Hour 3: Mets NL East Contenders?

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 3: Mets NL East Contenders?
Release Date: February 12, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Focus: Analysis of the New York Mets' offseason moves and their prospects in the National League East division.

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1. Introduction to Season Changes and NHL Four Nations Tournament

The episode kicks off with Alan Hahn introducing the main discussion points, starting with the NHL’s innovative Four Nations Tournament. Alan expresses enthusiasm for the tournament's format, highlighting its ability to engage players and promote the sport differently compared to traditional All-Star games.

Alan Hahn (02:23): "I really would love to see the NBA do something like this because you do have a lot of international flair now in the league more than ever."

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2. The NBA All-Star Weekend Debate

The hosts delve into the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, debating whether to maintain its traditional format or adopt an in-season tournament similar to the NHL's approach. The conversation touches on the potential impact of NFL scheduling on basketball viewership during the holiday season.

Don LaGreca (03:01): "The NFL's basically given up with the flag football. That's over it."

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3. Infamous Player List and Listener Feedback

Don initiated a segment featuring a list of infamous sports moments and players, which sparked considerable listener feedback. The list included names like Ralph Branca, Leon Lett, and Bill Buckner, leading to a robust discussion about the criteria for inclusion and the balance between a player's legacy and their notorious moments.

Don LaGreca (05:15): "You can't just come up with a list of, like, you know, worst moments in sports history, like, the player doesn't matter."

Listeners contributed by suggesting additional names and defending their memories of certain players’ careers beyond infamous plays.

Caller Rich (07:40): "The safety was the difference and they game. So just wanted to bring that."

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4. Transition to Mets' Offseason Moves

Shifting focus, Alan brings up David Stearns' remarks on the Mets' offseason acquisitions, particularly the addition of Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. The discussion centers on whether these moves solidify the Mets as contenders in the NL East.

Alan Hahn (13:22): "They get Juan Soto. That's the biggest offseason win that the Mets have ever had."

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5. Evaluating the Mets' Roster and Financial Strategy

Don critiques the Mets' strategy of investing heavily in pitching without establishing themselves as the top team in their division. He emphasizes concerns over the sustainability of this approach, especially considering the unpredictability of pitchers’ performances and injuries.

Don LaGreca (14:22): "You look at last year, there was no sizzle to their starting pitching and you lost Senga... get used to this, people."

Alan and David discuss the merits and drawbacks of the Mets' focus on pitching, debating whether prioritizing everyday players might yield better results.

David Stern (17:04): "They're less valuable than they've ever been... the money needs to be spent on everyday players."

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6. Analyzing the Mets’ Pitching Rotation and Bullpen

The conversation moves to the specifics of the Mets' pitching rotation, highlighting players like Garrett Cole, Clay Holmes, and Patrick Willis. Don praises the team's strategy of securing quality pitchers on shorter contracts to mitigate financial risks associated with long-term injuries and performance declines.

Don LaGreca (19:30): "I think they're better than they were last year, at least on paper... they got Pacheco back, Buto comes back."

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7. Discussion on Player Loyalty and Team Dynamics

A significant portion of the episode addresses the evolving nature of player-team relationships, particularly focusing on the recent departure of key players like Juan Soto. The hosts express concern over the apparent lack of personal connections and team cohesion, suggesting that modern sports have become more transactional.

Alan Hahn (28:38): "It just feels strange and disconnected to just kind of like, you know, well, you know, I just was following along."

Don and Alan debate whether teams are doing enough to retain star players or if the financial incentives are overshadowing personal loyalty and team spirit.

Don LaGreca (32:58): "You got to realize, this is not Judge... You know, the best case on the best guys on the team."

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8. Listener Calls and Additional Insights

Throughout the episode, listeners contribute their perspectives on infamous plays, player movements, and team strategies. Notable contributions include discussions about Roy Regals' "Wrong Way" play and reflections on historical sports moments that left lasting impacts on players' legacies.

Caller Joey (46:53): "I was thinking of Freddie Brown. Georgetown... James Worthy and Michael Jordan who won a championship."

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9. Closing Thoughts on the Mets' Future Prospects

As the conversation wraps up, the hosts weigh the Mets' chances in the NL East, acknowledging the competitiveness of the division and the unpredictability of the season. They express cautious optimism but maintain that while the Mets have made significant moves, their path to the playoffs requires continued strategic execution and perhaps a bit of luck.

Don LaGreca (22:24): "If you get your ducks in a row early and you hit, you get off to a fast start, who knows?"

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Conclusion

The episode provides an in-depth analysis of the New York Mets' offseason strategies and their implications for the upcoming season. Through robust discussions and listener interactions, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg offer a nuanced perspective on team building, player loyalty, and the evolving dynamics of modern sports.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn (02:23): "I really would love to see the NBA do something like this because you do have a lot of international flair now in the league more than ever."

• Don LaGreca (14:22): "You look at last year, there was no sizzle to their starting pitching and you lost Senga... get used to this, people."

• David Stern (17:04): "They're less valuable than they've ever been... the money needs to be spent on everyday players."

• Alan Hahn (28:38): "It just feels strange and disconnected to just kind of like, you know, well, you know, I just was following along."

• Don LaGreca (22:24): "If you get your ducks in a row early and you hit, you get off to a fast start, who knows?"

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode's key discussions, offering valuable insights for both avid listeners and newcomers interested in the New York Mets and broader sports dynamics.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve.

[Don LaGreca]

And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3.

[Alan Hahn]

Will that be cash or credit?

[Don LaGreca]

Credit.

[Alan Hahn]

4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion that does the heavy lifting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you can do you get [e-mail].

[Don LaGreca]

Compatible with select apps.

[Alan Hahn]

Requires Google Gemini account.

[Don LaGreca]

Results may vary based on input.

[Alan Hahn]

Check responses for accuracy. This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right, here we go into the big five o'clock hour with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number we got calls to get to tons of them. We will get to those more conversations. David Sterns spoke today about his roster and about the addition of not only Soto, but adding Pete Alonso at the very end of the day. So we'll get into that and what that all means for the Mets, but just quickly just, you know, tying up some loose ends. So Don, you asked the question about what to do as we were just talking about the four, the four nations for the NHL begins tonight. It's going to be a lot of fun. I think it's a great way to instead of just do the same old All Star game to do something different. The players will be engaged, the hockey will be good and it still promotes the game. I really would love to see the NBA do something like this because you do have a lot of international flair now in the league more than ever and some of your best players are international players. But there is the other option of what to do for All Star Weekend, which this is. It's this weekend for the NBA and that is to move the in season tournament. They were doing it like you said, in December as sort of a way to like wake up the season and then bring you into, you know, the Christmas Day games and all. I think they flip it, don't. I think Christmas Day could end up being the first of the in season tournament games because that's their big day. And then January, which always feels like a dead period in the league. You make that the month that you play a bunch of those games and then in February you get to your quarterfinal, semifinal and then your championship game is your All Star weekend. How do you think about that?

[Don LaGreca]

See, I like that you still name.

[Alan Hahn]

An All Star team. You just don't. Those guys don't play and they don't want to play anyway.

[Don LaGreca]

And you also got to spice up, up Christmas because Christmas is taken away from you by the NFL. The NFL. Now, since they played on a Wednesday, they're going to play on Christmas Day every year.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, every year. It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

And. And that's going to squash those games. Now, if you can make them a little bit more meaningful because I, because I, I'm not for. Well, let's just take a knee. It's the NFL and there are NBA fans. There are people that watch those games. But it certainly does affect the rating when you've got, especially in certain markets when you've going up against NFL regular season games, especially December. NFL regular season games.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

But if you could spice it up by attaching to I. You got to think outside the box, man. I mean, the All Star games just don't work. They don't, they don't get a rating anymore. The NFL's basically given up with the, with the flag football. That's over it. Baseball doesn't have to worry about it. Not because baseball is so much better than everybody else, but it's in the middle of the summer. It's got no competition. It's easy to play, easy game to.

[Alan Hahn]

Play as an All Star game.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. Exactly. And I think the Home Run Derby has surpassed All Star Saturday in the NBA probably as like the best show. I think the Home Run Derby is the best All Star weekend show of any of the sports. It's still really good. So anyways, I kind of foresee them going to that at some point, but it remains to be seen. Don had a list earlier in the show. We do one every Wednesday. And boy, this list has taken on a lot of criticism, Don, that you have faced. I mean, I've gotten some texts from.

[Don LaGreca]

Friends I know because I think that people, because I'm getting people talking about Ralph Branca. They're talking about Leon Let. I'm like, listen, Leon Let was not a great place.

[Alan Hahn]

A really good player Thanksgiving though, right?

[Don LaGreca]

But, but see, but it's also, when.

[Alan Hahn]

I say the guy's name, to me it's the name association. I say his name.

[Don LaGreca]

What do you think the problem is? That's not, that's not honoring the list that we created yesterday on the show with Peter Gotcha. We're talking. So the greatness of the player meant something like, there's going to be tons of play. Now you're just talking about you know, worst moments in sports history, like, the player doesn't matter. So, of course, if you're going to talk about, well, there's two at let. Are you talking about the fumble in the Super Bowl? Are you talking about the Thanksgiving against the Dolphins? You know, but Leon. Yeah, of course you're going to think about those plays, because Leon Lett was a nice player, wasn't a great player. The whole purpose of it was, here are some really great players that should be known for other things. Chris Weber's a Hall of Fame basketball player, and he should be known for what he did in Michigan. He should be known for being a great NBA player. Instead, first thing you think of, timeout. Jackie Smith's in the hall of Fame, but the first thing you think of is dropping a pass in the super bowl that might have cost the Cowboys the game like that, to that level. Bill Buckner was a really good player, like. But the first thing. Then that's what I'm thinking of. But if you want to just come up with a list of, like, you know, sports boners, then it. Then it's easy to come up with a different list.

[Alan Hahn]

Infamous names. That's what it is.

[Don LaGreca]

You see what I'm saying, Peter? It's honoring the list. Listening yesterday in the show. So that's why people.

[David Stern]

And we did explain it twice today. I mean, we explained. Listen, Alan and I still have some slight disagreements with the list, but. Okay, but you honored. You honored what the list.

[Alan Hahn]

The whole idea of a list is you make the list so people disagree with it.

[Don LaGreca]

Your biggest problem is the order of the list. I. I don't think you really have a problem of, like, taking anybody out. Like. Like the. Who you taking out? I think you're fine with the five. It's just.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, you know, the guy that played with actual pig skin. I'd probably take that one out.

[Don LaGreca]

But I'm not going to apologize. Listen, I wasn't alive in 1964, but. But I just don't like these people that if it didn't happen during their lifetime, like, it doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And when I was a kid, I. I thirst for finding out stuff from the past. See, this is the biggest problem. I'm gonna be able to get off my lawn guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

When you have a generation of fans that don't watch games, they get all their information after the fact. I found out about the entire Mets history. You know how. By watching Met games and Ralph Kiner would tell me all the different things that happened, like in the Mets History and you watch the games. Same thing with like hockey and everything else. I learned the game through my father. Watching the game with him and it coming up in conversation. But this is an example. People just don't watch sports the same way. I don't think we talked about pass by. We're good.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Rich in Texas wants to discuss the list with you. Go ahead, Rich.

[Caller]

Hey, good afternoon guys. And just want to let you know that I really appreciate talking to you. It's the first time I've spoken to you, but you guys doing great. The chemistry you have is really incredible. And I think you're going to own afternoons in New York for a long time. I wanted to say. You're welcome. I wanted to you just set the table for me talking about the history and I think you made a mistake when you said Don. It's never been done done football before. What Jim Marshall did. There's actually a play that happened way before Jim Marshall that's more iconic in the history of football. He was college football, but the 1929 Rose Bowl, Roy Regals, who for the rest of his life was known as Wrong Way Regals, did the exact same thing and he lost the national championship to Georgia Tech 8, 7. So the safety was the difference and they game. So just wanted to bring that.

[Alan Hahn]

The fact that your nickname is Wrong Way. That's it. That's the one that did.

[Don LaGreca]

I do remember about that. Unfortunately, there's no audio but no, there.

[Caller]

Was smoke signals replay of it and. And I think that's the one that Peter was referring to. When the guy caught him in the end zone, he was running after him the whole time. But that's something else for fans to check out. Just Google Wrong Way Regals. R I E G E L S Wrong Way Regals.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it. Rich, great call. Thank you so much. See, that's what I'm talking about. That's what a list does now. You get people that tell you things you didn't even know about. But what a great nickname. Wrong way. Imagine like 20 years later, they have the reunion, they all get together and that's all everybody's doing. Oh, there's wrong way. Like come on, guys. That's very wrong way. You're going the wrong way again.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[David Stern]

Every time you make a wrong turn. Oh, come on.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh my God. It's just killing you for it. Let's go to John in the car. What's up, John?

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, good afternoon, guys. My first time calling into this iteration.

[Caller]

Of the show and I love it.

So Just wanted to give you guys thanks, John.

[Alan Hahn]

Appreciate it.

[Don LaGreca]

Just, I know he's still playing, but.

[Caller]

When he retires and all said is.

[Don LaGreca]

Done, Russell Wilson will only be remembered.

[Caller]

For that Malcolm Butler interception, not handing it off to Marshawn.

[Don LaGreca]

I disagree. I think that's a Pete Carroll as a page Carroll, not Pete Carroll will.

[Caller]

Obviously get blamed for it also.

But when people, when you say think.

[Don LaGreca]

Of Russell Wilson, that's the first play that I don't. I don't. Because it's just, it's. I, I never felt even after the game, guys, correct me if I'm wrong, it wasn't like, what an awful pass by Russell Wilson. What was Russell Wilson doing? It was all Pete Carroll. That's a Pete Carroll to me mistake.

[Alan Hahn]

And here's the thing with that play. He threw a dime that was perfect. Butler read the like. Butler was so on point. He was ahead of the play. And the whole story about how Belichick actually reamed him out in practice because he wasn't on point in practice about it. And he kept telling him, they run this, you better be ready. And of course it comes to fruition. He was.

[David Stern]

He.

[Alan Hahn]

He jumped that play because he knew it was coming, but the ball was exactly where it was supposed to be, John. So thanks for the call, but I disagree.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't. I listen. Could it be the first thing you think of? But I never for a moment blame Russell Wilson for.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I don't either. I think everybody. When Pete Carroll heard that in his headset, he should have said, no, no freaking way. But everybody thinks he wanted it to be a pass because he wanted Russell Wilson to get the shine. Dave in Queens. Hey, Dave.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. How you doing, Don? Don. Hey, guys. I love your list, Don, but can I just. I'm not trying to put someone else on your list. I just. Could I just suggest. And Anthony said, Scotty Pippen, right. Nobody thinks of him this way, but I kind of do. In 94, when he wouldn't go back in, when Phil Jackson said, you're not going to get the ball and Tony Ku coach is going to get it. And then Tony did hit the game winning shot and, you know, he had an ache on his face. Scotty, I kind of didn't forget that. Can I just put him on your list somewhere like later? You know what I mean?

[Don LaGreca]

I. I appreciate the baby's asking if he could put. No, listen, you do make your own list. I mean, it's not going to go on mine. Lying. It's not a. It's not.

[Caller]

I even knew John Marshall. Jim Marshall.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. All right, listen, I appreciate it, but.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, Dave, good for you.

[Don LaGreca]

But Dave didn't even.

[Caller]

Because. Thanks, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don LaGreca]

I just. I didn't feel like he really thought about like a. Like. I know, but nobody thinks about this. But I do. Well, then that kind of takes you off the list and nobody's thinking, yeah, it is a bad moment. Scotty Pippen. But is it the first thing you think of about Scotty Pippen?

[Alan Hahn]

Of course it's not. No. Well, he was part of just.

[Don LaGreca]

That was bad.

[Alan Hahn]

A couple of championships, I'm not forgetting.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it was.

[Alan Hahn]

It was an ugly moment. Ugly moment. Mike in New Jersey. Mike. Hey, guys.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Big fan of the show. Hey. So real quick, I just wanted to add to Don's list. First of all, Don, I'm a huge fan of you. I love you, but I think Buckner should definitely be number one.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah.

[Caller]

Just as an addition. As an addition. And this was. Wasn't really a play, but I think this name is kind of synonymous in kind of a negative way to the sport is run our test.

[David Stern]

We discussed this.

[Don LaGreca]

We. We discussed it yesterday. We didn't include it. The same reason we didn't include OJ we didn't include, like, stuff off the. Even though that wasn't a. Technically was.

[Alan Hahn]

On the court, but.

[Don LaGreca]

But it wasn't a play. It was something beyond the game. But it is. It is a good one. That's all anybody thinks about.

[Alan Hahn]

It led to him changing his name. If you think about it, it's never known as Ron Artes.

[Caller]

My call, guys. I appreciate you.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you, Mike.

[David Stern]

Thank you, Mike Literally became a whole new person.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[David Stern]

That is true. No, we. I thought about it because that was for me, I. I brought up Malice at the palace because it was one of those national. You remember where you were sports.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was. That was one of those. That's an infamous situation. So, guys, again, 800 now with 93776. We'll continue with your calls. It's Don Hahn and Rosenberg, 880, ESPN. But so David Stern's now talking today. It's, you know, pitchers and catchers showing off. The Mets now started out their off season with, I mean, not a bang, an explosion. I mean, they. They get Juan Stto. That's the biggest off season win that the Mets have ever had. And they land him. And you think, okay, this a team that got to the nlcs. They're probably going for it the rest of the off Season though, does it feel like, hey, they're going for it? I think that's the biggest question. They end it with Pete Alonso, them keeping him. You could argue he's their second biggest off season signing. David Stearns was even asked, did you think you'd even be able to re sign Alonzo after some of the moves you made?

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't know at that point in time. I would have said that there was.

[Alan Hahn]

A very real possibility that he was.

[Don LaGreca]

Going to end up elsewhere. But ultimately, you know, we're thrilled that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We were able to continue discussions and.

[Alan Hahn]

Get a deal done and they got him. Even though it's 30, they got him obviously in a, a shorter deal which allows them to get out of it. So I want you guys, before we comment on our expectations of the Mets, to listen to the guys this morning. DP H on Rothenberg because they, they discussed the Mets off season and whether or not what they did pushes them into that hierarchy of okay, they're a go for a team, they're one of the best in the league.

[Don LaGreca]

I think the issue I'm kind of struggling with is when you look at this team top to bottom, I mean rotation, all of it, and you look at the division that we play in like you're spending a lot of money to be what right now? I mean, according to right now, on paper, they're the third best team in the division.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct.

[Don LaGreca]

And you're spending a whole heck of a lot of money to be the third best team. Now, could they be two or one? Yeah, I guess they could, of course. Yeah, that's going to depend.

[Alan Hahn]

So the Soto move. And yet on paper, you might argue they're still the third best team not in the National League in their division. And so that now begs the question of did they do enough and what kind of confidence do you have, especially with that pitching rotation, which doesn't really have any sizzle to it. It looks like they go bargain with pitching. Don, where are you when it comes to the Mets building off of what they did last season?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you look at last year, there was no sizzle to their starting pitching and you lost Senga, who's supposed to be your ace, and you go to game six of the league championship series. Get used to this, people. He is going to do what Peter and I have been begging Major League Baseball general managers to do forever. And that is don't spend a ton of money on pitching. These guys get hurt, they just, it's just not worth it. At the end of the day, there's Only so many Garrett Coles out there that you can give $35 million to, you know, but. But mania is a good pitcher. Montas, they gave him a one year contract. So they're hoping to get like what they were able to do last year with these players on one year contracts, that they're motivated and you get something out of them. Sanga was hurt last year, but the year before, in what was quote unquote his rookie season, was seventh in the Cy Young. Clay Holmes, the same thing, didn't give him a ton of money. You're converting him to a starting pitcher. But have some faith that just like last year when, oh, Quintana doing anything more. Mania didn't do anything for me. Peterson didn't do anything for me. And the next thing you know, your rotation was great. Same with the bullpen. They brought Stanek back, Buto comes back, they don't again, it's not sexy beyond Diaz, but that's kind of the way bullpens are. So they didn't spend a ton of money, but that's philosophy wise. Why give all these big long contracts to pitchers? Only to see them get hurt, only to see them become ineffective, become albatrosses to your roster. Now, last year he called lightning in a bottle with Severino and Quintana and Mania. I think that's a philosophy. So why can't it happen again this year? They're better than they were last year, at least on paper. By bringing in Soto, you would think Alonzo is going to be better than he was last year. Um, Vientos has a lot of upside. I think he'd be even better. I think Alvarez can be better. So. Yeah, and Atlanta lost a lot. You know, the Yankees gained with their starting rotation what they lost in Atlanta. So I still think if you want to say they're the third best team in the division, you know, okay, I get it. But that doesn't mean that's that way it's going to finish. That's the way everybody thought last year and that's the way it finished. And they still found their way all the way to two, two wins away from going to the World Series. So I don't think they did anything sexy with the rotation guys because that's how they choose to do business. And I think that's the right way to do it. Peter, how many conferences did we have? Why are they giving all this money to pitchers? They pitch 30 times, they don't go three times through the order. They all get hurt.

[David Stern]

They're less valuable when they've ever been. And even at their most valuable, they can't guarantee you anything without bats. As we've seen in the playoffs previously with the Yankees. It's just, it's frustrating to me. I think the money needs to be spent on everyday players.

[Don LaGreca]

But hey, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, but it is, it is. The way you look at it is we're so conditioned to the spending a ton on an ace and you look at the Mets and it's like, well, you don't have one maniah became an ace but you didn't know he was going to be. And then he ran out of gas last year, is he going to come back and give you now that he's got the new arm angle and what he worked on, is he going to follow up with what he gave you or was that sort of the anomaly like will going to find out? There's that one. The Montas is the same thing. He, he sucked with the Yankees, but he has been good everywhere else. Is it the market and the pressure or was it just simply that year with the Yankees? He wasn't very good. Like, you know, it always hurt. That's the thing you worry about with him. You know, the Clay Holmes thing is the one that kind of rattles me a little bit though, Don. Like that's one that feels like a stretch. Like, did you see something in him that made you think let's turn him into a starter? And then the worst thing that happens if it doesn't work, well, we need bullpen help anyway and we know we can do that. Like, is that sort of a shot in the dark out of all this stuff? Because you're right about Senga. You're hoping to get him healthy and at least all you want is really three solid everybody else you can piecemeal in. But this claim Holmes thing is the one that feels like are you think you're smarter than you are or is are you looking at this as, hey, if it works, great. If it doesn't, we can always just throw them in the bullpen.

[Don LaGreca]

But that's what back end of your rotation guys are our guys that have to also maybe go to the bullpen. And so they're not asking Clay Holmes to be the number one, number two or number three starter. You know, if everything works out, maybe he could be a four or five. And I'm sorry, four or fives nowadays are guys that might have to transition to the bullpen. And so I don't think there's anything wrong with getting a Guy you're trying to transition into a starter but also strengthen, you know, a bullpen that can be perceived as a bit of a weakness. Not a perfect team by any stretch. Yeah, a lot of this can go wrong, and if it does, they're going to have to hammer their way through the regular season with their offense. But to Peter's point, you know, a lot of times you end up losing because you're just not getting that hit and you end up in the bullpen and you end up all these, all this money for starting pitchers and you get to the top of the sixth inning and you're already in the bullpen and I got to matter anyway.

[David Stern]

Yeah, 00 games don't get you a winner.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I think the National League is stacked, you know, but I don't think there was anything that they were going to do that was going to make you feel like, oh, they're winning this division. You know, the Braves had injuries last year. Guys aren't going to come back until a little bit later, until May, hopefully. They get off to a fast start, unlike last year where they had to dig themselves out of a hole. That's why they had almost no chance of competing for the division. Now if you get your ducks in a row early and you hit, you get off to a fast start, who knows? I wouldn't guarantee that the Braves and the Phillies are definitely going to be finish ahead of the Mets. That's the way to bet, but I wouldn't guarantee it. And then you go out how much your Dodgers, Padres in the west, maybe the Diamondbacks. I don't know if anybody's coming out of the Central besides the team that wins the division. So I think it's a playoff team. And now with the best of three series in the wild card, I'm fine with where they are.

[Alan Hahn]

And after now it's been over a year. Like how much trust and credit has Stearns built up with you? Whereas what you're just saying, and you said if it doesn't work out. What we saw last year is it didn't work out at the beginning. And instead of doing what everybody thought you should do, which is pull the plug, blow it up, trade everybody, all this stuff, right? All he did was just make a couple of maneuvers, that's it. And you know, Lindor got right, which was very helpful. But it, you know, you, you got to feel like if it's not working out, you kind of feel like, I got a GM that's not just going to sit in his hands. He'll be able to do some things and rework it and maybe they can still it's such a long season. You could still make your way to.

[Don LaGreca]

The playoffs like they did and everybody thinks about money as or transactions free agency in the off season but it also benefits you in season. Maybe there's a team that's got a big salary and they're off to a tough start and they want to trade a guy and the Mets are the only team that could really bring him in because of his salary and that's going to help. Or you take a chance on a guy like they did with Iglesias last year. Doesn't work out. All right, eat the money, you try again at somebody else. Those are the things that now where Cohen really can come into play here where they could be active despite how much money they spent on Soto, still be active at the trade deadline, still be able to take chances on guys, maybe eat a little money, not work out. That's when the Yankees were at their best, Alan. They would have all kinds of guys. Oh, we'll try Chili Davis. Oh well, we'll try Glenn Allen Hill. We'll throw anything.

[Alan Hahn]

Who cares?

[Don LaGreca]

It didn't matter because if it didn't work out we'll just cut them. We'll bring somebody else in who cares. And that's kind of where having a being a big market team helps.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's what we'll see as we go into the season. But right now, again, it's fair. Like they made all this splash with one move. But is it enough to say that I can legit see them back at least in the nlcs? It's a long way to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[David Stern]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[David Stern]

Jacob, what's the, what's the daylaw significance today? Dave's anniversary.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh yeah, this is the anniversary of.

[David Stern]

The passing of Trugoi the Great from De La Soul. Good tune though. Good selection there. Jacob.

[Alan Hahn]

Jake's got a good ear, man. I'm telling you.

[David Stern]

He does.

[Alan Hahn]

He finds finds the right mood, the right beat, the right vibe all the time. And he always has a reason. That's what I like about it. 800-919-3776 we got tons of calls. We will get to them. You want to hear Garrett Cole talking about losing in the World Series?

[Caller]

You know, it was a good push for us. I mean, we're really proud of, I think, you know, what we did and at the same time walked away from the season with a bitter taste in our mouths and, you know, just a real terrible feeling. And as a competitor, you, you don't enjoy those situations. But you know, every time you step on the field, it makes you Tougher. It's another log on your fire that inspires you to, you know, put the work in when no one's watching. It is what fuels you to a certain extent, both winning and failure. Right. You're always in pursuit of doing just the best you can and both those results come along the way with it. So you try to take advantage of, you know, winning and losing ultimately to win and achieve your goals. There's a lot of hard work. We hadn't been back to the World series in over 10 years, so there's a lot of stuff to be proud of and a lot of business yet to be accomplished.

Very well said.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Unfinished business there now. Bigger loss perhaps was losing Juan Sol.

[Caller]

I can't say I was surprised because I didn't really go into any expectations. I mean, I only got to know Juan for one year and he's a magnificent player and a great teammate, you know, But Juan is going to make the best decision for Juan and I didn't really know how it was going to shake out. Obviously we do after the figures come out. But while we're going into it, it's hard to say what exactly is going on from my perspective. So I just tried to remain kind of indifferent and not get my hopes up one way or the other. He's a tremendous player and he was extremely impactful for us and enjoyed a watch and the joy to be around. So Juan will be missed to a certain extent. But you know, the beauty of the Yankees is the ability to go out and fill the roster and fill the spots with the goal of getting back to the World Series and winning the World Series again. And they've done about as good a job as I think you could have asked. I think we feel very confident in the additions that we've made. I mean, you've mentioned former MVPs, two of them, former Rookie of the Year, one of the best closers in the game and one of the best left handed pitchers in the game. I mean, it's hard not to say that those additions haven't made us better, coming from the fact that after we lost one we didn't have one and then we made those additions. So it's big shoes to fill, but you got to be proud of the organization for what they've done and you got to be excited about the additions that are here because these are all really great players and really great people as well.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you guys find it weird that players don't like talk to each other during this kind of stuff? Like no recruiting Whatsoever. Judge stayed out of it. Cole stayed out of it. It seemed like no one tried to appeal to Soto. At least they won't talk about it if they did privately. Like, he's acting like I had no idea what's going on. Like, how could you not know?

[Don LaGreca]

Because it, Because I think you got to keep it separate, right? It's all about business, and you can't get in somebody's pocket.

[Alan Hahn]

No, because it affects your business, though, Don. Like, honestly, if you were negotiating to go to another radio station or you were a free agent and I knew another station wanted you, and I'm like, I can't lose Don. You think I just lay out, like, well, whatever's best for Don? No, because whatever's best for Don might not be good for me.

[Don LaGreca]

So I need to know, Allan. Honestly, I think you would think about.

[David Stern]

He'd ask you don't think he'd at least ask you, like, hey, no, he would ask.

[Alan Hahn]

I'd be pushing you, like, you don't want to leave this.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't. I don't think you would if I, if I, if I were in the last year of my contract and I, and I said to you and Peter, you know, I'm really thinking about, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go where I think is. Is best. You know, my agent's working on it, and I'm open to going where it's best. You would not try to convince me to stay.

[Alan Hahn]

Why do you think.

[David Stern]

I'm totally.

[Don LaGreca]

I think Alan would say, hey, man, you do. We would love to have you stay, man. That'd be great. But listen, that's ridiculous.

[Alan Hahn]

No, because that's so passive. That's almost like you, like, oh, wow. He doesn't even care. He's like, oh, whatever's best for you, Don. No, I would say, don, this. No, we need you. We could do great things. Okay, I don't want you to go. What is it going to take? We all know at the very end the money wasn't that dramatic of a difference, so I wouldn't worry. I mean, if it was like, something where we, we were broke and we couldn't give you what some other station was going to give you, then of course I'm like, well, I mean, dude, but if it was like, if we knew we were in the running for it, I'd be trying to sell you like crazy. Come like, bud. Like, we have something going here. Don't go. I, I, that absolutely would be on my mind.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't, I don't Listen, I'm not saying lay out. I think you would say, boy, I really hope you stay now, but let's. Let's paint it like Soto. Hey, guys, you know what? I want to stay, but you know I'm gonna be on whoever offers me the most money. I'm going there. You're gonna talk me out of that. No way.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[David Stern]

No way.

[Don LaGreca]

You would do that. No way.

[Alan Hahn]

I would want to know. I would want to know then how far are we going to go? How far?

[Don LaGreca]

You can say what you want, but when I once, I will go to the highest bidder. I've got a. Allen. I got my. I'm going to. I'm. I'm totally. I love working here, but honestly, if whoever over offers me the most money now, you can go to management and you can say, make sure that you give Don. But you would not say to me, don, take less to stay with us, because I think something's going. You wouldn't say that. That's a separate. That.

[David Stern]

No, no, no. Hold on, hold on. What's being said here, Alan? What I think Alan and I are saying is it's surprising that it sounds like these guys don't even have conversations. I'm not. I'm not saying we would go to you, Don, and go. We don't care what's good for your family. You got to stay with us.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[David Stern]

But, hey, can we go to dinner? Let's just talk about what's going on. Like, fill me in. Is there hope? Are you staying? Is there anything that I could do with management to get you to stay?

[Don LaGreca]

Like, I don't think that's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, well, Peter, I don't get it. Like, how. Like. And. And then it would not be a bad thing if Cole or Judge. Those are two guys. I think that should have been somewhat involved if one of them just said, you know, I was with him the whole way. I was talking to him. I was letting them know how much we needed him, how much we wanted him. In the end, the money was the money, and you can't. You got to tip your cap and say, hey, good for you. It's like, but at least tell me that you care not. Well, I don't know what was going on. I was hoping. Hoping for the best, but who knows? Like, that sounds so disconnected.

[Don LaGreca]

You got to realize, this is not Judge. Now, when Judge was a free agent, do I think Rizzo went out to dinner with him saying, dude, you got to stay? Because they knew each other. They were best friends. Juan Soto was here for five minutes. A lot of guys had no idea who he was. What did we say? Peter, after he left, like he didn't have guys, numbers. Like, I don't think he had much of a relationship. I think everybody knew, don't get close to this guy because he might be out the door. Not saying he was a bad teammate, but I don't know if there was ever, let's go out to dinner or let's get to know each other. I think it was understood from the get go. We might only have this guy for a year. He's going to do whatever he's going to do. I don't know if there was really any time to build any kind of relationship to go to him and say, hey, let's go out to dinner. Let me try to convince you to stay here. Like, I don't know if there was enough.

[David Stern]

I think what Al and I are saying, though, that's just odd. It just, it feels like sports has reached this new place where the level of friendship and camaraderie is just not what it was. It's funny because they now all memorize.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot about this team and, and.

[David Stern]

And, and the Yankees are great at memorizing cute handshakes. Everyone has their own cute handshake. Look at us, we're buds. But when push came to shove, it was just like, hey, bro, get your bag.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that's what it is. Now they're all, how were the Mets?

[Alan Hahn]

How are the Mets players? How were those guys when they were asked about Pete Alonso?

[Don LaGreca]

Honestly, I don't know. I don't know if anybody recruited him.

[Alan Hahn]

You didn't have to recruit, but they were pretty clear about how much they loved him and wanted him. Like, like there's something there.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, so did the Yankees. They all said they wanted, but I, I don't honestly.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you think anybody did not feel the same?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know. Did Lindor take Alonzo out to dinner and say, no, you can't go? No, Lindor's probably, listen, I got my bag, go get yours.

[Alan Hahn]

I guess it's a bad example because. Right. Peter didn't want to leave.

[Don LaGreca]

See, that's, See, that's a different situation. Sees, the problem is that you're looking at it back in the day where we all came up together through the minor leagues, rode the buses together. We all came up at the same time. We've been together for 10 years. You gotta stay. Cole was a Pirate and then an Astro. Now he's a Yankee. You know, Lindor was a, was a guardian and now he's a met, you know, like, yeah, Alonzo was there forever and he probably knew a lot of guys that have been there forever as well. But you know, the best case on the best guys on the team, Senga had been there for, for five minutes. Lindor hasn't been there that long. You know, with the Yankees. So many different guys coming from different teams and all. Like, so I just think it's kind of understood that this is a transient thing, man. You go get your bag. I think really it is like go get whatever you can get, man. If you stay, great, we love you. But if you got a chance to make a dime more, go for it, man, because that's what I would do. I'm sure that's what they were probably thinking.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know what I just realized too? And again, the baseball stuff starting to get creep back into my brain right now. So you gotta forgive me. But Cole did exactly what Soto did. Right minute the season was over. He put on a neutral hat, right.

[Don LaGreca]

He put on the board, he was.

[Alan Hahn]

No longer an Astro.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. So, so how distinct.

[Alan Hahn]

So maybe he. I guess you're right. So he knows exactly what was going on there. And maybe all along Cole knew. This guy's gone. He gone.

[Don LaGreca]

Or maybe he'll stay, but he's in for the easy. But just like, you know, maybe Cole would have stayed with the Astros if the money was right. It's just, hey, we're all, we just happen to be together now. You know, when they all sing Kumbaya. Honestly, Allen and Peter is in the union meetings because then they're all unified to bring down the owners. That's when, that's when their boys. But now I think it's kind of understood. It stinks, but especially in baseball. You're only here for as long as your contract. Not everybody's a forever guy. The days of George Brett and Tony Gwynn, those, those days are probably over. Yeah, the judge, amazing. He's gonna spend his whole career here. But think of all the other great Yankees. Like, we'll see what happens.

[Alan Hahn]

Teammates is he gonna have. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

But you know, Cole's not a forever Yankee. You know, Stanton started with the Marlins. You know, Rizzo was a Cub, won a World Series with the Cubs. Like it just. And that's okay, that's the way. Because. Because what do all the fans want? Allen, go get that guy. Bring that guy in here. Pay that guy. It just, it's ingrained into the psyche of everybody, whether it's Go get your bag. As a player or as a fan, just go. Go take that. Steal that guy. Get that guy here, pay him whatever you got to pay him to bring him here, trade for that guy, dump that Yo Yo's ass, and bring that other guy in here. They're all just pawns and chess, they're folding chairs that get moved around by the fans and by the owners, and the players are saying, you know what? If that's the way we're going to be treated, then that's the way we're going to conduct ourselves.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand, but when you get to the World Series and lose and there's a player who's such a key piece to it and you're also a superstar and you're trying to win one, like, it just feels strange and disconnected to just kind of like, you know, well, you know, I just was following along, like, you guys were like, really? Michael in Brooklyn, Michael, how do you.

[Caller]

Feel about this as an adult? I feel like not every conversation I have, and especially the more meaningful ones, are everybody's business. What. What privilege do the fans or anybody else or broadcasters have to know about what could have been some really deep and meaningful conversations? People ask me about that. I say, hey, we haven't spoken.

[David Stern]

Why would you. What's the point of lies?

[Alan Hahn]

A lie. You're lying.

[Caller]

Well, you know what? Everybody doesn't have to know everything all the time. And it. Either. And if I. If I have a choice of either.

[Alan Hahn]

Saying, Michael, Michael, let me ask you a question. I know what you're trying to do. Michael, this is not. This is not a gap, big business deal where millions of dollars, it's. It's a contract for a player. And I get that part of it, but it's not like it's a. It's a sensitive topic. This is sports, and it's teammates and fans. Like, this is just like, this is what we do. You hear all the time, players talk about other players in their relationships and things they say and all that stuff. These stories are told. That's why there's a billion of these podcasts. They love spilling the beans. They love telling you about all this stuff. So this is one that's kind of been bizarre, that it's like, we had this guy, and we were like, all right. He left. Like, why. Why would you be like that? Like, I just. It does not feel like there's a connection here. Why not say, like, yeah, we talked? And I was. I'm happy for him, good for him. But I. I would have loved to have kept him. We had a nice conversation. Like, no, just to be like, well, I don't know what's going on. I wasn't paying. Like, I was in the, in the dark like you guys. Like, what. How could that be?

[Don LaGreca]

But because I'm sorry, go ahead.

[Caller]

People do so. People do spill the beans, but they still the beans on podcasts when they want to, you know, and that's not the same thing as having a conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Again, Cole clearly didn't want to share whatever he might have known.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's the. Here's the problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you, Michael.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's the problem with being honest is that if you, if Cole says, yeah, I took him out to dinner, I did everything I could to try to convince him to stay still, left. That could be looked upon as you're criticizing him for going, or at least.

[Alan Hahn]

You did all you could.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

And as a fan, I would appreciate Cole, you know, these guys tried to keep him.

[Don LaGreca]

He just told him how good it was here. That's the thing. We all knew from the get go, guys. He was all about just getting paid. And again, not that there's anything wrong with that is all we heard last year. But he was all about whoever's going to give him the most money. So he's a Yankee the entire year. He saw the complex in Tampa. He saw how beautiful the stadium is. He saw how much the fans loved him. And. But he still was moved by the money. And that's how. And if you know that as a player going in, what are you going to try to convince him for? Why waste your time that you just know? Well, they pay him. They pay him. I'm not going to get in his pocket. I mean, that's just the way that, that, that's going to work out. And then you don't want to look like you're criticizing him for going.

[Alan Hahn]

800-377- no, sorry.

[David Stern]

Last point. The caller made an interesting point, Alan. I think he's wrong, though, about the idea that Cole was keeping it a secret. Like, it's a nice thought that they're that close, but they're keeping it close to the vest. They just don't know that.

[Don LaGreca]

That's I'm getting. They just don't know, guys. Boy, Soto didn't seem like he was that close to the Yankees when he.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, judge seemed like they had something.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they had something on the field, but I, I don't know that they really got close at all. It's a one year together, so I know, you know, so why Would you if you just met somebody like you're talking about, Alan, I've known you for 20 years. So, yeah, you're probably going to get in my pocket. And I'd have no problem with that because we've known each other so long. I've known Peter for a decade. But even if you love somebody that worked here for a year, would you be that interest as much as you want him to stay? Would you really be getting in his ear the way you would somebody that you really knew a lot about?

[Alan Hahn]

If I felt like it would impact. Impact my show's chance to be successful, yes. Yes, I would.

[Don LaGreca]

Even if I made it clear to you, even if that individual made it.

[Alan Hahn]

Clear to you, I would want to know. I would want to know. And I would think you would owe it to me. I would want to know. I would want to know. That's all. It's as simple as that. Like, it's just affects me just like it affects the Yankees. Like, all right, well, we're. It's a. It's a big hit. We lose you.

[Don LaGreca]

But, but honestly, wouldn't, wouldn't. The more effective thing to be for Garrett Cole would go to Hal Steinbrenner and say, dude, whatever you do, make sure that you're the highest bidder. We can't afford to lose this guy.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the other part of it. That's. You're absolutely right. It's just interesting. It was just like I would listen to that cut and I. It just sounded very. I know Cole does this, but it just felt unaffected and detached and. And I just kind of. I don't know. I. I thought. I thought it right away brought it up and we had a conversation.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Caller]

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[Alan Hahn]

You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments, but that's weird.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, one judgment.

[Alan Hahn]

Anyway, give it a try.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[David Stern]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[David Stern]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[David Stern]

So hurry in or Take your time. You've got all day at Jack. Every bite's a big deal.

[Don LaGreca]

This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like you know to check the date.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Game time, everybody. Brought to you by Tella Mardu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's Sully time. The Knicks are back in action here at Madison Square Garden. They've got the Atlanta Hawks, Trey Young and company in the building right before the All Star break. It's the last game before the break and coverage immediately follows us right here on 8:80 ESPN at 7:00pm Nets and the Sixers tonight. That's at 7:30. How about St. John's they take on Villanova at Villanova. That's a 6:00 game on FS1 if you want to watch it. And then also if you want to check out the Four nations tournament that's going on with Hockey Canada, Sweden tonight at 8. Where can we watch that game? Don't.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a TNT vehicle.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a TNT vehicle tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

And then tomorrow the US and Finland will be ESPN.

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN.

[Don LaGreca]

And we will have ABC will have the championship game.

[Alan Hahn]

Even better. I'm fired up for that tomorrow. All right, well, that is game time brought to you by Tullimore Dew. The original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Lots of calls to get you here. Let's see. Let's take one of the baseball ones. Paul's in the car. Go ahead, Paul.

[Caller]

Hey guys, thanks for having me.

[Don LaGreca]

What's up?

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for calling.

[Caller]

Quick point about about baseball and maybe.

[Don LaGreca]

Why Garrett Cole or Aaron Judge didn't.

[Caller]

Go super at bat for Juan Soto. Maybe in baseball they don't just build relationships like they do in other sports. Like, it's more transactional between the white lines. They love each other, but there's language barriers, there's cultural barriers. Guys disappear to the Dominican Republic for the off season.

[Alan Hahn]

When you spend. But I mean, Paul, you show up in February and you're together all the way until October and even November. That's a long time. Every day you're together, that's a long time to spend together.

[Caller]

Add to it, maybe they, they didn't.

[Don LaGreca]

Think he'd be back or he's gonna leave.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you saying that does trigger something in me, Paul, is you saying that. I don, I wonder, did, like, the judge kind of already get an indication, like, maybe even midway through the year, like, he's not, he's not staying, like he's gonna go for the money?

[Don LaGreca]

No, I, I, I really think the indication was I am going to go to the highest bidder. So what are you going to say to me at dinner that's going to convince me to stay? Right? I mean, honestly, all these conversations, they know, it was so. Peter, you remember all those conversations on the case show. It was so transparent, and I appreciate his honesty. It was all about he was going to get paid. That's why Scott Boris is your agent. And for Garrett Cole, as you said, wearing a neutral hat, the second the Astros are done with their season, who is he to say, you got to stay with the ankles? All right, fine. Yeah. Would you have stayed with the Yankees for a discount? Would you now? Judge did. He could have gotten more money in San Francisco, but, But Judge was different. Judge wanted to stay. I think they probably looked at. Yeah, he is gonna, he is going to feel comfortable. Anybody that gives him the most money, that's all that. That was about. So what could you say? What would it, what would you say during dinner? What would you say to try to convince him?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if my comment was naive. It was, was the vibe I was getting off of just the tone of Cole talking about Soto. It just didn't feel like there was this, you know, this, this sense, like, yeah, you know, yeah, we'd love to have, like, it just felt like moving.

[Don LaGreca]

On, but also, and I guess they.

[Alan Hahn]

Have to at this point, right?

[Don LaGreca]

It could be like you're critical of him for leaving, and also you're. Now you're worried about. Well, we really wanted him to stay. No, listen, we're good. We went and got three other players that maybe we wouldn't have been able to afford if we had giving Soto the money. So when you want to skew it, like, yeah, we'd like him, we would like to stay, but he's not. We got belling, hey, look what we did.

[Alan Hahn]

And look what we did instead. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And he said that I got, we got a world class closer. We got a great, we got a great guy in the rotation. We, we picked up two former MVPs. I. A rookie of the year, like, so. Yeah, he's just trying to skew it like. All right, his loss.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I guess Joey's in Queens.

[Don LaGreca]

Joey.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, guys?

How you doing today?

[David Stern]

What up, Joe?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller]

I was thinking of Freddie Brown. Georgetown.

[Don LaGreca]

He was okay.

[Caller]

He was an okay player.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Caller]

Yeah. There were two little known guys by the name of James Worthy and Michael Jordan who won a championship.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a good one. We passed it right to.

[David Stern]

I'm sorry, his name isn't famous enough though.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry.

[David Stern]

The plate. The play is, the play is a big play, but I, I wouldn't. His name.

[Alan Hahn]

Historic. Really historic play. In, in. In the.

[Caller]

Jordan.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that was North Carolina. Right. But I mean, that's. If you think about like the modern March Madness kind of thing. Thank you, Joey. That is a historic play. And it was, you know, a fubar.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah.

[David Stern]

It just, it's just we gotta, we can't get worse recognition. I mean, we were giving Don a hard time for his not being well known names.

[Don LaGreca]

You can't. Let's know.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait a minute. If you're making me, if you're making me remember something that happened in 1964, you gotta know 1984, don't you?

[David Stern]

I know. I know the 84 play very well.

[Alan Hahn]

Three, I think, and I never, I.

[David Stern]

Never would know the name of the guy who threw the ball away.

[Don LaGreca]

But sometimes the name can make up for the mistake. You know what never gets talked about? One of the greatest football games I ever saw. The 1990 NFC Championship game. Giants 49ers. Giants with Matt Barr kicks the field goal. The Giants go to the Super Bowl. Right. The Giants got the ball and a Roger Craig fumble fumbled the ball right into lt's hands. I think it was. I forget who dislodged the ball. Somebody on Twitter will remind me. But it's Roger Craig. Lt recovers it. It's Roger Craig. That is not the first thing you think about. It cost them a three peat. If he holds on to the ball, they run out the clock. 49ers go to the super bowl with a chance to win a third consecutive title. It is one of the worst fumbles you talk about the Briner one. This was awful. But nobody remembers it because he's a great player. That's why. Great player and still being known for the mistake is such kind of a nuanced top five because you can be good enough to make up for it. You think about that play with Roger Craig when you think of Roger Craig.

[David Stern]

No, never. But, and, and let me, and let me say earlier, I didn't get this in earlier. I, I understood the caller's point on Biner and it was a huge play. But like, for me, he was the starting running back who rushed for a thousand yards on a Super Bowl Redskin team in 91. So for me, I don't think of.

[Alan Hahn]

Him as just Cleveland. In Cleveland.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no, in Cleveland they do.

[Alan Hahn]

Like.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But unfortunately.

[Don LaGreca]

Unfortunately, it's one of many times they were kicked in the cube.

[David Stern]

Yeah, exactly.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a great point.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great point. 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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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