Hour 1: Soto Hustle

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Soto Hustle

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Host/Authors: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Description: Featuring ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and New York Knick broadcaster Alan Hahn, and the highly opinionated Hip Hop veteran and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg, the podcast delves into New York sports and beyond.
• Episode: Hour 1: Soto Hustle
• Release Date: May 20, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode kicks off shortly after [00:42], bypassing initial advertisements. Hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive directly into today's primary topic: the performance and controversies surrounding Mets' superstar, Juan Soto.

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2. Juan Soto's Performance and Rental Issues

Discussion Highlights:

• Juan Soto's Struggles: The trio examines Soto’s underwhelming performance, highlighting his batting slump and lack of hustle on the bases.
• Key Play Analysis: A specific play is dissected where Soto hit a single that could have been a double if he had hustled to first base, leading to media scrutiny post-game.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [04:42]: "And the minute a common man sees a guy who's making $700 million over the next 15 years isn't doing it, of course, it's gonna tick people off."
• Don La Greca [06:28]: "Juan Soto was asked about not hustling on that play after being seen not hustling on another play against the Yankees on Sunday."

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3. Management and Player Accountability

Discussion Highlights:

• Manager's Frustration: Don criticizes Mets' manager Carlos Mendoza for publicly addressing Soto's lack of hustle, drawing parallels with past managerial confrontations.
• Contract Expectations: Emphasis on how high-profile contracts, like Soto’s 15-year deal, amplify expectations for player performance and accountability.

Notable Quotes:

• Don La Greca [07:04]: "How do you win that face-off if you're Mendoza? You don't have a bunch of rings jingling and jangling. You haven't been around forever."
• Alan Hahn [11:00]: "Remember, he blew off the media after Sunday night's game. They didn't talk to anybody."

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4. Fan and Media Reactions

Discussion Highlights:

• Media Scrutiny: The hosts discuss how New York's intense media environment exacerbates player scrutiny, especially for someone under such a lucrative contract.
• Fan Backlash: Potential for growing fan dissatisfaction if Soto's performance doesn't improve, with references to historical fan reactions to underperforming stars.

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [16:10]: "Who wants that?"
• Don La Greca [19:05]: "Mets are starting to pay attention to this. We're gonna get a bunch of phone calls of people just not liking guys that can't bust it down the first baseline."

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5. Family Influence on Contract Decisions

Discussion Highlights:

• Soto’s Contract Signing: Exploration of rumors suggesting that Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets was heavily influenced by his family's preferences, potentially hindering his autonomy and performance.
• Cultural Considerations: Discussion on how cultural backgrounds, particularly Latino families, may impact athletes' personal and professional decisions.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Reynolds [39:07]: "I'm half Dominican, half Puerto Rican. We see money and we tend to get a little hood rich right at the end of the day."
• Don La Greca [30:26]: "If the family has a say, then there's always gonna be a face-off. The team wants me to do this, but my family wants me to do that."

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6. Comparisons to Other Athletes and Historical Context

Discussion Highlights:

• Historical Parallels: The hosts draw comparisons between Soto’s situation and other athletes like Robinson Cano, David Wright, and Chris Tucker's meme about contracts, illustrating recurring themes of player performance under contract pressure.
• Legacy and Performance: Speculation on how Soto can either cement a positive legacy with the Mets or be remembered poorly if struggles persist.

Notable Quotes:

• Don La Greca [37:01]: "Anybody with a brain would bet that this is going to age way better than it started."
• Alan Hahn [33:05]: "He's struggling, and that's the main reason why he's not himself."

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7. Listener Calls and Interactive Segment

Discussion Highlights:

• Ryan Reynolds' Call [19:56]: A listener shares his perspective as a diehard Yankees fan, expressing understanding of Soto’s family influences but emphasizing the importance of performance.
• Community Sentiment: Other listeners, including Ricardo from Cliffside Park, weigh in on Soto’s potential and the broader implications for the Mets and Yankees fanbases.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Reynolds [40:36]: "If he was hitting, there'd be no problems. It's funny though. I agree with that statement."
• Don La Greca [44:58]: "New York's New York man fan bases aren't that much different."

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8. Concluding Insights and Future Outlook

Discussion Highlights:

• Potential Turnaround: Optimism that Soto can regain his form and align with team expectations, potentially turning the narrative around for the Mets.
• Long-Term Implications: Consideration of how early-season struggles might affect the Mets' standings and Soto’s relationship with fans and management.

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [46:25]: "Baseball's a long season. Got to have a storyline. This whole thing could be a moot thing in three days that doesn't even exist."
• Don La Greca [47:10]: "If they get swept at Fenway, he continues to not hit. The Mets continue to not hit... All of a sudden you're out of the playoffs."

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9. Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with a reflection on the complexities of high-profile athlete contracts, the influence of personal relationships on professional decisions, and the unforgiving nature of New York sports media and fanbases. Hosts encourage Mets fans to remain supportive while holding players accountable, emphasizing the delicate balance between loyalty and performance expectations.

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Conclusion: In this engaging episode, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg provide an in-depth analysis of Juan Soto's current struggles with the Mets, exploring the multifaceted issues of performance under pressure, management-player dynamics, and the cultural influences that may be impacting Soto's game. Through thoughtful discussion and listener interactions, the hosts shed light on the broader implications for the team and its fanbase, offering a comprehensive overview for both dedicated listeners and casual fans alike.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

Then full price plan options available, taxes.

[Alan Hahn]

And fees, extra fee, full [e-mail] Dungeons.

[Don La Greca]

Working in a lot can be accomplished.

[Alan Hahn]

Hahn. I just got excited. And Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan just expressed theoretical arousal about the Dolly Parton puppet.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app 3 o' clock in the greatest city in the world with Don Le Greck and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. We got lots to talk about today, fellas. Peter Rosenberg on first take this morning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, like you dream about getting into it. I'm in trouble. I've become a. I've become a utility man. I mean, you know, I'll be honest, I'll keep it real with you guys.

[Alan Hahn]

They go to the bullpen, they bring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You call came a little late last night, but I said, I said, guess what?

[Don La Greca]

All right, wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm in.

[Don La Greca]

Uh, oh, I'm just trying to think about like ultra utility guy. Yeah, like, like Lee Russon. Was that for the Giants back when they Super Bowl 1990 where he made. It's like making the soup the Pro Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't he like Joe McEwing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't like Joe McEwing's Joe McEwing. I don't like either of these.

[Don La Greca]

Dude, Joe McEwing. Super Joe owned Randy Johnson. Like Randy Johnson could throw the ball a thousand miles an hour. Joe McEwing would hit it out. Joe McEwing couldn't hit anybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seriously, are we leaning towards a top five tomorrow? Top five utility guy.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know. You know what? You, you might be on the list.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go. Who knows?

[Don La Greca]

First take is using you.

[Alan Hahn]

But I mean, again, you, you know, sometimes you got to go to the bullpen late. You didn't think you were going to need to. Then all of a sudden it's like, oh, whoa, whoa, we need guy in. And then if Somebody comes, he's not ready to go. It shows you, my friend, you. You have a gift. You were ready to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was ready to go.

[Don La Greca]

It's an easy week for us when first take sends a message to you. Late, is it. Do they text like, you up?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I get notes from Stephen A. Stephen A just sends a text, says, you up, you up? And I go, oh, hey, hey.

[Don La Greca]

What was that? What was that emoji that Eli had on the Saturday Night Live with the tongue out with the one eye?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, it's. This is a good. This is a good time to be alive. A new live.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And a New York City sports talk host. Because we happen to have, in my opinion, just about the sexiest thing going in sports with this series that starts tomorrow night. I don't think there is much better. I don't even think there's much we could have hoped for prior to Kyrie getting hurt. All right. I thought the prospect of like a retooled new Lakers with Doncic against a fully loaded Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Mavs going back to Dallas, I thought that was dead sexy and super appealing. It was immediately gone. Dashed before the playoffs even started.

[Alan Hahn]

We didn't get that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't even get a chance.

[Alan Hahn]

We didn't get, like, Tatum versus Steve Kerr in an NBA Finals revenge game kind of thing. Because no Lakers, Celtics, none of that either. But instead you get Hicks versus Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And this is as good as it.

[Alan Hahn]

And you saying that Halliburton. I loved when you said Halliburton has a chance to be the ultimate heel and that he's got the wwe. He and Brunson love wrestling.

[Don La Greca]

Love it.

[Alan Hahn]

And the two of them did their thing last year at smackdown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

At the Garden. And so there's that. And he has that. He walked out of Game 7 wearing the Reggie Choking T shirt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't think anybody forgot about that. So there's a lot of, like, that stuff building up for this thing. And that game is tomorrow night. Tonight we've got Minnesota and OKC. OKC's got a quick turnaround here, but that that series starts tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And there's sizzle there, too.

[Alan Hahn]

There is lots of sizzle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's some. I mean, listen, it's not going to be a sexy thing that in New York we lead with every day, but in terms of at night, turn it on your TV when you get home.

[Alan Hahn]

If Julius Randall is still cooking that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, that's a fair point.

[Alan Hahn]

Louder and louder. And then remember, that's almost like the others. It's Dante DiVincenzo, Julius Randall and Isaiah Hartenstein all playing in the same series. You think Nick fans aren't watching that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wild.

[Don La Greca]

Of course they are, but they're scouting, too.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, at this, of course, you're definitely scouting, but I feel like, fellas, there's a way bigger headline today in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

New York City, and it's going to make me sick. If it's what I think it is.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's going to be my talk about it. Let's talk about it Tuesday.

[Don La Greca]

We're going to talk about it earlier than that.

[Alan Hahn]

We are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going to talk about it right this second.

[Alan Hahn]

Because the back page said, Juan slow mo.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here we go.

[Alan Hahn]

And as I told you, this is going to always feed the beast. If he's great or if he's, if he's just average, I think it's just quiet. But because he's not great, he's actually getting worse. The hustle part of this, which I think, correct me if I'm wrong, Don, I don't think Juan Soto was ever a busted out of the box kind of guy, ever when it comes to batting. I don't know about anything else in his life, but when it comes to that kind of stuff, he's never been mistaken for, you know what Nimmo does? Nimmo runs out a walk. So, like, but because as you always said, if he's not playing well and the Mets are winning, I don't care and no one will care. But the fact that the Mets now have kind of hit a, hit a bump here and he's still not producing, this is going on. And then this happens after the game because he hits one that looks like it's going out at Fenway, but. But the monster eats it up. And he doesn't hustle after he hits it. He kind of Cadillacs it for a minute. Hot dogs it, watches it hits the top of the monster, comes down. So he, what should have been at least a double was a single. And so of course, after the game, Carlos Mendoza is asked about it because the media now, they smell blood and they, you know, they're going to keep picking at this scab. So Mendoza was asked about Soto not busting it out to first base on that hit. We'll talk to him about it tonight. Obviously, someone gets a hold of one and knows when he got, when he gets it is Juan.

[Don La Greca]

He thought he had it with a.

[Alan Hahn]

Win and all that. And in this ballpark, or, you know, anyway, anywhere, but in particular in this.

[Don La Greca]

One without that wall right there.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to get out of the box. So we'll discuss that. We'll discuss that, he said. So Juan Soto was then asked about not hustling on that play after being seen not hustling on another play against the Yankees on Sunday. And he had this to say.

[Don La Greca]

Last couple of nights, you've had a.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Couple of plays where you were slow.

[Alan Hahn]

Getting out of the box.

[Don La Greca]

Is that something you have to be more aware of?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I think being hustling pretty hard.

[Alan Hahn]

If you see it today, you could tell. So he doesn't think there's a problem. The manager does. Where are we, Don?

[Don La Greca]

Well, this is, this is the problem. Because the lack of hustle thing, man, it's been going on forever. How many times we'd have to go, why doesn't Robinson Cano hustle out of the box? Why doesn't this guy Timo Perez in the World Series, remember, got thrown out at second base. And you know, it's been something that's been going on forever. And usually the guys that get ripped for it are the guys that are struggling and the guys not living up to the contract, not living up to the expectations. It's a really easy thing to go after. Juan Soto is not the only one that didn't bust it out of the box. I told you yesterday, being a Met fan, there were times I saw, you know, David Wright get frustrated and not busted down the first baseline when he knew he was going to be out. He didn't. Cadillac home runs, but there are plenty of guys that do it. But you just signed a 15 year contract. You're struggling. You just went 1 for 10 in the subway series where you didn't really bust it. Now you're Cadillac in a home run that isn't a home run. And now it's a single off the Green Monster. Not the first or last single off the Green Monster, but not an arcing high fly ball. He should have been standing at second base. Now, to his credit, he stole second base. So he ended up at second base anyway. So that's what he's going to tell you. Allen is like, what are you talking about? Not hustling? I ended up at second base.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, Made up for.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't make it. I made up for it by stealing second base. Right. But the issue is Mendoza's got a problem with it and the superstar athlete doesn't think there's a problem. So all the times, remember Peter, during the case show, why is it Kano hustle and all Aaron Boone never thought it was a problem until Gleyber Torres did it. And Gleyber Torres got benched. And even when he got benched, Boone really wouldn't tell you he was benched because he wasn't hustling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Boone doesn't do that.

[Don La Greca]

Boone doesn't do that. And Mendoza was complimentary and defended him. But the little caveat at the end was, you know, we're gonna talk about it. At the end of the day, he wanted to let the world know he wasn't happy about I'll defend my guy. Similar situation happened with Buck Showalter. If you remember his first year as manager of the Mets, Sterling Starling Marte got thrown out at second base. A bad steal attempt ran him out of an inning. And Buck said after the game, hey, we like the fact that Marte hustles. We like the fact that he's overly aggressive, but he's never going to do it again. Like, I'll defend you, but I'm also going to let the world know I'm not happy with you. That's what Mendoza was doing. But here's the problem. How do you win that face off if you're Mendoza, you don't have a bunch of rings jingling and jangling. You haven't been around forever. This is your first. You're a second year manager of a team and the guy that isn't listening to you is in year one of a 15 year contract. I give Mendoza credit.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you've got the public behind you on this.

[Don La Greca]

You have to still stand your ground and get support from the organization. Because that's my issue is do I want these guys to hustle? Yes. But we all see it. Guys, Cadillac home runs. Guys get thrown out because they don't hustle. Happens all the time in Major League Baseball. Frustrates me, but I got to live with it because it's a get off my lawn topic. Apparently, when it comes to some of the younger ball players, my issue is he doesn't think it's a problem. His manager thinks it's a problem. So I better not see it today because I don't care about contract, I don't care about money. You got to honor your manager. There's got to be a pecking order. And if your manager doesn't have control of his players, then what's he worth? And that's a good manager. He led them to two wins away from the World Series last year. He deserves your respect. Now, I'm not saying Soto's disrespecting him. But clearly they're not on the same page. I'll give them today to get on the same page, Allen. But if they're not, this is going to be a problem. Now, I don't know if Soto knew what Mendoza said. I don't know if Mendoza had spoken to Soto. Clearly not, you know, before he said it. So I'm just gonna go and say they're not on the same page. And this should clear up today when they speak to the media that everything's fine.

[Alan Hahn]

We should hear something soon.

[Don La Greca]

But let's see. Or is this gonna be an ongoing problem throughout the season of my superstar players not hustling and. And I can't do anything about it because I don't care about contracting. You gotta be able to listen to the manager.

[Alan Hahn]

Remember, he blew off the media after Sunday night's game. They didn't talk to anybody. I'm telling you. So much of this is that he spent three nights this past weekend in right field in Yankee Stadium getting eviscerated. Then you know what his break from that was? Go to Fenway Park. Fun in that corner and deal with that, too, because those people are right there right next to you. Literally same level. And, you know, I mean, you know, Boston fans have been known to have a couple of words to sit to share with opponent, especially when they know that you're. You're in one right now. And let's not forget, he did spurn them as well. Didn't want to play for Boston. So there's. There's a lot going on right now around him that I don't think he's used to. And this is him showing you the first sign of real adversity in his career. And I think it's really affecting him.

[Don La Greca]

Well, this Mets recap is driven by Ramsey Mazda. I don't need this, guys. They're not hitting right now. Scored one run yesterday. They averaged what, two, two runs a game? They scored seven runs in the three games against the Yankees, so averaged just a little over two runs a game there. They didn't hit against Pittsburgh, but it's Pittsburgh and they were able to take two out of three. But they got completely shut down in the last game. That was the game Soto didn't play in preparation for his 1 for 10 against the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

You know, and you, and you don't hustle out of the box in the first game against Boston. And they've, you know, first place is going to become a rumor pretty soon if they don't start to Wake up. So we don't need this as Met fans. All right? Like, it was. It was. It was never fun to see Soto struggle, but it almost became a badge of honor that, hey, he's struggling, but we're still in first place. Well, guess what? You're not in first place anymore. You're a half game back of Philadelphia. And by the way, Philadelphia is in the midst of taking on Colorado, who's 31 games under.500. Good luck getting any help from the Rockies against the Phillies over the next couple of days. So now it's not a badge of honor there. At least we're in first place. Now it's, oh, we're. At least we're a playoff team. Yeah, the National League's tough, man. Another couple of weeks of this garbage. All of a sudden, you're not a playoff team anymore. All of a sudden, you're closer to.500 than you are to the playoffs. So this is all blanks and giggles. When Soto was struggling.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

Now it's a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, because you keep waiting for him to snap out of it, but he can't snap out of it if, like I said, he's been in a weekend of the Crucible, and then he goes to Boston dealing with it. And now he's dealing with this controversy of. And, you know, the New York media, once again, the shark smell blood, and they're going to circle him and circle him. And you see how he handled it instead of facing the music after the game on Sunday. No, not wearing the mic, not talking to the media after that game, not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wearing the mic was.

[Don La Greca]

Was a. Was a.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he's probably sick and tired of answering questions because, you know they're going to ask him about, hey, Judge. And what was it like playing for the Yankees? Like, being back? He didn't want to deal with it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm not saying. I think it's like the world's worst thing that he didn't feel like being mic'd up. I get why one doesn't feel like being mic'd up. It's just given everything, it was a misstep because it added fuel for no reason. He could have done. It would have been no big deal, and it would have helped quell things. It made it worse. But I just want to say nothing that you guys said is false. And I don't expect particularly Allen to weigh in on this. He, like Michael, has loyalty to this world. I have none. This is why, though, partially, we can't have anything nice in the city. And. And the Whole thing, Don, that we always talk about. Oh, well, when you win a championship here, it's forever. But do you also want to sign up for. Not only do you get covered closely with lots of columnists, but there is also a cottage industry on drama existing. And you being on the back page of the paper there, like that is a, that is a real thing. That the idea when people say, like, who wouldn't want to be here? It's a lot. And maybe, listen, I think he's going to be fine and I think it will all work out. But I see why someone wouldn't enjoy this. Juan Slow Mo on the back of the page. It's just all, it's a lot for not that much meat. Guys there has all. He, all he's done so far is played like slightly below average baseball. He's not an absolute walking disaster. He, he's disappointing. But it's also. We just passed mid May.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry. It's, it's, it's, it's always going to be the way you resonate, especially for tabloids with the common man, is to talk about how much money this guy's making. Right?

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Like you got to work hard all day and this guy can't even run into first base hard. That's, that's what you do in tabloids when it comes to a guy who, who has contracts of that level. Because that is the thing that resonates. And the minute a common man sees.

[Don La Greca]

It, it pisses you off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who wants that?

[Don La Greca]

I understand that. But you know what? The fans eat it up. Because one of the more, I think, underrated things about New York, not to people who live here, but to people on the outside. I think the people living on the outside think of New York as a very cosmopolitan city.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

But to the people who live here, it's a blue collar lunch pail city. Yep. And the people that go to baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Games, Mets in particular, by the way.

[Don La Greca]

Are people that are working hard and they expect the players that they're paying to see to work as hard as they work. All right. There are a lot of pretty people. We'll see it at the Garden tomorrow. Lot of pretty people. They're paying thousands of dollars or getting to sit in thousand dollar seats and not paying a dime to sit there, but going to, going to 81 baseball games. 90% of the people in that building are working stiffs who want to see their guy go out there and bust it. Is it really asking that much to hustle down the first baseline? Oh, but then we get, oh, Nimmo busted down the first base line after a walk. It's a whole. He's trying. He's a try hard. Look at him. I'd rather that than a guy that doesn't want to play as hard as he possibly can. You respect the guys.

[Alan Hahn]

And by the way, speaking of Nimmo, he put the mic on last minute for that game. Phenomenal, right? When do you ever get in game interviews that are actually full of character, personality, and some insight? He was unreal. Really, really good.

[Don La Greca]

But we love the guys that work their. Their asses off. Right? We love Brunson because Brunson, it's the big shot, but Brunson's working his tail off.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don La Greca]

We love guys like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We love the guys that get dirty, by the way. That's the. That's basically the whole core of this Knicks team. That's why people love Josh Hart. That's why they love Jalen Brunson.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why they loved Hartenstein.

[Don La Greca]

Hey. And Yankee fans, you know, they listen. It was hard for him to compete with the big stars that were in New York, but that's why a lot of Yankee fans love Gardner, because he was like that. They saw themselves in him. They saw themselves in Lenny Dykstra, a guy whose jersey was. That's why Wayne Crabet is always going to be loved by Jet fans. Walked on, leaving Hofstra, made the team. You know, Keyshawn Johnson can never understand. Why do they all love him? Because, Keyshawn, you were the first round pick. You were the golden boy. This guy had to work his tail off. Not saying you didn't work hard, but the perception was he came out of nowhere. He came out of nowhere. He was one of us, and decided to walk out and make an NFL team. And as cosmopolitan as New York is, those are the guys that resonate. So when you're gonna act like a pretty boy, you better put up numbers. And when you're not putting up numbers, don't. So, yes, Peter, it's unfair. It's unfair that the media tackles this stuff. And of course, they're trying to sell papers and they're trying to look for the drama. Cause let's face it, 162 games, there's a lot of meaningless things going on. You're trying to make meaningful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Don La Greca]

But this is something that the journalists in New York know resonate with the people that buy the newspapers, that they don't need to be prompted to complain. We're gonna get a bunch of Phone calls of people just not liking guys that can't bust it down the first baseline.

[Alan Hahn]

We got a ton of them already.

[Don La Greca]

Of course, because they would all do this for free. And when a guy who's making $700 million over the next 15 years isn't doing it, of course it's gonna tick people off. And it should. 1-800-919-3776. Let's dive into those phone calls. Oh, by the way, this was the Mets recap. Driven by Ramsey Mazda. It's the experience of driving a new Mazda and buying a new Mazda from Ramsey Mazda. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Tons of calls here. Let's go to David and Elizabeth. You're on espn, New York. What's up? David.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Adding lead off. Gentlemen.

[Don La Greca]

What's up, baby?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm batting lead off. Gentlemen.

[Alan Hahn]

What's going on?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hollywood, Han, Don Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

What's up?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm in lockstep with all three of you. Don, you're 100, right? This new York tri state area, we're blue collar people. Number two. When I was at the game on Saturday, beautiful environment, gorgeous game, Yankee fans met, fans were all getting along, busting each other's chops, having a great time. It was beautiful. And Mets fans were definitely loud in the house. And when my man Diaz got that last out, it was beautiful. We didn't come away with the win in the series, but it was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous game. Beautiful atmosphere, Yankee Stadium. Last thing I want to say real quick with the Soto thing, guys, as far as Yankee fans, it's business. You guys would have did it, too. It's money, it's bread. It takes care of your family, your endeavors, everything. You would have made the same move, too. As far as Soto, he's not hitting right now. Like Don said, if he was hitting, the noise would be quiet. If he was hitting, this wouldn't be a narrative. If he was being productive like he was last season when I seen him crush the Astros, nobody would be talking right now.

[Don La Greca]

Of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you know, he's gonna, he's gonna.

[Ryan Reynolds]

He'S gonna, he's gonna get it together. And not for nothing, real quick, before you guys let me go, I wish you guys are coming to Tommy's Tavern and tap. I met two of you. Hollywood, Han, we gotta meet sometime. Pause. But it will happen. Love you guys. Continue the great show. Let's go. Nick's New York, New York, let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to let people know, by the way, I am hard at work on Allen. Won't Be able to join. But I am hard at work with our crack staff here, working to put together a Rosenberg Knicks watch party for next week. So, by the way, I'm going to be getting in the action.

[Alan Hahn]

Barton Carlin will be at Tommy's Tavern.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

So. But wait, that is tomorrow night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's tomorrow, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

For game one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they're in Clifton for game one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. But what he just gave us was a firm grasp of the obvious when it comes to if he was hitting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the show?

[Don La Greca]

We know that was all he had gone right to the police.

[Alan Hahn]

That's one of my favorite lines. But, you know, like, obviously the only reason why this is a topic of conversation is because he's not producing. And now he, you know, now he doesn't look like the guy that was last year in pinstripes. And I don't mean that just with the bat. I mean everything about him. There's something missing. You can see it. What's going on with him and is it affecting his batting or is it the other way around? Is his slow start affecting his mood or is his mood affecting his start? Is he like. There's a lot going on here and I'm sorry. You can laugh all you want. You could say, you overreact all you want. I don't care. When you sign a player to that much money and the whole world knows it, and he leaves one New York team for the other New York team, this is a story major and fans care on both sides.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The Yankees fans will be watching this because they're interested. How's he gonna do once he left? Is he gonna be great? Oh, he doesn't look happy. Oh, does that mean he's. He wished he stayed? Like, as a Yankee fan, that's sort of like. That's not your main focus. Your main focus is your team. That's almost like a side hustle, just keeping an eye on that story. And now it's got your attention. And for a Mets fan, you're panicking. Oh, no. Not another Bobby Bonilla, right? Oh, no. Is this going to be one of the worst contracts ever? Did we do it again?

[Don La Greca]

No, I understand all that stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand we need more time, but it doesn't mean that you have these thoughts come to mind because confidence comes from demonstrated performance. So there's a lack of confidence. And when you're a Mets fan, you're more used to. You're more used to the negative than you are the positive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that Bar Again.

[Don La Greca]

Say it again.

[Alan Hahn]

Confidence comes from demonstrated performance. So does a lack of confidence. Confidence comes from demonstrated performance, and so does a lack of confidence.

[Don La Greca]

Interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

So if you are constantly performing poorly, you will expect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I understand.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're like the caller from before. And if he was hitting, there'd be no problems. It's funny though. I agree with that statement. Except for me as a youngster when I got into this business, confidence based on absolutely nothing. Just thought I'd be good for no.

[Alan Hahn]

Irrational.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're just irrational stupidity.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That can also lead to confidence. That also turns into something called fake it till you make it harder in professional sports.

[Alan Hahn]

I live by that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we can do that talking. You can't do that when you got to play in the big.

[Don La Greca]

But your confidence came from. My line from Dr. Loy yesterday about confidence is. Confidence isn't about believing you're going to succeed. It's just not being afraid to fail.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go.

[Don La Greca]

You weren't afraid to fail.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know what? Your confidence at this moment, Soto appears that he is. And that's. And that's. That's so not him.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, because the old girlfriend lives next door. I guess that's the best way. The old girlfriend was in San Diego. That's different. It's all happening. Very thin wall. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You can hear it all next door.

[Don La Greca]

She could hear the conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Boy, does she seem happy.

[Don La Greca]

She. She found someone new and boy, are they making it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, the guy she found was really just the old guy and he's better than ever. She went back. She went back to the ex before you. Now he's crushing.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's the problem is because. Because we don't know all the details. I know there's a lot of people trying to break this thing and turn it into like the drama of his family runs his life and all this other stuff. There is this sense of, does he have some concern? Like, does he really want to be there? Or does he realize, like, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

This.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

It's easy too, with free shipping and free returns in store order pickup and more. Shop today in stores [e-mail] or download the Nordstrom app this episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Yo. Game Time is brought to you by Television Irish Whiskey. Because when it is game time.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S Tully Time.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. The Mets continue their series with the Red Sox with coverage immediately following us at 6 on 880 ESPN New Yorker. The Yankees start a series with the Rangers Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew Honey during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. You know, Allen brought up the family thing and in case you missed it, we touched on it yesterday, but it certainly has been forwarded by a lot of people, including Michael K on before us that Allen that Soto wanted to stay with the Yankees, but his family really pushed him to sign with the Mets because they wanted the suite and they liked Steve Cohen and he just wanted to honor his his family. And Michael brought up the story that the modern Day athlete does that happens quite a bit. He talked about Jaden Daniels, how Jaden Daniels mom goes on dates with him. Like, she's very attractive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if she actually goes on dates. I feel like some of that's overstated. But the point remains is that.

[Don La Greca]

And then there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, nobody's ever going to criticize that, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I would. I mean, going on. If it was actually going on, I.

[Alan Hahn]

Would think the date probably.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, yeah, yeah, the date. And maybe. Maybe Jaden's friends. But no, no, but being overly careful.

[Don La Greca]

Because I'll bring this up and this might stir it a little bit. Now, the Yankees may have an offer. They made him a generous offer. But the one thing the Yankees would not do is give him all the ancillary stuff like the suite and all that. Because the feeling at the time was, well, they didn't give it Judge. They're not going to give it to Soto. But is it possible, guys, that the Yankees were seeing how much of an influence the family had and said, you know what? We're going to make him an offer, but we're not giving him what his family wants because we're not going to have a player who is run by his family. We want to be able to have a relationship with the player. Like, could this have been the long game for the Yankees then? The reason why they didn't bend over.

[Alan Hahn]

Backwards, because let's face it, isn't that the precedent?

[Don La Greca]

If they wanted a sweet, they would have gave Judge a sweet.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Now, Judge would have never asked for a sweet. But you telling me that they would allow him to go to San Francisco and be a giant without giving him a suite?

[Alan Hahn]

No, they would have gave him a suite. Yeah, but it's the precedent that I think that you're worried about setting. There is, and I've seen this in the NBA. Look, part of the reason why LeBron James is no longer in Miami was not because he couldn't wait to go back to Cleveland. It was because Pat Riley wouldn't acquiesce to many of his requests slash demands when it was time to give him a new contract. And one of them was that family could be on the charter if his mom wanted to come on the charter, if his kids, like, whatever it was.

[Don La Greca]

You gotta put your foot down.

[Alan Hahn]

And Pat Riley's like, listen, no, no. There's certain places that are sacred, and that's one of them. And it's team only. And he was also making demands of where she can sit and access for family. And he and Pat Riley kept saying, wait, if we. What we do for one, we gotta do for everybody, and we can't do that. So, no.

[Don La Greca]

And even if.

[Alan Hahn]

And that started the breakup of the.

[Don La Greca]

Heatles, and even if you wanted to. To say, all right, he's LeBron James, we're gonna let him do whatever he wants to be the best player in the league.

[Alan Hahn]

And they said no to the best player in the league.

[Don La Greca]

But here's the problem. As much as you might love their mom, we love Dallin Iverson's mom running on the court when he got hurt. Remember that? Yep. We love Donovan McNabb's relationship with his mom, and she's in all the commercials. If that was really her, I don't even remember. But the thing is, is that if the family has a say, then there's always gonna be a face off. Well, the team wants me to do this, but my family wants me to do that. And then you've got to be the bad guys in organization and go, no, no, no, you listen to us, right? We have rules, but nobody wants to be like, but that's your mom. That's your family. Nobody. And the Yankees are too classy an organization, I think, to make that public after the fact. I bet you.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, they can slip it out.

[Don La Greca]

A lot of it was like, they wanted him back. They made him an offer, but they never gave him the extra stuff. Which sounds like, if you want to believe the reports, was coming from his family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm here with my family, by the way.

[Don La Greca]

Makes you do crazy things, right? Change his accent now, real quick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just was reading the article about.

[Alan Hahn]

Jaden's mom and the third wheel date.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And so I saw that video the other day. I didn't realize what I was looking at, so. But here's my question, though. When does the line get drawn of like, okay, he's a rookie, you're protect. Okay, it's year two, but he's only 25.

[Don La Greca]

Whatever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

24. What point do you go, okay, he's got to figure this stuff out on his own. And a serious question here. At what point, as a leader of a team, can the team not see you going out with your mom every night? Like, that is a. I mean, he gets. He's so respected for what he does on the field.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The question is, when you get through the harder times, Right. Play's not going as well. You're in a bit of a slump. You just want to be able to keep your Rep a little bit, I don't know. At some point does get.

[Alan Hahn]

Somebody's got that in their pocket and the first sign of trouble, they're pulling that out and using it against them. That's what I'm saying, you know, that's coming, you know, but look again, you could be close to the family. There's nothing wrong with that. It's. It just, it's to what Don saying to me is the biggest part of the story. And that is, are you in control of your life or are you being controlled by your family? And your decision was made based on what they wanted versus what you wanted. And in the end, if you don't do what you want, you're not going to be happy.

[Don La Greca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

And it's going to show because I didn't think it would show this soon, but it's going to show.

[Don La Greca]

But I.

[Alan Hahn]

He might have thought, I'll make the best of it, it'll be fine. Then he got there and realized like, this isn't it.

[Don La Greca]

I think he's struggling. I think that's the main part.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you know how family is. They start acting up now they got full control. We got a sweep, we got all this stuff. It starts to become like a headache. Like, yo, you guys need to go home.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know how your family is. I'm sure it's not that much different than mine. Here's the one problem when family's involved is that I could do no wrong. It was not my fault. You know, when the when, when there was a parent teacher conference and the parent and the teacher's talking about the problem, Don was my dad and mom would defend me. Well, wait a minute. I, I don't. He's not that bad at home. What are you doing wrong? Like you're going to defend your kid, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Really?

[Don La Greca]

Your kid could ever do that?

[Alan Hahn]

No matter what anybody said the he would. My dad would always trust the teacher.

[Don La Greca]

Ultimately.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm like, really?

[Don La Greca]

Ultimately? Yes. Maybe not to the teacher, but when you come home, oh my God, you know, we got. That teacher's a problem. That guy, that kid next door is a problem. That girl's a problem. It's never your son's fault. It's never your daughter's fault. Right. It's gotta be everybody else's fault. You're that involved in that, right? So then it becomes a problem. So I'm struggling. Well, you know, maybe, maybe honey, maybe. Maybe Mendoza's got a maybe we got to get another manager for you, hun. You know I don't know. I'm just saying. I personally think it's. He's struggling, and that's the main reason why he's not himself. But you're hearing a lot, Raul. In Harrisburg, you're on espn New York. What's up, Raul?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, what's going on? Long time.

[Don La Greca]

What's up, baby? Good, good.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Peter, are you there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course I am.

[Don La Greca]

It always is.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Remember when. Remember when Don said, this is. This is in North Dakota, this is New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course I remember it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And that's what I'm regarding. About Juan Soda. Okay, listen, he's got. Right. Yeah, something like that. Listen, I watched a Spanish interview for Soto, and I don't feel like he's happy right now. I don't feel like Juan Soto is playing to his potential. Something's missing. I wanted to. Brought up the family issue. I'm a man. I will not. I will let. I will not sign because of the family. Because a lot of things, you know, especially if you're a celebrity or all star player, a lot of things is gonna happen and you're gonna double. You're gonna, like, hesitate all the time. And in. Juan Soto is. I feel like he kind of contradicted himself. He did it for the family, which he. His family was the one that kind of like, told them, sign with the Mets. So my question to you guys. You want to stay with the Pls, Obviously he got the most money, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you guys feel like he wanted.

[Ryan Reynolds]

To stay in the Bronx but sign because of his family?

[Don La Greca]

One of the things.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's a theory that's starting to.

[Don La Greca]

Catch fire, and there is. This isn't just a Hail Mary. You take a look at what the Mets gave the family. He talked about how much his family loved the Cohens, and I think his family had an influence. Now the question is, is, did he want to stay with the Yankees and they told him, no, you're going to the Mets, or did he read the room and say, boy, my family would be a lot more happier if I got these extra things and I want to please them. I wouldn't be here without them. Like, we're making it out to be a negative. It could have been very much about just out of love. Like, yeah, all things being equal, I'd stay with the Yankees. But you know what? The Mets, that's not bad either. Yeah, listen, Mets are a good team. Went to the playoffs last year. It's a beautiful building. It's the same city that I dominated in the year before. You know, my Family's happy. I'm going to go there. So let's not make it out to be that they forced him. But if he was. If he didn't have his family, would he stay with the Yankees? Yeah, that's a possibility. But would he struggle in his second? Would he be struggling, too? I mean, he's had less than average years.

[Alan Hahn]

Before I was Lindor, when he first became a man, he was all.

[Don La Greca]

It was bad because not only did he struggle, but he didn't want to leave Cleveland. He loved Cleveland, but he knew Cleveland wasn't going to pay him, so he got traded there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then we had the thumbs down.

[Don La Greca]

And then the thumbs down. It was very similar. And it looked like a ridiculously awful contract.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How to play.

[Don La Greca]

That's why we gotta learn. Exactly. Anybody with a brain would bet that this is going to age way better than it started. He's too good a player now. Could we look back and say he wasn't worth the money? Sure. Is it possible the Mets won't win? Sure. But are we really thinking that this is the beginning of what's going to be 15 years of just absolute misery? Or that the Mets are just going to get out of it like they did Bobby Bonilla? Telling you he's way better than Bobby Bonilla. This is one of the best players in Major League Baseball. The cream will flow to the top. So it's going to get better. Got better for Lindor. Got better for Keith Hernandez, who cried when he was traded to the Mets in 1983. We do hear stories of guys not being happy that all of a sudden become happy. Caleb Williams is an example, too. Right? Maybe. Maybe he'll end up winning a Super bowl with the Bears and all be laughed at. That he wanted to go play in the CFL rather than get drafted by the Bears. If that story is true, I mean, this is his tale as old as time.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, but it's in the moment right now. So there's so much reaction.

[Don La Greca]

And the team that he jaded is seven miles away.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Not 3,000 miles away.

[Alan Hahn]

And he just played them in their building. So you're going to get all that.

[Don La Greca]

The only thing similar would be Ohtani going to the Dodgers. But I just don't know if angel fans cared. Like, I don't know was. Did angel fans freak out when Ohtani went to la?

[Alan Hahn]

Are there Angels fans?

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's what I'm saying. It's not like that's Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not even close to us.

[Don La Greca]

Lorenzo in the car. You're On ESPN New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Subzo.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, what's up, guys? How you doing? So I called three weeks ago, I brought this up to you guys three weeks ago and I was poo pooed. I believe Peter poo pooed me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Possible.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, yeah. On told me, imagine not wanting Juan Soto because I said I didn't want.

[Alan Hahn]

Him in the first place.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The only reason I didn't want him in the first place because of the contract. That's the reason I want to. So I have a few points and I want to bring to your attention in regard to being a Dominican family as well as international players. They, they value family a lot more. So there's a lot more influence on that. And I'm sure you guys know.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't understand why you would say that though, Lorenzo. They value family more. Everybody know.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I, let me, let me rephrase, Let me rephrase what I'm saying that in America because I'm, I'm Italian. I was born to Italian immigrants. So you tend to stay home more often as early Americans. And I have a lot of American friends usually try to get out of the nest, you know, after college, hey, you know, you're free, you know, go and do your thing in International House.

[Alan Hahn]

Did that.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's a different age now. But so what I said a few weeks ago is the body language. And I noticed this. I've watched about 25 Mets games and hardcore Mets fan. And Don, you've been saying this for a while. Remember we had the Will Ponds Mets didn't buy in. Now all the Mets fans, we bought in. And now you have Juan Soto, the only guy in the lineup not buying in. You could tell by his mannerisms when he's on first place. The Mets do the, the thing with the, the hand and the pimp, the fist pump. He's, it's all slow. Once he buys in, everything's going to come full motion. Still the best pitching staff in the league right now. Juan Soto starts in, it's going to be a plus. I want to know what you guys think.

[Don La Greca]

I think the cream is going to flow to the top. But the question is when? Because now you're a second place team. So we can't say, well, at least they're in first place. Well, now they're in second place. And if they continue not to hit and he continues not to hit, then second place becomes third place becomes. All of a sudden you're out of the playoffs. Hey, the reverse can happen from last year. Last year I'm screaming in June, sell The season's over. Well, sometimes it works the other way. You're in first place and then June comes along and now all of a sudden everything begins to fade. You know, this pitching staff, way overachiever.

[Alan Hahn]

That was the Mets a couple of years ago. The shares of Orlando Mets.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, exactly where they were.

[Alan Hahn]

Came out of House of Fire and then they barely got to the end of the season.

[Don La Greca]

And now we're looking at something that could end up being similar if he doesn't start to play to the back.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just not great for the clubhouse either. Right. Because this is where a situation like this, Don, and this is what we'll pay this forward. We have tons more calls to get you on this. But it is also something that you have to look at the leadership in the clubhouse. And at some point, somebody has got to maybe recognize, you know what, he doesn't look happy. And it's up to us to just make sure he knows, like, you know, we got you.

[Don La Greca]

Well, the Clappish article suggested that. Right. That the Mets are starting to pay attention to. Hey, this is. This is something.

[Alan Hahn]

Lindor has to see this. Right. He's one of the leaders in that clubhouse now. He has emerged as that guy. Who else on that team has a voice? We know Alonzo has been there a long time, but I don't know if he's a voice guy. Right. He's not a guy that's like a galvanized would be the guy.

[Don La Greca]

He was in a similar situation and that. And I'm sure his advice would be just when you start to feel it, man, it's going to happen and the shuffle's going to come back.

[Alan Hahn]

Kick in. Right.

[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

You know, Alan had mentioned about Soto's not used to being ripped so he goes back to Yankee Stadium. He thought he tipped the cap. The fans would end the booing. Ended up being a bacchanal the entire weekend. Then it continues to Fenway Park. Well, I got news for Juan. Met fans have been very, very supportive. But if they come back from this road trip and he continues to struggle, you think you might hear it at Citi Field. And as and I guess memo to Met fans, you're not helping matters. No, but they're going to do what they want to do, right? I mean Met fans are no different. Do you think that if the if the roles were reversed, the Met fans would have treated Soto any differently than the Yankee fans did last weekend? New York's New York man fan bases aren't that much different. You know, we, we are known to rip guys that left our organizations. That's just the way that it is. But his own fans are going to start to turn on if he continues to not bust it down the line. If he continues to struggle, the Mets start to drop like a stone in the National League East. The Met fans are going to start to get on him.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's too soon. I don't know, you might get like that smack. That would be Judge would get that little murmur at times. If he's in a slump and he's striking out on that same pitch, you'll get a little bit of the groan. I don't think you're going to hear full on booze. No way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would be so yo yo, no way.

[Alan Hahn]

Full on booze now, again, Lindor and Baez heard the full on boos, which led to the thumbs down. But that was because they were struggling and they were losing.

[Don La Greca]

I'm telling you, it'll be interesting. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

If you're a Mets fan and you boo Juan Soto, I don't disagree.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just telling you the reality. If they get swept at Fenway, he continues to not hit. The Mets continue to not hit. You know who they're playing on Friday at Citi Field? The dot.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

That building is going to be packed.

[Alan Hahn]

Sunday night baseball again.

[Don La Greca]

Rematch of the National League Championship Series. And all of a sudden the Mets are, you know, two, three games behind Philadelphia because again, the Phillies aren't losing to the Rockies. And if the Mets get swept by the, the, by the Red Sox, all of a sudden you're two and a half games out of first after being in first place all year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Getting very far ahead here.

[Don La Greca]

Very far ahead. Keep an eye. This can all Keep an eye.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And listen, I get it. I get it, guys. Baseball's a long season. Got to have a storyline. This whole thing could be a moot thing in three days that doesn't even exist. Literally, it takes about what, three good games. You get like a two for four, a two for five, and a three for five and you're gorge. He's back.

[Don La Greca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you didn't even think about it.

[Don La Greca]

Hey, listen, they might win 10. Nothing today and everything's tomorrow's. Obviously we do a lot of Knicks tomorrow, but things are going to be much different. But I'm. And Alan's right, no matter what happens first at bat Friday, Met fans are cool that way. They give them a standing ovation, show their support.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Strike out on three pitches to be.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Pop up the second.

[Alan Hahn]

They'll be. They'll be little by little, this guy. You'll get all. It won't be the whole crowd, but there'll be enough people doing it that by the third at bat, if he's over 2, 0 for 2 and then he strikes out in the third at bat with the baseball, then you'll start to get the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

You'll start to get that.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just saying.

[Alan Hahn]

I agree.

[Don La Greca]

By the time we get to Sunday night baseball, it could be a bit of a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Think he'll wear the mic Sunday night?

[Don La Greca]

Well, they ask him again. Let's go to Ricardo in Cliffside Park. You're on ESPN New York.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What's up, gentlemen? How's everyone doing? Nixon, six.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I Want to start it with that because listen, I'm a diehard Yankees fan and I can say this because I am half Dominican, half Puerto Rican. Now, there is a Chris Tucker meme that's going around talking about when we signed a huge multimillion dollar contract that Chris Tucker said his family said we are rich. And Chris Tucker turned around, said we sound like a lot of people. I'm rich. Keep your jobs. Me being Dominican. And I'm not saying that we're all like this. I guess in case my Dominican friends hear me, we're not all like this, but we see money and we tend to get a little hood rich right at the end of the day. And you know this bomb and you know, when you worked with Michael, you know how the legacy that the New York Yankees have, Listen, Juan Soto is going to do fine with the Mets. I hate the fact that he went to the Mets, but it is what it is. But at the end of the day, there's a bigger legacy when it comes to playing for the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees can never win a World Series for the next 15 years if he's playing for the Mets, but the Yankees will always be the Yankees. And that's one of the things that Soto has really missed out on with that type of legacy.

[Don La Greca]

But we do see it change now. You're right, because the Yankees, I don't think are ever going to fall, fall off like they did in the early 90s. But you, you know, I don't think Keith Hernandez ever like, dreamed of being a Yankee.

[Alan Hahn]

He didn't dream that either.

[Don La Greca]

You know. No, not.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But not everybody, but not everybody. But not everybody wants to be Yankee. Not everybody wants to.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know. I mean, listen, he could have stayed with the Yankees. He went to the Mets, now he's a Met. But I'm saying he, he could change all of that if the Mets start winning games and he starts raking. You know, you don't, you don't think there could be a legacy here. I mean, listen, Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry played for the Yankees and won for the Yankees, but they're forever Mets. Heath Hernandez played for the Cardinals, won a World Series for the Cardinals. Cardinals are one of those great organizations. He's a forever Met, you know, So I think the whole idea of, well, it's, it's a step down because you're not a Yankee anymore. Well, he can change that by being a great New York Met. And if the Mets rattle off, you know, four championships in the next 10 years and the Yankees don't, things could look a lot different. I know. I saw it. I lived it. Allen lived it through the 80s and the 90s, when the Mets were drawing 3 million fans and the Yankees were drawing 2, when the Mets were going to the playoffs every year and the Yankees weren't. There was a time, there's never been a time, where the Nets own the town, or the Devils or the Islanders own the town, or the jets own the town. There was a time the Mets owned the town. Now I don't know if the Yankees will fall off. Also, by the way, the Yankees won more games than any team in Major League baseball in the 80s, so they weren't that bad a team. Yet. The Mets still own the town. So all I'm telling you is that history can repeat itself. I'm not going to predict it will, but the idea well, now you're playing in the minor leagues because you're playing with the Mets. I don't think he thinks that. I think that he's just struggling off to a bit of a slow start and I think eventually it'll right itself. We'll see. We will 1-800-919-3776, wanna tell you fanatics Fest is making its return to New York City this summer at the Javits center on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. A three day celebration where sports culture and collecting convergence bringing fans closer to their favorite athletes in sports leagues than ever before. With appearances from your favorite athletes, celebrities and entertainers, live podcasts and a full schedule of panels featuring the most recognizable names in sports. You can enter to win a four pack of tickets on the ESPN New York app, find the contest title and submit your entry. Adult and tickets are available. Adult and kids tickets are available [e-mail].

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how to sausage is made man. I just want to know. 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.