Hour 1: The State of Baseball

Summary

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.

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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)

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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)

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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

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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.

Transcript

[A]

Don, give me a piece of wood, I'll eat it.

[B]

Han, Peter, the most used sweat is at a buffet. And Rosenberg.

[C]

I'll be honest, the one thing I miss about having an office is the taste of Steve Hart's nuts.

[A]

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

[B]

This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg.

[A]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[B]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[A]

Well, it's a crazy day. A crazy, crazy day. You wake up this morning, you're preparing to do a bunch of football because we got the divisional round spreads are moving back and forth.

[B]

They are?

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Oh. Oh, yes. You also did. You also did the Collinsworth roll in?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You noticed that, Don?

[A]

My printer.

[B]

You did the Collinsworth? No, it was awesome. I think you should do this from now on.

[A]

Do that again.

[B]

Just roll right into the shot.

[A]

You're right. That's a good idea.

[B]

Peter, did you miss?

[C]

I forgot about that. I forgot about when the Collinsworth thing was a thing.

[A]

I forgot about. That was a thing. It was.

[B]

He did one of these. He was like. He was off again. Y' all had a seat and he went like that. Oh, yeah, it was great.

[A]

Perfect. It was awesome. Yeah, that was.

[C]

Unfortunately, he doesn't have your gift, Alan. And we're right back into his old school position.

[B]

He was good literally 30 seconds ago.

[A]

Yeah, because I. You know what? I'm gonna. I'm gonna fix this in the next break. No, I had it all set and how do I look? And they're like, oh, you've never looked better. This is. And then all of a sudden, it starts. I'm the. I'm Old Man Winter again. But listen, it's a. It's. It's really about what we have to say, not how we look, but. That's right. There's a lot going on for some of us, but the baseball is unreal. And for the Met fan, it kind of started out bad. Tucker goes to the Dodgers of all teams. The Dodgers. And he went for, you know, $55 million a year. $5 million more a year than what we were hearing the Mets were offering. And Bo Bichette looks like he's going to go. He's done. He's going to go to Toronto on a Philly for a seven year deal. But no, no, no, because everybody's kind of thinking about the possibility of a work stoppage. Let's shorten these deals. Let's give a ton of money per year. And Bichette goes for 42 a year. $42 million a year, guys. Now, I'm thrilled as a Met fan because he can hit. It's kind of strange. You're telling me it's all about run prevention. And you signed a guy for $42 million a year, and he's going to play a position that he's literally never played before. Third base after Polanco, guys. Now going to never really play first base is going to be your first baseman. But the point is, is that the money's ridiculous. And I'm. And this is coming from a Met fan who is on the side of ridiculousness that has an owner that's sitting on $23 billion that does seem willing to lose money to try to make his team better. This is not sustainable, guys. It's not. And it's not coming from a place of, oh, the Dodgers get all the players. This is not sustainable. It is not. And right now, in the offices of Major League Baseball, they are right now giddy at the fact that there's now more than enough evidence that they can go into the CBA at the end of next year and say, we need a salary cap. And if the Dodgers keep getting all the players and the Mets sign players, and it's really the same two or three teams every year because they've got billionaire owners, guess what? There's going to be a lot of people that were on the side of the players and on the side of no cap that are going to be firmly on the side of having a cap, and how far are they willing to go to get it? So celebrate if you're a Dodger fan. Celebrate if you're a Met fan. A lot of money getting thrown to these players. Money that is not deserved, by the way, because I don't know where this money's coming from. The Major League Baseball's propping up like a half a dozen region networks because people aren't watching the games. But you've got enough billionaire owners that are throwing money at these players. It's not sustainable. So celebrate, have fun. Because at the end of 2026, when they crown a champion, get ready for Armageddon, because it's coming.

[B]

Yeah, you could lose half a season, if not more, over this. And you know what? The owners are going to have to dig in, because this goes way beyond. I think even when the Yankees were the evil empire, it feels like, doesn't it, there still were other teams that were spending and it ended up catching up at some point. But it does still like the baseball more than. Look, we know the NFL it's like full parody now. Right. Like baseball. I mean, football, everybody spends the same amount because they have a hard cap. This is the last sport where there's, you know, the rich and they dominate, and then there's the poor franchises, and they usually end up getting young players, develop them and then send them off like the Pirates will do. Right. Like that's, that's just a reality. And we're in a big market, so we don't really notice it and talk about it. All we do is complain about owners who don't spend. And I'll tell you what, what you just said, because, you know, Bichette's second baseman, right?

[A]

George Stop.

[B]

Shortstop, second base, right. The middle infielder, and not a very good one. Polanco, as you mentioned, also doesn't have a lot of experience at first base, but they're going to put him there. David Stearns talked about run prevention and his whole plan for the off season was to improve that, which tells me that after, you know, a frustrating off season where the Mets couldn't really sign anybody they wanted, they ended up, they were chasing again. They already have a right fielder with a big bat and Soto, but yet they wanted to get Tucker as well. This tells me that the owner once again pushed the nerd aside instead. No, no. I need to get some fireworks. I need to write a check. That's what I think. Like, that. Doesn't that feel like that's what happened? Because how it's. If Stearns really believed in the run prevention thing, why would, why would this be what he does? Because it's not.

[C]

What, isn't that, isn't that like.

[B]

I don't know if. I don't know if I'd like that.

[C]

When does it start to become an indictment, though, that, like, not only do you have the, the checkbook now and you don't always use it, use it sometimes because obviously we're watching a team that always does it in the Dodgers, but that, like, you're not able to score the guy you really want, so you may overpay for something else you didn't need in the same way just to catch a spark. That's not what you want to be doing.

[A]

No, but, but, but, but Allen's right. It becomes pr. Like Steve Cohen was tweeting yesterday.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, making what, the smoke signals like, oh, we're going to get Tucker and then you lose out. So now what do you do? Now you got to save face and now he's going to throw money at a player and we'll see. I mean, is he done? Because the other big carrot out there is Bellinger. I can't think of a better way to kind of win back your fan base than stealing Bellinger from the Yankees the way that you stole Soto from the Yankees. And is there a price that he can pay for Bellinger? Yankees clearly have a budget. You've seen how they've dealt with Bellinger. We'll see how that all goes. But back in the day, Allen, when the Yankees looked like they were buying players and they were the evil empire, yeah, they still had a core 4 of players they drafted and grew to become great players like Bernie Williams, they had Jeter and they had Pettit. And yeah, they did go out and get players. They won 114 games in a championship and then they go on and get Roger Clemens. And it seemed gratuitous, but it also came from a place of, hey, we make the most money, we're gonna spend the most money, because that's where it came from. And you know what, the Pirates and the Royals, those teams aren't run well and that's why they lose money. But now is it really about not knowing what you're doing in Pittsburgh or is it just how am I supposed to compete? I don't have an owner that's worth a hundred billion dollars.

[B]

That's pretty much it.

[A]

All right? I don't have a television network that can stay up, stay upright. I, I, I'm.

[B]

Well, Tampa did it on a, on a shoestring for a little while, right? And they, they are relatively competitive, but they were, you know, they were remarkably competitive on a shoot string budget for a while, but when it came time.

[A]

To pay those guys, then they were gone.

[B]

Like Snell and all them, like they, yeah, they didn't do it.

[A]

And so the Marlins, they'd spend money only to then lose money and they get rid of the players, spend money again, win a championship, then lose the players all over again. It's not a New York problem because even with the Yankees being perceived as cheap, they still have a 300 million dollar payroll. They still have all stars on half of their positions and they'll compete for a championship. But, and I'm not asking you to care about the small market, but it's not even about small market anymore. It's just who owns your team? The Padres are owned by a billionaire dying of cancer and he wanted to get him a championship before he died. So he threw billions of dollars into his roster. Same thing in Washington. Lerner was what? 93 years old. I want to win a championship before I die, you know, so it's not even I'm in New York or I'm in Los Angeles or I'm in Chicago. No, I have a billionaire owner that's willing to dip into his own fuck. Steve Cohen's losing money, Alan. He loses money every year with the Mets and yet he still has a payroll higher than anybody because he could dip into his own billions and probably doesn't as much as he wants to because he probably promised Major League Baseball when he came in he wouldn't spend like a drunken sailor because they were probably worried about letting him into the fraternity because he would do that. That's probably why he's as conservative as he is. But Dodgers don't care. Dodgers are lighting cigars with thousand dollar bills.

[B]

But this is, that story is as tales old time in baseball, okay? Since they, since they've had a league there's always been a team or an owner that spent that way and everybody got mad and up in arms. But what you're saying, and it's again, it's down the road but what you're saying is like this will, will look back on this off season as where it really started and why we're in a place that we're going to do shows in a couple of summers from now where there's no games and there's, there's no games and we talk about how it's going to kill the sport. And I've again, I've covered two lockouts. I've covered one that lost an entire season and nobody could believe it was going to happen until they actually did it in the NHL in 2004. 05 and then in obviously 2011 and 12, the NBA season started Christmas Day. They had 66 games because of that lockout. They had back to back to backs that started load management. Think about the after effects of that lockout. But since then they've had harmony and they have figured it out for the most part. So that's down the road but let's just stay just, let's just stay where our feet are right now. Don, are the Mets a better team?

[A]

Yeah, I think so because that was the goal.

[B]

That was a bad finish to the season. Are they a better team?

[A]

Well, they're still getting there because you still haven't really replaced Alonso's bat. Now you're much better at third than if you Beatty at third, right. So Bichette's going to play third. Beatty is probably going to be Trade bait. So there's a chance that they can actually maybe trade for a starting pitcher, the guy the kid can hit. All right, so we know that. All right, So I think they're better at third, but there's other areas that they need to address. And, and, but I do think they're better than they were five minutes ago.

[B]

Okay, so. So obviously, lineup wise, offense wise, Bichette gives you a bat. Like, you know that part of it.

[A]

Right, Right.

[B]

The defense we're going to talk about. We'll keep an eye on it is it just caught my attention because you name two guys that are playing, quote, unquote, out of position. Okay. And that struck me because I remember all David Stearns talked about was run prevention, how important that was to him in this offseason. Why they made the moves, they moved. Nimmo was a declining defensive metric and Alonso, they have always, you know, taken the task about defense at first base. It's why they got Simeon like, it's why they got Polanco like, they, they, they wanted to get a bats, but they also wanted to make sure that they had versatility defensively. And I don't know if that's really answering that question, but that's what his job was, to get better, to be a better baseball team. But, but when you. Is this a overreaction almost. Is this a pivot? Because they thought they had Tucker. Clearly Cohen's not putting that tweet out if he wasn't feeling a certain way, like, if he felt like. I'm waiting to hear. But you all should get excited because we should be here in any minute now. And I think he was stunned by that. And then it became, what's the pivot? Well, we can get Bichette and steal him from the Phillies.

[A]

I think that's.

[B]

Let's do it.

[A]

And then you saw what is that.

[B]

The right move, though?

[A]

I mean, it's a move. You got to make moves, you got to have bats. Right. I mean, just. You just lost Pete Alonso, you lost the former batting champion. And McNeil, I mean, Nimmo was not nothing offensively.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right. You got better defensively. And I get, when you get better defensively can now allow you to maybe go, all right, we'll bite our tongue at third. But we're going to get better at other positions defensively, so we'll live with Bichette not being a great defensive third baseman, but he's going to hit and he's going to get. Supply us with some runs. And now Beatty can Maybe be used as trade bait, no pun intended, to be able to maybe get the pitcher that they're looking for. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I think it improves the team. But clearly it was a desperation pin. They thought they had Tucker.

[B]

That's what I was asking you.

[A]

And now five minutes later, and it's.

[C]

Clearly counter to what Alan was just saying about what they said they wanted to do.

[B]

It goes against what Stern said he wanted to do.

[A]

What?

[C]

Well, it goes against what Stern said his plan was, but also Don. To what Don said earlier. Yes. Last night when our group text, we were discussing Cohen's tweet. The smoke signal was not about Boba Shet, great player, not what the. Not what the tweet was about. So it's just sort of a weird circumstance. You get a really great, exciting young player, but it's clearly a pivot and not exactly what you were hoping to get.

[A]

And then the Yankees of it all, you know, not that I would say they were in on either of these two players because it doesn't sound like they're really in on anybody but bringing Bellinger back. But I'm sure Yankee fans are in a way too. Like, seeing the Dodgers get another big time player, Mets pivoting and getting a player.

[B]

Like, could you imagine if the Dodgers got like, we're like, all right, the hell, let's get Bellinger too. You know, like, that's when it just starts to become really arrogant. But you could also see the Mets like, does this signal after losing Tucker, does this signal like, all right, because Bichette, as Bob Nightingale reported, it looked like that was a done deal to the Phillies and that's your rival. And so you blow them out of the water on the annual and you steal him away from. And now it's like, is Cohen, like, just so pissed off that he's like, what does Bellinger want? Give him what he wants. Get him to.

[A]

Right.

[B]

We can't have who we wanted, so let's just take from everybody else. Like, I have no idea how this guy's thinking, but what they're doing doesn't really line up to what was said at the beginning of the off season. That's all I'm asking you, Don, is like, when I say, are they a better team? That's what I'm asking. Is this what they were? Is this the plan? Or was this more an owner who's got a ton of money and he's feeling away because only one team is swinging it and he's like, wait, let me get in here, because this is big bank. Take a little bank.

[A]

Well, if there's a plan, you start running out of plan. I mean, there's not that many players left. I mean, you got Valdez, who they can get as a free agent. All right, there's a couple of play. I mean, they can go and, you know, they can get Goldschmidt to play first base if they wanted to, just for a year. But, you know, in recent years, there's a plan. All right, here's. Here are 10 players that the Mets can get. You start checking them off the board. Well, you're starting getting down to the precious few here. Now, if you're going to be telling me Bellinger is going to be an outfielder, I'm going to sign him to play first base, all right? That might be somebody that's out there. And clearly they can pluck him from the Yankees because the Yankees are showing their hand, right? They're not willing to go to seven years. They're not really willing going to six. You know, so. But there's that struggle of. I do think that there's a side of the Mets that want to be a little bit more responsible. But at the end of the day, and I heard Michael talking about this, yes, Cohen's sitting on $23 billion, but he's losing money every year with the Mets because he doesn't get to tap into the television because that's still owned by Wilpong. And the amount of money that they have in their payroll already invested and the money they ate on Verlander and Scherzer and all that is cutting into their profit on the Met side, he can dip into it, into his billions that have nothing to do with the baseball. But is that good business, Alan, that the only way I can keep my team solvent is if I keep dipping into my own money?

[B]

Isn't that. I mean, the Dodgers do it. Well, they're doing. Does it matter if it's your toy? Anybody like you?

[A]

You're right.

[B]

Guys who have like a. They, they buy like an old car and they work on it. They buy all the parts for it, and they refurbish the whole thing. It's beautiful. And they, maybe they want to sell at an auction, but that's just like, it's just for fun, right?

[A]

But the Guggenheim Group decides, you know, I don't care. I don't care.

[B]

I just want to win because they want. Right? They want to have a winning product which is good for business, and that's all they care about.

[A]

So if I'm an older, so, so if I have a business, right, And I'm sitting on as many billions of dollars as you are. So now the only way to be competitive is now I've got to dig deeper into my billions. What would be so wrong with just, hey, I'd like my baseball team to make money and then use that money to make my team better. That's the way it was in the old days. The reason the Yankees were able to outspend everybody, because they ran the team better, they out drew everybody else. They outrated everybody else, so they deserved it. Now it's not about that. Now we do know the Dodgers are immensely popular. So I'm not saying the Dodgers are not drawing and are not run well, they're run very well. But they're able to grab all of these players because of the billions they're sitting on. And so the only way that I can compete now is I get to dip into my billions and, and I'm a bad guy if I don't, right?

[B]

Well, that's, that's, that's the Yankee thing because that's why everybody's mad at Hal Steinbrenner because that is a, that is a relative mom and pop in comparison to the Dodgers and Cohen. And they are, that's why they're, they're saying there's a line for us now and fans get mad at it, but that's a reality.

[A]

But even the Steinbrenners as, as wealthy as the Yankees are as rich. And the Yankees would sell for more money than the Dodgers. But that's where Steinbrenner is a billionaire because of that, right? These other guys are sitting on billions of dollars from other things that they did had nothing to do with their baseball. So at least back in the day when you were the evil empire, you were the evil empire because you were that much better than everybody else and you had bigger muscles and you like to flex. Now it's like there's a little guy behind the curtain that's pumping up the air into your muscles like you really don't have them, but it makes it look like you do. Like, and look at me. I only got my muscles. Well, you don't really, because you, your team's not drawing, your team's not making any money, but yet you're still have a $300 million payroll because you're sitting on billions and billions of dollars. And then these other. And I know we don't care about the Colorado's and The Florida. Oh, get rid of them if we don't need them. But they're all looking like, hello, am I even in this league?

[B]

No. That's why it's just completely. Again, this. In a year, this will be. This will dominate our conversations. I can't. I can't imagine it's gonna be very entertaining, but it's a real thing that's coming. We'll look back on days like this, of course, but all. All I care about right now. Out of the gate is number one. One of the biggest fishes left is Bellinger, and it's the one player the Yankees are still trying to bring back. And clearly if he was happy with what the Yankees were offering, he probably would have stayed. But he's not. And I. I'm now worried about a rogue owner who's looked at his GM and says that, the hell with this run prevention crap. I need to get some stars in here and we'll see what happens there. So to me, this. This might be the release the Hounds moment finally of the baseball off season. A day like this where Tucker goes to a place that you didn't expect, and then Bichette gets yanked away from one rival to another, and now Bellinger sitting there to be to be had. Peter's got the gold chain, the black out like. You've got a look today, my man.

[A]

Yeah, there's a definite look.

[B]

What are we going for today?

[C]

You got some podcast background, you know what I mean?

[B]

That's the podcast paneling. Yup.

[C]

Big podcast background energy right there.

[B]

Love that.

[C]

Well, Natalie and I are going out to a little tonight. Natalie's getting the. The real celebration because, you know, Maya didn't care about one year, but I need to celebrate my. My wonderful bride for making it one year as mom. So got to take her out on the town tonight, you know what I mean?

[B]

Good call. That's a very good call. Who's watching Maya?

[C]

Our babysitter, Angie is. Who hasn't, you know, will be excited to see her for her birthday. So get a little qt. I mean, we're not doing anything crazy. Just go to a little one of Natalie's favorite restaurants, have some sushi and nice hang out.

[B]

But that's excellent. But you got a song.

[A]

You look like somebody, though.

[C]

Yeah, Do I look like the picture of the Rock wearing the. The.

[A]

The.

[B]

The shirt and the chains fanny pack?

[A]

No. You know, it finally came to me.

[B]

What is it?

[A]

Okay. Marcellus Wallace from Pulp Fiction. Wow. Not the Rock. Marcellus.

[C]

Marcellus, you're gonna feel this thing called pride.

[A]

You fight.

[B]

I'm pretty far. Right. You know how crazy. You know.

[C]

You know real it is. That Marcellus character has the. Has the bandaid on the back of his head from the razor bumps.

[A]

No, that's where he. Just. Like you. You missed the whole point of the movie.

[C]

So why does he have.

[A]

Is it from when. That's where they took his soul out. And the soul. His soul's in the briefcase. That's the word on the street.

[C]

So they use it as a. You're supposed to think it's just a little razor bump thing he's covering up on the back of his head. But really that's the soul.

[A]

That's. That's the soul exited.

[C]

Who took his soul.

[A]

Well, that's. That's up for interpretation. Right? He tried. I guess he tried. I guess they tried to. It was taken by the.

[C]

The.

[A]

The guy.

[B]

I'm not ready for this today.

[A]

I know. But no, it's big, right?

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's.

[B]

That's. I'm blown.

[A]

What's your.

[C]

What's your. What's your. We got to go to break. What's your favorite storyline in Pulp Fiction? If you had to follow just one of the stories the whole time.

[A]

It's so good. Such a great question is.

[C]

Thank you. I think it's great.

[B]

There's so many ways to go because.

[C]

And you're excited when it switches stories every time. Like, we're back to this story.

[A]

Can we all agree that the. The. The boxing one where Marcellus has his unfortunate moment within the gimp and everything else.

[B]

Right?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That had the best ending. That was the worst of it. Because. Because his girlfriend was so irritating. That's the thing. And it almost ruined that whole part of it. But then it had an end when he kicked open the door. You were not expecting that to be going on.

[B]

Right?

[A]

It's. Right.

[C]

It's like wrestling. It's a great surprise.

[A]

You did not face.

[C]

Turn.

[A]

Zed and his buddy were into that.

[B]

Just.

[A]

All right. You thought they were making meth.

[C]

Well. And by the same token. And then when Marcellus comes back and saves. I mean, when Bruce Willis comes back and saves Marcellus, that is also so satisfying as a viewer that it's got a lot. But you do have to live with the girlfriend.

[A]

But her overdose, I think is probably the best.

[C]

The overdose may be the best storyline. I think so.

[A]

Yeah. Uma's terrific in it. And that you and Uma were on.

[C]

A first name basis.

[B]

We all are. Are we?

[A]

Should I have gone Thurman or full.

[B]

Name could have done that too.

[A]

Because I figure when you say Uma, it's. It's not quite Cher, Madonna, but she could get away with just nobody else.

[C]

She's the only Uma I know.

[B]

Yeah. Seriously, how many umas do you know to begin with?

[A]

So I just think that the. The first name was why I went there. But listen, there's a lot on the table.

[B]

There is. I have pick anxiety today.

[A]

Well, because the minds are moving. It's almost as if Vegas is messing with us. And I think all these games are compelling because you do get rid of the riff raff in the wild card weekend. And there wasn't much riff raff to get rid of because Carolina was considered riff raff and they almost won the damn game. Yeah, not quite riff raff, you know, I guess the Chargers. So you got now. Now it's on. Right? I mean, these are all really good games. They could all go either way. And my bold statement would be, I think you could make a case for every single one of these teams winning a title. It's on the table. All these teams could win, you know, and that's all you're ever looking for. Right. So if we get anything near what we got in wild card weekend, we're talking about maybe one of the greatest playoffs of all time. Because once you get to the championship game in the super bowl, man, now we're down to just three games.

[B]

Yeah, I'm down for that.

[A]

So I'm looking forward to that.

[D]

All right, here's some breaking breakfast news as we start the new year. Everybody's talking resolutions, eating better, staying on track, and this one's actually easy. Kodiak frozen power waffles and flapjacks are a quick win.

[A]

Heat and eat.

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[A]

Quick break. Tailgates are won before the food Even hits the grill. That's why you need to go with Kingsford Original Charcoal. It lights fast, burns long and brings that bold, smoky flavor every time. Since 1920, Kingsford's been the gold standard of grilling. If you're grilling for a crowd, it's the guaranteed way to get the W Kingsford, the king of the tailgate. Get it today at the Home Depot. How doers get more done compared to nationally available conventional charcoal in the usa.

[C]

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[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast. You know what I love about Fridays?

[A]

What's that?

[B]

When we we get to do remote is it allows me to then dive into the chat pool on YouTube.

[C]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Which I really I it's fun to like just take a day and just talk some ish. You know just get after with people. I like to spar. I like the you know like to throw hands verbally. That's fun. So it's already starting got called a fanboy.

[A]

You got called a fanboy from what.

[B]

I thought was funny because I'm apparently one guy. It's again we're all just we're just talking ish. He it was the idea that I'm mad because the Mets now can spend like the Yankees and I'm mad and I'm like I find it funny but I understand it because people that fan that way and we'll listen to other shows or stations that have fanboy hosts who act like that they assume we all are like that man. I don't give a rip what the Mets do as long as it's good for our business.

[A]

But never mind that it's an odd flex. Right? Like I brought this up before football, basketball, hockey. It's about let's bring in competent ownership. Let's bring in competent general manager head coach so that we could win and then when you win, you could flex like in Philadelphia. Well, they have. They have the brightest general manager in the NFL. That's why they win.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Kansas City's got the best coach in football. That's why they win. The Giants just got the. One of the best coaches of football, and that's going to turn things around. But in baseball, it's, I have a rich owner. My owner's richer than yours. Ha, ha. Like, that's. That's a strange flex, right? Is that something to be prideful in? Is like, the Mets were able to turn it around not because they all of a sudden got competent, not all of a sudden because they learned baseball. It's, oh, I finally have an owner that has, you know, sitting on $23 billion. So, ha, ha, to you. That just seems like a strange flex to me. Like, the Yankees were able to flex because, you know, we're the best team in baseball and people want to play for us and we win a bunch of championships and we make more money than you because we're more popular than you. That's a better flex, isn't it, then? Well, I just happen to have an owner that's sitting on a bunch of hedge fund money, and that's why I'm better than you. I want to get back to being better because I'm smarter, because I understand the game more, because I've acquired better players, not bought better players. And listen, and I'm a Met fan, but I would rather go back to it being about the sport rather than it being about money. But that's all it is with baseball, right? That's always the complaint. Yankees don't spend enough money. Mets finally have an owner that can spend money instead of I don't know what. And I do give the Yankee fans credit that ripped Brian Cashman because at least that's a baseball rip. When you start talking about how being cheap. That's not a baseball rip.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

That's a money rip.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

But saying Brian Cashman needs to do better. Well, now we're. Now we're talking about baseball. Now we're talking about the competency of your general manager, not how fat his checkbook is.

[B]

But I also think, though, that was the narrative when Cohen took over, and that's what we've been kind of waiting for. Not being. Again, this is not a whole Yankee versus Mets thing. But it is true. If you just removed me from the fan part of it of which team I like better. Right, right. Like Peter, who doesn't care about either team. No, Peter's the one that would probably have the most, you know, the, the most unbiased take here, saying, you know, we are still waiting to see him flex and throw money around and actually do what we thought he was going to do when he first got here, where he's just. What the Dodgers are doing to.

[C]

That's essentially what I was saying is like, I just haven't been overall impressed by any of this. It's mushy middle, like they're not spending everything and they're also not playing any version of small ball or Moneyball. They're just sort of like, yeah, we take some big swings, but then we lay out and then we kind of chase afterwards. They just haven't found their identity.

[A]

Yeah, it is, it is. But. But yet still, because of the, the buyouts of Verlander and Scherzer, they still had a higher payroll last year than the Dodgers did. Now, that's certainly going to change this year with the amount of money the Dodgers are spending. But still, you're talking about, you know, one of the top payroll. Well, that was what that would.

[C]

That was like 30 million for each of those guys for nothing.

[A]

Yeah, but, but he, but he was able. That, that was, that was smart. Like, I'm, I'm. Oh, yeah. Happy with these contracts I'm going to buy.

[B]

That's how you also use your money. Had to get out. Look, a year, A year ago, he took Soto from the Yankees and that was the first flex. Right, but that's. And that's. I mean, it's again, a massive contract, massive win, but that's kind of it. It's still the Dodgers owning everybody.

[A]

It's still the Dodgers of the big bank.

[B]

And we weren't expecting that. We thought that Cohen and his billions would vault the Mets into competition for all the best players. And maybe. Is it. Are we really just going to say the weather's better in LA and that's why no one wants to come to Queens?

[A]

That could be a part of it. Is that or just the fact that, you know, hey, the Dodgers win and you don't. Because even when the Dodgers didn't win.

[B]

A championship in the NLCS two years ago against the Dodgers and gave the Dodgers a run.

[A]

Right. But only twice in the history of their franchise have they gone to playoffs. Back to back years. I, I'm a Met fan. Sorry, but I'm just telling you.

[B]

Tell me again about that long run of Dodger championships in the, you know.

[A]

What a ton of World Series appearances and the weather is something and you know what? As big a Met fan as I am, the Dodgers are. The Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers, that they may not be the Yankees, but they're close. All right, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chavez Ravine, Louisiana Maybe, you know, there's a draw to that. It's certainly a draw for the Japanese players and the Asian players because LA is a little bit closer and the weather's gorgeous. And you know what? You also don't have a fan base that's going to rip you when you strike out four times because half of them didn't show up till the fourth inning and most of them left in the seventh. They hear about it, but not like in New York. Not like New York.

[B]

Like, what is it that's missing?

[A]

I again, conspiracy theory. There was a lot of people up in the air of keeping Steve Cohen out of baseball because he was so rich.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Was something said to him, like, you better be cool, man. We'll let you in, but you better play ball. You better not all of a sudden start throwing $500 million contracts out. Is it possible? I don't know. Dodgers don't seem to care. Back in the day, the Yankees didn't seem to care.

[B]

You know who does care? The people.

[A]

Fans.

[B]

Look at how many. We're jam packed. Let's do it now.

[A]

Let's do it. 1-800-919-3776, Caesar in Huntington. You're on ESPN, New York the chat.

[B]

Caesar, my Huntington guy.

[E]

Hey, what's going on, brother? Great seeing you guys at the holiday party.

[C]

What's going on?

[E]

All right, so days like today is why Yankee fans are hated. Okay, guys want how to sell the team Cashmere. Take it behind the bar. The Yankees are not spending like drunken sailors anymore. Can. Can breaking news go out to everyone? Yeah, let other teams overpay. Yeah, let other teams overpay. I mean, the salary to Kyle Tucker is just outrageous. Is he worth that much? Is Boba Shet worth that much? I guess the Mets are under the impression they're going to win the World Series in three years. I'm okay with all of that. So let them spend. I think the Yankees are in play for School bowl, and that's probably why they're being a little, you know, cautious, I think, you know, with the lockout looming.

[A]

Yes.

[E]

There's just something that, you know, because you're going to have a lot of competition for School bowl, let's be honest. And I think the Yankees are willing to, you know, break the bank for him. And if they don't, then I might.

[A]

Get a little upset.

[E]

But until then, fellas, it's always a pleasure.

[A]

I love it, love it. Thank you. It's a pleasure meeting you at out on Long Island. But what do the Yankees actually need? I mean, went to the World Series two years ago, they tied the Blue Jays for the best record in the division. Now granted, they can improve, there's no question. But we're not talking about 100 loss team last year. We're talking about a 93 win team that's going to get Cole back. Going to get going to have a really good rotation, you know, so it's not like The Mets won 83 games and clearly needed a facelift. Like the Yankee fans could feel pretty good that they don't have a ton of needs.

[B]

They just have to get healthy. Their need is health, especially when it comes to the starting pitching, which by June you hope will be intact. Right? At least by June, for the most part will be intact. But it's still, you know, the Bellinger thing is still important because it's. You're goes down, you go down again. Those two young guys, they lose.

[A]

Listen, if they lose Bellinger, that's gonna hurt them.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[A]

I had a question for Peter, but Peter says he has something.

[C]

Now the New York Post has jumped in on the Peter Rosenberg, Michael K Beef.

[A]

Well, you asked.

[C]

Don. We did it. We successfully did it. This, this was written today, just a couple hours ago, Michael K's beef with former ESPN radio co host Peter Rosenberg turns ugly. And is the headline Throw away all of those good times and laughs. Michael K. Is done. The voice of the Yankees fired off a wild text message to his former radio co host Peter Rosenberg, which included him telling him, you're dead to me. Rosenberg revealed on Don Hahn and Rosenberg this week. Oh, look, they finally they mentioned the name of our show in the paper.

[A]

Guys, that's good.

[C]

It's only taking a year.

[B]

Former Keisha.

[C]

Known as the former K show. The apparent issue between the two, according to Don Lagreca, is because of a compliment Rosenberg gave someone else.

[B]

I love how you always get blamed for everything.

[A]

How? According to me. According to Michael.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

I mean, this is not any kind of secret. Like I didn't do any digging and found out. The real reason Michael K. Is mad is because of what you said. He told you why?

[C]

Rosenberg told Joe Tessator that he's a fantastic facility facilitator from a media off this.

[A]

He's the true winner in this, right?

[B]

He's winning.

[C]

Is Joe Tess.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We should have him on.

[B]

Even more trouble.

[A]

Anyways.

[C]

All right, so what question you have for me, Donald?

[A]

Quickly, before we get back to the phone calls? Like, you know, if it's all about the flex, right? And if Cohen's got all this money and, you know, all the talk, Remember when they got Juan Soto, you know, winning back the town or whatever? Yankee fans would have a meltdown if the Mets got Bellinger. Like, wouldn't it be almost worth it to Cohen to just say, you know what? Listen, I'm losing money anyway. Let's go sign Bellinger and let's just have some fun.

[B]

Give him seven years.

[A]

Now, honestly, I think it would come at the expense of David Stern's life. Like, not his job. I think he would probably have an aneurysm. He might resist. Because you can't give him seven years. It's ridiculous.

[B]

But at least he. At least he can. He's good in the field.

[A]

And now you know why these players are going for term. Because they see the writing on the wall about a possible work stoppage. You know, so they all give me seven years, so I know I'm gonna get mine.

[B]

There you go.

[A]

But now, you know, then the Yankees are like. The Yankees are actually being very intelligent during this whole thing because they don't know what the landscape's going to look like. They know they're still a good team anyway, and they're trying to be responsible with Bellinger, but there's always some irresponsible owner. But even with Bellinger, it doesn't look like anybody's going to give him seven. But, Peter, would you be vindictive like that if you were sitting on that kind of money and just say, I just want to. I want to stir it up. I want to see the Yankee fans have a meltdown. Let's take another player from the Yankees. Who cares what costs? What would you do?

[C]

Well, to me, my problem is, is if that is your mentality, that's a worrisome mentality to have.

[B]

Why? If it's a priority, yes. As a baseball owner.

[C]

No, no, no. If that's a bigger priority than just thinking about what are the best things we can do to put together a winning club. If that's your top priority, that's a problem.

[A]

I get what you're saying.

[C]

For the Yankees, it's a bonus, but it's not like the be all, end all.

[A]

But the interesting thing is to me, and this is what Yankee fans are saying about their team, like, what do we got to lose? International money, draft position be damned with that. I just want to get the best player. Like, if Cohen did that, it would be vindictive. It would probably be a little silly. But at the end of the day, he's still getting a great player. He fills a need. It is a business, after all. By the way, you are competing with the Yankees for dollar in the town.

[B]

Bellinger makes more sense than Bichette does, I believe.

[A]

So he could play first, he could.

[B]

Play left, and he can hit like.

[A]

He'S a little older than. But, you know, I hear what you're saying, Peter, but like at the end of the day is what. What does it really cost you? It's money. But there now we don't know what the landscape's going to look like at the beginning of 2027. Will there be a cap, what the cap's going to be? And also, you know, people who think the caps could be north of $300 million. What does that do? You know, it's going to probably be a lot lower than that because if you base it on revenue. See, that's the scary thing, Alan. If you base it on revenue, the cap might look ridiculously embarrassing.

[B]

That is. That's a real thing too, when you go with. Because that's usually how they do it, right? Is they base it off of the revenue and you have to share. And is it. Is it 5149, whatever it is, 50. 50. But no, actually, you also have to think, though, that in a couple of Years from now, 300 won't be enough. It's going to have to be higher just based on the fact that every year. Yeah.

[A]

And it goes. If the sport is doing well. And this was always the concept. This used to always bother people like Larry Brooks, who's like, you know, that they're partners. But that's what a salary cap does, right? Is everybody's invested on having that cap go up. And how does it go up? It goes up with revenue and coming up with interesting ideas and getting people more interested in the sport. Because now they're partners in trying to drive revenue because the more they drive revenue, everybody wins in a cap sport. But a lot of the players, like, I don't even bother with that. I want to get mine. And in a sport where all the money's always been guaranteed, you know, God.

[B]

Bless him, Brooksie was always hardcore union.

[A]

Side oh, without question.

[B]

He never relented, man. But he always was against the owners. He was always pro union.

[A]

And I think people in general, it's.

[C]

Hard to be for the owners.

[A]

What's that?

[C]

I said it's hard to be for the owners.

[A]

Right, but now you're starting to see the pendulum swing, Peter, because with this, this money is getting so outrageous, even people are like this, damn, that's a lot of money. Like, so I do think that the court of public opinion, the players are taking a bit of a hit with some of these contracts. But let's hear from you. A lot of people chomping at the bit. To talk about this at 1-800-919-3776, let's go to John in Hoboken. You're on ESPN, New York. What's up, John?

[E]

So again, maybe it's perceived as a more pro union stance, but the problem is not the salaries with the players that they're getting, it's what the market bears by the owners that can pay. The problem is that they need to actually look at the ownership structure in these sports. The valuations belie the fact that they're actually losing money. You've got money waiting to pour into these and willing to pour money into these franchises. And so it needs to happen. We actually need to rationalize the ownership across baseball. If these small market teams with family owned businesses can't compete anymore, they need to sell and get out. It would be as if somehow we were saying that, oh, I live in a small town and we shouldn't let Amazon come in or we shouldn't let Whole Foods come in and compete with a local mom and pop grocery store. It's like if you really want to grow the sport, get all of these wealth funds and other companies that want to come in and put money in. That's the way you grow your sport. There's a limited amount of ideas you can do with the actual game rules to grow the sport. You put more money, you make it more competitive across all these markets. And I think that's the way you grow the sport.

[A]

But the problem, the problem we're having here, John, it's not even about small market, big markets. It's about how many people have the generational wealth the way Steve Cohen does, the way the Guggenheim Group does. Right. So Pittsburgh, I'm sorry, Pittsburgh should be able to compete. They compete in hockey, they compete in football.

[B]

Don, again, and I don't want to go deep in the weeds on this, but baseball related income is the only way it's not how much money the owner has. Remember I've told this story a million times. You know Denver, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA title. They are owned by one of the richest men in the world, right? And Stan Kroenke, right. And he owns the Rams. He like, he, he's won championships in almost I think in every league in.

[A]

The last 10 years.

[B]

And he got revenue and Donnie, he got revenue sharing that year and there were owners that were like what the hell is this?

[A]

Like, see that's.

[B]

Why are we giving this guy money. He's got more money than we do. But because his market has, has the designation that they could get it. He took money from other billionaires and won a championship. So it's only based on not your wallet but baseball related income. That's it. Collectively.

[A]

Yeah, but they just. But there's only so many Steve Cohen's out there that are willing to buy baseball team.

[B]

The math isn't going to make sense. You'll. We're going to, when we get to that in two years, God help us. Like it's, it's going to blow your mind. It's going to blow your mind. You've already said it. Because of the regionals are failing. 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. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but 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.

[A]

Well, the holidays have come and gone once again. But if you've forgotten to get that special someone in your life a gift. Well, Mint Mobile is extending their holiday offer of half off unlimited wireless. So here's the idea. You get it now, you call it an early present for next year. What do you have to lose? Give it a [e-mail] Switch limited time, 50% off regular price for new customers. Upfront payment required $45 for three months.

[C]

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