Hour 2: Mathieu Darche & Talk About It Tuesday

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary
Episode: Hour 2: Mathieu Darche & Talk About It Tuesday
Release Date: June 24, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a variety of sports topics, with a particular focus on the New York Islanders' prospects in the upcoming NHL draft, the evolving landscape of sports media, and updates on the New York Mets. The discussion is enriched with insightful commentary, expert opinions, and interactive segments that shed light on both current events and long-term strategies within the sports world.

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NHL Draft and Islanders' Strategy

Discussion Highlights:

The podcast kicks off with a deep dive into the NHL draft, emphasizing the New York Islanders' advantageous position with the first overall pick. Don and Peter discuss the implications of this pick and the potential strategies the Islanders' General Manager, Matthew Darsh, might employ.

• Don LaGreca ([01:20]): Expresses excitement about hearing from the Mets' GM, setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of team strategies.

• Peter Rosenberg ([02:22]): Highlights the Islanders' recent decision to forgo their 12th pick as part of the J.T. Miller deal, anticipating a strong selection this year.

Notable Quote:

Don LaGreca ([05:18]): "It's pretty cool to have the first overall pick. But this team is not that far away from 20 and 21 when they went to the third round and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning."

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Interview with Matthew Darsh

Episode Segment:
At [13:16], Matthew Darsh, the General Manager of the New York Islanders, joins the podcast to discuss the team's current standing, draft plans, and future aspirations.

Key Points:

• Team Outlook: Darsh reflects on the Islanders' near-playoff performance in the 2020-21 season and outlines his vision for rebuilding and strengthening the team.

• Draft Philosophy: Emphasizes selecting the best available talent, aiming for players who can make an immediate impact. He states,

  Matthew Darsh ([15:12]): "I'm picking the best player available... I know I'm gonna get a special player that hopefully plays on the island for 10, 15 years."

• Coaching Alignments: Highlights the alignment between himself and Coach Patrick Waugh, focusing on a dedicated and winning mindset.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Darsh ([17:07]): "One of Kloop's biggest strengths is his emotional intelligence... he's been extremely good at finding how to get everyone to buy in."

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Sports Media Saturation and Football Dominance

Discussion Highlights:

The hosts engage in a critical discussion about the oversaturation of sports media, drawing parallels to the 24-hour news cycle. They argue that the relentless coverage, especially of football, diminishes the significance of other sports and events.

• Peter Rosenberg ([34:03]): "Sports is a lot like news... they just want to keep you locked in all day long."

• Don LaGreca ([31:07]): "The draft goes away in April and then the minicamps begin. Or OTAs, minicamps. Who's showing up, who's not, who's holding out, who's not. It's a never-ending story."

Notable Quote:

Matthew Darsh ([28:18]): "It's just too much. I love the game. To me, it's the number one sport, there's nothing better, but it's too much."

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New York Mets Updates and Player Injuries

Episode Segment:
Towards the latter part of the episode, the conversation shifts to updates on the New York Mets, focusing on player performances and injuries.

Key Points:

• Sean Manaia's Injury: Discussed Sean Manaia's elbow injury and the team's plans for his rehabilitation.

  Carlos Mendoza ([43:23]): "He had a cortisone shot yesterday so they're telling me that he should be fine for the rest of the year."

• Team Performance: Analysis of the Mets' recent slump, attributing it to multiple factors rather than a single issue.

  David Stearns ([45:07]): "When you go through a stretch like this, it's generally a number of different areas of the team that aren't performing up to strength."

Notable Quote:

David Stearns ([47:34]): "To be a really good offensive team, we need one through nine contributing more nights than not."

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Conclusions

The episode effectively captures the dynamic nature of sports management and media, offering listeners a comprehensive look into the strategic decisions shaping teams like the New York Islanders and the New York Mets. The hosts' insightful discussions highlight the complexities of team building, the challenges of media saturation, and the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports.

Final Thoughts:

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg continue to provide a platform where sports enthusiasts can gain in-depth understanding and stay updated with the latest developments, all while maintaining an engaging and conversational tone.

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Notable Timestamped Quotes:

• Don LaGreca ([05:18]): Discussing the Islanders' first overall pick.

• Matthew Darsh ([15:12]): On draft philosophy and team building.

• Peter Rosenberg ([34:03]): On sports media saturation.

• Matthew Darsh ([28:18]): On the overwhelming nature of constant sports coverage.

• David Stearns ([45:07]): On the Mets' team performance challenges.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast episode, offering a structured and comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers 401 of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The big city Don Legreca here on Don Hahn and Rosenberg hang out with the little 630. Then it's Mets, Braves. Oh thank you Dream God. I know. Listen from my youth, I'm always gonna hate the Cardinals, I'm always gonna hate the Cubs because those were the teams that stood in the way of championships when I was a kid. But now, but the Braves are just, my God, it's just, it's a humongous boil on your fanny that like they would a chainsaw couldn't take it all. So that's coming up at 6:30. Got that to look forward to. And I know you are also looking.

[Don LaGreca]

Forward to hearing from the Mets general manager talking about their whole situation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's speaking now.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, we'll get all that for you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going to talk to Matthew Darts in just a second. He's the general manager of the New York Islanders. Draft's coming up on Friday. It's out in LA. Rangers gave up their 12th pick. That was all part of the J.T. miller deal that goes back to Pittsburgh in the deal that they made. And so they decided to give up this year's first round pick rather than next year's first round pick. And the Islanders are going to select first overall. So it's pretty cool to have the first overall pick. But this team is not that far away from 20 and 21 when they went to the third round and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning where Darsh came from. So it'll be interesting to talk to him about that. So we're looking forward to that. The NBA draft will begin on Thursday and Friday. Allen's going to be away from us tomorrow and Thursday to work on the draft. But so the Knicks don't have a first round pick there either. The Nets I believe are taking the eighth pick but there's a lot of discussion about will they try to possibly move up to.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, they're also big fish hunting. They are because they're trying to get themselves back in the game they want to, you know, if there's a star on the move again, you know, you don't know what some teams are going to do. You know, they really want to get involved. Now obviously they weren't going to be involved in the Kevin Durant situation for obvious reasons but you know, they. I would expect the Nets to try to get themselves. They want to be aggressive and want to get in on some of these.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like to move up and listen just selfishly to see Ace Bailey land someplace locally I think would be cool. So is that something that could possibly be on the table?

[Don LaGreca]

See, I thought Philadelphia was an obvious.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But didn't he skip the workout with them?

[Don LaGreca]

That's something weird going on in his camp. The other Rutgers kid, by the way, is Dylan Harper. Is Ron.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's probably going to go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

He might go too. Like he's really good, I think. I'm telling you, like I think he's going to play right away. But Bailey is somebody that has had a weird pre draft where he's been very selective with who he's working out with. He's. They're telling teams about where they think they should go. They want to control where they go versus how high they go. I mean it could cost him money, but they don't care. They want it. They want the right situation for him. Listen, he's got a ton of talent. He's very similar build and potential game like of Kevin Durant. This tall kid who can shoot great score but feel for the game. A lot of little things that he's got to learn that in the wrong place and they need him to play right away and be a star event at work. So that. That's an. You could see him drop a little bit. Like I don't think it's going to be Shador Sanders drop, but he could drop more than anybody expects. When you consider his talent versus this draft class, he might go a lot. When I say lower, I mean higher. Does that make sense?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But no, I hear what you're saying.

[Don LaGreca]

He might go further down the board than he should based on talent. So it's going to be interesting at the very top.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just a crazy year for Rutgers, right? They had two players that could potentially go in the top two lottery draft and didn't even make the NCAA tournament and declined to go to the nit.

[Matthew Darsh]

By the way, when is there. Is there a comp you can even remember more than one player considered that good and the team did nothing.

[Don LaGreca]

They struggled a lot defensively. They also struggled with the Fact that you had a guy like Bailey who was so talented yet would blow up your offense. A lot of times you take bad shots like it just. It didn't just weird two, two talented guys together don't necessarily mean you're going to win. Look at Phoenix.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, well said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I think Michael's a good coach but it didn't reflect good on him to have that kind of talent and not really be able to do anything. But Rutgers, a local team like to see both of those kids drafted high and I. And I don't maybe. I guess there's a chance as you're talking that maybe Bailey does fall to 8 and with Brooklyn take him would they be able to trade up to Powell? Are they interested in him at all? I don't know. But considering the Knicks don't have a pick. Brooklyn picking eighth. You know not a ton of injury around this draft but that could be.

[Don LaGreca]

Something the Nets could be looking at the big kid from Duke. It's super talented kid. His name escapes me. I've been. Been starting my, my, my planning. I was just tech. I'll name. I was just texting one of the guys I'll be working with PJ Carlissimo and he you know he as well like just you know because he just comes off the NBA finals and now he's got to dive right into the the draft. So we're both tonight already planning on cram sessions together on learning every player we need to learn little dinner with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

PJ or no, is that done over dinner? Show the man some respect for God's sakes.

[Don LaGreca]

I did offer it to him because he has actually in the past been kind enough to take me to dinner before. I think it's the right thing. Is it not the right thing for me to do?

[Matthew Darsh]

Oh yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You should also say hey coach, let me take you out.

[Matthew Darsh]

You guys are staying near the Barclays Center?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Matthew Darsh]

I mean at least take the man of juniors. Get yourself a cheeseburger and a piece of cheesecake.

[Don LaGreca]

Something right?

[Matthew Darsh]

Something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. Draft prep. Other than having dinner. Seems awkward, doesn't it?

[Don LaGreca]

60 picks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you just going to hang out in the hotel room?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, no, I.

[Matthew Darsh]

Get in your undies.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, sit back. It's not quite how it's going to go down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's it going to go down?

[Don LaGreca]

I was thinking hotel bar.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah. You just sit in the ball game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which is dinner Adjace, isn't it?

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, you could do that too. You could just say hey let's meet in the bar. And you pick up the tab and.

[Don LaGreca]

You just hang out, you know, little casamigos.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, a couple of beverages, right? It's a beverage.

[Don LaGreca]

Beverage.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah. I love it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan's picking it up.

[Matthew Darsh]

Alan should pick up the beverage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Matthew Darsh]

What do you mean? Of course you should.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, I'm the host.

[Matthew Darsh]

He's the host. He's the host. He's the student. You know what I mean? He's the. He's the junior relative.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the way it goes down. Allen offers. PJ picks it up.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I told you. He has in the past. He's already done this for me. I want to return the favor. I'm thinking the right thing to do is show respect, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I think the respect is shown by making the offer in the hopes that he'll say, no, no, I got it.

[Don LaGreca]

But what do I do there? I don't want to say, your money's no good here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's got to be a line where you're like, you just accept his gesture.

[Don LaGreca]

When do you get to a point where it's like, no, I want to treat you. You've been good to me. When do I get to treat you?

[Matthew Darsh]

No, you just do it and you just go tell the waiter beforehand.

[Don LaGreca]

Or I also let Seth Greenberg know we're doing this. Have Seth join us. Then Seth going, hey, Seth, you want to get there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are salt of the earth people. He's working. I love.

[Don LaGreca]

These are great people.

[Matthew Darsh]

Seth's lovely, too.

[Don LaGreca]

This is. I tell you what, is as much work as it is in a short period of time. And you guys know, I'll miss this show for two days. And then we go right to the Beach Bash. So you'll see me Friday. My head will be. I'll be fried by then. Like, there'll be nothing left of me.

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, because. Let's be honest.

[Don LaGreca]

But I need the Beach Bash because of the two next two days. But working with those guys and Corey Alexander, who's like an encyclopedia of all these players. He knows them all like, it's such a joy, and it's so much fun. And we get the players right off the stage. We get them still crying. We get the. It's. It's. This has been something that I have found to be, like, one of the great experiences I've had just based on the fact that you're just so close to the great moment in every single. These are 60 lives, right, that are. That are changed immediately.

[Matthew Darsh]

Now, listen.

[Don LaGreca]

And you get to see it, like, the minute they Walk off the stage. It hits them like, oh my God, this just happened.

[Matthew Darsh]

Only 2, only 2% of them will become a big name. Maybe, maybe, maybe 10% of them will become really good players.

[Don LaGreca]

You think about it, this draft has flag at the top and you know, this guy's generational. But this is also one of those drafts that it's like, which one of these kids out of the first 15 to 20 that we talk to, which one of them is like the superstar we didn't know.

[Matthew Darsh]

Right. Probably someone, because no one knows. This is not a super highly touted draft. Which also means more work for you.

[Don LaGreca]

Affirmative. Yeah.

[Matthew Darsh]

You are putting in work.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Matthew Darsh]

Like, yeah, Corey Alexander, this is what he does year round. Alan, you got a lot of jobs like this. Means you gotta dive in these next couple of days.

[Don LaGreca]

I do a lot of asking questions.

[Matthew Darsh]

Right. That's, by the way, talk to me about.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, tell me about, tell me about Trey Johnson again.

[Matthew Darsh]

I'm normally not a big fan. I think it's a crutch, a bad interview crutch to say the words talk to me about or tell me about or talk about. Not here.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you can ask them this way. Why is this a fit? How does he make them?

[Matthew Darsh]

There you go. You got to come with a different way to say you talk about it, not me.

[Don LaGreca]

Exactly. What is he about? What's his best quality? Like those are. And then when they come, sit down, you got to always know the first question, the first couple of questions to ask them because the players, for the most part, their head's spinning. So you got to make sure it is.

[Matthew Darsh]

We are. We're finally here though, guys. I'm looking up at the screen. I'm seeing ESPN NFL Live at training camp. You know, players running around in T shirts and lacrosse shorts.

[Don LaGreca]

It's coming.

[Matthew Darsh]

We're talking about the NBA draft. I'm seeing the Oklahoma City Thunder on their, on their parade.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. You know what it means?

[Matthew Darsh]

We are. We are. It's dog days, baby. We finally made it. The Knicks gave us a long run.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what else to made it.

[Matthew Darsh]

To the dog days.

[Don LaGreca]

My get up appearances now are dwindling.

[Matthew Darsh]

Oh, yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But you know what it means? It's football season almost. Oh, it's fun.

[Matthew Darsh]

But that's, that's, that's. You can still.

[Don LaGreca]

You can smell the pigskin.

[Matthew Darsh]

I'm disappearing on paternity leave. And when I come back, guess what? It's football, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we ESPN do make sure we situate the fan in the room so that the breeze that the scent does come a little earlier than in most places, so I got to give it credit for that. Spike and St. Pete, there he is. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. What's up, Spike?

[Spike]

Hey, boys. Alan, you're gonna have. You're gonna be with royalty there. My eyes. It's gonna be a lot of fun.

[Don LaGreca]

And.

[Spike]

Yeah, yeah, they're good. I know. Seth Greenberg, a long, long time. Used to be school teacher out in the Island.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right. Long Island's best. Yep.

[Spike]

It was plain edge, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, wait, no, you're right. Plain edge. That's right. Sue Bird.

[Spike]

Yeah. Yeah, Playing edge. And then he went to West Virginia, and it's. It's really a good season. It really was a wonderful season. And I sent you a note back. This is what I want.

[Don LaGreca]

Really.

[Spike]

I think there's Triple J available. Jared Jackson, Jr.

[Don LaGreca]

I was told no, I was told that they were giving him an extension. I was told the Grizzlies are making sure to lock him up with an extension and he is not available. Jaw. They probably won't do anything right now with him, but I was told no. I mean, he'd obviously be a great fit.

[Spike]

What if Jenkins comes?

[Don LaGreca]

I think. I think Jaren Jackson would be great for the Lakers, but that's.

[Spike]

Well, Jared Jackson fills you at the four, and you put OG at the three, and you can live with towns if you can get a two that shoot off the dribble. I mean, they could take some pressure away from Bronson. And everything opened up. I mean, I need another couple of years because to be around this is. It's all opened up. It's like the seas parted here.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, I'm gonna say there's a lot of things that still need to happen, and hiring a coach is probably the first one.

[Spike]

Well, don't pick someone. I don't care who you bring in. I would take the tipster. That's. That's. That's a lot of crap to me. One more year. Why not? Anyway, listen, thanks for everything. I gotta say goodbye because it's the end of the season and I'm gonna watch you tomorrow. Where are you on? You on espn?

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Spike]

Okay, I'll catch you tomorrow. Have a good time. Break a leg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks a lot, Spike, for the call.

[Matthew Darsh]

The great Spike.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This came down. The Hockey hall of fame's class of 2025. Duncan, Keith. Zidane, Ochara.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Joe Thornton. And finally, Alexander McGilney. I'm surprised it took that long for McGilney.

[Matthew Darsh]

Wow, that's. That Is that is a long time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jennifer Botteral is going to go in as well.

[Don LaGreca]

That's cool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Women's category around the Decker will be in that category as well. All well deserved. I don't know why it took so long for McGilney to get but, but.

[Don LaGreca]

Zain Ochara, you know, I, my first year on the Islanders beat, he was like a 19, 20 year old defenseman who was still trying to figure it out. And I remember saying to myself when he'd struggled one game and he was like minus seven and his head was shaking and I'm like, I walk out, I'm like, this kid's never going to make worked out. Yeah, you think? Norris Trophy, Stanley cup, all that stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Matthew Darch is a general manager of the New York Islanders and they've got the first overall pick in the draft. Will be happening in LA on Friday. He's nice enough to join us here on Don Han and Rosenberg. How are you sir? Congratulations on the gig.

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, thank you very much, Alan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's definitely a lot of fun to be able to make, to be able to put a team in your image. They came over from the Tampa Bay Lightning, so you know, from winning. But my question for you is when you look at the Islanders, that's a team that the lightning beat in 20 and 21 in the third round. How close are the Islanders to being that team? Or is this something that completely has to be reimagined moving forward?

[Don LaGreca]

Forward?

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah. Well, like I said this, I, I won't, I won't apologize for 20 and 21.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry. But.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, listen, I think this team last year, I think it should have been in the playoff. I said it could have been in the playoffs. It's a team that, you know injuries, everybody has injuries, but some years they affect you more than others. The special teams were tough. So that's not a team that you're, you're burning down and trying the long process of a decade long rebuild because there's a lot of good pieces and let's face it, I got on the job and I've been very lucky. We got the first pick overall which right away will bring an impactful player. So I'm excited going forward.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's the thing. I mean you get the job, win the lottery, that's pretty good luck right out of the gate you take some of that luck from Tampa with you. But this is, this like some drafts, it's the obvious number one pick. There's always, you know, there's a generational players. Oh, that's definitely somebody you take number one. This isn't that draft, or am I wrong? Is it. Do you have in mind what you want or is it like. So it's. Is it fit or is it best talent? What do you do with the number one pick in a draft like this?

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, first of all, every year there's people always make a debate whether there is one or not. Even when McDavid got drafted, people were making a debate out of the first pick. So. But I know I'm going to get a hell of a player and I'm picking the best player available. You know, in the NFL, maybe you draft a guy and then the next most of them anywhere in the draft either when you draft them, they turn pro. The reality is in the sport, whether it's the first pick overall or the second round pick, you're taking the best player available. Which that's what I'm going to do on Friday night. I know I'm gonna get a special player that hopefully plays on the island for 10, 15 years. And I hope I'm here in 10, 15 years with the player because that means a lot of good things have happened.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Now, can you do us all a favor? You have the number one pick. This happens in every sport, in every draft. You get there, you get to the table, everybody's set up, the whole thing goes. And then Gary will come out and say the Islanders are on the clock. Matt, you have been on the clock for months now. Do you need the five minutes or can you just say we already know we're coming up now. We're not going to make everybody wait.

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, I just say by the time we sit down on Friday, I know who I'm going to pick. So, I mean, unless the league tells me I have to delay something, but I don't think it'll be too long. And like I said, we're really excited with the priority we get, but. Or I could even take my time out before the first king. That would be even better.

[Don LaGreca]

Right then you're trolling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were really a part of something special in Tampa to be able to build what was almost a dynasty there. What did you learn being around a guy like John Cooper, who I think is maybe one of the most underrated coaches, not just in hockey, but in sports in general. I would put him up as one of the best coaches in sports. What were you able to take from him?

[Matthew Darsh]

I think one of Koops biggest strength. Obviously, he's an outstanding coach and X's and lows and all that. But I keep telling people his biggest strength is his emotional intelligence. Because, let's face it, when you coach a team, you're coaching individuals in a team concept. And Coop has been extremely good at finding how to get everyone to buy in. Some of them, they need a kick in the rear end. Some of them, they need to be told they're good, they're pretty. They're this sort of. And as a team concept, he knows when the team needs a rubbing, needs to be waking up. And he knows sometimes, you know, things might be tough, but there's for various reasons, whether it's calendar or tired injuries, you have to pull back a bit and let them breathe. So. And that's a gift. Not everybody has that. And I think Kloop is outstanding at reading the room, knowing how to get to every player, how to get every player to feel important on the teams. So he's a very good coach and a special coach for that.

[Don LaGreca]

What makes Patrick Waugh the guy for you going forward?

[Matthew Darsh]

Patrick's a winner, right? He's won everywhere he's been, whether it's junior, now the last step, he's won in the NHL. He wants to win as a coach, so he's dedicated, he works. He gets emotions out of the guys. So what's great is Patty and I are really on the same page going forward. The style of play we want. He's here right now. We're in our meetings and we're going through the roster, what we feel we need and things like that. So we're very aligned. So I'm really excited to be working with Patrick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Matthew Darsh is the general manager of the New York Islanders here on Donjon and Rosenberg. The other thing to think about is free agency. More specific, restricted free agency, no adoption. Is that so? How do you handle his situation, Matthew?

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, I'm hoping to resign all four of our recipient free agent. It's a process with it. I've had great conversation with every agent. It's a very cordial negotiation. But these things, they take time. It's a process. So you're offering things, you're telling them where you feel the contract should be, they're telling you where they feel it should be. And then you work through gradually through various areas of the contract. And like I said, we've had great conversations with all four of the agents, and we'll keep going through the process.

[Don LaGreca]

And we saw the team announced that again, a player I'm sure you got to know well just as an opponent. And Matt Martin is retiring from the sport and he's a guy from that identity line. When the Islanders were getting to back to back conference finals, that line was so effective with him and Clutterbuck and Tzikis. And seeing him retire is one thing because it feels like an end of an era. But the team also just announced that you're going to have him in your. In your front office with you as a special assistant. What did you see out of Matt Martin as a player that told you we got to keep him around this organization?

[Matthew Darsh]

Well, the first thing is his first few years were my last few years playing. I wanted to make sure I wasn't finding him because he could have beat me up. So I remember that from his first few years. He was intimidating. He had the long hair back then and. No, but Matty, like I've obviously like around the league, you know, people I've heard, always heard great things about him. So he's retiring this year. So I met with him a couple times and I really like the conversations I had with him. You know, it's nice sometimes in your staff to have guys that are recently retired. You see like Toronto did that with Jason Spedzel back in the day. Like Montreal is doing that with Vinila Cavalier. Like so having guys that I've played against, the guys that are now in the league is always an asset. And he's a smart guy. Like he's. He wants to learn the management part of it. That's what he'd like to do. I'm sure he'd love to be a GM one day. So it's great for me to have a guy like him to lean on. So I'm going to have him involved in basically every facet. He's going to be with us at the draft. He's going to be in our meetings. He's here right now as we're talking about the roster and we'll have him do some amateur scouting, some pro scouting, going to Bridgeport. So it's. But I'm very happy to have him that he accepted to join our team and he's going to be a great addition.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You brought in him, you brought in Ryan Bonus. You've made some moves here, Matthew, but you also have Chris lamarillo and Steven Pellegrini from the previous staff. So how are you going to address those situations? Are they going to stay aboard?

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, I mean, I really enjoyed working with them. There's a lot of people here at contract. There's some good people here. Like I took over for Lou, but like any, any Team, you take over from a gm, there's good people in place. So I really enjoyed working with them. And gradually I added people and. And I brought Ryan because I felt we had a hole in the player personnel part of the hockey operation. So I brought Ryan in and then I brought Maddie. And then as we keep going, so I'm always going to try to improve the New York calendars on and off the ice. So we. But so far, everything has gone. Has gone great with those guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well, welcome to the Tri State area. And unfortunately, you're going to have to have maybe a different opinion on the Rangers and Devils than maybe you had when you were in Tampa. Islander fans are expect you to be in a way about those teams, specifically the team that wears blue.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah, well, you know, rivalries are great. I played my last three years of my career in Montreal, so I know what rival rivalries are with Montreal, Boston, Montreal, Toronto. But I know the three teams here, they have a nice rivalry, especially I guess we're not allowed to mention the R word if you're a Islander fan. So the other team in Manhattan, I guess I know it's a nice rivalry, so I'll make sure. It won't take long for me to understand that whether it's a Tuesday afternoon game, a Tuesday night game in January doesn't matter, or a playoff game, it doesn't matter. You want to be. I mean, you want to win every game. But some games mean more than others. Like I said, like Montreal has had their big rivalries, even in Tampa now, the last few years, we've had the Battle of Florida, which has some nasty games and nasty series. So it's actually good for the game to have those rivalries. So I'm excited to get through those.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you at the rink. Best of luck and good luck in the draft.

[Don LaGreca]

Remember, you kept. You keep the promise. Now you. When they say you're on the clock, you just stand right up and say, I don't need time. I've had all the time I've needed. I know who I'm picking.

[Matthew Darsh]

Oh, I throw my time on slide.

There you go.

[Don LaGreca]

Then I'll know that's for us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Matthew Darsh]

All right, thanks for having me, guys.

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Matthew Darch, the general manager of the New York Islanders, they are on the clock as we speak. First overall pick from LA coming up.

[Don LaGreca]

If I can mention Don. Also, the Islanders have the number one pick. It's a big deal again, me being a Long island guy and all that. Stuff. It's a big deal that the franchise and the organization has really tried to do a lot of things in the community. They are doing a big draft party at UBS arena and they do have tickets. It's $5, but all the proceeds go to the Islanders Children's foundation. So you definitely want to come to this thing. It's a lot of fun. The number one pick in the draft, the last time they had one, it was John Tavares. That turned out pretty well. Oh yeah, you know, he got them back to the playoffs. It was a lot of excitement back there. So, you know, if you want to be part of it again, five bucks UBS arena. And all the money goes to the Islanders Children's foundation, which is always a good thing.

[Matthew Darsh]

This is an ad by BetterHelp. It's okay to struggle. Real strength comes from opening up about what you're carrying and doing something about it so you can be at your best for yourself and everyone in your life. June is Mental Health Awareness month, and men today face immense pressure to perform, to provide, to keep it all together. So it's no wonder that 6 million men in the US suffer from depression every year and and it's often undiagnosed. With over 35,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. As the largest online provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout that's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Don LaGreca]

Summer's here, and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever, from beach days and weddings to weekend getaways in your everyday wardrobe. Discover stylish options under $100 from tons of your favorite brands like Mango Stick, Skims, Princess Polly and Madewell. It's easy, too, with free shipping and free returns in store, order pickup and more. Shop today in stores [e-mail] or download the Nordstrom app I think you're on mute. Workday starting to sound the same. I think you're on mute. Find something that sounds better for your career on LinkedIn. With LinkedIn job collections, you can browse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Curated collections by relevant industries and benefits.

[Don LaGreca]

Like Flexpto or hybrid workplaces so you can find the right job for you. Get [e-mail] jobs finding where you fit. LinkedIn knows how. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Matthew Darsh]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Sometimes you just can't take it anymore. This is let's talk about it Tuesday with Don Han and Rosenberg. Sponsored by Better Help.

[Matthew Darsh]

Oh yeah, baby. It's now time.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's right.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh yeah.

[Matthew Darsh]

For talk about it. Let's talk about it Tuesday. Sponsored by Better Help. Mental health is health. So many things going on in the world, ladies and gentlemen. Now most of them I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where are you going?

[Don LaGreca]

Where are you going?

[Matthew Darsh]

Surprise. Most of them I can't talk about on the show right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not going to get into much detail, but I was talking to some higher ups. There might be a bit of a thaw. Yeah, really, I wouldn't take any chances.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I think what's the worst that can happen?

[Matthew Darsh]

My feeling good? Yeah, no, you're good. You'll be fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was not one of those people.

[Matthew Darsh]

No, he can't. He'd survive it. But I realized when the NBA finals came to a close and I looked up at the screen and I see everyone just struggling to come up with the next thing to talk about, right. That sports has now suffered in the same way that news has. Meaning the world essentially became a worse place when the 24 hour news cycle began.

[Don LaGreca]

Cuz. Just too much.

[Matthew Darsh]

Cuz there was. There's just too much. There was a time when you watched the news for a half hour at night or you looked at the newspaper and that was it and you moved on. But then CNN said, oh no, no, no, no, no, we're gonna run 24 7. So we need doom and gloom 24 7.

[Don LaGreca]

Keep you watched.

[Matthew Darsh]

What's that going to be?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, because there's always the new audience. That's the whole theory. It's. It's for the new audience.

[Matthew Darsh]

Is it for the new audience though? Or is it we just want to keep you locked in all day long? We got to find something.

[Don LaGreca]

When do you binge watch news networks? When you get old and when bad things happen.

[Matthew Darsh]

And when bad things are happening.

[Don LaGreca]

Correct. Like there's a hurricane that hit somewhere in the country and they have coverage of it and you're just watching the 247 coverage, perhaps a threatening world war. It's well, and you.

[Matthew Darsh]

And then you go, oh, well now I got to see what's going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like the Weather Channel, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even know it exists until you find out a hurricane's coming.

[Don LaGreca]

Now you're watching it because you want to just see when's it coming, what's happening.

[Matthew Darsh]

But now, this is where we are with sports. And what bothers me is, as someone who loves football, I wish there was a break in sports coverage, meaning there was some period of time between the super bowl and now when football had actually gone to the back burner. So when the NBA Finals ended, you could go, let's get into it. But it doesn't feel that way because it's never stopped. On February 10th, we were talking football. On March 1st, we were talking football. Prime of the NCAA Tournament. Football. Masters football. Baseball starts. Football. NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs. Football. And so now today, when I look up and I see the beautiful Dan Orlovsky at training camp, I've got no movement. No movement?

[Don LaGreca]

No. You're numb.

[Matthew Darsh]

Now I'm numb.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Matthew Darsh]

All I see is football. There's no. We had Shefter on yesterday, to be honest, to promote the cause he's involved in because it's a really good and important cause. He's one of the most important people at our company.

[Don LaGreca]

Of course, we'll have him on to.

[Matthew Darsh]

Talk about the program, but when it got to the football of it, while he did give us a couple of interesting thoughts on the Jets, I'm just telling you now, as a football fan, I went. I don't have a lot of stories to ask him about. Like, I know I care about what happens to Terry McLaurin. People here don't.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you heard his response to, like. Even the Jackson Dart stuff. He's like, yeah, well, that's the quarterback room. Everything's great. Everything's great. Right now. It's minicamp, even. He was like, you know, what do you want? What do you want to say about it? But I'm with you. Here's the problem. The NBA season ends, the NHL season ends. They have their championship. What happens a week or two later?

[Matthew Darsh]

Draft.

[Don LaGreca]

Draft. The super bowl happens. When's the draft?

[Matthew Darsh]

Two months later.

[Don LaGreca]

The super bowl is in February.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

The draft end of April, Late April. By design. Because free agency is before the draft, unlike the other sports where it's the other way around. You end your season, you have your draft, you get into your free age, then you're done. We go away for a while. Right. You only hear from hockey and basketball mid July. Now the summer league thing throws everybody off because it's summer league, but nobody's really like, That's. You gotta be really sicko. Sicko like me.

[Matthew Darsh]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

To be watching summer league basketball on espn. But once you get to about late July, you won't hear much from the NBA or the NHL until October. Yeah, NHL training camps of September, but still like it'll really be October where it comes back again. Football has a Super bowl. And right away after the super bowl it becomes the free agency stories. And teams go right to business. Right. Right after. Just right to business. Coaches get fired, GMs making moves, hired coaches being hired. And then of course, Aaron Rodgers has hovered over this league for the last three seasons. And then there's the draft, which we have a mock 8,000,000.5. Like there's just so many mocks and that carries the day. The draft goes away in April and then the minicamps begin. OTAs minicamps. Who's showing up, who's not, who's holding out, who's not. It's a never ending story. It never goes away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Matthew Darsh]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

Baseball goes away, baseball goes away. Winter meetings, baseball, goodbye, see you in February.

[Matthew Darsh]

You know, baseball does go away. I mean it didn't really on the case show, but yes, no, for, for the average person, it does go away for a little while.

[Don LaGreca]

It goes away. It just happens to. It's the only football. But they've figured out how to be just like all. Like you were saying 24, 7, 3, 6.

[Matthew Darsh]

But I'm just saying for me as someone who loves football, yeah, it's. It's kind of brutal because right now they're, they're finally making their way back and you should be thinking July's around the corner. Exciting.

[Don LaGreca]

Let me catch up.

[Matthew Darsh]

Honestly, to me it's like when hard knock starts. If that's your thing, if you, if you. By the way, if you care about your team's preseason games because now. Do you at all.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Matthew Darsh]

There used to be some meaning to the preseason.

[Don LaGreca]

Three of them and two of them are like useless. They don't play any starters. If you do maybe for one or two sequences, that's about it.

[Matthew Darsh]

So there's like, it's. It's almost like they've. They've found a way to be so constant in our lives that they have taken away the Christmas morning feeling. When do you. When is the Christmas morning for football week one, I guess, sorta. But at that point you've been. They've been running so hard through August. They just. It's too much. I love the game. To me it's the number One sport, there's nothing better, but it's. It's too much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because sports is a lot like news. There was a time where the news. It wasn't about advertising, it wasn't about ratings. Just get the information out there, and then somebody realized, we can make money from this. So it's basically, let's give you the stories we think people want the most. So then it just becomes a picking and choosing of what you're gonna give. Sports used to be, you know, when I grew up, every season had its time. Every sport was treated pretty much the same. You know, you give up the Stanley Cup Final stuff or the World Series or the super bowl. Like, you knew certain things were more important than other things, but it was like, all right, this is the time of year. Get set. It's basketball season, then it's baseball season, then it's football season. And that's kind of the way it went. And then somebody, you know, especially at our company, decided, you know what? Why should we give information on sports that's less popular? We can debate Dak Prescott's lineage, and it'll get bigger ratings than talking about the NBA Finals. Because it's a bottom line.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a bigger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a bottom line. So you look at it as an oversaturation. The way we look at it from an executive standpoint is it's what the people want.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, people. People necessarily don't want to talk about baseball in June. They want to talk about football because they love football.

[Matthew Darsh]

Football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think there's ever been a time in this country's history that the number one sport was this by itself. Like, it was. You know, baseball was huge. But baseball did share the landscape in the 20s and 30s with boxing and with harness, with. With horse racing, is that there were other things that. That. That would bring attention, you know, and then as you went through the 50s and 60s, it's like, you know, baseball was still dominant, but then football started to come up. There was a one, but there was always something close. Football is so number one, so far ahead of number two. I don't think that we've ever had the gap between one and two that.

[Matthew Darsh]

We have right now. Right now, on our beautiful network, they are talking to Dallas Goddard. Well, they're at Tight End University.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. They're in Nashville right now at Tight End University. And this is being consumed. And here's why. Again, in our market, as big as it is, college football is not really a massive appeal that it is in other areas of the country. Which by the way, they'll talk college football in spring. What? Spring football. Spring football, like it just never stops. So this is I think Don Don revealing that. I think people need to understand that it's all about the numbers. And we have analytics in this business as well. And the analytics tell you who's watching more segments, who's listening to more segments. Oh, that's about football. That's what everybody want or that's majority of people want. We try to serve everyone. We just talked to the islanders general manager about the draft, which is not.

[Matthew Darsh]

Front, not until we're talking about Anthony Volpe all day. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

We talk, you know, we try to hit every sport. We're trying to be a well rounded show. But at what cost? At the cost of some people who are like, I don't want to listen to that. Turn it off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen. We did not play to the room at 4:00. We did what I think was right for the audience.

[Don LaGreca]

Number one, well rounded major sport.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

You do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you. But I'm sure there was a lot of the audience that doesn't care about hockey and doesn't care about the island.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. But a lot of us, but we can do that because we've got, you know, fabulous executives that aren't up our butt every two seconds and they want a well rounded show.

[Don LaGreca]

Let us do the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I want people to know that we're willing to touch on everything and.

[Don LaGreca]

That we don't just parachute in when there's a big story. Now all of a sudden we're experts. No, we follow this stuff every day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There is that when the bean counters there, what's going to move the needle. Nevermind what the right thing to do, nevermind what's topical. And also it's not just the popularity of football, it's the games are meaningful. I mean right now, baseball in June, people are laughing at us going, you're really concerned about the Mets, but you laughed at me.

[Don LaGreca]

You're telling me to sit back and relax.

[Matthew Darsh]

Michael had a caller today on his show my way in that I thought made a really good point about how he was explaining how he finds the other callers to his show talk about baseball to be insane. Because most of the people who are that type who are calling are 162 game consumers. That is so different than any other sport. Even if you're an insane NBA fan and you watch 80 games a year of which they do exist. Right. For their own team for sure. Even that is half of the Baseball schedule half right. So it's just a different and specific kind of fan. Whereas football can grab everyone. Because you can be what we would describe as a quote, sick football fan. You're giving up 25 days a year. It's just not. You can be normal. You can be normal and give your life to football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But football, when I was growing up, I shut it down. Like when football, baseball was over, I moved on to football and then it was about football.

[Don LaGreca]

And then let me catch up when my sports, the other sports starts up, let me catch up what's going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There used to be, you know, baseball, the baseball hot stove that doesn't exist. It's all hot stove. It's all, it's all 24 7. Believe me. Most of these networks remember when we were growing up, ESPN was repeating SportsCenter until 4:00 in the afternoon. Now we've got shows and people are paying attention.

[Don LaGreca]

NFL live, NBA today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what works and what doesn't? Unfortunately, sometimes what doesn't work.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's what we're talking about. We're talking about this today, right?

[Matthew Darsh]

That's what we did talk about. It is too much.

[Don LaGreca]

Maybe other people want to talk about it too. How do you feel about the way the business is going? But we do 9377 and we do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have Mendoza, we do have Stearns. They spoke to the media today. So those concerned about the Mets, we've got that coming up.

[Matthew Darsh]

And that was talk about it Tuesday. Sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com timeout today for 10% off your first month of therapy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Hanna Rosenberg till 6:30 here on ESPN New York.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Matthew Darsh]

Your summer favorites are ready at Starbucks.

[Don LaGreca]

With a Venmo debit card. You can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show? You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. Card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is good a except Venmo purchase restrictions apply. My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink. Then straight to the gym, pre K pickup back home to meal prep. Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius. Gotta keep the lights on when the three alarm hits. I'm ready. Celsius Live Fit. Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate [e-mail] thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Matthew Darsh]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sean Mania. He got a cortisone shot. His body's in his elbow.

[Don LaGreca]

Body's in his elbow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bodies in his elbow. So he's going to be shut down two to three days.

[Don LaGreca]

It's not where you want bodies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm no doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Express Express last night. Is that. I guess he must have been in some discomfort. They gave him the cortisone shot. You don't want them to throw. I guess you want to see. All right. I don't want to do any further damage because if you start throwing with the cortisone shot, take two, three days and it should be okay. So and we've got Montas going tonight, but let's see if that holds Mania back any further, but he's been shut down two to three days. Remember, he shut he retired 14 consecutive batters down in Syracuse the last time he threw, so it looks like he's close. Well, Carlos Mendoza and David Stern spoke today. Mets have dropped nine of their last 10. Here's Mendoza on Frankie Montas pitching tonight.

[Carlos Mendoza]

First time out on a big league game. We'll watch him closely. We'll see how the ball is coming out. We'll see how you know the Strike throwing ability, how they're taking swings and things like that. And we'll go from there. Excited watching pitch today, obviously it was one of the biggest acquisitions from the pitching staff and here he is back with the team and with an opportunity to give us a chance to win a baseball game.

[Don LaGreca]

And there's a reason why they brought him in. I mean he's supposed to be one of the main starters. They like that how like again, you're not spending a lot but you still he is not an average pitcher. He's above average pitcher. When he's, when he's right he does get hurt a lot, but when he's right, he's above average. So you brought him in for this. So you're getting still, you know, more than a half a season of now he's got to stay healthy and now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course he's got to produce now, you know, an underrated injury for the Mets has been Jesse Winker and it's been kind of quiet because the Mets were winning but now they're losing and you know, that could probably be somebody that could help the bottom of the order. We get an update on him from.

[Carlos Mendoza]

Carlos so he'll continue to pretty much go through full workouts here. The goal is hopefully he's dhing by the end of the weekend in a minor league rehab assignment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he's not close and by the.

[Don LaGreca]

Weekend at least he's dhing. I mean he's well in minor league stints.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's getting there, but not like that close. Here's Carlos's update on Maniah.

[Carlos Mendoza]

After the last outing he complained about his left elbow, so he got an MRI yesterday and show loose body there. So he had a cortisone shot yesterday. So he's shut down from throwing from 48 to 72 hours and then we'll get him, will get him going again. So hopefully he's throwing bullpens again and. But now that next start is we're looking at next week now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So another week without him. The Mets play the Pirates this weekend and he'll be available I guess after that. Carlos, is he going to need surgery?

[Carlos Mendoza]

No. So they're telling me with, you know, because he had a cortisone shot yesterday so they're telling me that he should be fine for the rest of the year. But again, we'll see what happens here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

David Stearns, realistic expectations for Sean Maniah.

[David Stearns]

Yeah, I don't think it slows us down too much. I think the goal right now is he's probably pitching in a rehab game a week from today, next Tuesday, next Wednesday, and if he's able to do that and that goes well, that would be the last one, probably.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then.

[David Stearns]

And then we get him back. So this sets us back a couple of days, but at least right now we don't anticipate this necessarily resetting anything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, let's live in the now here. I think these next two are going to be very, very important. What's the reason for this team's slump? David?

[David Stearns]

When you go through a stretch like this, at least in my experience, it's generally not one thing. We've got a really good team, and for a really good team to go through a stretch like this, it's generally a number of different areas of the team that aren't performing up to strength. Certainly what we did earlier in the year are up to our capabilities, and we've seen that. We've had our starters go shorter and at times less effectively than we had seen for long stretches of this year. Segments of our offense and lineup aren't producing at a rate that we had previously and also that we think we should be producing at. And then when we've had, in a couple instances when we've had close games or. Or leads in the second half of games, we have to be able to hold them. And those were all things we were doing pretty well for a long stretch of this season. And when you take a little bit of a step back in each area of the game and you play good teams and you have some injuries, you run into a stretch like this. And now it's our job to keep moving forward and get out of this as quickly and as well as we can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the money. Quote. Will there be any lineup changes at the trade deadline?

[David Stearns]

I don't know yet. We have some players who are getting healthy who I think will help there. I also think the players who have struggled in our lineup over the last month largely are better offensive players than we've seen so far, and they themselves have demonstrated that over periods of this season. Clearly, this month, however you want to define it, our bottom half of our lineup has not produced in a way that's helping us score runs. This is a team game, and so it's really tough to rely on three or four, even five guys to carry the load every single night. And we know that to be a really good offensive team, we certainly have the potential and aspiration to be a really good offensive team, we need one through nine contributing more nights than not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now coming up we're going to react to all the things.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, there's a lot there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a lot to really dive into because I do think, and again, I don't want to like, disrespect Alan's concern for the Yankees, but I think, think it is a long term concern. But they're okay right now. I'm not sure the Mets are okay right now. It's about even getting to the trade deadline.

[Don LaGreca]

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