Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 3: Piggybacking & Brady
Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Focus: New York Sports – Mets & Yankees playoff race, the “piggybacking” pitching strategy, sports broadcasting controversies (Tom Brady/Fox), media and team ownership boundaries, and honest versus celebratory sports coverage.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a lively blend of baseball strategy, sports fandom etiquette, NFL and gambling analysis, as well as a significant media discussion around Tom Brady’s ownership and broadcasting roles. The panel dissects both the Mets’ and Yankees’ late-season approaches and fates, explores how MLB teams are handling pitching, and pivots into how the hiring of superstar ex-players (like Brady) impacts sports broadcasting. The hosts also tackle issues of fandom, the ethics of media-team relationships, and the future of sports coverage authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mets & Yankees Playoff Picture

[00:54–09:53]

• Mets Pitching Strategy: The hosts discuss last night’s Mets game where two starting pitchers (Holmes, then Manaea) were used in tandem—a "piggybacking" approach. Don wonders if this is a playoff preview, stacking starters for length and minimizing bullpen use.
  • Quote: "If you have what happened to King last night where a starting pitcher gives up five runs in the first inning ... you need something, you're gone. And I'm gonna have a starter go in there." – Don Hahn [04:17]
  • Both Don and Rosenberg favor this strategy over “piecemealing” with multiple relievers, especially since many Mets/Yankees starters hit an innings “wall.”
• Yankees Playoff Odds & Schedule: Given opponents, the Yankees are expected to lock up home field, while the Mets seem to have the third wildcard but can't be complacent due to competition (Diamondbacks, Reds).
  • Discussion of “90 wins” as a benchmark for a good season. Both teams face lower bars given a lack of dominant teams (no 100-win clubs likely).
  • "The Mets are making the playoffs. It's just a question of who you're going to play for both of these teams." – Don Hahn [11:10]
• Yankees Game Recap: The guys joke about nearly blowing a 10–1 lead over the Twins and the volatility of this Yankees team.
  • "That's the problem with this team ... they'll have the game they almost gave away last night." – Rosenberg [13:07]

“Fraud” Fan Behavior Debate

[22:11–24:25]

• Caller Javier asks if he’s a “fraud” Yankees fan for going to a Mets game with friends on Seinfeld night—even as Yankees–Red Sox played.
  • Verdict: Hosts agree it's “odd” but not fraudulent—baseball’s schedule makes such overlap common; the real disloyalty would be skipping your favorite football team’s weekly game for another squad.

NFL Survivor Picks & Quarterback Impact

[25:29–29:01]

• Teams’ outlook with backup QBs (Tyrod Taylor for the Jets, Mario for the Commanders) is discussed from a betting perspective. Don, Alan, and Rosenberg mention minimal line movement barring a true star QB being out.
  • “If there is an improvement, I think at this stage it's marginal.” – Don Hahn [26:30]
  • “There are times where the Raiders are going to pop up [in the broadcast schedule]. He's just not going to use them. If the Raiders go to the Super Bowl ... you're not going to use them.” – Don Hahn [34:46]

Tom Brady, Broadcast Optics, and Owner-Analyst Ethics

[29:03–43:00]

• Tom Brady’s Dual Role:
  • The group explores the awkward optics of Brady, now a part-owner of the Raiders, working as Fox’s NFL analyst and having inside access to teams (e.g., attending Commanders practice).
    • “No matter how you cut it ... it is a terrible look. It's very weird.” – Alan Hahn [30:20]
  • They compare this to A-Rod as a Yankees “special advisor” and reflect more broadly on the challenge of neutrality in sports coverage if one’s a stakeholder.
  • Rosenberg: “The fact that it is the shiny star ... people are drawn to not to watch it. Just the idea of. It's the prestige, I guess.” [41:23]
  • Don: “Tom Brady's a hood ornament for the broadcast. That's what he is.” [41:57]
• Does Celebrity in the Booth Matter?
  • Drawing on Bob Costas, Don summarizes: It’s not about viewership numbers, but status—big networks spend big to say “look who we have.”
  • But, “It ends up not being worth the money ... even if it did move the needle ... it's not going to be worth the money.” – Don Hahn [42:43]
  • Alan questions if such “hood ornament” signings attract actual new viewers. Rosenberg argues casuals are drawn in, even if regular fans don’t care.

Honest vs. Positive Coverage: The Amazon/Prime NBA Model

[44:15–47:13]

• Prime Video’s Plan: Rosenberg brings up Amazon’s intent to take a more “positive” approach to NBA coverage, avoiding the common overly-critical or “hot take” model.
  • “Prime’s like, we're going to celebrate the game. And I'm wondering, is that going to work?” – Rosenberg [44:56]
• Debate:
  • Don argues that real fans crave honesty—not over-the-top positivity or “propaganda.”
    • “If all you're going to do is just wave pom poms for it, I'm telling you, that's going to get old quick.” – Don Hahn [45:25]
  • Alan notes the difference between analysis in real sports and wrestling (where the goal is to spice things up even if the product is lacking).

“Celebrity Analysts” & Relevance in Sports

[47:26–48:21]

• Don and Rosenberg reminisce about how sometimes sports analysts can become more famous than current athletes (citing Barkley, A-Rod, Gretzky, etc.), especially in sports with less superstar visibility.
  • “The people analyzing it are bigger than the guys playing the game.” – Don Hahn [47:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Met’s pitching plans:
  • “You start with Holmes and then you piggyback on Maniah ... Is that kind of an indication of how things may be handled when we go to the postseason?” – Don Hahn [03:27]
• On Bragging About Franchise Analysts:
  • “Tom Brady's a hood ornament for the broadcast ... it's the prestige of who it is.” – Don Hahn [41:57]
• On Neutrality in Announcing:
  • “You've got a dog in the fight here. So real quick, I thought ... it was a bad optic that you see Michael Strahan jumping up and down when the Giants scored.” – Don Hahn [33:39]
• On “Positive” Coverage Only:
  • “If all you're going to do is just wave pom poms for it ... that's going to get old quick.” – Don Hahn [45:25]
• On Sleep and Media Life:
  • “Sleep is the cousin of life.” [14:17] (Alan joking on the classic “sleep is the cousin of death” hip hop line.)
• On “Fraud” Fandom:
  • “It's odd, but I don't think it's fraudulent behavior.” – Don Hahn [24:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Mets/Yankees pitching & playoff outlook: 00:54–15:00
• Debate: What makes a “fraud” fan?: 22:11–24:25
• NFL lines & the QB injury effect: 25:29–29:01
• Tom Brady/Owner-Analyst ethics: 29:03–43:00
• Prime NBA broadcast strategy: 44:15–47:13
• Celebrity analysts vs. player fame: 47:26–48:21

Episode Tone & Style

The discussion is lively, opinionated, and often humorous—balancing passionate debate with classic New York sports banter. The hosts are unafraid to challenge each other or sports institutions, infusing sarcasm, personal anecdotes, and real analysis (with the occasional Michael K reference or sleep-life joke).

For New Listeners

This episode is for anyone interested in New York sports, media ethics in sports coverage, or the modern fan experience. You’ll hear debates about pitching strategy, what makes a “real fan,” how big names shape network image, and why authenticity in analysis still matters—plus plenty of fun sidetracks.