Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Wait and See"

ESPN New York | Hour 1 | December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” tackles a seismic shift in New York sports fandom: the New York Mets' bold offseason, highlighted by losing Pete Alonso to the Orioles and letting go of closer Edwin Diaz. The hosts—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—wrestle with the emotional pain of favorite players departing, analyze the front office’s vision, and debate whether Mets fans should panic or patiently wait for the next move. Lively, opinionated callers challenge the hosts and ignite passionate exchanges, all underpinned by the ever-present question: “Is there a real plan, and will it work?” Meanwhile, some Knicks and NBA Cup talk weaves in, and the episode’s tone rides the line between therapy session and energetic sports bar.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Mets’ Offseason Shakeup: Emotional Fallout and Rational Analysis

• The Loss of Pete Alonso & Edwin Diaz (01:18–07:38)

  • Don opens with exhaustion from a late night but is “still excited to talk sports.” The Mets losing two prominent free agents is front and center.
  • Don La Greca is “torn”: sadness over Alonso (“yet another Forever Met is going to go finish his career someplace else”) but cautious optimism in David Stearns, the Mets' GM, to deliver on his vision.
  • Don points out the unique pain for baseball fans: “Baseball, more than any other sport...you get attached to these players and their numbers and what they mean to the organization, their significance to history. So I think it stings a little bit more when you lose somebody in baseball.” ([03:12])
  • Alan Hahn presses Don for solutions (“Who’s your first baseman?”) and offers options like Cody Bellinger, challenging panic and calling for perspective.

• Trusting the Process vs. Fan Meltdown (04:39–07:57)

  • Alan and Peter praise Don for "adulting," resisting the urge for the classic sports radio meltdown.
  • They note emotional ties (“Pete Alonso as the emotional tie and the connection to the player...you loved about him as a fan”) but challenge fans to wait for the final product.
  • Don: “For me to rip him today, only to pat him on the back three months from now...I need to see what the vision is.” ([03:54])

• Was There a Plan All Along? (07:57–09:56)

  • The hosts dissect whether Stearns and owner Steve Cohen were ever truly committed to Alonso long-term. Alan notes: “If you’re paying close attention, you knew a year ago he really didn’t want to bring them back.”
  • The past season’s failures make a case for a different approach (“the run two years ago...let’s let them come back...It didn’t. And now it’s time to get into the plan that he wanted all along.”).

• Fan Tribes & Caller Michael Cole’s Take (10:03–12:34)

  • Peter reads a text from Michael Cole, WWE announcer and diehard Mets fan: “Good riddance. Glad they're cleaning house. Never won with these losers. As long as they're going to bring in some bats. And pitching.” ([10:27])
  • Don pushes back: “That’s aggressive. I’m not on board with that...” but concedes the logic—“What are we in this for?...Are we in this for the entertainment...and then fail? Or winning a first championship since 1986?” ([10:57])

• The Business Side & Pressure on Stearns (13:08–15:33)

  • Alan analogizes the roster overhaul to a “kitchen renovation”: it looks bad during demolition, but you must trust the process to see if it's better.
  • Don: “If you come back and the kitchen looks like the pictures from when you were a kid...somebody’s getting fired. So that’s what I’m gonna...I am gonna look at this and say...the ball’s in your court, David.” ([14:43])
  • Don stakes out his position: "I am gonna look at this and say, all right...the ball’s in your court, David. Let’s see what you’re gonna do with it.” ([15:01])

• Risks of Repeating Old Mistakes (15:40–16:28)

  • Peter warns the Mets can’t replace stars with “somebody else’s trash”—moves like the Orioles picking up Alonso—but need to build smart and avoid stale or lateral moves.

• Fan Frustration & the Need for Patience (16:28–18:03)

  • Don voices empathy for fans but refuses to overreact: “I’m willing to be patient to see what Stearns can do. I will be there if he fails to lay down the hammer. And let’s wait and see.” ([16:28])

Baseball, Business, and the “Vision” Debate

• The Value of “Forever Mets” and Results (17:46–18:13)

  • Don and Alan agree: “You don’t collect players...what Stearns is looking at is...players that are going to win a ring...these guys were given a chance. It’s not like Alonso and Diaz were only here for five minutes.” ([13:08–13:44])

• Fan Loyalty, Ownership, and Salary Cap Talk (45:23–49:17)

  • The show closes riffing on the economics of baseball: Cohen’s $23 billion net worth dwarfs rivals, which shapes expectations for spending and risk tolerance.
  • Mike from Connecticut suggests owners may be bracing for a new salary cap era, which would explain restrained spending.
  • The hosts break down owner net worths and how they might affect future baseball landscapes, noting: “When their owner is worth $1.6 billion and Steve Cohen...is worth 23 billion...it’s basically 20 times more than Hal Steinbrenner...” ([48:10])

Listeners Sound Off: Calls, Critique & Chaos

• Balance or Blow It Up? (20:08–24:32)

  • Callers debate if a true master plan exists, with some doubting Stearns can outbid other teams for prime free agents.
  • A key caller: “If this doesn’t work out, fire Stearns. Because Stearns wants you to look at advanced analytics...but Baltimore valued Alonso’s consistent right handed power. He’s the third most home runs in Major League Baseball since he came into the league and he plays every game.” ([20:59])
  • Don answers: If Stearns is wrong, “he’s out.”

• Mets Fans’ Emotional Pendulum & Don’s ‘Meltdown’ (30:01–35:27)

  • Multiple callers contrast measured patience with deep cynicism, sparking heated and humorous exchanges.
  • Caller Fran attacks the hosts as “not baseball guys.” Don erupts: “I’ve been on sports radio for 30 years, you punk...how did I survive at FAN for five years? Are they known for their hockey?” ([32:35])
  • Alan and Peter egg Don on, and the ensuing shouting matches showcase both the hosts' knowledge and their ability to channel genuine fan frustration for entertainment.

• Callers Debate Stearns, Ownership & Direction (43:16–44:47)

  • Julian from Queens articulates the lack of trust in Stearns due to prior bad trades and a failure to address pitching needs: “...the trade deadline moves that he decided to make were trash...what’s been our greatest downfall, and we still haven’t addressed that issue.”
  • Don acknowledges the criticism: “No general manager is working with a perfect record...he’s certainly on notice for that because if he gets this wrong, he will lose his job.”

Knicks and NBA Cup Sidebars

• Knicks to Vegas and Trophies (18:16–19:27)
  • Brief diversion into the Knicks' trip to Vegas for the NBA mid-season tournament, with jokes about the "NBA Cup" being like a “sippy cup” not a real trophy.
  • Light-hearted banter: “If that trophy were to drop down, oh, yeah, that sippy cup is—It's gone.” ([19:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Emotional Attachment and Rationality:

  • “Baseball, more than any other sport...you get attached to these players and their numbers and what they mean to the organization, their significance to history. So I think it stings a little bit more when you lose somebody in baseball.”
    — Don La Greca ([03:12])

• On Fan Reactions and “Adulting”:

  • “I really like this version of Don… He’s adulting.”
    — Alan Hahn ([04:28])

• On the Perils of Judging Too Soon:

  • “Am I supposed to go ballistic with my hair on fire and then what? Apologize if all of a sudden Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker are here… I want to see it through. But I’m telling you, you’re on notice. Right?”
    — Don La Greca ([05:54, 15:01])

• On Calls for Patience:

  • “You can’t judge a team at 3 o’clock on a Wednesday. You judge them in March.”
    — Carlos from Stanford, caller ([27:14])

• On Ownership Wealth Shaping Expectations:

  • “When their owner is worth $1.6 billion and Steve Cohen...is worth 23 billion...it’s basically 20 times more than Hal Steinbrenner.”
    — Don La Greca ([48:10])

• Classic Don Meltdown:

  • “I’ve been on sports radio for 30 years, you punk...how did I survive at FAN for five years? Are they known for their hockey?”
    — Don La Greca ([32:35])

• On Letting Go and Building Toward Titles:

  • “What are we in this for?...162 games and then fail? Or winning a first championship since 1986?”
    — Don La Greca ([10:57])

• On Mets Fan Logic:

  • “I bet you I know 10 times more Mets than you do. 10 guarantee lock.”
    — Don La Greca ([40:41])

Listener Calls: Summary of Sentiment

• Many callers (and the hosts) articulate a deep sense of loss and skepticism, with some voicing outright anger at the front office, while others, echoing Don’s more measured approach, advocate a "wait and see" attitude before passing judgment.
• The “Fran” exchange becomes a memorable—and comic—clash, with Don defending his (and his co-hosts’) baseball credentials and taking shots at fair-weather fandom.

Flow & Tone

• The episode is lively, fast-paced, and occasionally combative—with a consistent balance between fan emotion and analytical hope.
• The hosts’ personalities shine through: Don as both passionate fan and broadcasting veteran; Alan as the measured, sports-lifer voice of reason; Peter as the irreverent, emotionally plugged-in everyman.
• The show makes room for caller engagement, letting the public’s pulse steer the emotional peaks—especially in the confrontational segments.
• Humor, pop culture references, and self-deprecating jabs abound—especially as the hosts riff on their supposed “non-baseball guy” status.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Mets lose Diaz & Alonso: [01:18–07:38]
• Fan emotion & Stearns’ vision: [07:38–09:56]
• Michael Cole’s take & team philosophy: [10:03–12:34]
• Roster construction and the “kitchen” analogy: [13:08–15:33]
• Callers: emotional swings and Don’s blowup: [32:08–35:27]
• Ownership wealth discussion: [47:23–49:17]

In summary:
This episode is a snapshot of Mets fandom in flux—caught between the ache of losing beloved stars and the cautious hope (or suspicion) that the new front office vision will finally deliver something better. It’s a perfect listen for anyone invested in the psyche of New York sports, decision-making under pressure, or simply craving fiery, unfiltered debate.