Hour 2: Chavez on Mets & Weekend Recap

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Chavez on Mets & Weekend Recap

ESPN New York | June 29, 2026

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Episode Overview

This hour dives deep into the New York Mets’ internal struggles, focused on a revealing interview with former bench coach Eric Chavez. The crew—Alan Hahn, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg, and Joe Tessitore—move from analyzing how leadership and analytics have affected the Mets' culture to a lively weekend sports recap: Rangers’ trades, local NHL draft frustrations, NBA free agency rumblings, and memorable moments from wrestling and the World Cup. The episode is a mix of sharp critique, insider perspectives, and the crew's signature banter.

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Main Theme

How leadership and analytics (and their absence/presence) shape New York’s largest sports franchises, with the Mets as Exhibit A—and how similar dynamics play out across hockey and basketball as major offseason moves unfold.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. Eric Chavez Speaks Out on Mets Culture & David Stearns [01:17–14:27]

• The Firing Call:
  Chavez recounts getting fired by David Stearns with no personal touch—just a cold phone call.

  • “He goes, well, we’re going in a different direction. And he hangs up the phone, right? And I'm thinking, there's no, you know, thanks for what you did...”
    — Eric Chavez [01:53]

• Bureaucratic Vibes & Analytics Over People
  The crew criticize Stearns’ lack of "bedside manner," tying it to the wider trend of analytics-driven front offices.

  • “This is the byproduct of analytics. When you hide behind the numbers, when you hide behind a desk, you lose that personal touch.”
    — Don Allen [02:45]

• Hiring Stearns: Right Move or MLB Meddling?
  Conspiracy theories and reasonable doubts about why a small-market exec was brought in for a big-market job.

  • “I still believe my conspiracy theory is it was baseball because they knew he was coming from a small market... they wanted somebody that was going to really control the purse strings for Cohen so he wouldn’t spend like a drunken sailor.”
    — Peter Rosenberg [05:03]

• Over-Reliance on Analytics, Underappreciation for Scouts
  The Mets’ front office now employs 26 analysts and only 4 pro scouts—who never speak to Stearns.

  • “He never talks to his pro scouts.”
    — Joe Tessitore [06:30]
  • “You have four guys actually out in the field watching players... Stearns has no time for this.”
    — Peter [06:21–07:19]

• How Analytics Miss Heart, Grit, Leadership The group bemoans how stats can't capture intangibles like leadership, citing examples from both baseball and basketball.

  • “There is not an analytic, though, that can quantify it.”
    — Peter [15:38]

Memorable Moment:

“They got a 24+1 scenario where everybody else and then there’s Soto.”
— Don Allen, discussing the dangers of one superstar’s special treatment killing club chemistry [16:24]

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2. Juan Soto, Preferential Treatment, and the Cost to Team Chemistry [08:28–19:41]

• Soto's Special Privileges:
  Chavez details how Soto would leave the dugout during games and be coddled by an assistant GM, setting a dangerous precedent for young players.

  • “He struggled... In between innings, he would run from the outfield and go sit in the batting cage on a couch and not be in the dugout with the teammate... I brought this up to Stearns... and he goes, ‘Well, those players need to learn that they’re not Juan.’”
    — Eric Chavez [08:33–09:48]

• Sports Always Made Exceptions—but Team Needs a Bedrock The show likens Soto’s treatment to past stars (Parcells with LT, Gretzky), but emphasizes that without a strong locker room culture or leader to balance this, teams risk collapse.

  • “If you’re going to let Juan be Juan, somebody else has to be a stronger leader in the room so that no one thinks that's for everyone.”
    — Joe Tessitore [11:22–11:36]

Notable Quote:

“It’s like having a spoiled child. You give them everything you want. All of a sudden you say no, and they freak out.”
— Don Allen [10:16]

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3. Chemistry Can’t Be Bought or Modeled [14:09–16:32]

• Case Studies:

  • Knicks & Jalen Brunson: Sacrifice and humility breed collective chemistry.
  • Mets: Fragmented, 24+1 dynamic hurts them—the very thing analytics can’t (and don’t) capture.

• The Magic of Connection:
  One highlight: the story of a Mets rookie singing after a win and the team bonding, catalyzing a hot streak.

  • “What did it do? All of a sudden the room just had a different vibe about it. They connected and then they went on a run... There’s not an analytic that can quantify it.”
    — Peter [15:31–15:38]

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4. NHL Weekend Recap: Trades, Drafts, and GM Handcuffs [22:56–29:06]

• Rangers Make a Splash:
  Pavel Dorofeyev acquired/extended; a “slow burn” but “really good get” [23:52–24:12].
• Islanders & Devils Frustrations:
  Both new GMs stymied by inherited no-trade and no-move contracts, making big moves difficult.
  • “You could tell he wanted to remake that ride. He can’t.”
    — Don Allen [25:34–25:36]
  • Hockey now features more no-move clauses than any other sport, which both restricts and paralyzes GM strategies.
• Quinn Hughes Leverage Watch:
  Rumors swirl about where (and when) the Hughes brothers will all unite—possible leverage plays in NJ.

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5. NBA Rumors & Star Machinations [29:10–33:39]

• Warriors’ Big Four Rumor:
  Draymond Green opts out; LeBron-to-GSW chatter intensifies. Is an ancient “superteam” of Steph, LeBron, AD, and Draymond possible?

  • “So my question to you guys is, you put those four guys together, who’s beating them? I have an answer. Do you?”
    — Joe Tessitore [32:27]
  • “My answer is Father Time.”
    — Joe Tessitore [32:41]

• Breaking News: Ja Morant Headed to Portland
  Memphis trades Ja Morant for Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray. Crew speculates what’s next for Morant—a “reset” in Portland.

  • “Jaws got to really reset, man.”
    — Peter [34:44]

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6. Pro Wrestling & World Cup Knockout Rounds [35:14–37:42]

• Emotional Night at WWE in Saudi Arabia
  Sami Zayn wins his first world championship—hugely significant for fans and business.

  • “He won it in Saudi and then got on the mic and yelled in Arabic and the crowd went crazy.”
    — Peter Rosenberg [36:00]

• World Cup Round of 32 Kicks Off
  South Africa edges Canada; Brazil beats Japan; Germany vs. Paraguay underway.
  The "Fakacta" Round of 32—created for drama and revenue, not tradition.

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Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Analytics and Scouts:
  “He never talks to his pro scouts.”
  — Joe Tessitore [06:30]

• On Leadership and Chemistry:
  “There is not an analytic, though, that can quantify it.”
  — Peter [15:38]

• On Preferential Treatment of Stars:
  “It’s like having a spoiled child. You give them everything you want. All of a sudden you say no, and they freak out.”
  — Don Allen [10:16]

• On the Impotence of New Hockey GMs:
  “You could tell he wanted to remake that ride. He can’t.”
  — Don Allen [25:34]

• On NBA’s Grumpy Old Men Superteam, Warriors Edition:
  “So my question to you guys is, you put those four guys together, who’s beating them?... My answer is Father Time.”
  — Joe Tessitore [32:27, 32:41]

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Listener Q&A and Lighter Moments

• Caller Sharkey’s Factually Challenged Call
  The team playfully analyzes a call full of sports mispronunciations and mixed-up tournament facts, using sound effects for right/wrong answers [41:47–44:21].
• Landry Shamet Re-signs with the Knicks
  • New deal: Four years, $24M; described as a “great dude, top shelf” [44:43–45:02].

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Timestamps for Major Topics

| Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|------------------| | Eric Chavez on Mets Firing & Stearns | 01:17–04:57 | | Stearns’ Analytics vs. Scouts, Team Chemistry | 06:01–08:28 | | Juan Soto’s Treatment & Mets Locker Room | 08:28–13:08 | | Preferential Treatment in Sports | 10:03–14:09 | | Leadership, Chemistry, Knicks/Mets Examples | 14:09–16:32 | | NHL: Rangers, Islanders, Contracts | 22:56–29:06 | | NBA Offseason Drama & Superteam Rumor | 29:10–33:39 | | Ja Morant Trade to Portland | 33:59–35:14 | | Wrestling: Sami Zayn, World Cup Updates | 35:14–37:42 | | Listener Q&A, Sharkey, Landry Shamet | 41:47–45:23 |

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Episode Tone & Language

• Insightful, skeptical, sometimes cynical: The hosts dig into the real-world impact of issues like analytics, superstar egos, and front-office mismanagement, always using inside knowledge and personal anecdotes.
• Conversational, quick-witted, colloquial: The banter is fast-paced, full of pop culture references, and infused with trademark New York sports sarcasm.
• Relatable and fan-centric: From referencing locker room harmony to reacting to Ja Morant's new landing spot or celebrating wrestling’s surprise champions, the show centers real fans’ passions and frustrations.

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For New Listeners

This episode distills the essence of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: sharp sports analysis mixed with locker room humor, storytelling, and the occasional old-school radio call-in zaniness. Whether it’s how the Mets are failing at both empathy and analytics, or why the Knicks’ togetherness matters more than stars on paper, this hour is a primer on New York sports—both the headlines and the human drama underneath.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by

[Don Allen]

Tullimore Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas, it's choli time.

[Big E]

Yeah, it's tolly time.

[Don Allen]

Mets open up a series with the Blue Jays coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. And the Yankees are back home to face the tigers at 7:05. Tullamore. Due the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature at Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. You know, we talk about the embarrassment of the Mets. They dropped two out of three to Philly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did get Lindor back, but they gave

[Don Allen]

him the day off yesterday. I ended up losing that game. Heartbreaking fashion. But at this point, really, heart's already broken. Season's already over.

[Joe Tessitore]

Any more broken.

[Don Allen]

The only thing really to pay attention to now is who stays and who goes as we get closer and closer to the trade deadline. But Eric Chavez, of course, you know him, baseball forever, had some very interesting things to say about the Mets. You know, he's pretty connected to the organization, to everything around Major League Baseball. He said on how Stearns fired him because remember he used to be a bench coach for the Mets. Via phone.

[Eric Chavez]

I knew changes were coming. I didn't know the whole staff was going to be let go. Yeah, he calls me and I say, hey, David, what's up? And we talked about this, I think before too. And he goes, you know, not having a good day. I said, okay, what's up, dude? He goes, well, we're going to go in the different direction. And I go, okay. He goes. And he hangs up the phone, right? And I'm thinking to myself, like, man, like there's no, you know, thanks for what you did. Thanks for the hard work. Like in coaches, man, that are. They put in the hours. Like as a coach, I'd never been so exhausted in My life those four years I was coaching and just kind of the lack of personal connect, gratitude, appreciation. For me, it's just, you know, well, we're just going to move on. And. And it is what it is. And, you know, I. That was the four strike for me, you know, of like, this isn't the dude. This isn't the right guy. I don't know where it came from. I don't know who built him up.

[Don Allen]

Telling you, this is the byproduct of analytics. When you hide behind the numbers, when you hide behind a desk, you lose that personal touch. Never talk to Buck Showalter when he was let go, when he got the job. Basically tells Eric, hey, we're moving in a different direction. Hangs up the phone. There's got to be some sort of bedside manner. The only time I was ever let go from any job, I was laid off at iotta, which was an Internet radio station I worked at back in 99, 2000. Dave Herman was the program director, the famous EJ. And then if you look at his Wikipedia page, things went south. He's no longer with us, but ended up being a really bad guy. I won't go into the details. You can find it out yourself.

[Big E]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But even he had the bedside manner. He called.

[Don Allen]

I remember answering the phone and he's like, don, there are good days and there are bad days in this business. Today is a bad day. We're downsizing, and we're unfortunately gonna have to let you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, listen, there's no easy way to do it. But at least he, you know, acknowledged the fact, hey, it's not a good day.

[Don Allen]

Not, hey, we're going a different direction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Allen]

All right. Bye.

[Caller Vincent]

Bye.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sterns are saying, yeah, it's a bad day for me. I gotta let people go.

[Don Allen]

Like, almost like, feel bad for me. I know he's a former baseball player millionaire, but, you know, he did a job. I'm sure he didn't want to get let go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's a personal touch, right? I mean, of course.

[Don Allen]

So he doesn't have that. But listen, if he's winning games, fans don't care about that. Let's see, he talked about David Stearns was not the right guy for the job.

[Eric Chavez]

Stearns was the wrong hire. And I think, you know, we can kind of dive into, you know, his huge contract, five years, $50 million with really. And we've talked about this before, about, you know, climbing the totem pole and achieving certain things and kind of earning your way to the top. You know, he Came from Milwaukee, built a great farm system, didn't really accomplish anything. You know? And I want to know who told Steve Cohen that this guy was the next guy, Right? Without even accomplishing anything. And I think that's where we kind of fault. We come up a little short in baseball is we award players, you know, the greatest, whatever. We're quick to jump the gun on people without having them be proven.

[Don Allen]

Somebody got in his ear. Cause why would he know? Clearly David Stern. So who was it? It was a Major League Baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I still believe my conspiracy theory is

[Don Allen]

it was baseball because they knew he was coming from a small market. They wanted somebody that was going to really control the purse strings for Cohen so he wouldn't spend like a drunken sailor. I would not be surprised the Major League Baseball recommended him. Hey, he's under contract, but he's a

[Peter Rosenberg]

New York guy, grew up a Met fan.

[Joe Tessitore]

Well, again, you come in as the wealthiest owner in the sport, and they approve you. And then I'm sure it's like, all right, well, what are you gonna do? Because I'm sure part of the approval process is how you gonna run the team. Like, what do you plan on doing, who you plan to hire? And it's like, hey, if you need any help, we've got a list of candidates that I think would be great for you. Okay, yeah, I'll consider these names. I'm sure that's what it was about.

[Peter]

Look, Chavez just told you something that we already knew. I mean, at least Chavez got a call. But Showalter didn't get a call. Nothing, right?

[Don Allen]

Yeah.

[Peter]

At least he got a call.

[Don Allen]

Yeah, it's pretty sad.

[Peter]

Here's the thing. Did you see Bill Madden had a

[Joe Tessitore]

great column, and in it, he eviscerated Stearns. But he said a couple of things that really stood out to me.

[Peter]

From what he knew, there's 26 people

[Joe Tessitore]

in the analytics department with the Mets now. There's eight that are called data scientists.

[Don Allen]

Okay, Sounds a little bit different.

[Peter]

You know how many pro scouts he employs?

[Don Allen]

How many?

[Joe Tessitore]

Four. And you know, you know how often they talk with him?

[Don Allen]

No idea.

[Joe Tessitore]

Never.

[Ad Read Voice]

Never.

[Joe Tessitore]

He never talks to his pro scouts.

[Don Allen]

And you know what? You know what that is?

[Peter]

He has four. He has 26 people running numbers. Eight of them, he gives a title called data scientist. Four guys who are actually out in the field watching players, giving input, or supposed to be about talent. Things that are not just numbers, but what your eye tells you about a guy and the way he carries himself on the field, what he does, like, all Those things that tell you he's special, like why they're, why in Yankee

[Joe Tessitore]

land, they're raving about George Lombard Jr.

[Peter]

Not because of what he's doing, because

[Joe Tessitore]

he's not hitting right now.

[Peter]

Aaa but because of what he does defensively, how he carries himself after a bad day. His neck's that bad after an awful day. That's the stuff that scouts see. Stearns has no time for this and

[Don Allen]

soon it'll be none. So doesn't that cover anything? And it's all guys that are probably still under contract. Doesn't that concern you, their contract?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, of course. Because it's not about feel, it's not

[Don Allen]

about how former players, because most of these scouts are former players who know

[Peter Rosenberg]

the game, who know the game and

[Don Allen]

watch and can find a winner. Like a former player would scout Brunson and say he's a winner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Forget about the analytics, forget about the size.

[Don Allen]

I'm watching him, he's a winner. We should draft him, we should sign him. But the analytics, the numbers will say no, no, we're not going to draft him because he's too small.

[Joe Tessitore]

They find all the reasons.

[Don Allen]

No, this guy, we're looking for a right handed hitter. He's a left handed hitter. They'll give you. There was a, there was an analytical stat that like blew my mind. So, so last night the Mets had an opener, all right, who they wanted a lefty to face the lefties, Schwaber and Harper. But the numbers were like one was five for five, the other one was three for like. So it's almost like, listen, the numbers, they want these numbers to work. They'll manipulate them to make them work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now this is kind of a long

[Don Allen]

cut, but I do think it's important. Chavez talked about Stern's letting Soto do

[Eric Chavez]

as he pleased when we signed Juan. And I love Juan, by the way. Juan will give you the shirt off his back. I think he's one of the coolest human beings, just a really good person. But he struggled the first two months emotionally, right? And I, I don't blame him. Big move going from the Yankees. Maybe had a little bit of buyer's remorse. It's all going to work out. Juan's going to the hall of Fame. You know, I even tabbed him to be an MVP type of player. And he's going off like he's hitting wise. He's unreal. But he struggled. And in between innings, he would run from the outfield and go sit in the batting cage on a couch and not be in the Dugout with the teammate, right? And like I said, I'm not throwing Juan. This isn't a Juan issue, Right? This is. This is a leadership. Lack of leadership, lack of accountability from the top down. And we had an assistant GM who would sit there with him. The assistant GM would sit there with him and kind of coddle him and, you know, tap him on the shoulder without saying, hey, dude, how about getting in the dugout with your teammates? Right? And so I brought this up to CERNs and I said, this is a huge problem because now younger players who. We have younger players on the team, they're seeing this and your guys are allowing this. And he goes, well, those players need to learn that they're not Juan.

[Joe Tessitore]

Soto called, but see,

[Peter Rosenberg]

you know what's interesting? That tail end.

[Don Allen]

Analyze this a little further.

[Joe Tessitore]

That last part is what got me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Last little bit's different because I'm listening

[Don Allen]

to it and I'm going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I saw it on social media,

[Don Allen]

but I didn't hear the whole cut. And I'm thinking, this is so typical Metz, right? They had to give him the sweet. If you don't say no, if all

[Peter Rosenberg]

you do is say yes, it's very

[Don Allen]

difficult to say no. It's like having a spoiled child. You give them everything you want. All of a sudden you say no to them and. And they freak out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you end up saying yes to

[Don Allen]

everything because they're spoiled brats. And I'm not saying that Soto's not a spoiled brat, but that tail end, like the rest of the players need to know they're not Juan Soto. That's no different than letting Bill. When Bill Parcells let LT do whatever he wants, and then the answer would

[Peter Rosenberg]

be, well, you know, he's lt. Sports has always been preferential treatment to the best players.

[Joe Tessitore]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, we all love Wayne Gretzky, right? Wasn't he flying private with McNabb on away games? He wasn't with the rest of the team on the charter. When he went to the Los Angeles Kings, he was flying with Bruce McNabb

[Don Allen]

to Jersey and New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why? Because he's Wayne Gretzky. So it's interesting, before we just destroy

[Don Allen]

the Mets on how they were treating Soto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't like the preferential treatment, but isn't that kind of the way sports is? If you're going to give them the sweet and you're going to treat him as he's special, where do you draw the line? And. Or is there no line? Like, hey, I need that kind of production? 15 years, hey, I'm going to do whatever I.

[Joe Tessitore]

But the understanding there is. That's why then you need to make sure that if you're going to let Juan be Juan, somebody else has to be a stronger leader in the room so that no one thinks that's what.

[Peter]

That's for everyone.

[Joe Tessitore]

You need a guy in the room that says that to young players who might start cutting corners and go, you're not him.

[Don Allen]

Right?

[Joe Tessitore]

You're not him. You can't do that. Right.

[Peter]

And that's the part again where numbers don't talk about that stuff. Numbers don't talk about the importance of

[Joe Tessitore]

the strong leadership and all that and why that's important.

[Peter]

But that leader can't be the. He can't be the anti to Soto. He's gotta be an ally to Soto. So I'm providing cover for Soto, but

[Joe Tessitore]

I'm also making sure that I'm keeping the room in check.

[Don Allen]

But it's hard to do because not easy.

[Peter]

Look, Machado didn't like it. Hey, they had a hard time in

[Joe Tessitore]

San Diego with Soto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe you're starting to see, you know,

[Don Allen]

the rift between Lindor and Soto. Maybe Lindor was the. Was the big guy on campus, and now somebody else comes in and now the assistant general manager sitting with him and not Lindor.

[Joe Tessitore]

Well, who's to say that Lindor didn't say, why is he in the back?

[Peter]

What are you doing back there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Or maybe Lindor didn't want that treatment. All I keep looking back at, and

[Don Allen]

Peter mentioned it a couple weeks ago, like, what could we learn from the Knicks?

[Peter Rosenberg]

As great a player as Brunson is, did he ever pull any of these antics?

[Joe Tessitore]

No, I can tell you, he's never been like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And how big would that have been?

[Don Allen]

As much as Eric doesn't want to throw any shade at Soto, like, how big would it be if Soto was like, I don't. I don't need all this crap.

[Ad Read Voice]

Let's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're all together.

[Don Allen]

Let's go out there, let's win as a team. That's what Brunson did.

[Joe Tessitore]

That absolutely changed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not asking him to take less

[Don Allen]

money like Brunson did, but just to

[Peter Rosenberg]

say, hey, we're all in this together.

[Don Allen]

We all have our roles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I might be the best player on the team, but that doesn't matter because maybe Kat needs to be the best

[Don Allen]

player on this given moment.

[Don Hahn]

It changes the room.

[Peter]

I've been there.

[Joe Tessitore]

I've seen it.

[Peter]

Yeah, I've seen it in the locker room. I've Seen it tear a locker room up. I've seen a player who comes in, he gets the biggest contract. He's a super talented player. He gets everything he wants. But he's kind of aloof. He's not really like one of these locker room type guys that likes to,

[Joe Tessitore]

like, you know, shoot the stuff and all that.

[Peter]

He doesn't like. That's not who he is. But he shows up and he plays.

[Joe Tessitore]

Right.

[Peter]

But because he's not like that and he makes all the money, players still have that issue with, like, this guy, you know, he carries himself as if

[Joe Tessitore]

he's better than us.

[Peter]

He's not among us, he's not with us. So there's a disconnect in the room, and now you're on the ice and every time you get frustrated, me, you know, you can't say anything to him, you can't talk to him because there's that disconnect and that messes with the team. I've seen it. And I've seen a captain try to cover for him and. And I've seen a captain then say,

[Joe Tessitore]

I've had enough and say, I can't cover for him anymore, and then the

[Peter]

whole team turns on him. And now instead of it being a team that can play up to his potential, that team fell flat. I've seen it. And so what's happening with the Mets shouldn't be a surprise.

[Joe Tessitore]

For that alone, right there, for what

[Peter]

Jarvis is saying,

[Big E]

that's a handful.

[Peter]

I've literally seen it with my own eyes in a locker room.

[Big E]

I've experienced it, but honestly, it's not even rocket science.

[Eric Chavez]

Right.

[Peter]

And they don't. It's not like the guys hate the guy.

[Ad Read Voice]

No.

[Peter]

It's just something. The connection is missing and all. It takes that one piece. It's like when Cat came in. Towns came with the Knicks is another example. And in the beginning, you know, because Randall was the guy that was doing that, causing that little bit of friction. Like, I don't know what mood this

[Joe Tessitore]

guy's going to be in.

[Peter]

Every day Cat comes in and he's just happy. And every day his teammates fell in love with him easily. And then little by little, that team just got really close.

[Big E]

But again, in a world, Randall was

[Peter]

a guy that would just. Every day you're like, is he happy today? Is he bad? Can I go? Can I joke with him today? Or if I.

[Big E]

Right. So as good as he was, the team camaraderie isn't there.

[Peter]

Never was complete. You can't have 14 guys and then

[Joe Tessitore]

one guy, you know what I mean?

[Peter]

You have to have 15 or it doesn't work.

[Big E]

Well, that's part of the magic of what the Knicks have been, is that like it's not. It's not one plus. It's not plus one plus one equals one. It too. It's. It's one plus one equals three sometimes. And that in the case of the Knicks, I put that roster on paper. No one's picking them to win the championship.

[Joe Tessitore]

Of course not.

[Big E]

And, and, and with this Mets team, that's the beauty. Put them on paper and you go, oh, they could win a championship. But there's connectivity there.

[Peter]

Two years ago, around this time of year, that kid sings. Omg. After a game, they all went out

[Joe Tessitore]

and sang with them, right?

[Peter]

What did it do? All of a sudden the room just had a different vibe about it. They connected and then they went on a run. They were not that good, but they just had a moment and they got on a run and they felt right. Because you weren't missing someone. Everybody got in that right. That's valuable. There is not an analytic though, that can quantify it. There's not a single one.

[Big E]

No, no.

[Peter]

And that's what this is about.

[Don Allen]

It doesn't always have to be this way. Like, Judge is a huge player, right? Do we ever hear of the preferential treatment for him? How he's separate?

[Joe Tessitore]

No, he don't want that.

[Don Allen]

We all joked about Steve Phillips. Why, why the Mets didn't go the extra mile financially for Alex Rodriguez. Remember what he said? I don't want. Because at the time, with the 25 man roster, I don't want the 24 plus one scenario. It's a real thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what the Mets have.

[Don Allen]

The mets have a 24 plus one scenario where everybody else in their soda.

[Peter]

There's your analytic. Yeah, there it is right there. How do you solve that equation?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what? To me, if you think about it,

[Don Allen]

and it doesn't hold true with the Giants, because the Giants were a good team without lt. But listen, LT got him to two Super Bowls, right? And they did. And they did change everything. But once they got the Super Bowls, they had the good players. But where were the Giants before they drafted him in 81?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nowhere.

[Don Allen]

And then all of a sudden, Lawrence Taylor comes in. They're a perennial playoff team. They win a couple of Super Bowls and Bill Parcells let LT do whatever he wanted. Where were the Los Angeles Kings before they got Wayne Gretzky? Right? They were just so Bruce McDonald's like all right. I need the 24.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I need.

[Don Allen]

Well, I guess wouldn't be the 19 plus one scenario.

[Joe Tessitore]

Whatever for the grass wasn't really a plus one, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I'm saying we need. We need to go the extra mile. Because the Yankees were able to say no to Soto because they were a good team before him, they're a good team after him. They know that they don't have to bend over backwards and keep him. Right. Let's be honest. All right, let's be honest. Where were the Mets? Mets went far. But the Mets think I need Soto because where are we without Soto? We've got to give him the sweet. What if he says no? Where are we going to go? They wanted to win analogies I could throw out there. They wanted to win the one that I say off the air all the time. I can't say it on the air, but, you know, some don't have to and some have to. The Mets have to. The Kings had to. The Giants had to.

[Eric Chavez]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the Mets have to. That's just the way it works.

[Joe Tessitore]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And because the analytics are like. We don't need them all to get along. Like, the difference with basketball, though, is that there is a chemistry. You got to make it work because you pass to each other. He's the point guard. He's got to make it work. Soto's got to get his four at bats, catch what's hit to him. There's a little less chemistry on the field than there is in basketball, but as we've seen, there's still chemistry of everybody feeling like, hey, he's my teammate, not some superstar that shows up every

[Don Allen]

once in a while.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I mean?

[Joe Tessitore]

I agree, but especially when the room doesn't have a leader, you always look

[Peter]

for the best player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When it does get a little off the rails, there's somebody to kind of bring it all back.

[Joe Tessitore]

That's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who's bringing it all back is not Mendoza. He's gone. They don't have to be Stearns. He's up in a room behind a computer.

[Joe Tessitore]

No, they don't.

[Peter]

And I've said this. I've seen this going back to two years when they were falling apart last year. I said, something's wrong with that room. They are missing something. They don't have bedrock. They don't have a foundation. Something that when it all gets crazy, we can all put our feet down here and know this is our standard. It doesn't exist there. And that, again, put that at the feet of David Stearns. He did not recognize the value of

[Joe Tessitore]

leadership when it comes to building his team.

[Peter]

He thought that Simeon was a guy

[Joe Tessitore]

known to be a good clubhouse guy,

[Peter]

a vet that he'll, he'll, he'll keep

[Joe Tessitore]

things in line, he'll align with whoever the other the veterans are on that team.

[Peter]

That's what he expected. The problem is, as everybody knows, every, every pro, no matter what sport they play, will tell you, I can't lead

[Joe Tessitore]

if I'm not playing.

[Peter]

If I'm hurt, especially if I'm a new guy, I can't come in and tell people how to act when I'm

[Joe Tessitore]

not playing because I'm hurt.

[Peter]

It's impossible to do. So you got a guy that's hurt a lot. You asked him to be a leader. He can't. So it failed. It failed miserably.

[Don Allen]

So, interesting stuff when we come back, we've got the weekend recap. Then we'll get to Your calls at 1-800-919-3776 on this and a myriad of other things that we need to get to from over the weekend. But you got some rings to talk.

[Joe Tessitore]

Rings in for sure because doors in. Gorgeous, beautiful. The room is now on its way and this, this probably when it's done is going to be great. But the, the door itself that we got from Ring's End is what brings it all together. Beautiful French door opens out. You ever see a French door opens out?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Tessitore]

Like you know, the. Usually everybody has them open in.

[Peter]

We had this one open out, out

[Joe Tessitore]

onto the patio, out to the pool. Gorgeous view and, and, and beautifully installed by my, my, my guy Michael and Zach Weld and my guys who have done the construction work.

[Peter]

But Rings End is where we got the door. Why do we go to Ring's End?

[Joe Tessitore]

Because they have an extensive inventory of built to last high end product lines that contractors like my guy Michael rely on.

[Peter]

So I've talked about Ring's End a lot. You know, this is the time of

[Joe Tessitore]

year people like to do projects around the house.

[Peter]

They have windows and doors stuff to redo your kitchen. Anything you need to upgrade and update your home. They have eight full service lumber yards by the way in Connecticut and Westchester

[Joe Tessitore]

county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well.

[Peter]

They're family owned and operated since 1902.

[Joe Tessitore]

They, they are not a national chain by the way.

[Peter]

They are local northeast regional expertise. They know exactly what your house needs,

[Joe Tessitore]

what this area calls for.

[Peter]

And by the way, if you can't

[Joe Tessitore]

make it to a store, you can shop online.

[Peter]

Just go to ringsend.com that's ringsend.com so

[Joe Tessitore]

good, so good, so good.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Big E]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Caller Sharkey]

Catch.

[Don Hahn]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's now time for your weekend recap

[Don Allen]

brought to you by Neutral and the NHL draft happened over the weekend and Islander fans and Devil fans were upset that there wasn't a lot of things done. But that doesn't mean everything has to be done on draft day. There's still all summer for things to get done, but the big local team over the weekend that made something happen were the New York Rangers. Pavel Dorofev is not nothing. He's a great left winger. Obviously the Golden Knights didn't have room to give him a contract. The Rangers did. So they not only trade for him but they extend him. He's a really really good player, a lot of ton of playoff experience as well. And the Rangers gave up a first round pick that was originally from the Dallas Stars in 2026. First round pick 2026 and a projected top a top 10 protected in 2028. It's amazing to me by 2028 is reasonable but like even in the NBA

[Peter Rosenberg]

all these deals like 2031, 2033.

[Don Allen]

It's like do you really think you're going to be around for that? Like not every general manager is like Brian Cashman that has the job for decades. Right. But that's kind of the price of doing business. But he's a really nice player. Left handed shot, left handed winger that can score, you know, 30 plus goals

[Joe Tessitore]

on a power play guy. The last two seasons, 80 goals about right.

[Don Allen]

So he is a. I think that's a really good get for the Rangers. A slow burn for them but they still feel like they have some pieces in place that if they can get some goal scoring with Shusterkin in net that they can possibly be a playoff team. I'm telling you that Atlantic is wide open. Capitals did a lot over the last

[Peter Rosenberg]

few days to get better.

[Don Allen]

You already know Carolina's the gold standard then the defending Stanley cup champions. So the Rangers kind of want to keep up with the Jones a little bit. That's a nice move for them. So you might have missed it over the weekend with Yankees, Red Sox, World cup, but it was a pretty cool moment for the Rangers on Friday.

[Joe Tessitore]

It's a good move. Certainly they needed to see something out of Drury to try to advance the cause. That was good to see. There was concern, you mentioned the Islanders and Devils. There's some concern in Islander land right now because Matthew d' Arch who was very honest said I was trying to make moves, couldn't do it. And he mentioned no trades as sort of part of the issue. And I'm wondering does he mean no trades? Like I couldn't get somebody that would

[Peter]

come to us or I can't move

[Joe Tessitore]

guys on my own roster from contracts that were given by the previous guy.

[Don Allen]

Yeah.

[Joe Tessitore]

And I was going to include them in a deal and they wouldn't waive the no trade.

[Don Allen]

I think that's probably the latter's probably the answer.

[Joe Tessitore]

Probably the answer. Right.

[Peter]

So how do you get anything like that's the problem is like Darsh comes

[Joe Tessitore]

in with plans and I want to do things and can't because of these contracts.

[Don Allen]

I know.

[Peter]

And that's.

[Don Allen]

But that's the new thing.

[Joe Tessitore]

You could tell he wanted to remake that ride.

[Don Allen]

He can't and I wish I could find it. But again it's just. It's not exact number but they're talking about the no movement clauses in other sports and like hockey's got like four times as many as any other Spike.

[Peter]

The NBA I think.

[Joe Tessitore]

I don't think anybody has one anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just.

[Don Allen]

It's a part of, especially some of the smaller market teams that you know, hey, I don't, I can't. There's only so much money I can give you. But I'll tell you what. Limited no trade clause, no movement clause too. Because sometimes when these contracts are bad in the cap here, you send a guy down can't do that anymore because the no movement clause doesn't allow that. And then what makes it even worse is like some guys, I'll go to three teams.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll go to, I'll go to Florida, Tampa and Carolina. Okay.

[Don Allen]

You know, and it's, it makes it

[Peter Rosenberg]

very difficult for the new gm and

[Don Allen]

both the Devils and the Islanders have new general managers. Darsh has been here a year. Sonny's been here just a couple of weeks. But kind of the same thing.

[Joe Tessitore]

Plus, what'd you think of the. I wasn't here for the, the Nemes move? What'd you think of that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the feeling was they couldn't keep

[Don Allen]

both Hamilton and Nemes and again he

[Peter Rosenberg]

was a second round pick but Sunday didn't draft him.

[Don Allen]

That was the previous regime. And they restricted free agent. They weren't sure they were going to

[Peter Rosenberg]

have the ability to pay him with

[Don Allen]

all the things that they want to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why everybody thought things were going to happen over the weekend.

[Joe Tessitore]

Right.

[Don Allen]

But they still could happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You still have the free agency deals that could be made.

[Don Allen]

Leopold in Minnesota said, oh, we're re signing Quinn Hughes. Just a question of how long the contract's going to be. And Bill Garon was like, I think it's all just a ploy to try to get someone to trade for Hughes, like get the Devils to trade for him. I still believe he's coming here just because of the fact that if you,

[Peter Rosenberg]

if they're all going to play together, it's got to be in New Jersey.

[Peter]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he's only got one year left on his deal. He's better off staying in Minnesota. Keep the wild, you know, trying to

[Don Allen]

go with a cup with him and

[Peter Rosenberg]

then he leaves him free agency rather than kind of cut off your nose and spite your face. I know you want to get something back for him, but he's a Norris Trophy guy. I mean why you got it. Minnesota's got a chance to do something this year. The they're very good, you know, so it's it.

[Peter]

But if you're the brothers, I don't

[Joe Tessitore]

want to waste another year because you know anything can happen.

[Peter]

Right. Like that's the problem.

[Joe Tessitore]

It's like I wouldn't want to waste any time. And, you know, I think where. Where Jack now has kind of.

[Peter]

He. He's.

[Joe Tessitore]

He's got some leverage now, you know that. And, and he could. Is he using that leverage to say, like, I.

[Caller Sharkey]

If.

[Peter]

If you can't get him here and we can't play here together, I might go somewhere else.

[Don Allen]

You got to make the room. You got to do it.

[Peter]

I thought when they moved, it was

[Joe Tessitore]

like to free up us. Like, you know what I mean? Free up room.

[Peter]

Like, it felt like a precursor to,

[Joe Tessitore]

oh, that means Quinn's Comet or they

[Don Allen]

were going to get Jason Robertson or they're going to get. I know debrink. It is still being rumored as a possibility they're going to do something.

[Joe Tessitore]

Robertson's interesting because Robertson, somebody that I thought the Islanders were going to try to get.

[Don Allen]

Yeah.

[Joe Tessitore]

And I'm thinking that is that. Did something happen where they tried to trade for him and somebody they had to move?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he might be. See, he might be a guy. He's a perfect fit that doesn't want

[Don Allen]

to go to the Islanders because apparently

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seattle offered him a contract.

[Joe Tessitore]

Yeah.

[Don Allen]

He said no because they're in a rebuild. It's going to be a while before they're. When there was another team that made an offer, I might have been Detroit. So he obviously wants to go somewhere where he's got a chance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember, he's on a team that's very

[Don Allen]

close to winning, but they're going to

[Peter Rosenberg]

try to get him out because of

[Don Allen]

the money situation, because of the ranting contract. So he wants to go someplace where he's got a chance to win.

[Joe Tessitore]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, the Islanders, are they close. The Devils feel like they're closer because I do think they have talent. But you talk about two teams didn't make the playoffs.

[Joe Tessitore]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You wonder, is that a deal Darst

[Don Allen]

tried to make in?

[Joe Tessitore]

That's what I'm thinking.

[Don Allen]

You know, Robertson just didn't want to go.

[Joe Tessitore]

That feels like that. That's what it feels like to me anyway. And I also feel like the Islanders aren't far off. I mean, they. They could be.

[Don Allen]

They were troubles. They needed that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Joe Tessitore]

They got to get right.

[Peter]

They got to give.

[Joe Tessitore]

People put the puck in the net and not just the defenseman. All right.

[Peter]

Mine is from the weekend.

[Big E]

Here we go.

[Joe Tessitore]

Because as you guys know, tomorrow's the last day of the current league year, and the new year begins Wednesday, actually tomorrow night.

[Big E]

Okay.

[Joe Tessitore]

Because free agency begins 6pm June 30 tomorrow. So the rumors now have Begun now, the Knicks, as we know, the Alvarado stuff's already been reported. He'll stay. Modi awr has been reported. He'll probably stay. Okay, Mitchell Robinson. And we'll talk later. We'll talk later about Mitchell Robinson. Go deeper into that.

[Peter]

So the Knicks stuff right now is

[Joe Tessitore]

sort of hovering, but the bigger stuff is going on now around the league of what everybody's doing to react. And did you see this story percolating

[Peter]

this weekend, which then came to fruition

[Joe Tessitore]

today, where Draymond Green was going to opt out of his deal in Golden State?

[Peter]

Not to leave, but to open up

[Joe Tessitore]

the ability to resign for lower. Create the ability for the warriors to then make some moves. The Lakers are doing something that is pretty obvious, which is they signed Austin Reaves. They're building around Luka. Austin Reaves a big part of it.

[Big E]

He got a Max, right?

[Joe Tessitore]

Yeah. LeBron James, not. Where's LeBron James going? Who wants LeBron James? The rumors are Cleveland. The rumors are, you know, maybe even. Would he go to Miami now with.

[Big E]

Would he resign for less there or.

[Joe Tessitore]

No, that's the problem. You think LeBron James wants to take less anywhere? Probably not.

[Big E]

But at this point, like, he's still very good, but he's not supermax.

[Joe Tessitore]

He's very good, but. But there's still principle to this, and you want to make sure that you're negotiating with leverage with the Lakers.

[Big E]

But Ronnie's still on the team, right?

[Joe Tessitore]

Currently. So this latest thing that has come out over the weekend is now starting to take form today. And it was said over the weekend that with Draymond making the move like that, it could open the door for

[Peter]

the warriors to trade for Anthony Davis, who, by the way, I was told on the side during the draft, Davis

[Joe Tessitore]

is not a given to return to in Washington. Trey Young got the contract. AD. No. So Golden State trade for AD and then LeBron go to Golden State, and now you have Steph LeBron, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green.

[Big E]

I mean, it's a. Hell, it's grumpier old men, but, I mean, they could run.

[Peter]

Is this not, though.

[Joe Tessitore]

So NBA over the weekend, a story

[Peter]

like this starts to just kind of

[Joe Tessitore]

get out there and make the rounds, and then Draymond makes the move today

[Peter]

to sort of say, you know, that rumor you heard over the weekend?

[Joe Tessitore]

Here's the first step.

[Big E]

But that first step could be for other things, too, right?

[Peter]

Of course. Yeah.

[Big E]

They could go a million ways, of course.

[Peter]

But this, you know, but he.

[Big E]

But he's. He's already said he's a lifer. That's going to be his organization forever.

[Joe Tessitore]

And Steve Kershain as long as Steph Currstein.

[Big E]

So if they're all in cahoots and

[Joe Tessitore]

they all want to win one more ring, and there's always been this thing about LeBron and Curry teaming up to play together, and LeBron loves Anthony Davis.

[Peter]

So here's your.

[Joe Tessitore]

Here's your sort of like, you know, what'd you call it? Like, it's. What's the movie? All the old action.

[Big E]

Grumpy Old Men.

[Joe Tessitore]

No, no, not Grumpy. That was one, too. But.

[Big E]

Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Expendables.

[Joe Tessitore]

And they all go into one thing. And that would be the Golden State Warriors. So my question to you guys is, you put those four guys together, who's beating them? I have an answer. Do you?

[Big E]

New York Knicks?

[Joe Tessitore]

No, no, no. My answer is Father Time.

[Big E]

Oh, undefeated. Come on.

[Peter]

Do you really think, like, that's fun. That's an NBA fun situation.

[Joe Tessitore]

But when, then you begin game one,

[Peter]

game two, game three.

[Big E]

Is Butler still staying there?

[Joe Tessitore]

Yeah, Jimmy's there, so he's recovering. But you actually got Jimmy Buckets, too.

[Peter]

I wonder.

[Joe Tessitore]

Would have to be moved, though, in one of these to make it work situations.

[Peter]

But I'm just saying, those four guys, it sounds fun, but do you give it a chance?

[Big E]

Listen, I think you give it a chance, but the likelihood that they all make it through the season. The likelihood. It works. The likelihood.

[Don Allen]

They're just about load management.

[Big E]

Yeah, but now. Now, is there a chance, though, that they do it the right way? They get a decent enough seed in the playoffs, you catch a couple of breaks, and those guys pour it on for one playoff run.

[Joe Tessitore]

You play. You play some young teams early in the playoffs, you get on a little run, you got to be healthy. But that's the biggest concern.

[Peter]

It's Anthony Davis. Let's start there.

[Big E]

But it's worth a shot if you're the.

[Joe Tessitore]

Sorry, it's.

[Peter]

You like it? I think it's worth.

[Big E]

And the warriors don't have another. What's their other play?

[Joe Tessitore]

They don't have a play because Steph Curry is getting to a point now where he's getting old. To me, this is so NBA. It is great theater, it's fun. But it's also one of these things that I don't want to see this hype of. Nobody's beating this team because their biggest weakness is their age.

[Don Allen]

Now, Peter, before you give your weekend recap, we have breaking news from Shams. The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two time NBA all star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray.

[Joe Tessitore]

In other words, Chris Murray, the draft pick the Knicks gave up to get Josh Hart.

[Big E]

So in other words, we're just, we're moving, we're done with this.

[Joe Tessitore]

Jai's been long gone from Memphis. They, they had to move on. He's got, he's got to figure it all out. But he's, but he'll do it in Portland where they have an owner that isn't paying for anything, but he is willing to pay for players. They were a good tough team last year. So we'll see, we'll see how that works out.

[Peter]

Jaws got to really reset, man.

[Big E]

So then they'll move Dame again,

[Joe Tessitore]

I guess. I mean he's got to get healthy. He's older, he's older. Backing up John Morant though, his numbers monstrous. Who's taken on his contract.

[Big E]

Yeah, that's tough.

[Peter]

But that's, that's one that is like three years ago. Massive, right? It's John Moran. Although, forget it.

[Big E]

Getting him out of Memphis and getting him all the way out there to Portland. Best thing you could do.

[Peter]

Think it'll help him?

[Big E]

Oh, absolutely.

[Joe Tessitore]

Let's start with keeping dad from courtside seats.

[Big E]

Let's, let's start there, keep dad away, get Jaws far away as humanly possible. Anyway, a couple of quick hitters for me from the weekend. Number one, we had Night of Champions on Saturday in Saudi. I was not in Saudi, I was in Stamford. But the big thing coming out of that is, is that Sami Zayn won his first world championship, which if you're, obviously, if you're a fan of wrestling, you understand how cool that is. He's like a 20 year industry veteran, undersized, doesn't look like he'd ever be anything. You'd never picture a guy like this being a world champion in wrestling. Just an absolute grinder. And he's, he's a Syrian, Arabic speaking Canadian. He won it in Saudi and then got on the mic and yelled in Arabic and the crowd went absolutely crazy. So it served a couple of purposes. Number one, fans who just love, you know, truly love wrestling are so happy. And then also for WWE, it's great business. WrestleMania is in Saudi Arabia next year. And now they had this iconic moment with this Arabic speaking star that you can keep, you can always flashback to have. Remember when Sami Zayn won the title. So it was a really smart move. But if you're a wrestling fan, I mean, I was in Our studio. You guys talk about those moments like when you and Peto like all of a sudden when he won, I jumped on Biggie's back. I could not believe. I mean, he pinned Cody Rhodes. I did not really in my heart of hearts think there was a chance he was pinning Cody Rhodes and he did. So that was really fun. And then of course we are officially underway in the what some would call Fakacta Round of 32 in the world Cup. It never existed until this tournament. Normally you jump straight from the round robin to the round of 16, but of course they said we need to make sure the US advances and we want more money and more TV and all the things. So there's a round of 32 now. And guess what? It started with high drama yesterday. South Africa and Canada stayed 00 for a long time. Don's home country Canada ends up getting the win one nothing. And then in the other only, only other result we have so far, my home country of Brazil beat Japan 21 today underway right now. Germany and Paraguay are 00 in the 13th minute as we are now in the knockout stage. Guys, you lose, you go home.

[Don Allen]

Boston Stadium.

[Big E]

Oh, this is in the Boston Stadium.

[Don Allen]

There's Gillette in isn't paying World cup money.

[Ad Read Voice]

No.

[Big E]

So it's at Boston Stadium.

[Ad Read Voice]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Big E]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Don Allen]

Well, we're gonna have to wait on the Sharky stuff just a second, but we'll take Your calls at 1-800-919-3776. Lot on the table to talk about.

[Joe Tessitore]

Let me correct myself on the little contract just real quick because I checked it just to see because I like, did he get a new deal?

[Eric Chavez]

He did.

[Joe Tessitore]

He got a new deal in Portland and it's very Fair. So his numbers are 13.

[Ad Read Voice]

That's nothing.

[Joe Tessitore]

Today's NBA.

[Don Allen]

Yeah, that's true. Let's go to Vincent in Queens. You're on espn. New York, what's up, Vinnie?

[Caller Vincent]

Hi, Don Allen. Peter. What's the possibility of the Mets trading Juan Sero to the Orioles or Pete Alonso? Serra's not happy here. Steve Cohen has the money. He can buy the contract for both players. Why can't they bring back Pete?

[Don Allen]

The owner or the owner the general manager of the team, even though he might be on his left last legs,

[Peter Rosenberg]

doesn't want to take that contract.

[Don Allen]

The Baltimore game, I don't know what they're saying about it now, but in Baltimore, they thought that was too much money to give Alonso Juan.

[Joe Tessitore]

So it has a full no trade clause.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But even if he didn't, it's not happening.

[Joe Tessitore]

Let's just start the conversation with.

[Big E]

I thought Sharkey's call had flaws.

[Joe Tessitore]

He has a full no trade clause, which means if he wanted to go to Baltimore, he would have talked to Baltimore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And do you think all of a

[Don Allen]

sudden because they're losing games that David Stearns changed his mind on Pete Alonso's contract?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or do you think he was swayed

[Don Allen]

by fans chanting Alonzo's name in a game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't care about that.

[Peter]

Never mind Stearns, who really wanted Juan

[Joe Tessitore]

Soto, who wanted him?

[Don Allen]

Well, Cohen wanted Stearns.

[Peter]

Stearns could be fired right now and

[Joe Tessitore]

Juan Soto is still not being traded.

[Caller Sharkey]

Remember when we spent more than five seconds on the guy who said the Knicks lost the championship because of the O.J. chase?

[Big E]

That was.

[Caller Sharkey]

I feel like we're back. No, no, no. I just feel like we're back there again. I don't know why.

[Don Allen]

That was very close to the worst call ever, but he seemed like a pretty nice guy. I don't think he was being snarky with it.

[Peter]

I think he legitimately thought it was a good guy.

[Joe Tessitore]

That's why I was answering the question for him. So don't ever ask that again because you know that Juan Soto has a no trade clause.

[Don Allen]

But again, just to play devil's advocate or just fantasy land, let's say he didn't. That's not a fair trade.

[Peter]

Of course it's not a fair trade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Juan Soto's a hell of a player and he's. And he's playing well. He's playing better than Pete and he's in his prime. But the Mets are losing not because

[Don Allen]

of Juan Soto, but just because they're the Mets and they don't know how

[Joe Tessitore]

to hand him because their GM built a bad roster.

[Don Allen]

Now, we took an interesting call and apparently, Peter, according to you, we made it better.

[Big E]

Well, if you missed the Sharkey call,

[Joe Tessitore]

Sharky, where were you?

[Big E]

Sharkey's a lovely guy who called up and just had compliments and all kinds of nice things. He wanted to talk World Cup. But by the end of the call, we realized the amount of things that he either said wrong or just plain old factually got wrong needed to be studied. So our crack staff edited the call and have added sound effects to let you know what was correct and what was incorrect. In our call earlier with the great Sharkey.

[Don Allen]

How about Sharkey on the Jersey shore? You're on espn, New York. What's up, Sharkey?

[Peter]

What's up?

[Caller Sharkey]

Great. Two weeks. I know most of your audience doesn't care about this. Between Wimbledon and the World Cup. Cup 32, 16 and quarters in the next two weeks. I only follow soccer every four years, so the big stars are stepping up. Right now, I probably only know five guys. Messi, Ronaldo, Kane, the kid from the United States, Pulsak and. And Bobby. But the stock has been great, Peter, for you. I'm. I'm also not a wrestling fan, but I have a cousin who's in the business. You'll know him. And so I tune in whenever I can. And I saw you on whatever was going on Saturday, whatever. Cage match in the Saudi Arabia, wherever you guys were.

[Big E]

Yeah.

[Caller Sharkey]

And I turned on the TV and there's Peter right in the middle of two guys who I don't even know who they are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whoa.

[Caller Sharkey]

And the young, handsome Peter Rosenberg is right there breaking down wrestling like I've never heard anybody break down wrestling before. And looking amazing while he was doing it with the sunglasses, the tie and everything else. Kudos to you, Mr. Rosenberg.

[Joe Tessitore]

You looked great.

[Caller Sharkey]

You took the show away.

[Joe Tessitore]

Sunglasses, the whole thing.

[Caller Sharkey]

No. What a look like a movie star. Robert Redford back in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sharky.

[Big E]

Sharky, you're too kind.

[Don Allen]

Well, you can also catch Alan and a Lila look. Great sunglasses.

[Big E]

No, he was. He was just having fun with Sharky. Okay, he was adding on to it,

[Don Allen]

but so was anybody on the des in glasses. Sunglasses.

[Big E]

I was wearing these.

[Don Allen]

Those aren't sunglasses. Was anybody wearing sunglasses? Maybe he's confusing.

[Big E]

We were in a studio in Stanford.

[Joe Tessitore]

Yeah, they were in Dallas.

[Don Allen]

That wouldn't stop some yo yo wearing glasses.

[Joe Tessitore]

Fair point.

[Big E]

Well, I mean, it was just me, Big E and Joe. Tess, no one's put on sunglasses.

[Joe Tessitore]

You're between two guys.

[Caller Sharkey]

I didn't know where to Hit the ding on that one. Because I was trying to. I'm like, I know. Well, obviously you went to Saudi Arabia and flew back. I knew that. Of course, I didn't know where to go there.

[Big E]

Yeah, I mean, that would probably be more a buzzer situation than a ding situation because just not remotely true. And also, you give him a ding for Plosak. I thought that would get a buzz because that's not a human.

[Caller Sharkey]

Oh, I thought you just wanted the D. I just thought you wanted dings at any point.

[Big E]

Yeah, it works either way. It's just checking the box. But Plosak and Bob and Bobby. Not and Boppy and Bobby.

[Don Allen]

Now, was he saying and Bobby or was and part of the Bobby.

[Joe Tessitore]

I'm going with and Bobby and Bobby. It sounded very much an and Bobby.

[Big E]

It's like OG andunoby.

[Joe Tessitore]

I love Bobby.

[Big E]

We love Bobby. We love Sharky.

[Peter]

Hey, you know what else we love? Landry Sham.

[Big E]

Oh.

[Eric Chavez]

Oh.

[Peter]

There was some concern today.

[Joe Tessitore]

I actually talked to some people today about Shamet's future, and there was a concern they might lose him to other teams, but there was optimism that they could keep him.

[Peter]

Why? Because he loves being in New York.

[Joe Tessitore]

Well, Shams is telling us that Landry Shamut intends to sign a new four year, $24 million deal to return.

[Big E]

I love all these prices to the Knicks. All right. Not mad at that.

[Joe Tessitore]

He loves it here. And he's a.

[Peter]

Why wouldn't he, by the way, great dude, top shelf.

[Joe Tessitore]

Really a good guy.

[Don Allen]

All right, so that's smart as hell. Listen, if all they did was lose Mitch, I. I think as a Nick fan, you should be able to live with that. Because, listen, you lose an important player, but you lose a player. That's.

[Joe Tessitore]

Why don't we do that coming up. All right, this is a discussion to have for sure.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man.

[Joe Tessitore]

I just want to know it's good.

[Don Hahn]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter. Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN News York app, and your smart speakers.

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