Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Happy Soto

ESPN New York
September 3, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on Juan Soto’s resurgence with the Mets, debunking media narratives about his supposed unhappiness, and dissecting the psychology and leadership roles of modern sports stars in New York. Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg navigate fan perspectives, contract debates, and the Mets-Yankees rivalry, weaving in playful debate and classic banter. They also touch on the Jets' persistent injuries, All-Star roster nostalgia, and—of course—a liberal dose of New York sports talk irreverence.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Juan Soto’s Mood, Performance, and Perception

[00:52–17:14]

• Narrative Debunking: The hosts vigorously challenge the notion, circulated especially during Soto’s early-season struggles, that Juan Soto was regretful or unhappy being with the Mets instead of the Yankees.
• Performance Equals Happiness: The crew agrees that Soto’s public demeanor tracks directly with his personal performance, not his team’s. When he’s hitting, he’s happy, regardless of wins or losses.
  • Peter Rosenberg [01:48]: "He might go 40 for 40... he's raking in September exactly when the Mets needed him... All the conversation that we had about miserable contract, hates being a Met, wishes he was a Yankee... Can we stop...?"
  • Alan Hahn [07:08]: "[Players] are professionals who get paid a lot and keep score themselves. They're not on a high school team... They want to play well."
• Transition & Adjustment: Analysts compare Soto’s adaptation to New York with host transitions (e.g., show changes), arguing struggles are part of high-pressure environments, not necessarily reflective of regret.
  • Don Hahn [05:03]: "Some guys are like that. That's a real thing, though."
• Team Chemistry & Leadership: The discussion moves to the difference between stars who are “leaders” and those who focus on individual contribution.
  • Don Hahn [10:03]: "He's not a leader. He's not that kind of [player]... it was him missing his numbers, him feeling like I'm not playing up to the way I want to play."
  • Peter Rosenberg [13:59]: "He could become a leader... but he's not a leader now because he's only been here for like five minutes."
• Comparing Yankees Era: Hosts compare Soto’s first few months to those with the Yankees, stressing that payroll, not team, was always the deciding factor.

2. Star Power, Leadership Styles, and Media Facades

[15:13–16:29, 19:15–22:23]

• Judge vs. Jeter vs. Soto: Lively banter on the public personas of Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter. Hosts note how Judge presents a corporate, PR-polished front, whereas Soto is less capable/willing to “fake it.”
  • Don Hahn [15:06]: "He is a PR firm representing the Yankees."
  • Alan Hahn [13:36]: "What he's not is Aaron Judge, who will put up this front..."
• Jeter’s "Right" to Be Cliché: One caller argues Jeter’s earned cliché answers through championships, unlike Judge.
  • Caller [18:21]: "Jeter got the... right to sort of give you nothing because of how well he played..."
• Athlete Emotion and New York Media: The hosts debate how much player emotion should matter and how it is interpreted by both fans and media professionals.

3. Roster and Team Dynamics: Mets, Yankees, and Beyond

[08:12-09:02, 16:29–17:14, 31:10–32:43]

• Yankees Outfield Logjam: The future for Trent Grisham and others amid a crowded outfield is debated ("good problem to have").
  • Don Hahn [08:22]: "One guy had a resume... year after year. The other guy has never done this."
• Leadership Beyond the Stars: Discussion on Starling Marte as a respected leader despite losing playing time to Soto, and the value of "glue guys."
  • Peter Rosenberg [31:36]: "There's just something about Starling Marte... as a leader, like, that's a leader."

4. Jets' Injury Frustrations: "Optimism Is a Curse"

[34:04–36:08]

• Elijah Vera-Tucker’s Injury: The familiar agony of Jets fans as key guard AVT is (again) likely out for the season.
  • Don Hahn [34:23]: "The spring suddenly engages and just pushes you right off the chair and right into the wall of nails..."
• Curses and Continuity: Framing the Jets' struggles as a near-fatalistic tradition, with depth and luck (or lack thereof) chronicled.

5. Listener Q&A: Eats, Takes, and Nostalgia

[32:52–49:50]

• Best Pizza Near Barclays Center [32:52–33:51]: Multiple recommendations including Patsy’s, Grimaldi’s, and Juliana’s—interspersed with banter about Brooklyn’s pizza credentials.
  • Don Hahn [33:32]: "It's a New York slice... Every slice in Brooklyn's great, so that's not true."
• All-Star Game Rosters [45:45–48:41]: Caller proposes ranking greatest all-star lineups; hosts indulge in NBA and NHL all-star nostalgia, comparing stacked lineups from the late ‘90s.
  • Don Hahn [46:47]: "[NBA East 1998]: That's Reggie, Penny Hardaway, Sean Kemp, Grant Hill, Dikembe Mutombo... West: Shaq, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant..."

6. Signature Banter & Classic Moments

[26:14–32:43 & 41:28–49:50]

• Comic Car Tangent: Hilarious riff on 1980s music videos, car-sex jokes, and literalism run amok.
  • Peter Rosenberg [26:38]: "If a car can get a woman pregnant, she would have had twins."
  • Alan Hahn [27:02]: "It's not like... well, it went so well. The twins happened."
• Hosts Mocking Each Other’s Takes: Running gag about interrupting or stomping on each other’s points, showcased in the All-Star roster chat.
  • Peter Rosenberg [47:21]: "Why is everybody just taking turns destroying people's takes on the show?"

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Soto’s “glum” narrative:
  • Peter Rosenberg [01:47]: "Where are you? Now all of a sudden he's all smiles. Why? 'Cause he's hitting and he wasn't hitting before."
  • Don Hahn [03:51]: "It was a lot of that. The fact that the Mets were winning and he was the one guy that didn't seem to be having any fun."
• On player motivations:
  • Alan Hahn [07:07]: "These are professionals who get paid a lot and keep score themselves... They want to play well."
  • Don Hahn [10:41]: "The guy really doesn't care about much more than his money and his numbers."
• On star leadership:
  • Peter Rosenberg [13:59]: "He could become a leader... but he's not a leader now because he's only been here for like five minutes."
  • Don Hahn [15:05]: "[Judge is] a PR firm representing the Yankees."
• On being a Jets fan:
  • Don Hahn [34:23]: "The spring suddenly engages and just pushes you right off the chair and right into the wall of nails."
• Comic exchange – car pregnancy joke:
  • Peter Rosenberg [26:38]: "If a car can get a woman pregnant, she would have had twins."
  • Alan Hahn [27:02]: "It's not like... well, it went so well. The twins happened."
• Caller shade on Jeter/Judge:
  • Caller [18:21]: "Jeter got the... right to sort of give you nothing because of how well he played... He has the right to be a PR machine. Judge doesn't have that right."

Timestamps for Core Segments

• Juan Soto’s mood/performance/narrative: 00:52–17:14
• Star leadership persona debate: 15:13–16:29, 19:15–22:23
• Mets/Yankees roster, leadership in clubhouse: 08:12–09:02, 16:29–17:14, 31:10–32:43
• Jets’ injuries and pessimism: 34:04–36:08
• All-Star nostalgia, In-show Take Critique: 45:45–49:50
• Comedy & banter (car-sex jokes): 26:14–32:43

Original Tone & Show Personality

The Don, Hahn & Rosenberg “voice” is alive throughout—sharp, playful, and hyper-local. The hosts riff, interrupt, mock, and challenge each other and callers, keeping the tone brash but inviting. Their sincerity on player psychology is countered by show-stealing comedic bits, impromptu listener advice (pizza, et al.), and affectionate jabs at New York sports fandom’s eternal anxieties.

Summary

This episode is a quintessential slice of New York sports radio: a passionate, unfiltered, and often hilarious exploration of player narratives, fan psychology, leadership in the locker room, and the relentless drama of local teams. Juan Soto's September tear sets the stage for debates about media narratives, locker-room culture, and what motivates star athletes at the highest level. Interspersed with these debates are memorable bursts of humor, nostalgia, and practical advice, making for a compelling, must-hear hour for any New York sports fan.