Hour 3: With or Without Soto

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: With or Without Soto (April 9, 2026)

Overview

This episode dives into the current state of New York sports, with a particular focus on the Mets’ early season struggles, the controversial absence of Juan Soto, and the broader vibe surrounding New York baseball and basketball. The crew—Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don LaGreca—blend sports analysis, fan sentiment, and classic banter, creating an engaging conversation about player performance, team chemistry, and New York’s relentless sports narrative machine.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nets Tanking & NBA Reality (00:44–04:30)

• The hosts discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ heavy player rest (10 players out), a reflection of the NBA’s “tanking” culture for draft lottery positioning.
• Alan notes the absurdity: “The last thing you want to do is they are now a half game away from Utah...you can’t win anymore. 20. That’s enough.” (01:57)
• Peter jokes about the tanking: “Just have a ball rolling up and down the court.” (01:27)
• All agree ticket prices should reflect the product: "Can’t you just then say, ‘We're going to either cut prices in half or concessions are free’?” (Alan, 04:28)
• Bottom line: The system almost forces teams to balance competitiveness with strategic losing.

2. Mets’ Pitching Troubles & David Peterson’s Performance (05:01–09:04)

• Discussion shifts to the Mets and pitcher David Peterson’s struggles over his last two outings.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza expresses patience: “He’s too good of a pitcher. He’s been our guy. He just got to make a couple of adjustments.” (Carlos Mendoza, 05:23)
• Peter: “You just can't afford to send a guy out there every five days that’s going to, you know, pitch batting practice.” (05:52)
• All show concern but agree: Don’t overreact to a small sample; monitor closely.

3. The Juan Soto “Vibe” Debate: Fan Calls & Roundtable (09:09–16:00, 25:25–31:33)

• Caller Jose in Connecticut stirs debate, suggesting the Mets' vibe is "different"—possibly better—without Juan Soto.
• Jose: “He’s just not the same guy...when there was a big spot, he never came through. And...just wanted to get your guys thoughts on the idea that there's a different vibe around the team without him in the lineup." (09:17)
• Peter notes: “Swagger comes from feeling it...his year with the Yankees, they were good enough to go to the World Series...Comes to the Mets...Team wasn’t as good...He wasn't as good. I think that swagger will be back when he starts to get it going.” (10:27)
• Alan highlights how perception matters: “It's hard to say that...he is the same guy visually.” (12:31)
• There’s speculation about locker room chemistry, especially around Francisco Lindor: “Maybe it's something with Lindor, maybe it's, hey, they're just not as good as the Yankees were.” (Peter, 13:11)
• The segment includes analysis of stats versus leadership effects, and callers wrestle with the balance of narrative versus numbers.

Listener Feedback and Social Media

• On Twitter, listener Ryan Regis disputes the negative take on Soto: “He led the National League in on base percentage. He had a career high in home runs... You guys lost credibility.” (25:25)
• The hosts clarify: “We’re not talking about how well he played...We're talking about the team didn't have a good year. It had a good start and then it really like the wheels fell off.” (Alan, 26:26)
• The real point: It's about Soto's public demeanor and perceived disengagement, not strictly stats.

More Callers: On Clubhouse Dynamics and Performance

• Paul from the Bronx: “I think the narrative is focused too much on the negativity. Trying to pit teammates against each other...Not everybody on a teammate is going to like each other. Right. Or love each other.” (29:26)
• Alan raises the awkward opening day moment between Lindor and Soto, accepted as a real but not insurmountable issue.

4. Mets’ Schedule & West Coast Gauntlet (16:51–21:29)

• The hosts preview the Mets’ heavy travel, predicting early adversity and its impact on the roster.
• Alan: “The first three months of the season, they're going to the west coast literally three or four times.” (18:12)
• Discussion includes speculation about scheduling around the World Cup, impact on fan experience, and the toll of travel.

5. New York Yankees: Recent Losses, One-Run Games & Judge’s Role (31:39–33:20, 38:10–38:49)

• Callers express concern about Yankees’ close losses and missed scoring opportunities.
• Alan remarks: “It's one of those things during a long season that like every year, has losses that frustrates you...Today, dead stick...first time since 1958 the Yankees were shut out with one hit.” (32:44)
• Anxiety about one-run game record and Judge’s placement in the batting order are recurring fan themes.

6. Broad New York Sports Roundup: Knicks, Islanders, Devils & NBA Playoff Push (44:09–49:25)

• The end of the episode covers Knicks-Celtics pre-game (Vegas’ 5.5-point spread), Islanders’ coaching changes, and playoff stakes for New York hockey teams.
• Alan: “You make a coaching change. Like you gotta show up and this team’s gotta...be like, rip the door off the hinges.” (45:49)
• The crew discuss coach Paul Maurice’s career trajectory in comparison to new Islanders coach DeBoer.

7. Africa Bambaataa’s Death & The Complex Hip Hop Legacy (41:14–43:45)

• Alan marks the death of influential yet controversial hip-hop pioneer Africa Bambaataa.
• Rosenberg acknowledges: “...end of his life was marred with sex abuse allegations...But the life that he lived musically, super duper important...Planet Rock, one of the biggest early hip hop records ever made.” (41:14)
• They play a snippet of “Planet Rock,” noting its historical significance.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NBA Tanking:

  • Alan Hahn (about the Nets): “There’s 10 guys out tonight...for the most part it’s just we do not want to win. It’s unreal.” (01:56)

• On Mets’ Juan Soto:

  • Peter Rosenberg: “Swagger comes from feeling it...It was never his team. It was never about him [on the Yankees].” (10:27)
  • Alan Hahn: “It’s hard to believe. You can’t say that he is the same guy visually.” (12:31)
  • Don LaGreca: “Now tonight will be interesting because if the Mets win tonight, they're five and one without Soto. And you get to think...maybe yesterday was just an aberration.” (14:06)

• On Perception vs. Performance:

  • Alan Hahn: “We’re not talking about how well he played...We're talking about perception. You're just looking at someone that just never seemed like he was thrilled.” (26:26)

• On Locker Room Dynamics:

  • Paul (Caller): “Not everybody on a teammate is going to like each other...It has to be a mutual respect.” (29:26)
  • Alan Hahn (about Lindor/Soto): “What did you make of like, you know, the statement from Lindor...‘we don't all have to love each other’ and also the awkward opening day dap.” (29:02)

• On Yankees Losses:

  • Alan Hahn: “Today was one [frustrating loss]. Yesterday you didn't take advantage...Today, dead stick...first time since 1958 the Yankees were shut out with one hit.” (32:44)

• On Africa Bambaataa:

  • Peter Rosenberg: “...end of his life was marred with sex abuse allegations...But...musically, super duper important...Planet Rock, one of the biggest early hip hop records ever made.” (41:14)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nets Tanking/Resting Players Discussion: 00:44–04:30
• Mets Tickets, Fan Experience & Peterson’s Start: 04:30–09:04
• Caller Jose & Juan Soto Debate Begins: 09:09
• Juan Soto “Vibe” and Clubhouse Talk: 11:29–16:00
• Soto Narratives, Listener Pushback, and Social Media: 25:25–31:33
• Upcoming Mets Schedule/World Cup Logistics: 16:51–21:29
• Yankees’ Recent Struggles and Fan Calls: 31:39–33:20, 38:10–38:49
• Africa Bambaataa & Hip Hop Legacy: 41:14–43:45
• Knicks, NHL Playoffs, Isles Coaching Change: 44:09–49:25

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Tone & Style

The crew mixes sharp sports insights, humorous banter, and no-nonsense New York attitude. The dialogue is fast-paced, peppered with fan perspectives via calls and tweets. They’re candid, sometimes sarcastic, but always passionate about the pulse of New York sports. The episode is as much about interpreting statistics as it is about translating the city’s emotional swings and the stories fans tell themselves.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

Expect an incisive, sometimes contentious debate about the Mets, Juan Soto, and the city’s shadowboxing with hope and disappointment—plus lively reflections on the realities of NBA and MLB roster management, New York's relentless fan culture, and even a moment for hip hop history. The show is a must-listen for anyone invested in how sports performance meets narrative and personality in the country’s most breathless sports market.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Podcast Host]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers, Don

[Don Hahn]

Hahn and Rosenberg, ESPN New York 503 and a half in the big city. In the big city. Peter Rosenberg here in the studio. Don legreca at the Rock, Alan Hahn at msg. You got the Devils and the Pens tonight. You got the Knicks and the Celtics. A lot of childhood Rosenberg in New York tonight. A lot of excitement.

[Alan Hahn]

You've also got in Brooklyn. No Nets. Pacers. And the Nets just put out their.

[Caller or Guest]

You know what, I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Status report.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

10 players sitting,

[Don Hahn]

general soreness.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just have a ball rolling up and down the court.

[Alan Hahn]

And one of them, this is like game 79, I think the audacity for Nolan Treaora who's a rookie. It just says rest.

[Caller or Guest]

But I'm good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Choices were made. There's benefits to I'm good.

[Alan Hahn]

The Nets have just. The Nets won two straight games and it's like, whoa, what are we doing here? What are we doing here?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pacers don't want to win either. So.

[Alan Hahn]

No, they don't. But, but the Nets, if you're looking at for the lottery, the Nets are now suddenly two games back of the Pacers for the second. You know, you just want to be in the bottom three because that gives you the best chance to win the lottery, right? And so the last thing you want to do is they are now a half game away from Utah, right. Which wants to be. So you can't win anymore. 20. That's enough. So the Nets are just like it's this is the reality. I don't blame them as a franchise because this is the reality of the NBA. But they are sitting. There's 10 guys out tonight. There's a couple that for true injuries, but for the most part it's just we do not want to win. It's unreal. There was a story that ESPN did about tanking that had Utah that signed A player who, like, was a middle of the road G leaguer and then played him for 48 minutes. Signed up to a 10 day. He played like, average 36 minutes the last game. He played the whole game, 48 minutes, and then they cut him. You did your job. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Like, come on, man.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's not what you want. It's, it's. This is. No, there's some bad moments here now. I did see a highlight the other day, though, moving around in the algo of. Of Nets, Wizards.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You saw this too, Don?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

And it was packed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the Barclays.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

They know.

[Don Hahn]

They mean, man. People like going. People go. It was a. It was a Nets Wizards game, like, you nightmare about, you know. You know, the only drop that comes to mind when you think of the Nets and Wizards. I had diarrhea that you dream about.

[Caller or Guest]

That's what that is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was family day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

And they did it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the kids, they just want to see basketball. And basketball still cool. Sports, see live. I've been licking the television screen, licking

[Caller or Guest]

it like it's ice cream.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you've got people there. Like, I normally don't go to NBA games, and I got a chance to go and don't understand or care about the result or what it means for the lottery just to be able to go watch an NBA game.

[Alan Hahn]

They were giving away tickets, too.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, well, I'm sure they were.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, nobody's going to go and pay full price for that. That's what I'd love to be able. These organizations say, listen, we're doing this. We don't want to have to do it, but these are the rules, and we got to play by them. That's exactly what everybody come in for free. That's, you know, come, come watch the game. We're not going to try to win. We're playing guys you've never heard of here. You know, the five bucks a ticket. Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. If I understand what you're doing now this late in the season, I. I totally understand it, but that's the part that I'm like, can't you just then say, all right, look, we know we're sitting 10 guys. You're going to watch basically our G League team play. We're going to either cut prices in half or we're going to, like, concessions are free. There's got to be something you're going to do in this game so that those who showed up don't feel like, what did I just pay for?

[Don Hahn]

Well, you may have felt like that yesterday at Citi Field. And the Mets did give away tickets to yesterday's change time slot.

[Alan Hahn]

They did.

[Don Hahn]

And when talking about the the outing for David Peterson, all I can think of is, yeah, it was not good. Five innings pitch, six hits, five runs. Yeah, another bad start for Peterson. Carlos Mendoza was asked, are you considering removing Peterson from the rotation?

[Carlos Mendoza]

I'm sitting here right now.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. Are you worried about him?

[Carlos Mendoza]

No. If he's healthy, which he is, there's no concern. He's too good of a pitcher. He's been our guy. He just got to make a couple of adjustments there and go from there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he was a horse last year for the longest time and then fell off late.

[Don Hahn]

A lot of people were things last year. There are people who are on this earth who are now gone.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know what I mean though,

[Peter Rosenberg]

he wasn't here, they're now here.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, you remember that he was one of the most reliable pitchers they had. He was consistently. But so the fact that he's Peterson, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he hasn't been good in two starts, is that enough to go, you know, knock him out of the rotation? No, I agree with Mendoza there, but you can't tell me you're not know keeping an eye on what's going on here. He needs a couple make. Well, make you make the adjustments. They need him now. I know they've got, you know, Maniah's the extra pitcher, but he didn't pitch well. He hasn't pitched well. Sanga's looked good, but you're always needing extra arms. No matter how well everybody's pitching. There's always injuries, there's always issues, you know, and you just can't afford to send a guy out there every five days that's going to, you know, pitch batting practice. So I agree with him. It's all, it's a small sample size, but they're just completely like, oh, he just needs to make a couple adjustments. Well, what happens if he gets shelled again?

[Don Hahn]

Well, here. Well, they asked Mendoza.

[Carlos Mendoza]

What are you seeing wrong from him that second inning? Not only teams are super aggressive against him, especially early in counts, but he's having a hard time executing pitches. Glove side, meaning inside to righties. There's a lot of pitches all over the plate and this hard contact there, there's nothing like when he's going well, the two seam, he comes in the slider down and into two righties. He's having a hard time. I thought he made some good adjustments after they got him there in the second inning. But I think it's just the execution part that for the last couple turns, you see that?

[Don Hahn]

And lastly to Peterson. Did your last few innings give you any confidence?

[David Peterson]

I think that's when I'm on. That's how I feel, going right after guys attacking with all my pitches, constantly being in and around the zone and getting weak contact. So, yeah, I think it's good to end that way, but would have liked to avoid what happened in the second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I give him credit. He was still able to give him five a day after Peralta couldn't get through five. So he did get a few extra outs even though it was five nothing. And he didn't have it. So I think the bullpen certainly appreciated that. Now it's a cold day, and it's probably difficult to grip the ball and put it exactly where you want to

[Alan Hahn]

put it, but

[Peter Rosenberg]

it's a bit of an issue, guys. It's something to keep an eye on, for sure. Yeah, it was in San Francisco also on the colder side, so maybe it's that. But let's see another bad outing. I'm not saying you're pulling up the rotation, but I at least like to hear you're starting to get a manager that he's getting. He's concerned about.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, no, I. I think that's it. You know, you do need to see something out of him, because it's not like he's had some bad luck or something. Like, these have not been good starts.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. It hasn't been sexy.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's been. Again, he's. He was a guy last year that was. Was he the most reliable? Right.

[Caller or Guest]

5.

[Don Hahn]

11.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the 5. It's the 5. 15 is early today.

[Don Hahn]

Keep going.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. So we'll do three. We'll take three. So that. That's all I'm saying. And I'm with you, Don. Like, I. I do think there comes a time that you're gonna need to see it because that's. There's. It's not like, other than McLean, Peralta's been okay, but you need a third guy.

[Don Hahn]

So let's go back to the phones.

[Alan Hahn]

They're gonna be in search of a starter. I'm telling you, they're gonna be in search of a starter.

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-377-6. Jose in Connecticut wants to talk a little Mets. What's up, Jose?

[Caller Jose]

So, guys, huge fan. Huge Mets fan here. Listen, I. I wanted Juan Soto. I was all for him. I want him on the team. I think he's a huge asset, one of the best players in baseball. However, it is undeniable. The difference now that he's not in the lineup in the sense of just the feeling around the team. Right. Like, I remember him watching him with the Yankees, and he seemed like a different guy. He was upbeat, he was smiling all the time. He had the subtle shuffle. And one of the things that I was super excited about when they get when the Mets got him was the swag that he was gonna bring. I haven't seen that swag since he's been here. I don't know what it is. I can't put my finger on it. He's just not the same guy. Now, he put up great numbers last year, but those were all, you know, meaningless in the sense that whenever there was a big spot, he never came through. And again, I'm a big fan. I want him on the team. But just wanted to get you guys thoughts on the idea that there's a different vibe around the team without him in the lineup. What do you guys think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's a different vibe because they only won 83 games last year. You know, I still to his numbers, he did not have a great season. To me, he had moments. He got off to a little bit of a slow start. Team wasn't doing well in the second half of the season. Swagger comes from feeling it. And his year with the Yankees, they were good enough to go to the World Series and was never his team. It was never about him. He can go out there and do his thing because at the end of the day, was Judge's team. Having Judge in that lineup helped him. Comes to the Mets, and, hey, he signed the contract, so he doesn't have a kick coming. But team wasn't as good. Lineup wasn't as good. He wasn't as good. I think that Swagger will be back when he starts to get it going. And there were times last year when he was really feeling it that you started to see the old Juan Soto. But I know he didn't change cities, guys, but he changed leagues, he's changed teams. It's still a bit of an adjustment for him. I'm willing to say that when the team's feeling and he's feeling, you'll start to see the old Juan Soto again.

[Alan Hahn]

You think so?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, when he had a whole year to show it and everybody jumped all over Michael last year when he talked about how, like, what do you say? They say dower. What was the expression that he used?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, was it dower? It was.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh no, it was, wasn't Dower. What was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It wasn't sullen, glum or solemn glum.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know, maybe that's just the way it. Maybe that's just a thing. Maybe it's real. Like he took, he took the money, he went somewhere, looked around and went, all right, this definitely ain't the Yankees. Like, like. And it's not, it's not about the Mets. It could have, he could have gone anywhere and just felt that way, that it's not the same. And he was, I mean, but he

[Don Hahn]

was, he was excited in the money

[Alan Hahn]

was the money, the money was the money. But it's not wrong. All year in the Bronx. He definitely looked different when you watched him versus what he looks like with the Mets. It's hard to say that, like, without sounding like, again, I'm not trying to be a Yankee boy. This is just an observation, but it's hard to believe. You can't say that he is the same guy visually.

[Don Hahn]

But it, but it wasn't just in the Bronx. He was upbeat seemingly everywhere else. San Diego, Washington.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, there were issues in San Diego too.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I mean, I'll be honest, I didn't watch a ton of Padres games, but like, he was always a pretty upbeat guy. Prior to the Met.

[Alan Hahn]

Who knows what it is?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was not a great year. From June on, they were one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You sign a 15 year contract, everybody's saying you got to win the World Series. And they weren't going to win the World Series. You were just with a team that went to the World Series, had a great year, you'll see it. I think it's easy for Yankee fans. And Yankee people say he's unhappy with the Mets. He knew what he was doing, whether it was for the money or whatever. He knew the lineup, he knew the building and he signed. And maybe it's something with Lindor, maybe it's, hey, they're just not as good as the Yankees were. The idea is that you want to get to that point and I think if they do get to that point, you're going to see a guy that's really happy and a guy that's really feeling it. But if you remember last year, he didn't hit right away, but they were winning. And then he started to hit. They started loose.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so weird.

[Don Hahn]

And he was never, he never got particularly upbeat when he started to hit.

[Alan Hahn]

No, like, it was so that, I

[Don Hahn]

mean, so people, a lot of People jumped out the window and said, well, he's just selfish. It's only about him hitting, not about them winning or losing. Then it kind of seemed like he was just down in general. Now it's maybe because we know him and Lindor hate each other. Now, tonight, tonight will be interesting because if the Mets win tonight, they're five and one without Soto. And you get to think of guys, maybe, maybe yesterday was just an aberration, one random bad game. Right. That's bad space. But if they lose badly again tonight, it kind of changes the narrative. So tonight is an interesting night in sort of the Mets without Soto narrative.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I meant to look it up and I didn't, but I brought this up the other day that, like, the Penguins record is amazing without Cindy Cross.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You said this. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How is that. How is that possible? He's still the best player in the team even though he's 38 years old.

[Alan Hahn]

Because other players step up when they're

[Peter Rosenberg]

starting a team and they're deep and they've got other guys that can step up.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what it's really about. But over a long, sustained period of time, if Crosby missed the rest of the year, eventually they'd feel it, because now, you know, if you go a handful of games here or there, a couple of weeks, three weeks, you can get by, but then eventually it's going to catch up with you because you can't lose that bat in your lineup and not affect you in some way.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's also look ahead, too, because if you're the. Like, there's a lot to watch for the crowd that's like, oh, we're better without them, because, okay, so you got Arizona one more tonight, then the A's stay in town. And you saw what the A's just did with the Yankees. Right. So how do you look in that series? And then, you know what's next, Don? They go out to LA to play the Dodgers.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, there's your. There's your. There's your first meeting with the big bad Dodgers, with the team that you're hoping to be able to be on the same field with and be able to compete with. And without Soto, you don't think that's gonna. It's gonna stand out that you don't have his bat in a lineup against a team like that. So this, this. It's early on. Yes. But these are all little things that you got to watch because the Athletics had a great series against the Yankees. You've got to get this Win tonight to win the series against the Diamondbacks. And then you go to LA to play the Dodgers without Soda. Things could change quickly by next week as far as, like, you know, the mood of, oh, they're better without them. It could be desperation time because he's not gonna be back till after that series when. Well, after that series. Right. You might not even play in Chicago against the Cubs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe not. And that's going to be another tough series. Then it eases up a little bit. Do you realize they got to go back out west to play the Angels into San Francisco.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. In May. You're right. Interesting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've got like three separate west coast

[Alan Hahn]

trips within the first two months.

[Don Hahn]

No, they're killing us, by the way. They're killing us.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but we, you know, next, next,

[Don Hahn]

starting next Monday, they're at The Dodgers for three.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Then they're at the Cubs for three. And then the following week for 21 Cubs a weekend.

[Alan Hahn]

Anyway, you get a bunch of home games. The following week will be great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who do they play out west to play? The Angels. Who do they play?

[Alan Hahn]

That's May 1st. Angels, Rockies in Colorado and then Arizona again against the. Like you.

[Don Hahn]

And you throw out the record books.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's interesting, right? The way baseball structured it. Send them out west to play San Francisco and then come east to play St. Louis. Then they're going to go out to play the Dodgers, come east to play Chicago.

[Don Hahn]

It makes sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then when they go out to play the Angels, then they'll stay Rockies. Yeah, still coming east, but not quite Arizona. To play Arizona.

[Alan Hahn]

Not too far. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but that's a lot of travel early in the year.

[Alan Hahn]

But you're getting all that out of the way early in the year, if

[Peter Rosenberg]

you think about that. If you could survive that.

[Don Hahn]

And then they get. And then the first week of June, they do three with Seattle and three San Diego.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

Back again, Doc, early May, I mean,

[Alan Hahn]

early the first three months of the season, they're going to the west coast

[Don Hahn]

literally three or four times.

[Alan Hahn]

Four times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you remember before you know, the full blown interleague play, you'd go out, play the Dodgers, Padres and Giants and then that'd be it. And then depending on the year, you might have to go back out to play Seattle and Anaheim and Oakland. But there were times where you just go out west and then maybe you'd have to go back to play Arizona and Colorado.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When we were growing up, you'd have two different trips out west.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you had less teams and all that. But now because everybody. You got to play everybody play them

[Alan Hahn]

once you get years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going out west a lot now,

[Alan Hahn]

I'm guessing because July, by the way, is a ton of home games. Like July is the month for the Mets if they're going to do anything because they, they're at home a ton right now with the World Cup. I'm guessing that's why they're gone for like 10 days, 10 games. Are they just keeping like. Would you. You don't want any other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. Because the Yankees will probably be here though, right?

[Alan Hahn]

I was just wondering why they've got. They've got a long road trip.

[Don Hahn]

What, this one that's coming up like the 2 one?

[Alan Hahn]

No, in August.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, in August, cuz.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm wondering if that's the thing if the. Both the Mets and Yankees were just like, let's just get the hell out of town.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yankees are home during the World cup, but the world. July time, my God, traffic's gonna be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the world is only a MetLife, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Doesn't matter. I'm just talking about. It's just the far is just the. Did you hear about Penn Station? What they're doing? Apparently they're going to close off part of Penn Station. Great. Where only those like World cup fans who have world like you're gonna have certain ticket or whatever, you can only access that area.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. They're gonna have a specific area for World cup people.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

That's how they're gonna do it. People freaked out thinking they're literally making the train exclusively for World cup fans. It's not what they're doing.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, but it's.

[Don Hahn]

It's a specific area area.

[Alan Hahn]

But as, I mean, Penn Station's already a, you know, insane now. By the way. Go down this corridor.

[Don Hahn]

The whole conversation about all of it, by the way, is interesting because I haven't looked yet. I'm going to take a look right now. How many games could there possibly be in New York? It's not that many days.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the championship game is in MetLife.

[Alan Hahn]

That'll be pretty crazy.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And that's a crazy day.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But it is just interesting to me that it's.

[Alan Hahn]

There's.

[Don Hahn]

There's so much. I mean, you know what? I gotta, I gotta look and see exactly how many games it in. In the area it amounts to. Guys, the NFL draft is coming up Thursday, April 23, and it's a big day for New York jets pick second and 16th, the Giants pick fifth. And Rick and Dave are breaking it all down live. ESPN New York's Couch cast. Your second screen for the NFL draft. Real time reactions, instant takes and everything New York fans care about. Watch along with the guys. React with us. Don't miss a moment. ESPN New York's couch cast on draft night, April 23, 8pm presented of course by Calandra's Bakery. More of your calls next. And it's going to be a total of eight matches.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Starting June 13th and the final this year is going to be July 19th.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, okay. Well, eight games over a month span.

[Don Hahn]

Eight games over a month. It's not exactly constant.

[Alan Hahn]

Five weeks. No, no, no, you're right.

[Don Hahn]

So it is interesting. People are getting like all antsy about it and I listen, obviously people are going to travel here and the huge, there'll be huge fans who stick around for the month and maybe travel to other cities. But I sort of think it's getting a bit overdone. But I could be wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

Who knows? We don't do that in New York. Don't overreact to anything. What are you talking about?

[Don Hahn]

No, I know we're going to make

[Alan Hahn]

it sound like good to know.

[Don Hahn]

It's going to be impossible. I mean, I don't. We'll see.

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[Rich Eisen]

Rich eisen here. The April 15 tax deadline is coming fast, but don't worry. Hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today. You know how April 15th feels. Everything speeds up. Games matter more. Hoops and hockey schedules tighten. Your phone won't stop buzzing. And somewhere in the middle of it all there's that quiet little reminder.

[Alan Hahn]

Taxes.

[Rich Eisen]

You'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend. And if you handle it the old way, you're refreshing your inbox like it's breaking news. Waiting, wondering, hoping everything's squared away. That's a lot of mental bandwidth. With Intuit TurboTax Expert full service, you you can match with a dedicated expert who understands your specific tax situation and handles your taxes for you, start to finish. You can do it all online or meet in person at one of their new tech enabled store locations. Have your tax forms imported directly into the app and hand everything off to your TurboTax expert while they work to get you every dollar you deserve. You can go about your normal routine, giving you time back to focus on what actually deserves your attention. Like rooting for your team to make the playoffs. April 15th is not waiting, people. Visit TurboTax.com and hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Host]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh no. Ryan Regis, a friend of the show. He tweeted, I don't understand what you guys are talking about regarding last year with Juan Soto. He led the National League in on base percentage. He had a career high in home runs. He also had a career high in stolen bases. You guys lost credibility.

[Alan Hahn]

We're not talking about it.

[Don Hahn]

What is he talking about.

[Alan Hahn]

We're not talking about how well he played.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I think there was a level of disappointment based on his war was nearly 2 less than it was the year before with the Yankees. His batting average was way lower than it was with the Yankees. His on base percentage although led the National League was this worse in a three year span? I'm sorry, your Juan Soto, I mean he was great but his numbers were not as good as the year before. There were times where he did struggle a bit. He did in any. He tore the COVID off the ball early in the season. But you're held to a higher standard. Nobody said he was awful, nobody said he had a bad year. But we weren't, it was, we weren't

[Alan Hahn]

talking about him having a great year or a good year or whatever it was. We were talking about the team didn't play, didn't have a good year. It had a good start and then it really like the wheels fell off at the end of the season and the whole year, even though he was still putting up solid numbers, really good numbers. We're not talking about performance, we're talking about perception. You're just looking at someone that just never seemed like he was thrilled.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's all.

[Don Hahn]

Really we were not getting into.

[Alan Hahn]

And the year before he looked happy, like he looked giddy, he looked like he was having a great time, he was having fun. He was goofing off with Judge. Like there was something different about his vibe and there. It's just obvious you can't take it personal. This is not a personal attack on your team.

[Don Hahn]

Now listen, he did.

[Alan Hahn]

This is about a player that we're just wondering like, so why doesn't he look like he's playing with any joy?

[Don Hahn]

Now for the record, I do want to say, and I said this on the air at the time I thought that story was overstated. And I mean I thought like Michael hearing a rumor from someone else that he supposed supposedly glum and people like went crazy with it. I thought we may be adding a little bit of sauce there. But it doesn't change the fact that during an interview just a few weeks, you know, two months ago in the wbc. Guys, do you remember him sort of slipping like how the most fun he's ever had was last year. He has said things like that. So it's not based on nothing. Let's go to Paul real quick in the Bronx. Who wants to weigh in? Paul, what's up?

[Caller Paul]

Oh, hey, what's up guys? Long time listener, first time caller. Love this show.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks man.

[Caller Paul]

So this is all I want to say about this. You know, of course he's going to say that he loves to win. So every time that he said that, and it seems that he said that was teams that he was winning on. He went to the World Series with the Yankees the year. The other team that he said he loved winning was when he went to the World Series. But at the end of the day, it's a new scene. I think the narrative is focused too much on the negativity. Trying to, like, they trying to pit teammates against each other. And you see him right now, you know, he's having fun with the young kids. He's having fun with everybody. It might be a Lynn Door thing, but at the same time, I think he just needs to step back and just have a little respect for people that's been in the team a lot longer, you understand? But besides that, last year, what has he had the most home runs that he had in his career. You know, still walks a lot, still plays a lot. I mean, you know, he still continued

[Caller or Guest]

to do what he did.

[Caller Paul]

His average slipped a little bit.

[Alan Hahn]

Once again, we're not talking about performance.

[Don Hahn]

Paul, what did you make of. Just one quick question for you, Paul, because you sound like a reasonable fan. What did you make? What did you make of like, you know, the statement from Lindor in the off season of like, hey, we don't all have to love each other. And also the awkward opening day dap, or lack thereof between Lindor and Soto, which it did look pretty clearly awkward when we saw.

[Caller Paul]

Did look awkward. But at the end of the day, right, not everybody on a teammate is going to like each other. Right. Or love each other. This is something that they got to build on. It has to be a mutual respect. Your door brings what he brings to the table. Soto brings what he brings to the table. It did look good. And it did. It didn't look good. You know, their sort of reception on opening day and everybody else is hugging each other. But yes, at the same time, too. To me, it's like. I don't know. I guess it's two guys trying to compete to see who's like, the man on the team. And I get it. If it was about the, you know, he came to the Mets for a reason. Well, listen, because he saw a future. He saw that we had prospect. He saw that we was built.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm gonna tell you, he came here because he got the most money.

[Alan Hahn]

He saw $700 million.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right? So I'm not even gonna play that game. But as a Met fan, you still look back at the first year of Juan Soto disappointment because you went from going to Game 6 of the League Championship Series in 24 to winning 83 games and missing the playoffs altogether.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember, we celebrated getting Juan Soto because

[Don Hahn]

we thought that this was going to

[Peter Rosenberg]

be the guy that was going to take us to the next step. Now I do think he will get us there, but that first year was a step back. Even though it wasn't his fault, the feeling was with what Juan Soto and the team that they had from the

[Alan Hahn]

year before that Stearns didn't want to keep, to keep around anyway.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And then what ended up happening at

[Alan Hahn]

the end of the year, he got rid of it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He didn't blow it up, but he came damn close.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, Alonzo gone, McNeil gone, Nimmo gone.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that was a disappointment. I mean, I didn't, I didn't get excited that Juan Soto was here. So he finished third in home runs in the National League and lead the National League and on base percentage. I got excited because I thought he'd be the guy to get him to the next step. It didn't work out. So overall I kind of look at last year as a disappointment. But there's still 14 more years for him to be able to get this team to the promised land.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to Dan in Sayville. What's up, Dan?

[Caller Jose]

Hey, what's up, fellas? Thanks for taking the call. So I'll be that guy on a Thursday. Also disappointed Yankee fan. You know, the problem with these two games we lost are, yes, it's April, but you're going to want them back when it's September if it's a couple game race, you know, for the division. So it kind of leaves. This leaves you a little sour, but tough losses, you got to take care of business. I can stomach a one nothing loss against the Dodgers, but you know, you got it. You got to take care of business and handle it up now. But I hope they can get it done.

[Caller or Guest]

Thanks for taking the game.

[Caller Jose]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got it.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, it's. It is one of those things during a long season that like every year, has losses that frustrates you. The, the. Today was one. Yesterday you didn't take advantage in the first inning when you could have, could have broken that game open. You, you had Severino on the ropes. Didn't do it today, today, dead stick like you would say, Don. Dead stick like there was. You did nothing. Did you see that? The first time since 1958 the Yankees were shut out with one hit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's pretty significant.

[Alan Hahn]

Like dead stick today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what.

[Alan Hahn]

And you got. And you got a great pitching performance out of your starter. So that's. This is a frustrating one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You hope. Like I mentioned before, they're owing four and one run games. Very small sample size. Probably just a blip on the radar screen. You just want to make sure that this doesn't become a trend because come playoffs can be a lot of one run games. You don't want to be the team that doesn't win those games.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you got to be clutch. You gotta be clutch. Which is why in the eighth inning when captain's up and the runner on base and your offense has done nothing. I need you to do more.

[Don Hahn]

Speaking of the captain.

[Caller or Guest]

Hi, Peter. Don. Al, what does Brownie say on the court? Dad, I'm open or LeBron give me the ball?

[Don Hahn]

Great question. He has to say Dad, I can't see him calling him LeBron.

[Caller or Guest]

I can't remember. Tell us to just.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Caller or Guest]

You know, these firings. Tortorella, Patrick Roy reminds me of 2000 Donny. Robbie Fitlok is doing a decent job with the Devils. First place. Lamarello fires him, brings on Lonnie Robinson. And Robinson wakes up Scott Stans. And they make a great run through London season and the Stanley Cup. That was unbelievable, fellas.

You hit it with the cold weather games.

Just give away free coffee, free hot chocolate and make concessions. Half price, that's all. You can't change mother nature. You can't change the schedule, you can't change tv. Teams come in once, they don't come back. You got to start the games early in March because you don't want doubleheaders. I understand everything. Money. So you got to be good to the fans. Any night game in April. Give them a break. Now, did you guys see Davey Lopes died?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Caller or Guest]

Fellas, this guy was on four World Series teams. 74, 77, 78, 81. The Dodgers went to four World Series in eight years. I don't think any of the position players are in the hall of Fame.

Dusty Baker isn't in, is he?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Caller or Guest]

Steve Garvey. Ron, say Davey Lopes is not in. Valenswell is not in. Tommy John. I think it's only Don Sutton and he got in because he was an accumulator in the 60s and the 70s. But nobody has been more disrespected as a team ever than those dodger teams from 74 to 81 eight years, fellas. I don't understand it. Now, Alan, you'll write this one. Who was greater all around? Two small men, great in college and great pros in their way. Ernie D. Gregoglio or Doug Flutie. Allen, who do you take?

[Alan Hahn]

Ernie D. Better pro.

[Caller or Guest]

Better pro. Okay. Led to Buffalo Braves. Okay. Yesterday and today. Fellas, you ever see seven straight home games for the New York teams? The two hockey. The hockey team last night, two games. Today, two baseball games. Today, home. And two basketball games today, seven straight home games.

[Caller Paul]

Fellas.

[Caller or Guest]

You ever see anything like that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure.

[Caller or Guest]

One more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Incredible.

[Alan Hahn]

When was the last time Back on.

[Don Hahn]

When was the last time you remember that many home games?

[Caller or Guest]

Guys, did he ever actually get to what was on the call?

[Alan Hahn]

Screener, you understand that was topical.

[Caller or Guest]

What he was on the call.

[Don Hahn]

He said that was the last thing. I guess it was the only thing.

[Caller or Guest]

He told me that was the only thing.

[Alan Hahn]

You guys weren't looking at me. I YouTube was. I took my headset off and I still could hear him ask me a question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, because you answered.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that was with this shot. Well, I just freeze framed a shot of you. I got to send it to the group here. This is something for the ages.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody face. Palm in the.

[Don Hahn]

It's not every. It's. It's Allen's face palming. I'm checked out. Don looks like he's dead. Like Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Don looks like we need a red Don there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's red. Don would have been great. There's several things that are disappointing.

[Alan Hahn]

What's that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that it could be so much better. We just allowed an ounce of interaction.

[Don Hahn]

That's. I know he's right there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Some of the stuff's pretty good. Like he. He made some good points about those Dodger teams. I brought it up on Davey Lopes passed away. Like I could name the whole infield, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's the part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My head. But they didn't have a lot of hall of Famers, just the pitchers.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's the part that bothered me is Don. This reminds me of 2000. You remember when this happened? Robbie F. We talked about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he doesn't listen. He just calls.

[Alan Hahn]

We talk. We talked about Robbie Fator. We talked about Larry Robinson. I covered that Devil's team all the way to the cup. Know the story, chapter and verse. I know you do, too. It's tattooed on your leg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Tortorella didn't get fired. Bruce Cassidy got fired. And Torturella came in for him. Yeah, I drive a dog straight but he was right. The Devils lost four straight and Lou panicked and he brought in Robinson. They eight games left. They went four and four in those eight games.

[Alan Hahn]

Must win tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Conference final for the Islanders.

[Caller or Guest]

His actual point might have been helpful, though. Oh, Judge can't hit in front. Can't be up in front of guys in the eight, nine and one spots that are hitting under.200 because they're not

[Alan Hahn]

on base and he can't.

[Caller or Guest]

And they should move them to third. And we've had that conversation with Michael before and the analytics, and Richard's not happy about it. Everything else, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But I'll tell you what, though. Funny thing is, he has had guys on base.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just saying I. I don't want to be on this guy's case. I love the guy.

[Caller Jose]

Love him.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's got to get over this thing. He's got to. He's got to get over this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he will. I mean, I think when your team

[Alan Hahn]

needs you, you need to have the hit where everybody goes. See, that's why he's the man. You gotta have it.

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[Podcast Host]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Host]

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

[Don Hahn]

Well, we always include some music news on the show when it happens. And today a a very important, albeit controversial at the end of his life, hip hop figure passed away. The iconic Africa Bamba. Oh wow. Passed away today. A true, true. You talk about the origin story of hip hop. This is a very, very important piece. The the end of his life was marred with sex abuse allegations, child molestation allegations, and really, really bad stuff the last several years with people alleging that things were happening with him all the way back to the 70s. From a music standpoint though, he was in terms of just influence on what hip hop music became as a dj, as a record producer, of course, you know, from a making music standpoint, the biggest record, of course is Planet Rock, one of the biggest early hip hop records ever made. But also just culturally, his fat, his forming of the Zulu nation, incredibly important. So again, end of his life filled with really horrible accusations. But the life that he lived musically, super duper important. Now Don, you in the in the early 80s, you being a metal guy and a rock guy, I was not around at the time that this record became big. Was Planet Rock big enough to like make it to your orbit at that time even though you weren't into hip hop or.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it was not.

[Caller Paul]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Do you know it now?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Alan, you think he knows know it? If he hears it,

[Alan Hahn]

he might recognize something.

[Don Hahn]

I feel like he would. I feel like, I feel like Planet Rock is a hear it at Games kind of song. Kind of, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Probably. Yeah. I'll tell you, I'll be honest, it wasn't ever on my radar either.

[Don Hahn]

Really, as a kid. It wasn't?

[Alan Hahn]

No. I mean it was really hit.

[Don Hahn]

It was a club. It was like a club cool kids Kind of thing. But it just became really big and inflated. Here, we'll give you a little taste of it. This is planet Rock. Familiar.

[Alan Hahn]

This was not my thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sounds familiar. I might have been out and about and heard this.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's pretty big. Huge breakdancing record. Just a huge origin sort of hip hop record. Guys, game time brought to you by. Tell them more. Do Irish whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's Yankees done, Mets D backs coming up right here on 880 at 630. Nick Celtics, Knicks are by the way five and a half point favorites tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

So no Jalen Brown, Derrick White available, Jason Tatum obviously in the lineup. He said he would be wants to get this game out of the way because clearly for him and he called it a traumatic experience, that injury that he suffered, of course Achilles in game four. And so for him, he just wants to get back on this court and just get it over with.

[Don Hahn]

So yeah, I totally get that. And I, you know, with the line being five and a half for the Knicks, to me that's like Vegas sort of half assing it. Well, yeah, I mean I'll just say

[Alan Hahn]

this testing New Yorkers, but also they

[Don Hahn]

actually see it being competitive game because if they said, hey, no Jalen Brown, Derek White's day to day, we don't think the Celtics really care. I could have seen it being Knicks minus eight and a half. Like they really think the Celtics aren't playing. To me, Knicks five and a half means that they see this thing actually being pretty competitive. That of course is coming up on 1050 if you want to listen on the radio. Islanders Leafs at 645. Devils Penguins at the Rocket 7 and Nets and Pacers at 7:30. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore do or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, what are you expecting? Like, like, is it, is it crazy? Islanders, Leafs, DeBoer now behind the bench and they have four games left and they, it feels like gotta win all four, right? Like you gotta win them all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It feels though I don't know if you have to because you could get help but you take care of business. You should, you win all four, you should be okay.

[Alan Hahn]

You should, you should get in, right? Like does this feel like because you're. This is a team that's not going anywhere. This is must win, right? Like I Know this. I know technically it's not, but doesn't it feel like make a coaching change. Like you gotta show up and this team's gotta like, you gotta be like, rip the door off the hinges when you're going out on the ice. Like, this has to be that kind of a performance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who am I forgetting? They got Toronto tonight. I know. They got Montreal and Carolina. So who am I missing? They got the four home games left.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm blanking right now because I'm in

[Peter Rosenberg]

nickel, but you know, Montreal, very good. Carolina. All right. They've already pretty much clinched the division. But there usually aren't mail ins at the end of the season.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By those teams.

[Alan Hahn]

Ottawa, Ottawa is the other one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ottawa is a bad game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. And I guess that's probably the Saturday because the Devils play them on Sunday. Yeah. So you don't beat Toronto. There's an issue. Because you got to be all fired up. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You get this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You believe the reports, the fan, the play. I mean, you're hearing reports like the Wall was talking about his Cups and the players, like, give me a break. So they got to be happy with the coaching change. If he listens to the reports.

[Don Hahn]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know you're on notice. So if you don't show up here against the lousy Toronto team.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then you've got bigger issues.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Saturday's one o' clock against the. The Senators. I'm with you. Boy. It's interesting that. That Patrick Waugh went to the how many Cups I've won thing like Doc Rivers allegedly did with the Bucks of Google me. Right. You know that story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And where he had his meeting with the players and the players rolled their eyes when he's. I've taken. I've taken less lesser teams than this to the final.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's not connecting with the players. So he's got a few. Throw out all his rings on the table.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And most players aren't going to be impressed since most of those rings were won by, you know, when they boarded that.

[Caller or Guest]

Barzell debunked that, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Barzell was close to him. Barzell took it personal. Like he. He's the one that. That seems most affected by the. The coaching change. And actually the first thing the board did probably to appeal to him is put him at center or put him back at center. That'll be an interesting wrinkle to see what that looks like. But just defensively, structure wise, I'm really curious to see what they look like because that's really been the war does

[Peter Rosenberg]

wear out his welcome. But in the meantime we'll his first years.

[Alan Hahn]

His first years are always good though,

[Peter Rosenberg]

you know, outside of Florida, you know, cup final with the Devils, cup final with San Jose, cup final with Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Always a bride.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got Vegas to at least a conference for final, right.

[Alan Hahn]

Can he be the the Paul Maurice for the Islanders where it just finally clicks, it finally hits.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you hope right.

[Alan Hahn]

Then that would be, I mean Paul Maurice's story. Right. All the places that he went, he just couldn't break through.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Paul Maurice, you know, some success in Carolina.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got to a final nothing in Toronto.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Goes to Winnipeg and resigns. Just couldn't seem to get him over the Hob.

[Alan Hahn]

Wasn't a good feel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Goes to Florida and you know, three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances and two

[Alan Hahn]

Cups and finally gets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that would be something. Although I think the Boars had more success than Maurice had in his other places. But I think Paul Maurice was actually the youngest coach in the history of the NHL when he got the job in Hartford, correct?

[Alan Hahn]

That is correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

28.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would be nice if they found that. That would be some success you'd love to have.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want to know.

[Podcast Host]

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.

[Carrington College Announcer]

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