Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Episode Summary: Hour 3 – Rick DiPietro & the Mets
Podcast Information:
- Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
- Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
- Episode: Hour 3: Rick DiPietro & the Mets
- Release Date: July 21, 2025
- Description: Hosts discuss New York sports, focusing on the New York Mets, Yankees, and broader sports topics, enriched with insights from guests and notable personalities.
1. The New York Mets: Championship Caliber?
Current Performance Analysis: The hosts delve into the current state of the New York Mets, questioning their viability as a championship team. Concerns center around several key deficiencies:
- Offensive Struggles: "If you can’t hit with runners in scoring position, you don’t make runs in the postseason." – Don LaGreca [05:03]
- Bullpen Issues: "The bullpen's a mess." – Don LaGreca [03:15]
- Starting Pitching Limitations: "Starting pitching outside of David Peterson isn’t giving you any length." – Bart Scott [03:53]
Key Figures and Performances:
- Mark Vientos and Jose Alvarez: Expected to be pivotal but have underperformed. Alvarez was sent down, leading to his return and improved performance.
- Clay Holmes: Transitioned from starter to bullpen, though his effectiveness in longer innings remains questionable. "He can give you seven, eight easy innings." – Peter Rosenberg [05:03]
Management's Strategy: David Stearns emphasizes the need to bolster the bullpen: "We will improve our team. Specifically, we’ve been hit with injuries in the pitching staff, I think specifically the bullpen." – David Stearns [09:03]
2. Trade Deadline Strategies and David Stearns’ Approach
Bullpen Reinforcements: Stearns acknowledges the importance of the bullpen and plans to be active in the trade market to secure quality relievers. "Providing our group some reinforcements in the bullpen would be great." – David Stearns [09:03]
Prospect Utilization: Discussions highlight the balance between utilizing prospects and maintaining a competitive team. Concerns include:
- Relieving vs. Starting Roles: "Once you shorten someone up to give them a chance to be a member of our pen, really tough to build them back up if you need them as a starter." – David Stearns [09:03]
- Potential Trades: The dilemma of trading promising prospects versus developing them internally, with caution against long-term repercussions.
Player Development: Alvarez's journey from being sent down to making an immediate impact reflects Stearns' strategy of fostering talent through less pressured environments. "He worked extremely hard... and he improved very rapidly." – David Stearns [10:45]
3. Comparing the Mets with the New York Yankees
Yankees’ Current Challenges: The conversation shifts to the New York Yankees, drawing parallels and contrasts with the Mets:
- Bullpen Concerns: Similar to the Mets, the Yankees' bullpen is under scrutiny. "If I got to get 12 outs with this bullpen, I'm in trouble." – Don LaGreca [06:37]
- Managerial Leadership: Aaron Boone's handling of criticism and team morale is a focal point. "Boone has the job and deflects negativity away from the players." – Don LaGreca [17:17]
Potential Trade Moves: Discussions speculate on Yankees' possible moves, particularly targeting Federico Suarez:
- Trade Implications: "Are you willing to hurt a little bit to get exactly what you want." – Bart Scott [40:16]
- Prospect Management: The Yankees' reluctance to trade valuable prospects like Volpe highlights their focus on long-term team building over immediate fixes.
Fan and Media Dynamics: The impact of fan criticism and media pressure on team dynamics and player performance is examined. "Sometimes it brings the worst out, but sometimes it does bring the best out." – Don LaGreca [17:45]
4. Player-Specific Discussions and Performance Insights
Chris Volpe:
- Performance Issues: Struggles with hitting in crucial situations. "He struck out a lot over the week." – Bart Scott [06:22]
- Positional Versatility: Limited by his performance, Volpe is confined to specific infield positions.
Clay Holmes:
- Transition to Bullpen: Although effective, there are concerns about his suitability for high-pressure roles. "He had good stuff but lacked the mental capacity to be a closer." – Peter Rosenberg [14:07]
Jose Soto:
- Clutch Performance: Improved performance is noted, but inconsistencies remain. "He was the definition of clutch for them last year." – Bart Scott [06:29]
Alvarez:
- Comeback Success: After being sent down, Alvarez's rapid improvement underscores his resilience and potential impact. "He improved very rapidly." – David Stearns [11:30]
5. Major League Baseball Parity and Playoff Implications
Competitive Landscape: The hosts discuss the increasing parity in MLB, making playoff predictions more uncertain. "There is parity, no question." – Don LaGreca [05:03]
Playoff Readiness: Concerns are raised about team deficiencies translating poorly into postseason scenarios. "Their deficiencies don't work in the postseason." – Don LaGreca [05:03]
Potential Team Movements: Speculation on how parity affects team strategies and the importance of making effective mid-season moves to secure playoff positions.
6. Upcoming Games and Team Matchups
Yankees vs. Blue Jays: Anticipation around this marquee matchup, with the focus on building momentum post-sweep losses. "They have to win these. They have to sweep." – Liam [30:32]
Mets vs. Angels: Highlighting the Mets' struggles and the return of key pitchers like Kodai Senga. "This is one of those you’ve got to put on your big boy pants and be an ace kind of start." – Peter Rosenberg [29:15]
Key Players to Watch:
- Carlos Rodon (Yankees): Expected to play a crucial role in upcoming games.
- Sunrise Hire Et Cetera: Various performances influencing the outcomes of these high-stakes games.
7. Community Engagement: Tee it Up Challenge at Colonial Springs
Event Highlights: The hosts reflect on hosting the Tee it Up Challenge at Colonial Springs, Farmingdale, featuring notable guests and participants. "It was a great event... a lot of fun." – Don LaGreca [35:15]
Audience Participation: Engagement with listeners and local community members is emphasized, showcasing the station's commitment to local sports and events.
8. Miscellaneous Discussions: Long Island Hockey and Local Sports Development
Hockey in Long Island: Brief discussions on the state of hockey in Long Island, highlighting the talent pool and infrastructural challenges. "There is so much talent on Long Island, hockey wise." – Bart Scott [22:22]
Future Prospects: Attempts to develop local hockey through initiatives like building rinks and supporting Division 1 college players, despite financial constraints. "It's all a shame." – Bart Scott [23:50]
9. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Show Teasers
Final Thoughts: The episode wraps up with reflections on upcoming games, the importance of strategic moves, and continued analysis of team performances.
Next Episode Teasers: Hosts hint at future discussions, including Mets vs. Angels coverage and more in-depth team analyses.
Notable Quotes:
- Don LaGreca [05:03]: "If you can’t hit with runners in scoring position, you don’t make runs in the postseason."
- Bart Scott [03:53]: "Starting pitching outside of David Peterson isn’t giving you any length."
- Peter Rosenberg [14:07]: "He had good stuff but lacked the mental capacity to be a closer."
- David Stearns [09:03]: "Providing our group some reinforcements in the bullpen would be great."
- Bart Scott [40:16]: "Are you willing to hurt a little bit to get exactly what you want."
Conclusion:
In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, the hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of the New York Mets' current season challenges, juxtaposed with the New York Yankees' strategies and struggles. Key discussions revolve around pitching deficiencies, bullpen reinforcements, and the intricate balance between nurturing prospects and making pivotal mid-season trades. The episode underscores the parity in Major League Baseball, making playoff predictions increasingly unpredictable. Community engagement through events like the Tee it Up Challenge highlights the podcast's local relevance. As the trade deadline approaches, both the Mets and Yankees face critical decisions that could shape their postseason aspirations.