Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: The State of Baseball (Jan 16, 2026)

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode zeroes in on the escalating financial arms race in Major League Baseball, with recent blockbuster free agent deals fueling a contentious debate about sustainability, equity, and the likelihood of an impending work stoppage. The hosts analyze the New York Mets and Dodgers’ massive spending, question the logic (and politics) behind the Mets’ pivot after missing out on top targets, and ponder the implications for both New York teams and the larger baseball economy. The looming possibility of a salary cap is a constant undercurrent. Along the way, the conversation veers into the psychology of fandom, competitive balance, and even a surprising Tarantino discussion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Blockbuster Deals and the Mets' Pivots (00:22-03:55)

• Alan Hahn kicks off with the frenzy over free agent signings, especially the Mets’ moves and the Dodgers splurging on Kyle Tucker ($55M/yr) and the Mets’ surprising deal for Bo Bichette ($42M/yr for 7 years, playing out of position at third base).
• Sustainability concerns: Alan expresses worry, not as a sore Mets fan, but as someone skeptical that these numbers are “not sustainable” for the sport.
  • "This is not sustainable, guys. It's not. ... Right now, in the offices of Major League Baseball, they...are giddy at the fact that there's now more than enough evidence...to say, we need a salary cap." (Alan, 02:42)

2. Threat of Labor Unrest and Comparisons to the NFL (03:58-05:48)

• The hosts note how other sports (like the NFL) have competitive parity enforced by a hard cap, contrasting sharply with MLB's ever-expanding gap between the billionaire "haves" and the rest.
• Alan and Don suggest Armageddon—a major work stoppage—might be inevitable if the current trajectory continues:
  • “Celebrate, have fun. Because at the end of 2026...get ready for Armageddon, because it’s coming.” (Alan, 03:55)

3. The Owner's Influence and Front Office Philosophy (05:48-07:45)

• The show explores whether Steve Cohen, the Mets’ owner, overruled President David Stearns’s stated plan for "run prevention" by going all-in on offense after losing out on Tucker.
• Peter Rosenberg questions the wisdom of overpaying out of desperation, signaling the risk of owners’ impulses undermining careful front-office strategy.

4. Historical Perspective & Changing Nature of Big Markets (07:45-09:24)

• They reminisce on the “Evil Empire” Yankees, who had both big spending and a home-grown core—unlike today’s top spenders, who lean more on financial muscle than historical baseball acumen.
• The conversation pivots to whether team owners' generational wealth (Cohen, Guggenheim Group, etc.) has permanently warped the playing field, making the game less about management/competence and more about deep pockets.

5. Are the Mets Actually Better? Roster Analysis (10:41-13:18)

• Alan and Don debate whether the Mets’ latest moves actually improve the team—offensively yes (Bichette is a bat), but defensively riskier, and some moves appear desperate and inconsistent with pre-stated goals.
  • “I think it improves the team. But clearly it was a desperation pin. They thought they had Tucker.” (Alan, 13:15)

6. Motives Behind Spending Wars (14:05-16:43)

• They theorize whether moves are motivated by a desire to “save face” after losing a star to a rival, or if there’s a vindictive streak (e.g., Mets trying to snatch Bellinger from the Yankees).
• Alan and Peter debate if business losses subsidized by owner wealth are “good business” or just vanity—and whether this model can or should last.

7. Broken Economics and the Strange Fan "Flex" (28:32-32:16)

• Alan challenges why fans take pride in “my owner is richer than yours,” calling it a bizarre flex compared to other sports where team competence and management are the core of fan pride.
  • “That seems like a strange flex to me...I want to get back to being better because I’m smarter, because I understand the game more—not bought better players.” (Alan, 29:00)
• All agree it’s less fun for fans—and less healthy for the sport—when success comes from owner wealth rather than savvy baseball ops.

8. Weather and Winning Culture: Why Do Stars Choose LA? (32:16-34:05)

• They muse on whether lifestyle, weather, and organizational stability now tip more top players toward the Dodgers, above and beyond sheer dollars.

9. Call-In Segment: Fan Views (34:11-36:25, 43:02-46:15)

• Caesar (Huntington) defends the Yankees' alleged caution, argues wild spending isn't always wise, and speculates their "needs" are exaggerated compared to the Mets.
• John (Hoboken) takes a pro-market stance: if small owners can’t keep up, they should sell to someone who can, likening it to letting big chains out-compete mom-and-pops.
  • “If these small market teams with family owned businesses can’t compete anymore, they need to sell and get out.” (John, 43:17)

10. Salary Cap Realities and Revenue Split Mechanics (41:14-46:15)

• Alan and Don warn a future CBA-mandated salary cap could be much lower than people expect if it’s tied to MLB’s declining revenues, owing to struggling regional sports networks.
• They explain how the NBA/NFL split cap off basketball/football-related income, which keeps everyone invested in growing the pie. But with MLB’s current structure, owner subsidies mask deep economic issues.
  • “The sport is only thriving because some owners have tons of money and they're investing their own money in it. That stops when you get a cap.” (Alan, 45:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan forecasting doom:
  "Celebrate, have fun. Because at the end of 2026...get ready for Armageddon, because it's coming." (03:55)

• Don’s “strange flex” observation:
  "In baseball, it's, 'I have a rich owner. My owner's richer than yours.' Ha, ha. Like, that's a strange flex, right?" (29:00)

• Peter questioning spending strategy:
  "My problem is, if that [being vindictive, not strategic] is your mentality, that's a worrisome mentality to have." (Rosenberg, 39:42)

• On public opinion shifting:
  "Now you're starting to see the pendulum swing, Peter, because with this, this money is getting so outrageous, even people are like, damn, that's a lot of money. ... the court of public opinion, the players are taking a bit of a hit with some of these contracts." (Alan, 42:34)

• Caller John on market dynamics:
  "If these small market teams with family owned businesses can't compete anymore, they need to sell and get out." (John, 43:17)

Fun Moment: Tarantino Tangent (21:07–24:14)

• The hosts take a break from baseball to compare Peter’s look to Marcellus Wallace from "Pulp Fiction," riffing on soul-theft theories and favorite storylines in the film.
  • "That's where they took his soul out. And the soul's in the briefcase. That's the word on the street." (Alan, 21:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• MLB Free Agency Spending Craze & Mets Reaction: 00:22–03:55
• Parity vs. Spending Gap; Potential Work Stoppage: 03:58–05:48
• Owner Influence vs. Front Office Plans: 05:48–07:45
• Baseball's Broken Economics & Small Market Plight: 07:45–09:24; 28:32–32:16
• Are the Mets Actually Better? Roster Analysis: 10:41–13:18
• “Flexing” as a Fan—Is it Healthy?: 28:32–32:16
• Why Players Choose LA / Organizational Draw: 32:16–34:05
• Fan Callers—Yankee Perspective, Market Forces: 34:11–36:25; 43:02–46:15
• Salary Cap Mechanics & Revenue Realities: 41:14–46:15
• Pulp Fiction Digression: 21:07–24:14

Overall Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is lively, witty, and filled with a fatalistic edge about baseball’s looming labor clash. The hosts blend deep fandom with industry knowledge, openly critiquing the business of the sport—sometimes with humor, sometimes with real concern for its future. The dialogue critiques the current system’s incentives and pressures, wonders about the meaning of fandom in winner-take-all economics, and presages the likely, bumpy transition ahead for MLB.