical retweets for Marco and Maya..." — Don LaGreca (36:09)

8. Interview with Meredith Marakovits (41:09–55:37)

Opening Banter & Traditions (41:41)

• Meredith jokes about the grind and intensity of a 162-game season.

Aaron Judge’s Reputation & WBC Impact (43:23–46:02)

• Media vs. Ballpark Sentiment:
  • "I think they love and appreciate him...you want him on your team when it is a big moment." — Meredith Marakovits (45:00)
• Criticism on social media over Judge’s WBC performance is overblown; true fans support him.

Yankees 2026 Roster Outlook (46:02–51:42)

• Bullpen and Offense: New faces and a full season from mid-season acquisitions create optimism. Defense in the infield should be improved.

• Rotation Strength:

  • “Can you think of another year... where the potential of the four guys... the talent of Rodón could be your fourth pitcher?” — Alan Hahn (49:20)
  • "Not since I've been here...it almost seems...an embarrassment of riches." — Meredith Marakovits (49:56)

• Young Talent: Carlos Legrand and Jason Dominguez are named as prospects with significant upside.

  • "I expect that you'll see [Legrand] as a piece at some point in time this season." — Meredith Marakovits (51:42)
  • Regarding Dominguez: "For a 23-year-old to act like that and carry himself like that, I think it's pretty impressive." — Meredith Marakovits (53:17)

Meredith’s Career & Aspirations (53:17–54:44)

• Celebrates her 15th season. She loves her role, remains open to new opportunities, but is motivated to finally cover a World Series.
  • "I haven't left yet kind of tells you how much I love this job..." — Meredith Marakovits (54:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Who’s that? That's absolutely... It's absolutely filthy." (Playful speculation on Don’s “rap name”) — Peter Rosenberg & Alan Hahn (11:24)
• "It's not baseball, Susan." — Peter Rosenberg (17:05)
• "The only thing that I was disappointed about was that I was not down in Miami watching some of those games because the crowd just seemed insane." — Meredith Marakovits (43:23)
• "You expect him to hit a home run, which just is not realistic...what we see on a daily basis is not really normal." — Meredith Marakovits (45:00)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:31] – Playful open and health/Whoop banter
• [06:36] – Knicks–Pelicans game breakdown
• [08:48] – Devils highlights and Don’s iconic call
• [13:11] – Opening night/baseball tradition debate
• [23:02] – “Drop Madness” second round matchups
• [31:07] – Yankees hype video / Soto “rent free” moment
• [41:41] – Start of Meredith Marakovits interview
• [43:23] – Aaron Judge, WBC, and fan perception
• [46:02] – Yankees roster analysis
• [49:20] – Pitching rotation deep dive
• [51:42] – Yankees’ prospects: Legrand and Dominguez
• [53:17] – Meredith’s career journey

Tone and Style

The episode maintains high energy, wit, and camaraderie among the hosts, blending lighthearted ribbing, deep New York sports insights, and genuine consideration for long-term local traditions. The conversation with Meredith Marakovits brings expert analysis, optimism, and behind-the-scenes perspective on the Yankees and the evolving traditions of baseball.

Takeaways for Listeners

• The episode embodies New York sports radio at its best—irreverent, insightful, and tuned into both legacy and change.
• Tension between tradition and modern broadcast deals in MLB is a central theme, especially regarding fans’ connection with local voices and community.
• The Yankees' roster is the subject of careful, optimistic scrutiny—particularly the talented rotation and infusion of youth.
• Fans are encouraged to maintain perspective on media narratives versus in-park sentiment, especially regarding franchise icons like Aaron Judge.
• The show's interactive “Drop Madness” and in-jokes foster a sense of in-group fun perfect for devoted listeners.
• Having Meredith Marakovits on brings high-quality Yankees reporting, reaffirming the value of longstanding voices in NY sports media.