Hour 1: Soto's Comments

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" – Episode 1: "Soto's Comments"

Introduction

In the inaugural episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into the recent buzz surrounding Juan Soto's comments about his transition from the New York Yankees to the New York Mets. Released on April 15, 2025, this episode provides an in-depth analysis of the implications of Soto's remarks, the media's portrayal, and the reactions from fans and the sports community.

Juan Soto’s Comments: An Overview

The episode centers on Juan Soto's statements made to Mike Puma of the New York Post, where Soto expressed that he was "getting pitched differently" since joining the Mets compared to his time with the Yankees. Don La Greca cites Soto's exact words:

"I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone. I was pitched differently last year." [05:09]

This remark has sparked conversations about whether Soto is experiencing buyer's remorse or if it's strictly a reflection of the differences between the two franchises.

Debating the Implications

The hosts engage in a spirited discussion about the true meaning behind Soto's comments. Michael Kay suggests that Soto might be hinting at a desire for better support around the plate, akin to what he experienced with Aaron Judge in New York:

"This is what this is what this is all about. Everything's great now. We're winning." [10:07]

Don La Greca vehemently counters, asserting that Soto is simply acknowledging a change in his pitching environment and not expressing regret:

"He was going to the highest bidder, period. And I'm happy he's a merc." [07:06]

Alan Hahn emphasizes the financial aspects, pointing out that Soto likely made the move for a better contract and that this is purely a business decision:

"It's all money. I'm with you." [06:47]

Media’s Role in Amplifying the Story

A significant portion of the conversation critiques how the media has amplified Soto's comments, potentially misunderstanding or misrepresenting his intentions. Peter Rosenberg and Don La Greca argue that the media often embellishes such statements to create sensational headlines, leading to unnecessary controversy.

Peter Rosenberg: "This is big deal. It will not shut up about the Yankees." [05:09]

Don La Greca: "We just beg these players to say something, and the second they say something, we sit there and dissect and rip them." [18:00]

Fan Reactions and Callers’ Perspectives

Throughout the episode, listeners call in to share their opinions. The majority align with the hosts, believing that the story is being blown out of proportion. Callers like Danny from South Carolina and Chris from Ocean County express agreement that Soto's comments shouldn't overshadow the team's early-season performance:

Don La Greca: "We are 11 and 5. You're in first place." [14:16]

Anthony Pusick: "I really don't care about the story. My team is winning." [35:53]

Comparisons to Other Athletes

Michael Kay draws parallels between Juan Soto and LeBron James, suggesting that like LeBron, Soto is focused on surrounding himself with talent to win championships:

Michael Kay: "Juan Soto is LeBron James. He went to the Lakers, and what's the first thing he said? This is not good enough." [10:07]

Conclusion: Soto’s Comments Are Overblown

The hosts collectively conclude that while Juan Soto's remarks have generated buzz, they are not indicative of remorse or dissatisfaction but rather a straightforward observation of his new pitching environment. They emphasize that Soto remains a valuable asset to the Mets and that his comments should be viewed in the context of professional sports' inherent business decisions.

Don La Greca: "He is not regret it. He was just answering a question honestly." [07:06]

Michael Kay: "This is a big deal. It will not shut up about the Yankees." [05:09]

Final Thoughts

"Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" successfully navigates the complexities of Juan Soto's comments, offering listeners a balanced perspective. The hosts encourage focusing on the Mets' performance and Soto's contributions rather than media-generated controversies.

Notable Quotes:

• Don La Greca [05:09]: "He will not shut up about the Yankees."
• Michael Kay [10:07]: "Juan Soto is LeBron James. He went to the Lakers, and what's the first thing he said? This is not good enough."
• Peter Rosenberg [18:00]: "We just beg these players to say something, and the second they say something, we sit there and dissect and rip them."
• Anthony Pusick [35:53]: "My team is winning. I really don't care about the story."

Key Takeaways:

1. Soto's Position: Juan Soto's comments about being pitched differently are seen as a reflection of his new environment with the Mets, not an expression of regret.
2. Financial Motivations: The move from the Yankees to the Mets is primarily driven by financial incentives, labeling Soto as a "mercenary" by Don La Greca.
3. Media Sensationalism: The hosts criticize the media for sensationalizing Soto's remarks, arguing that it creates unnecessary drama.
4. Fan Sentiment: Most fans and callers believe that Soto's comments are being overemphasized and that the team's performance should take precedence.
5. Future Outlook: The Mets are in a strong position with an 11-5 record, and Soto's contributions are expected to help them contend for a championship.

Conclusion

This episode effectively dissects the narrative around Juan Soto's comments, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the situation. The hosts advocate for focusing on the team's performance and Soto's talents rather than getting entangled in media-created controversies.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Michael Kay]

Han, I want you protecting my blindside. And Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I was seven, I was riding shotgun and smoking cigarettes.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Michael Kay]

This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg.

[Anthony Pusick]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Michael Kay]

880, ESPN and the ESPN New York app. It's Taco Tuesday, Peter. You know it is. Stephanie's got the tacos ready. I can't wait to go home and have tacos today. I told you, we do it every Tuesday. Don doesn't believe me, but this is what we do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, what you.

[Michael Kay]

What you don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What you believe.

[Michael Kay]

That working now? Because yesterday she told me when she was listening, it sounded like you were home. She said, what's wrong with his microphone is what she told me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why are you doing this?

[Michael Kay]

Because I want to get him. I want to get him fired up today.

[Don La Greca]

That's what I want to set me off for the show.

[Michael Kay]

Don't have your mic on.

[Don La Greca]

The mic not work.

[Michael Kay]

It's not.

[Don La Greca]

It's really the fundamental. When Marconi started the industry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you start with Marconi, you know.

[Michael Kay]

Things goes back that far.

[Don La Greca]

Do you realize that if Marconi didn't turn the mic on, he would have been. This doesn't work. And we'd still not have radio. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's important. No, the mic is 100% important. Now, wait, she said his mic didn't sound right, though.

[Michael Kay]

Yeah. Said it sounded like he was home. She said, why was Don home? He wasn't home. He was right there.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just really, to me, it's just a miracle. Anytime we're heard, well, we are heard.

[Michael Kay]

Because the reaction is constant reaction about things that go on here. So.

[Don La Greca]

Well, I appreciate those just listening. And you know what? I can you have her reach out to Nancy? I'd like to make Taco Tuesday, I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's. I gotta tell you.

[Michael Kay]

Have her reach out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're making me. I can't eat tacos this week. Certainly not the shelves But I can have Taco Bowl Tuesday.

[Michael Kay]

Why not Taco Tuesday? You couldn't. Taco is still alliteration.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Michael Kay]

Right. It's not Taco Shell Tuesday. It's Taco Tuesday. Have it any.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We are gonna introduce something new. Speaking of Tuesday and alliteration, I can't take it Tuesday. Okay. Because there have been a slew of things happening in sports and in conversation around sports that I absolutely cannot take. And when I see an opportunity to express anger while also having beautiful radio alliteration, I'm jumping at that. And you know what it means? It means we have production that's done by the great Anthony Pusick. Was Mike Brownsher involved in this venture?

[Don La Greca]

No, he's on vacation. Oh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is a strictly Pusick vehicle.

[Michael Kay]

Vacation.

[Don La Greca]

Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we have a new. We have an intro.

[Michael Kay]

What's this thing called Vacation?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'll find out from me this summer. But this alliteration can't take it Tuesday. Guys, I have a couple of things. There are a couple things that got me so annoyed in sports over the last 24 hours, and I'm very excited to share them with you and then hear the people's thoughts on things they absolutely cannot take in sports right now.

[Michael Kay]

Who are these people?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which ones?

[Don La Greca]

Who are these people?

[Michael Kay]

You said the people. Who's these people?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Our people. The family.

[Don La Greca]

What family?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The family. The DHR family that we're building here.

[Don La Greca]

Not listeners. Family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. That we're building day by day, brick by brick.

[Don La Greca]

People that we allow in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The people that are willing to follow us when in spite of, you know, whether we're on 880 or 1050 or 1190 or 620 or some frequency we never heard of. Yeah. That we don't even know.

[Don La Greca]

We asked him to follow us in the woods, and then we duck behind a tree and you can't find us. And then two days later, you find us. And those people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those are the people that we're gonna do it for today. So we're gonna get into that in a little bit. But I know that you guys are shot out of a cannon today about what a lot of people are talking about in the world of baseball. And that is the words from one.

[Don La Greca]

Juan Soto to Mike Puma of the.

[Michael Kay]

Post, which I'm trying to find right now on the Post website.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You gotta pay for it.

[Michael Kay]

How could a story this hot be this buried?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cause it's behind the paywall.

[Michael Kay]

No, the story. I don't think the story is the column from. Heyman, about it, saying he shouldn't have said that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, got it, got it, got it.

[Michael Kay]

That's behind the paywall as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow. But look, people found it. When it's about it, when it's about Juan Soto, when it relates to both the Mets and the Yankees and one of the best players of baseball, you find a way.

[Michael Kay]

Well, regardless, guys, I was before, in a previous life, I was a beat writer. I've been privy to this stuff before. We have had these conversations. We have seen these quotes made. We've seen players say these different things. What we know is coming next is the mayor culpa or the deeper explanation, or you guys are blowing this out of proportion. It's really not that big of a deal. And I'm here to tell you, this is a big deal. This is almost like buyer's remorse. He will not shut up about the Yankees.

[Don La Greca]

Here's the quote. This is the money quote from the article. It's definitely different. I had the best hitter in baseball, hitting Judge, behind me last season. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone. I was pitched differently last year. That's the quote.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the whole thing.

[Don La Greca]

Well, he just goes on about the protection the judge supplied him, and he doesn't have this here, but I. So you're trying to say that this is kind of like a hint that he's now regretting going to the Mets.

[Michael Kay]

He can't regret it because he's already signed. He's already took the money. But it's the. It's it. Definitely. And remember the Verducci article that he wrote?

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Michael Kay]

On Si cover story, which was all about this stuff. His concern about the Mets was the lineup. The whole reason why Pete Alonso is a Met again is because of his concern. It was the one thing that might have kept him, gave him that hesitation to say, I might. Because anybody in their right mind, and this is not a Met Yankee thing. This is just a reality thing. Anybody in their right mind would have said to him if they were friends with him, if he listened to friends. You sure you want to leave the Yankees? Sure you want to leave that lineup? Like, are you sure this is what you want to do?

[Don La Greca]

Let me take. So that's a real thing, but let me take exception to it. And I'm not attacking you in particular, attacking me. The idea of it's not a Met Yankee thing. It is a Met Yankee thing.

[Michael Kay]

No, no, no. Take the. Take the labels off and just look at the lineup.

[Don La Greca]

But it doesn't matter, because why do you continue? Mets and Yankees. I'm talking to both fan bases here. Why do you continue to think it had anything to do about things besides money?

[Michael Kay]

Oh, it's all money. I'm with you.

[Don La Greca]

And you know what? The sweets, that's about money.

[Michael Kay]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

You know, being schmooze, that's about money. Having his fanny kiss, that's about money, too. Okay? He was going to the highest bidder. Why don't you think no one had his number? There was, like, radio silence when he was a free agent because he had no relationships with the Yankees because he was a merc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don La Greca]

He got traded to the Yankees. He knew he was going to go to the highest bidder. Nobody bothered to get close to him because they knew it was all business with him. And now he's joined the Mets, and I'm a Met fan, and he's a merc. And I'm happy he's a merc. Go, Rake. Help my team win a championship for the first time in 39 years. I don't need him to love it here. He knows exactly why he signed here. And he got them to get Alonzo because he wanted to also get the protection he was looking for. And the Mets gave it to him, and he knew what he was getting into, and he still signed on the line that was dotted. So for Michael K or you or anybody else, go, why did he leave the Yankees? Why did he do that to himself? Oh, he should have known that he was going to go to a team that didn't have the protection. He didn't care. He was going to go to the highest bidder. People, stop it. So Met Band shouldn't hang on the rim and say, he loves us more than the Yankees bs. And for Yankee fans to go, oh, he probably regrets it. Buyers remorse. He really wishes he was still a Yankee bs. He went to the highest bidder, period. And I'm happy with it. Because you know what? He's gonna be a bat that's gonna help my team compete for a championship. All right? So let's not make this story out to be. Oh, he's already regretting it. He's not regretting it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, that's not.

[Don La Greca]

He made the comment because he also hungers for attention. And he also answered a question. He's struggling right now. He's not hitting to the best of his abilities. He was asked why, and he gave the obvious answer. He's not getting pitched through the security as he did in New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you want to be annoyed with it, to me, the angle is you're a Met fan and you're annoyed that it sounds like he's making an excuse. And that's just not what you want to hear from a stud who you're paying a gazillion dollars to over 15 years. That, to me, is the angle.

[Michael Kay]

It's a great point, because that's what it sounds like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why are you talking about what they did? Just go out and do what you got to do.

[Michael Kay]

Right? That's what it sounds like. It sounds like, well, you know, now I'm getting pitched differently. You know, last year I had judge, and I was pitched differently. This is. Look, everybody's right here. Don, you're right. It was about money. We knew it was about money. We always knew it was gonna be about that stuff. Not the whole, you know, the family atmosphere. We all know that was a bunch.

[Don La Greca]

Of crap that's all icing on the cake.

[Michael Kay]

But the cake was still cake.

[Don La Greca]

I told you, because nobody ever wants to admit it. Like, I always give the same examples. Jason Giambi, my dad was a big Mickey Mantle fan, you know, Jack Morris, when he signed with the Minnesota, I want to come home. And then he became a free agent at the end of the year, won a World Series with him and still bolted. It's about the money, all right? So don't make it out to anything else. So there's no buyer remorse. There's no regret. I agree with Peter. He probably should have kept his mouth shut, but he's struggling right now. Mike Puma asked him a question, he answered it. And so everybody's running with it because he's not hitting to the best of his ability. But you know what? I'm a Met fan. He's 11. They're 11 and 5. They're in first place. Not the Phillies, not the Braves, it's the Mets. And you can't enjoy it, even isn't hitting yet. But now I gotta be worried about, is he happy here? Well, I don't know. He's got 14 more years after this. He better get used to it.

[Michael Kay]

Guess what this sounds like. You know what this sounds like? This is what I was thinking of when I was reading these quotes. Because what Peter said is really on point about it. You're right about the money, but in the end, Juan Soto is LeBron James. He went to the Lakers, and what's the first thing he said? This is not good enough. Not good enough. When I was winning championships, we had to bring in stars. This is what he's doing. Only in baseball. It's not as easy to do. That's what he's doing already. Go trade for some people. Make this lineup better. I didn't come here for this. Absolutely not. No, no. He is letting you know. Don't blame me. Look around me. It's not like it was last year.

[Don La Greca]

But they're 11 and 5. Shut up.

[Michael Kay]

But he's talking about his. The look.

[Don La Greca]

He wanted Petalon, so they signed Pete Alonso. And Alonzo's rigor.

[Michael Kay]

He wanted a bat and that's the best bat they could get him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a very good way. It's working out very well.

[Don La Greca]

You don't think.

[Michael Kay]

But his numbers are all he cares about. You. You want to pretend it's about team success? In the end it is. As long as I'm playing well.

[Don La Greca]

Well, you know what? The one sport where you can get away with that is baseball. Because you hit the four times, you get up there, catch what's hit to you. This isn't a center trying to make his wingers better. This isn't a point guard trying to distribute the basketball. This isn't a quarterback calling plays in a huddle where it's one for all, all for one. If there's one sport where, hey, if he wants to only care about himself and his numbers, you know what? I'll take it. Because those numbers are going to help me win a championship. All right? He doesn't have to worry about a double play combination. He doesn't play short or second. All right? He's not a catcher with chemistry with the pitching staff. Place out there in right field, poorly, I might add. But we paid all this money for him to rake. So I don't care what his motivation is. I don't care if his motivation is to Allah, God or he prays to himself. Doesn't matter to me. Hit. Alright? And if he's sending a message to Steve Cohen. Steve Cohen's is sitting on $16 billion. Don't worry about it, Juan. I think over the next 14 years he'll try to get you the best players possible. All right? So stop it. Go hit.

[Michael Kay]

I'm telling you what I see and I don't care.

[Don La Greca]

I don't care if he's miserable for the next 15 years that every time he looks in the mirror and he cries that he's a Met. Go out there and hit because you're under contract. Hit. I don't need you to be happy. I rooted for the Devils back in the day. Every single player hated Lou Lamorillo to the Point that they went on the ice and beat the crap out of the other team in his name. All right. And one Cups cursing them out while they did it. And you know what happened five minutes after they left. They couldn't wait to come back. As they love the guy, he'll need everybody to love one another. The Bronx Zoo, remember that Yankee boy?

[Michael Kay]

Of course, I.

[Don La Greca]

They all hated each other, right, Goose? We just, we just talked about it last week. Cliff Johnson wrestling with pee coming out of himself all over goose. Gossip rolling around.

[Michael Kay]

Right. And still one. Here's your problem. Here's your problem though. Here's your problem. And this is again, you're right. What's the record?

[Don La Greca]

11 and 11 and 5.

[Michael Kay]

Had another nice win yesterday. He actually hit a home run. Right.

[Don La Greca]

All that.

[Michael Kay]

You can't enjoy it.

[Don La Greca]

No, you can't. No, I can't.

[Michael Kay]

No, you can't.

[Don La Greca]

No, you don't want. No, this is where the Yankee Met thing. This is why. No, you can't when he says this. No, it's just we're 11 and 5.

[Michael Kay]

What's wrong with Soto is a bigger story than 11 and 5.

[Don La Greca]

We got to bring the Met fan down. They're in first place. But look, you start players. Why is this a major fight? Is he threatening to leave?

[Michael Kay]

Done.

[Don La Greca]

Is he going to walk out? He didn't have friend a with the Yankees last year. He had 40 home runs and went.

[Michael Kay]

To the World Series.

[Don La Greca]

He didn't have anybody's number and he's still raked. And the difference was you didn't have control of him at the end of the year. The Mets have him for another 14 years. Why do we off the Sing Kumbaya after the game?

[Michael Kay]

Because he's a star and if he's.

[Don La Greca]

Miserable, it will show. See, this is why I think that the Mets and Soto are living in Yankee fans heads. Oh, he's miserable. You see what you got? Oh, I got a player that I know is going to carry this team offensively once he figures it out. He's already pointing.

[Michael Kay]

Fine.

[Don La Greca]

It's 16 games and he's pointing fingers. He's not pointing. All he's saying is why? And he said, you know, I don't have the protection I had, but he'll make the adjustment. He'll make it work.

[Michael Kay]

Really?

[Don La Greca]

Because I got news for you. How great was he in Washington? No Harper in Washington. Who was his. Where was Aaron Judge in Washington? Where was Aaron Judge in San Diego's lineup? He said Aaron Judge was the best player in baseball. So no matter where he goes, except the Yankees. He is not going to have the best player in baseball. But he figured it out in Washington, figured it out in San Diego. He'll figure it out here. But meanwhile, while he's figuring out the mets are still 11 and 5. So don't bring us down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But don't you with your negativity, you're.

[Michael Kay]

Going to tell me in the clubhouse, somebody's not reading that going like serious.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, they know Judge is the best player in baseball. I don't think he is.

[Michael Kay]

It's not about the best player in baseball part. It's just the other part. Instead of just taking ownership of everything's great. I love it. Everything's great now. Everything's great. We're winning, we're winning. And that's all.

[Don La Greca]

He didn't blame anybody. He just stated the obvious. Don't have Aaron Judge protecting me. I'm gonna have to make the adjustments. He asked for them to sign Pete Alonso and they did. And Pete Alonso's raking now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, do I think the statement itself is kind of yo, yo. Yes, I do. In fact, it could be my can't take it Tuesday. But the protection and lineups conversation, that's neither here nor there. Though I think not to be boring. Don, I think you'll be with me. I think this is much ado about nothing sports talk radio that they, you know, sometimes the athletes go, we really don't care. It's not making it to us. This is one of those things. I don't think they care. You can't hear the guys voice.

[Michael Kay]

I think you're wrong. Here's why you're wrong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think.

[Michael Kay]

Here's why you're wrong again, I don't think he cares. I was in these situations. I covered teams as a beat writer. You're there every day. They read everything. Even when they deny they read them. They all know what's going on. They all see it. They know the conversation. You're not going to tell me that the follow up to this story is asking other players, especially Pete Alonso, like, what do you think about what's going on with Soto? This ain't going away, man. Because this right here is the chum in the water. That's all this is. Because no offense, 11 and 5, boring. It's April. How am I getting people to read stories? That's how we're going to perpetuate this and keep it going because it's a big deal. It will go away if he starts hitting. They keep winning. Eventually you just get off of it. But God help you if it starts to slip a little in the offense and he's still not playing well, this will get louder. That's why him saying that, well, then.

[Don La Greca]

It was something else. Dangerous place, because that's what's real. That's what baseball gets covered, right? As you said, it's 11 and 5. It's only April. But if not this, it'd be something else. If he doesn't start to hit at Juan Soto's pace and Mets start to lose, you don't think that becomes a thing? Of course it'll become a thing. But listen, if the Mets are that fragile that Pete Alonso getting asked, hey, Juan Soto said, you're not Aaron Judge. You know, Pete's gonna say, yeah, I'm not Aaron Judge, but guess what? We're 11, 5, and I'm the MVP of the team right now.

[Michael Kay]

There's a guy that two years ago told me that, hey, at least I'm available. When he compared himself to Aaron Judge, don't tell me that he is, like, okay with the fact that, oh, no, I'm not as good as that guy.

[Don La Greca]

All said was the one thing that he could say comparing himself to Aaron Judge. He's not Aaron Judge, man. You are a journalist. You.

[Michael Kay]

You.

[Don La Greca]

It's real stuff.

[Michael Kay]

But, like, you're.

[Don La Greca]

You're not creating stuff right now.

[Michael Kay]

I am not creating it. Well, I made up that quote like we had him on the show.

[Don La Greca]

He literally said that. We were like, whoa, you.

[Michael Kay]

He really wants to put himself in that.

[Don La Greca]

You want to make that? Well, yeah, he tried, and guess what? He got batted down when he tried to put himself at. When he became a free agent. Hasn't bothered him so far. When he got a contract, that was half of what he thought he was worth. And what has he gone out there and done? Because he's gonna get a second chance. Because if he rakes this year, he's gonna give a chance to opt out.

[Michael Kay]

And I've said how much I appreciate him. I'm a big fan of Pete Alonso.

[Don La Greca]

But what I'm saying is, if they're that fragile that this comment by Juan Soto only was, should he shut up? Absolutely. But all we do is beg these players to say something, and the second they say something, we sit there and dissect and rip them. And then we wonder why they don't talk after that. Is he made a quote about Aaron Judge being the best player in baseball, and he's got to make an adjustment. All right, if that's Enough to bring down the Mets clubhouse. Then it would have been something else five minutes from now. And so I don't need. Not you, but Yankee fans in particular say, see, this is. This is what happened, dude. Worry about your own team.

[Michael Kay]

And you tell me that Mets fans aren't going, oh, my God, here we go. We can't even enjoy 11 and 5. That's the reality.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because if you're going to let this.

[Don La Greca]

Bother you, you're 11 and five. You're in first place.

[Michael Kay]

You don't think Mets fans care about.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not saying do or don't, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don at 11 and 5. You think a hardcore Mets fan right now is super upset that Juan Soto in an interview with Mike Pooba said, you didn't hear the tone of his voice. You didn't hear anything. This is the kind of thing that yo yos like us and the guys in the clubhouse go crazy for. I really don't think the average fan at 11 and 5 is stressing that Juan Soto said that. I don't.

[Don La Greca]

If they do. If they do what I would tell them. 1-800-919-3776. If you're a Met fan and you hate Soto, want him to shut up. Can't believe he's ruining our season. You're 11 and 5. You're 11 and 5. And the bottom of the order is not hitting Soto is not even what he's going to eventually be. All right, you're going to get Benia back. You're going to. Diaz is going to find it. I mean, this is. Enjoy yourself, all right? Don't allow yourself to be brought down. This is what you wanted. You wanted Juan Soto. This is what comes with Juan Soto. This is what comes with being a team. That's good. You get the slings and the arrows from everybody that's just jealous that they don't have them. All right? So stop yourself. Should he have kept his mouth shut? Yes. Is this enough to derail the season? If it is, they weren't good enough to win anyway.

[Michael Kay]

Not about derailing a season more or less. The dark cloud that you just don't want hanging over the team. Danny in Long island starts us off today. What's up, Danny? Danny from Long island who is in.

[Anthony Pusick]

The great state of South Carolina. How about that listening on the app?

[Michael Kay]

Oh, see, that's. That's loyal.

[Don La Greca]

I love it.

[Anthony Pusick]

Danny, go down and watch my son.

[Don La Greca]

Go down there and watch my son pitch. Okay. He takes turn.

[Anthony Pusick]

He's missing a turn to rotation for all fatigue.

[Don La Greca]

So tonight, we got my grandson with little league baseball. In the meantime, I got the boys on the.

[Anthony Pusick]

On the app. Here we go.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, I'm a Mets fan.

[Anthony Pusick]

I was sat home last night. My grandkids saw Soto hit one out. Could care less. When he said in the locker room, I could care less.

[Don La Greca]

And the reality of the situation is.

[Anthony Pusick]

That, yes, last year, he had the greatest baseball player. He could be on track to be.

[Don La Greca]

Maybe the second greatest baseball player that we've ever seen in history.

[Anthony Pusick]

That behind him, it does have an effect. Should he have said it? No. Do I care? No. It wasn't true. Yeah, but like Don said, sometimes we don't deserve nice things. Because Alan just told you why everyone hates the media because now they ask the questions. This is Trump in the water. We're gonna let this percolate for a few days because we're here to get clicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so true, Danny. That's what I was thinking. That's what I was thinking, Danny.

[Michael Kay]

Thank you, Danny. Enjoy it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is I. When Alan reveals something like that, I go, oh, that's why they hate the media. Because the daily media that covers them needs stuff to write about, and it makes them blanket all the media the same way. When really it's you dirtbags that need to get clicks every day.

[Michael Kay]

Understand something that's a created story, then if there's six of us on the beat and baseball is more. All right, but I'm giving you, like, my experience. Six of us on the beat, two of them, the tabloids going hard on this story. Your editor goes, where are you on this story? Don't you think you gotta be on that? Or do you have anything about it? And I'm going, nah, this is. This is a nothing burger, man. This is no big deal. Yeah, but the readers clearly think it is, because look at the traffic it's generated. Look at the conversation it's generating. Look again. Mike Puma, his sports editor just patted him on the back. Good job. Look what you did. They won a game, and nobody cares because your quote was more important than that game.

[Don La Greca]

Mike Puma did nothing wrong.

[Michael Kay]

Nothing wrong?

[Don La Greca]

He asked a question, and he wasn't even. It wasn't clickbait. He was just doing his job. He was asking him a question, and Soto answered. My problem is now we're gonna take his answer and we're gonna run with it, trying to interpret what he said and what it really means. And is it gonna be a dark cloud? Is it gonna derail the season? Is Pete Alonso gonna be upset? Is he longing to be a Yankee again. Those are all assumptions he made. His quote, and his quote was, he's not getting the protection he got in New York. Duh. Best player in baseball is in New York with the Yankees. So you're going to have to make an adjustment. But you made yourself into one of the great players of all time without Aaron Judge. The Yankees traded for you because of what you established in Washington and San Diego. Yeah, you had good players in Washington. You had good players in San Diego. You didn't have Aaron Judge, and you're not going to have Aaron Judge probably your entire time here with the New York Mets. All right? But that doesn't mean you can't win. That doesn't mean you can't rake, and that doesn't mean you can be. You can't be happy to be here. And I don't think he has buyer's remorse. He was just answering a question honestly. And now everybody after the fact has to now interpret it and make it a good thing or a bad thing. It's nothing. He made a comment. And the reason I know it's nothing is because, Alan, tell me if I'm wrong. When he was with the Yankees last year, nobody had his number. Nobody talked to him because I think they all realized it doesn't matter. He's not going to be here. He is going to go to the highest bidder. He's a mercenary. He's a merc. And I'm fine with that because I've got one of the best mercs in baseball. Hopefully that'll put up numbers to help my team win their first championship in 39 years. Again, I don't need them to go camping. And I'll go to church on Sunday, all right. And go into a foxhole together. Just play baseball. And I think he's capable of doing that. He's done it everywhere he's ever been with the specter of free agency in Washington, in San Diego, the specter of being traded from a small market team, and then the specter of being a free agent while he took his team to the World series. Enough.

[Michael Kay]

Okay?

[Don La Greca]

TaxAct can think of a million things.

[Michael Kay]

More fun than filing taxes. TaxAct is going to name some now.

[Don La Greca]

Sitting in traffic, folding a fitted bedsheet, listening to your co worker talk about his fantasy team digging a hole. Digging an even larger hole next to that original hole.

[Michael Kay]

Unfortunately, TaxAct's filing software can't make taxes.

[Don La Greca]

Fun, but TaxAct can help you get them done. TaxAct, let's get them over with.

[Anthony Pusick]

I was never really a runner.

[Don La Greca]

The way I see running is a gift, especially when you have stage four cancer.

[Michael Kay]

I'm Ann.

[Don La Greca]

I'm running the Boston Marathon presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life even with cancer. Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give if you can@b of a.comSupportAnn what.

[Don La Greca]

Would you like the power to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

References to charitable organizations is not an.

[Anthony Pusick]

Endorsement by bank of America Corporation.

[Don La Greca]

Copyright 2025 hey there travelers. Kaley Cuoco here. Sorry to interrupt your music. Great artist BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be there to hear it live? With Price you can get out of your dreams and into your dream concert. They've got millions of travel deals to get you to that festival gig, rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline.

[Michael Kay]

Go to your happy price.

[Don La Greca]

Priceline.

[Michael Kay]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Michael Kay]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast. All right, so, so on this conversation that we're having here between the Mets and the Yankees and stto and his quotes, what he said about the current Met lineup versus what he had last year with the Yankees being obviously the two time MVP Aaron Judge. I don't agree. Like I know I might have said it factiously, but it's not like he's expressing remorse of going to the Mets. I do feel like there is a little hint of LeBron here which is him looking around and saying, okay, well we got to improve this. Like it's got to get better because this is what I had there and we were great. So I, you know, like, if you want the best of me, you got to put the best around me. LeBron was always big on that. LeBron was never a guy that's like, I don't care who I'm playing with, I'll lift everybody up. He was always about if you want to win championships, you got to get stars. And he would tell to everywhere he went, he was big on give me this, get me that. When he went back to Cleveland, the reason why he left Cleveland, all that stuff, I don't need to recite chapter and verse, you know it. But let's flip the story just Real quick here. When you now look at both teams going into this season as maybe emotionally devastating as it might have been the day that the news got out that Soto was going to take the Mets offer and leave the Yankees, and that felt like the biggest win the Mets have had over the Yankees in their history. When you look back now, do you think the Yankees, knowing what they know now, have any real remorse? Or are they like, you know what, him leaving was probably the best thing for us. Even though it's strange to say a guy of that caliber, the reality that we're all seeing right now has this feeling of the guy was great, and that was Mantle and Marisol, that was Gehrigan, Ruth. But all things considered, probably saved the franchise. That the fact that he left, I.

[Don La Greca]

Mean, you could say that. We don't know.

[Michael Kay]

But I'm saying it with my chest. Like, I'm saying it with my chest. I'm saying it with my chest.

[Don La Greca]

That was the best. You can have that opinion.

[Michael Kay]

It had to be the right thing. It ended up being the right thing.

[Don La Greca]

But they wanted him back.

[Michael Kay]

I know they did.

[Don La Greca]

And they made a very generous offer to bring him back, and they just tapped out. All right, so you can't tell me that, oh, this was the plan all along. They wanted him back. And you heard Brian Cashman in spring training say, we lost.

[Michael Kay]

I'm aware. Juan Soto, I said, now.

[Don La Greca]

He didn't say we showed.

[Michael Kay]

You know. You know, now, first of all, you.

[Don La Greca]

Don'T make any kind of declaration 16 games into the season, we're going to find out. You can't. You can't make that declaration after one. So you're telling me, let's say Yankees win the World Series and the Mets don't. All right, well, boy, that was. That was smart not to bring back Juan Soto. But then the mets win, like, five championships for the next 10 years, and then the Yankees finish under.500 for the next 10. It's very fluid, man. So I'm not well, that. I hate the whole early thing. I don't think there's anybody right now in the New York Yankees organization that looked at that quote and say, this is why we didn't sign.

[Michael Kay]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Don La Greca]

It's not about the quote or we're better off. Are you better off? I don't know. Because with all Soto struggles and the Mets having issues pitching going into the season, they've had injuries like the Yankees have, and the Mets are in a very difficult division that they're, They're. They're in first place, they're 11 and 5 right now. All right? So, I mean, but I'm not going to sit there and go, this is why the Mets are better. The Mets are better off with Juan Soto. They needed Juan Soto for sure. More than anything, the Yankees needed. The Yankees are the team that's wanting them back. But I don't think you could sit there and want the guy back, Make a major generous effort for the guy, lose out on him. Because the Mets were going to outbid you because they've got a billionaire that's sitting on $16 billion and then turn around and make it seem like, oh, well, no, we're better off. Maybe you will be better off. But don't make it seem like the plan was to not bring Juan Soto back because you had a better plan. I didn't say it was a better plan B.

[Michael Kay]

If you could do it over again, I do not think the Yankees would have. Would go that route. You know that Hal Steinbrenner was already probably breaking down at hives at the numbers that he was hearing about breaking.

[Don La Greca]

But that's a baseball issue.

[Michael Kay]

Well, all right.

[Don La Greca]

Because that's how they run their friendship. Yeah, they run their friendship, and I respect it because I don't think they should be giving out sweets to a guy that I'm paying, you know, $800 million to. So they stood on their principles, but they lost out on a player that they wanted. And that's why I don't say the Mets won. The Mets outbid. That's it. They won an auction.

[Michael Kay]

They won the bid.

[Don La Greca]

Because I've got an owner that's got more money than your owner. That's what I hate about baseball. It's not about wits. It's not about smarts. It's just about money. And right now, my team's got a guy that's sitting on $16 billion of it, and that certainly helps. That's why I don't think any Met fan should flex. Oh, we're the better franchise. No, you're taking advantage of the system. Good for you. Yankees took advantage of the system for a long time, too. And the rest of Major League baseballs. Look at. Look at these two billionaires batting at the bunny. And then eventually, one of them got caught on his nail and was able to bring him home. All right, so there's a lot of. There's a lot of teams that want Juan Soto, but please don't make it seem like, oh, well, Goldschmidt and Bellinger. Believe me, we're better off. You might end up being better, but better long.

[Michael Kay]

I still think long term.

[Don La Greca]

I'll see.

[Michael Kay]

I'm just telling. It's just.

[Don La Greca]

You're willing to give more years than the Mets game.

[Michael Kay]

I know, right? Like I said, they were going to a place that was not comfortable for this organization and it might have caused more damage than. Than you would think going forward when you know exactly where the owner sits when it comes to spending. Let's get back to calls. Dove in my hometown of Huntington. What's up, Dove?

[Anthony Pusick]

Well, a very good afternoon, gentlemen. How are you? Good.

[Don La Greca]

How are you?

[Anthony Pusick]

Good, good, good, good. Listen, Alan, I love you. I'm gonna come at you, but I just know it's all love, man. So when you run with this story, right, the original story is just a report. That's right. It's facts. That's what it is. We can now interpret. Right. But when you take it and run with it and start saying, well, what if. And what if. And what if the locker room starts talking and what if Juan Soto doesn't hit? And what if he forgets how to play baseball? What you're doing is the same exasperating thing they do to Tom Thibodeau, where you have a 51 win season. You're doing just fine. But they start saying, but what if they get swept by Detroit? And what if Jalen Bronson just doesn't stay healthy and all the players get hurt? Then you'd have to fire him. You're doing the same thing. And it's so annoying as you rolled your eyes through the radio when they were doing it to Tibs, but now you're doing it to Soto. And that, my friend, is Yankee boy.

[Don La Greca]

Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing.

[Michael Kay]

I can't deny that the reality is in the media, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You good? Are you. You good over there?

[Michael Kay]

I'm fine.

[Don La Greca]

You sure?

[Michael Kay]

I was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You look stumbled.

[Don La Greca]

You look like. Do you. Take a knee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Take a knee.

[Michael Kay]

I look stumbled. I was. First of all, I was. I'm trying not to talk over people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And there you go.

[Michael Kay]

Good for you. So I'm letting everybody on this moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's easy because you just got punched right in the.

[Michael Kay]

It's not easy at all. I'm letting Doe finish his point, and I'm also letting him know that this again from I've. I was a beat writer for over a decade. Like, this is what we do. It's what we do. The story's there, A quote is there?

[Don La Greca]

It doesn't make it good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't make it Right.

[Michael Kay]

But once you get that now, it's like, let's. You gotta pick at it. You gotta pick it. You can't forget it. You always think about it and you bring it up whenever it is. There's reason to do it. And what Dov said, comparing it to the Knicks situation, he is 100% correct. And I can't deny that.

[Don La Greca]

I don't think you guys realize this. Peter, Mike is a big Rocky 4 fan. They edited out of Rocky 4. You could see it on the DVD, the bonus track where he says, I love Rocky, but if he dies, he dies. And he decided, you know, we're going to take out the I love Rocky. It's just if he dies, respect you and everything. And then he just Clubber lined you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right in the face.

[Michael Kay]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. If he dies, he dies. Was staring at Apollo.

[Don La Greca]

Well, I should have said Apollo.

[Michael Kay]

Okay. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if he dies.

[Michael Kay]

So I love Apollo, but if he dies, he dies. Yeah, it was way more effective of him just saying, if he dies, he dies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This guy hits you, though, with the I love Alan, but if he dies, he does a good call.

[Don La Greca]

I thought that the whole interaction Championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the question. Give me the Mets fan. Who cares? Because I think this is made up. I don't think Mets fans care. I think everybody's happy with how they're doing. What's there to even think about? They're in first place. They're rolling. What are we talking about?

[Michael Kay]

All right, well, let's see. David and Elizabeth. David.

[Anthony Pusick]

What's going on, fellas? Yo, same old, same old.

[Don La Greca]

You know, it's nothing but love.

[Anthony Pusick]

Hey, yo, please, that call I just called, have respect for my man Hollywood Hans. He's big time.

[Don La Greca]

All right? She didn't respect you.

[Anthony Pusick]

He didn't respect you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know, he punched him right in the gut.

[Don La Greca]

I know, man.

[Anthony Pusick]

You punched my man Han in the face. And Han has a punchable face.

[Don La Greca]

But love.

[Michael Kay]

Not the first time I heard that.

[Don La Greca]

Not a good start.

[Michael Kay]

Not the first time, really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess I never thought about that. Maybe you do have a punchable face.

[Michael Kay]

Yeah, just go ahead and try that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, get a two piece.

[Michael Kay]

With the biscuit.

[Anthony Pusick]

With the biscuit. With the biscuit. He's tall, remember?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. Tall drink of water that reach.

[Anthony Pusick]

So let's get into it, fellas. All right, like you guys said, I really don't care about this story. I don't care about the narrative. My team is winning. I believe we're in number one in our Division number two.

[Don La Greca]

I would say this as well. We're not hitting.

[Anthony Pusick]

Exactly. And I get where Soto's coming from. Soto's just basically saying that, hey, I had one of the best hitters right now in the MLB that I was protecting before, and now, you know, like, I have a really good hitter behind me. This is basically what he's basically saying is that, hey, you know, Aaron, judges are great. Pete is pretty good as well, and they're not pitching to him the way they should be. And eventually, like Don said, they're gonna hit. This story could go scratch. I really don't care about it. I can't wait till my team gets fully healthy and I can't wait to go to the Subway Series. Appreciate you, gentlemen. Thank you.

[Michael Kay]

All right, Dave.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel you, bro.

[Don La Greca]

That was nice, simple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But again, nothing here.

[Don La Greca]

I'm sorry, I do just looking at social media, there are Met fans that are in a way about this social.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Media, social media, smoshal media. People need to have something.

[Michael Kay]

But you guys are enjoying the hate, the Han hate. So you like alliteration. It's Han hate today. So Chris in Ocean County. Come on, Chris.

[Anthony Pusick]

Hey, guys, how's it going? Good time listening to the station. First time caller, so thanks for taking it. Just want to just throw this in there. Alan, you are dead wrong here. Dead wrong. Yeah, I know. I'm joining the train, but I'm a Mets fan. I personally couldn't care any less about the story. To your point, Allen, you know, Mets fans can't really enjoy it because, you know Soto's comment, he's pointing the fingers already to argue against that. I actually enjoying it so much that they're 11 and 5 in first place with Juan Soto looking as lost as Juan Soto possibly could look. So I just wanted to throw that out there. Don, every point you're making, you're hitting the nail on the head. You know, anytime guys are honest, we have to dissect it and, you know, just pull it apart every which way. That's why you don't get those answers a lot of times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, Chris, I would even if we had heard the audio and he sounded angry or like he threw an extra sauce, like. But it's a quote that you can just read.

[Michael Kay]

It's too early for that, but it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A quote that you can just read. And all he said was, oh, well, last year. Now listen, if I was his friend, I might be like, yo, Juan, next time they ask you about what's going on, just be like, hey, I'm still finding my way. It's early in the year. I'm not stressing it. You don't need to give any excuses.

[Michael Kay]

You know what? Here's an example.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's not a lot there.

[Michael Kay]

I'm sorry, Peter. What did. What did Aaron Judge have to say? Because, you know, that's the next thing we do. Run to Aaron Judge, get reaction.

[Don La Greca]

I have to, right? The quote is like, I'm not going to go back and forth on this. He's already has one of the best hitters in baseball batting behind him and Pete Alonso. Judge knows exactly what to say, always. But not everybody's Aaron Judge. Not everybody's Derek Jeter. You know, some guys, you know, Juan Soto answered a question, and I do not, under any circumstances want Mike Puma to be some sort of a villain here. He just asked the question. He's doing his job.

[Michael Kay]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

All right. Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The tactic. It's what comes next. Puma just asked the question.

[Michael Kay]

He also recognized the quote. The headline is juiced it up.

[Don La Greca]

It's the headline. I think that was the money quote in there. But there's a lot of interpretation going on that he's unhappy in New York, that this is gonna be an issue, that he longs to be back with the Yankees. Those. That's not necessarily what he said. Because now. And this is why players get upset, because Peter's right. It wasn't a quote that was on a radio or recorded where we can hear the tone. Makes it hit a little different. Right. And I know we got some Mike Puma because he was on the K show. So I'm anxious to hear because I didn't get a chance to hear the interview. We were in our meeting to find out, you know, how he interpreted the quotes. But it's just an opportunity for us to kind of dive deeper into it. But what ends up happening is that I don't want Juan Soto to shut down. Like, then it becomes a problem. Now, I'm not gonna talk to the media again because you guys twisted my words. And then Mike Puma looks like a bad guy because he's the one that asked the question. No, he's just doing his job.

[Michael Kay]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Michael Kay]

It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have.

[Don La Greca]

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[Michael Kay]

I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail].

[Don La Greca]

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[Michael Kay]

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[Don La Greca]

Then full price plan options available.

[Michael Kay]

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[Don La Greca]

Wow, this house is cute. But can I really get in the.

[Michael Kay]

Game in this economy?

[Don La Greca]

Economy I do have savings and I am responsible. Ish. I should bury it. I'm being wild. But what if I'm not being wild though? Could I actually score a kick off your home buying journey with Zillow's new buyability tool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Michael Kay]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Michael Kay]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, so again with the Soto quote, There always is a question. The reporter for the New York Post was Mike Puma. And so Michael K. Had him on and this is his explanation about the question and which led to the answer that we're all battling about right now.

[Anthony Pusick]

I wrote it as simply a pre game story.

[Don La Greca]

Basically, you know, Soto was off to a decent start. You know, his on base percentage was, you know, normally where it is. But I just, you know, you were looking at his numbers going into the game last night. You're like, you know, one homer, four RBIs. And so I had a talk with him before the game. I just wanted to know what's going on with him. And one of the questions I asked was, you know, did he feel he.

[Anthony Pusick]

Was getting pitched differently than last year?

[Don La Greca]

And you know, that's when he commented that it was, it was different. He had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind him. You know, he was getting attacked more of pitches in the strike zone, less intentional walks.

[Anthony Pusick]

You said he was pitched differently last year and you know, which makes sense. Pitchers didn't want to pitch there and judge last year.

[Michael Kay]

So That's. That's what set it up. Now, there's another part of the. In the story. I feel like I'm trying to be the same. Do damage when I can. And whenever they try, they want to attack me. I take my chances. And when they don't, I just take my walk. I'm not trying to be selfish or anything and try to hit homers every time. I'm just trying to take pitches and take my swings whenever I can. And when they don't want to, I pass the baton to my teammates. That's the other part of the quote. So it's, you know, I'm doing what I can, right? This is what I'm. This is what I'm getting. Well, how they pitch to me is how I have to play. Oh, well, I can't do more. I can't do less.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm still. I'm still waiting. Allen is still not giving me one angry Mets fan. I'm waiting. I'm fired up, Don. Ready to go?

[Michael Kay]

Well, let's see. Let's see what Griffin in Connecticut thinks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he was fired up yesterday. What's up, Shadow McCann?

[Anthony Pusick]

I'm not. I'm not taking anybody's side on this one, but my point is, let's say you break up with your ex girlfriend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right? And like you and Paige, Betty, you miss.

[Anthony Pusick]

Really, Peter.

[Don La Greca]

Sorry.

[Anthony Pusick]

And you missed the way that she made those chocolate chip cookies. And then you say you're. You're your ex. Oh, well, the chocolate chip cookies you make, they're just not the same. They taste a little different. When he. When she made it. It's just not something that you say. There's a better way where he could have said. He could have said. Yeah, it's a little different. I used to have Judge behind me, or I used to have one of the best hitters in baseball behind me, and now I don't. But I can figure it out. Alonzo's a very good hitter, and he'll. You'll make them pay. And it's just there's different ways you can say it. Other saying it the way he said it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what, Griff? I don't have one thing to argue against anything you said. That is that I think you're totally right. Now, listen, I don't know if it's bad as going. Well, I'll tell you what, though, baby. My ex's cookies, those. Are those real cookies?

[Don La Greca]

Your cookies are cool.

[Michael Kay]

Cookies in a plastic bag, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Getting crushed by Billy.

[Don La Greca]

He did Mrs. Fields before, right? So there's going to be a little bit of a drop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll tell you. One day I dump Mrs. Fields for Kim Fields in two seconds flat. You know what I mean?

[Don La Greca]

You and everybody else.

[Michael Kay]

You ain't lying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Flat being the operative choice. Now, real quick now, should we just get back? No, no. I got to get something down real quick. So ian ends at 6:00 tonight, and I can't wait that long. Yesterday, after you left for Rangers hockey, which everyone was talking about that game, by the way.

[Don La Greca]

I did what I could, Al.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did the best you could. Alan and I were doing the program and we had a Richard mom. Where I tried to fight back, Don. I tried.

[Don La Greca]

He was he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I said, you know what? I'm gonna just keep trying to get ahold of him. I don't know if anyone has ever been plowed through like this in the history of radio. Here you go.

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you see, where I'm from, fellas.

[Anthony Pusick]

I always say this because I listen to everything on the radio, which is what keeps my mind going.

[Don La Greca]

Fellas are always appreciated.

[Michael Kay]

Wait, Richard, before you run, Richard. By the way, how great is it that he said, I listen to everything that's said on the radio except the people on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Except when I'm calling you.

[Don La Greca]

He said that he heard Alan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did he? At the end, Was it just me? Hold on. One more time.

[Michael Kay]

Fellas.

[Anthony Pusick]

I only say this because I listen to everything on the radio, which is what keeps my mind going, fellas.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always Richard. He only heard the Richard before you run because at that point, he'd finally finished. Don, do you think he just talks like this? Like he's just talking into the mouthpiece? There's no. I tried so hard.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, Mr. Announcer, he did not do his job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you. You think he was talking about Michael on that?

[Don La Greca]

I don't know.

[Michael Kay]

I was wondering when he explained on the Yankee broadcast, I won't name names.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He said, I don't want to name the announcer. But on the Yankee broadcast, he did his job. Someone said, he did the job.

[Don La Greca]

And then Richard said, no, Mr. Announcer.

[Anthony Pusick]

He did not do his job.

[Michael Kay]

Now, that still could have been in an analyst, and it could have been the radio broadcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You never know.

[Michael Kay]

That is a fair point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, let's go back.

[Michael Kay]

Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We moved on Kim Fields a lot.

[Michael Kay]

Richard, that was tremendous. How about we go to Alex in Westchester? What's up, Alex?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alex?

[Don La Greca]

Hey, guys, can you hear me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

All day.

[Anthony Pusick]

All right. Awesome. It's my first time calling in. I want to say that you guys.

[Don La Greca]

Make my ride to school a lot easier. So thank you for that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks buddy.

[Anthony Pusick]

Anyway, Alan, I like your most of the time, especially with all your Knick stuff, but this one, it just proves that Soto is living rent free in all of the Yankees fans heads and I don't think I've seen anything like this in sports since I've been watching.

[Don La Greca]

So. Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

And Pete Alonso is just fine. I don't think he's got any problem. He's gonna keep hitting and. Yeah, that's it. Thanks guys.

[Michael Kay]

So you want to make, Alex wants to make this like Don wants to make this about Yankees fans. Now if I, if I was a Braves fan, would it, would it be a Braves fans take too?

[Don La Greca]

I don't know.

[Michael Kay]

Like I'm not looking at this from a Yankee perspective. I'm looking at it from so honestly and I'm like when we started the show, what I tell you, I was a beat writer for over a decade. I've been in these circles. I've done these interviews, I've written these stories.

[Don La Greca]

I can't prove.

[Michael Kay]

This is not about like a Yankee thing. This is about when you get a guy to say a quote and you do that like you know exactly what's coming and you, you know the headline maker's gonna make it a headline.

[Don La Greca]

But when you rep, you represent the Yankee fans because you're the only Yankee fan on the show.

[Michael Kay]

Well, I understand.

[Don La Greca]

And there are, you're, you're telling me there aren't Yankee fans right now that are like, See this is what happens. You got Soto, all that money sees being a problem already probably that. I think Soto does live in the Yankees tip. You're a delivery guy and they're. I gave him 10 bucks. I told him to keep the change. You filthy animal.

[Michael Kay]

He didn't.

[Don La Greca]

Where is it?

[Michael Kay]

He even left you a quarter. He even left you a quarter.

[Don La Greca]

Look, we had a, we had a moment. We're close to break.

[Michael Kay]

I just.

[Don La Greca]

Can I. I know it's the Tuesday. Maybe I'll save it.

[Michael Kay]

Save it? Yeah. No, no, save it because if it's definitely something that's gonna set you off, we can't do that here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it? Is it? Oh you want. You're talking about?

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't take it Tuesday.

[Michael Kay]

I can't take it Tuesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's 4:30. Now I got to talk to you guys about something right now. Thank you very much. And that is the play in tournament. It's here. And FanDuel is giving all new customers a shot at $250 in bonus bets. Join FanDuel today and you can get started in $250 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. You see how that works? It's that easy, ladies and gentlemen. That's how you do it. Now listen, I'm talking about player props. You could do three pointers, steals to assists. So many different ways to play the NBA. Playing games with Fandor. You got Grizzlies warriors at 10pm TNT True TV Max vehicle. And then you also have the Hawks magic like you dream about TNT as well. 7:30 for that game. So it's all right there for your same game parlays to win. But just visit fanduel.competer to get in on all the NBA play in tournament action. Vanduv Official sports betting Partner of the NBA, 21 and over and physically present New York versus online real money wager only $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem. Call 8778-Hopeny or text Hopeny at 467369.

[Michael Kay]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here.

[Michael Kay]

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.