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Don Hahn
McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one of six collectibles and your choice of.
Peter Rosenberg
A Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets.
Don Hahn
With spicy nether flame sauce. Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.
Anthony
At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
Don Hahn
A Minecraft movie only in theaters.
Anthony
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
That sounds like heaven to me.
Anthony
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Don Hahn
Started from the bottom.
Anthony
Now we're here. Do another started burpee.
Peter Rosenberg
Burpee.
Anthony
See, Peter, if he really was a man's man, he'd be in the studio doing burpees right now. Showing us. But you can't hear it. Wanted to say it for him. Ready? Say. Well, you missed it.
Don Hahn
You got to start over. Here we go.
Anthony
Now.
Don Hahn
Start it.
Anthony
Here we go. Now we're starting from the bottom.
Don Hahn
Started from the bottom. Now the whole team. Started from the bottom. Now we're here.
Anthony
Wow, look at Don.
Don Hahn
The bottom. Now the whole team. Started from the bottom. Now we hear. Started from the bottom. Now the whole team. Started from the bottom. Now we're here. Come on.
Anthony
He wasn't making it up.
Don Hahn
I just kept it real from the jump. He just got to the verse.
Anthony
What?
Peter Rosenberg
Just to defend myself. It's a hard floor. You know, you do have a padded floor in the kick.
Anthony
Did you think we were going to lose him for a minute there because his whole face was red.
Don Hahn
I didn't think we were going to.
Anthony
Start it from the bottom. Now his whole face red.
Don Hahn
Now his whole team bleeping red.
Peter Rosenberg
I thought he was making it up.
Anthony
Like, wait a minute.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't remember it being this Don.
Don Hahn
That was a hell of a performance. But it's a hard floor.
Anthony
Everybody should know he's wearing jeans. Right? That's not easy either. The flex to get down to do the burpee jump back up. You had your beautiful Skechers comfortable slip ons.
Don Hahn
Damn it if I'm not proud of you.
Anthony
Right.
Peter Rosenberg
And I'm. And I'm talking.
Anthony
Yes.
Peter Rosenberg
There'd be times when I would. I'd work at, you know, on the K show, run to the bathroom and come back and be like, no, no, no, Michael, my. Take call.
Anthony
Take a call. Still catch it up.
Don Hahn
You should be impressed with yourself. I am.
Peter Rosenberg
Now, what's the difference between I always wondered about this, a burpee and a sprawl?
Anthony
I don't know what a sprawl is. Never heard of that.
Peter Rosenberg
I gotta ask Kimball, because sometimes he'll say sprawl and I'll just do the burpee. I think a sprawl is just actually just literally flat on the ground. Flat on the ground. Yeah.
Anthony
That could be it. You wanted to.
Don Hahn
The only thing I was gonna say on the other side of it was that you were talking about how you sit on now with your girls. They'll both just kind of look at you and expect a massage, pat their.
Anthony
Shoulders, as if to say, okay, now you gotta give me a shoulder massage.
Don Hahn
And the problem that I now have is, as the husband of a woman who did that with her dad, is she now expects that to go to sleep always. My whole life, I would say the percentage of touching in that way, just, like, calming, light touches to make someone, like, calm. In our history of our relationship, 98% to 2.
Anthony
That's me and Stephanie.
Don Hahn
It's insane.
Anthony
The girls got it from Stephanie because that's what she does.
Don Hahn
So your whole life is being a masseuse?
Anthony
Yeah. And that was. My dad was later in life, after he retired, he got into massage therapy.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh.
Don Hahn
Literally.
Anthony
Yeah.
Don Hahn
Oh. So at least it became his business.
Anthony
Right.
Don Hahn
But you're not getting paid.
Anthony
No.
Don Hahn
And it's work all the time.
Anthony
Well, I mean, you know this. Well, you know what I mean?
Don Hahn
With Stephanie.
Anthony
Yeah.
Don Hahn
But with the kids, what you're getting.
Anthony
No, no. Nothing out of that.
Don Hahn
You're just working.
Anthony
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, it's sweet.
Don Hahn
It's sweet for a minute, but sometimes it's just tiring.
Anthony
Yeah. It's not. It's not what you want. But I'll never say no, because it's them. And I just want them to be happy.
Don Hahn
I get it.
Anthony
Don, before we get back to calls, what did you see last night at Madison Square Garden from the Rangers, and is it fair to say? Because we've been trying to say this is it. Although Anthony has been telling us this is it since December, he's been trying to tell us it's over. But even though mathematically it's not, last night, was that not the sign that it's over for the Rangers? Not just this season, but maybe this.
Peter Rosenberg
This group, the last two games, actually, you go up against the Devils, they're a good team. Not a great team, but a good team. And Tampa's a really, really good team. But you need these games desperately. And you got outscored nine to one, and your season is pretty much effectively over. They come out hard. They were the much better team in the first period. Much better. I think they had 11 of the first 10 shots. On goal, they're all over Vasilevsky. Vasilevsky doesn't blink. And then the Rangers fail on a power play. Tampa scores on a power play. In a minute and 45 seconds, the game is three nothing and it's over. Now they played again well in the second period, got a power play goal, but they weren't beating Vasilevsky. And as the game or I like.
Anthony
This isn't, he made a couple of big saves too.
Peter Rosenberg
And you can't blame Igor because Igor's playing great, but you still you allowed because there was an empty net goal, you know, four goals on 22 shots, you know, so you'd like to see him make the miracle save. You'd like to see him maybe keep him in the game there. But they failed on a power play late in the second period. They could have made it 3, 2. And that's been the story is that the power plays failed miserably all year and now the kill is starting to give up, is give up goals. And I gotta tell you, you watch Tampa and they've got point and they got Hagel and they've got Kucheroff and they've got Gensel. And it's like, you know what? You're not in this team stratosphere.
Anthony
Nope.
Peter Rosenberg
You're not.
Anthony
Nope.
Peter Rosenberg
And Florida and Toronto and Winnipeg might even be better than Tampa.
Anthony
But that's roster building, isn't it? Is it not roster building? When you look at the brand names that these teams have, it's doable.
Peter Rosenberg
The only player that they have that can put up the points of those guys is Panarin. Yeah, but Panarin's not Kucha. Kucherov is just a beast. And points. Points. Got 41 goals. Nobody knows who he is. You know, it's crazy, right? You know, in Pittsburgh, I'm telling you, they're going to rue the day they couldn't figure out a way to keep Gensel, honestly. And in Carolina for trading for him and not being able to give him.
Anthony
A contract, that's amazing.
Peter Rosenberg
But it's just, they're. They just don't have these players, Alan. They just don't. Even in the Devil game, like the Devils lost Jack Hughes, but you look at like he Shears got 35 goals and he's really good. And you know, Timo Meyer hasn't had a great year, but yeah, without Hughes, they've still.
Anthony
They're. What are they? They're one point, right? One point and they're in playoffs, I believe tonight they beat Boston.
Peter Rosenberg
They're in And Brat's been great. So it's a personnel problem. But you know what? It's also just coming to the realization that Sabana Jad Kreider, it's. It's ending here. You know, Savannah, Chad's got 17 goals, Crider's got 20. Credit's been demoted to the fourth line. Like it's.
Anthony
And it's a lot.
Peter Rosenberg
It just feels like it's just over.
Anthony
Like it's. It's a lifeless kind of feeling now with the, with this team. But I want, like, I just wanted.
Peter Rosenberg
To say one quick thing too, I'm sorry, is that a lot's been made about Laviolette.
Anthony
I'll go in there right now saying, let me go. Let me. Let me play it. Okay. That's why I was going to go next. I was going to say is because of the hot seat thing that now happens with a team like this and the talk of can they, you know, would. Would the coach be the first guy to go and all that? This was a very. And I remember I covered Peter when he first was a coach way back 25 years ago. So I kind of know this Peter and this was a very curious thing. He said that really trended after the game. When asked what his message was as the head coach to his team after a performance like that last night at the Garden, chances are dwindling after a loss like that.
Don Hahn
What's the message?
Peter Rosenberg
Like, I don't have a message right now when I'm going to the locker room after the game. So.
Anthony
So he doesn't let him finish because he's already ready to tell you I don't have a message.
Peter Rosenberg
No.
Anthony
And that everybody thought, oh, no, this is a bad sign. Now I have a take on this, but I'm curious to hear yours.
Peter Rosenberg
People took the I didn't go in the room as some sort of a statement. He doesn't do that. A lot of coaches don't go in the room after the game. So.
Anthony
So we agree.
Peter Rosenberg
But the part that he is sending cuz listen. I'm at. I listen to every press conference games that I do, even pre and post game. It's my job. I listen to the press conferences. There's nothing left to be said. What he's telling you is it's not about a spark. It's not about a speech. This is what it is. This is the best they can do. This is it. Cause he's. About a month ago he was telling you, inexcusable. We can't play to it. Now you listen to him. And it's like, yeah, we just had a bad minute and 45 seconds. He just seems resigned to the fact that there's nothing left that I can do. Now. I'm not saying he's quit on them. If anything, they might have quit on him, but I don't even think it's about that. Anthony may disagree. I just think that this. They used it all up. This is what they are. They're just not. Zabanajad's just not that good anymore. Crider's just not that good anymore. They can't play to the back of their hockey card because they can't. And now. And it's time to move on. So you can. Last year was last year, dude. One year is a big difference in hockey. Look at Washington. All of a sudden, Washington's competing for the President's Trophy. They literally limped into the playoffs last year and the Rangers wiped the floor with them in the first round. Now you fast forward a year later, Rangers aren't going to make it and Washington might win the President's Trophy. That's the way it works in sports. You tweak the rosters. But certain players, all of a sudden, Ovechkin finds it, Protus finds it. McMichael scoring goals out of nowhere. That's the difference. Rangers aren't getting that, you know, so you could talk about they quit. You talk about they're not trying. I just think it is what it is. This is where this roster is and they've got to make significant changes. The only thing I wonder, because I think Laviolette's going to be the collateral damage. He's only got a year left on his contract after this. They're not going to give him an extension. I doubt they're going to let him be a lame duck. So he might end up having to be the collateral damage here. The question is, does Dolan let Drury go or does Dolan let Drury fix this or try to make make it through? I have a feeling he'll let him do it. He's been talking Drury up. He invested a lot in Drury. Remember, he was the assistant general manager. They spent a lot of time with this guy. I don't think they're going to just throw the baby out with the bathwater here, but we'll see if he'll be given an opportunity to bring in a third coach, reconstruct this roster. He's trying to do what he can at the deadline, which is very difficult to do. I think he deserves an offseason to make changes. But what you see on the ice here is not what you're going to see next year. It can't be.
Anthony
Anthony, you are a passionate Ranger fan. You were very active on the group chat after that game or during that game and we were all throwing out different suggestions and different thoughts. You went on a rant. So I want to hear what you think needs to be done with this team and the core that had given you a bunch of years and came close, but obviously not nearly close enough.
Alan Hahn
The New York Rangers are 9, 23 and 5 against playoff teams this year. They are 3 and 7 in overtime. They've not had a three game win streak since November.
Anthony
Wow.
Alan Hahn
And they are the only team, only capital o nly team that does not have a multi goal comeback this season. That includes teams like the Sharks and the Predators and the Blackhawks and the Sabres. Rangers don't have a multi goal comeback. Everything that was together about this team last year, the power play masking poor five on five play, gone. The feel that no matter what deficit it was. Look back to the stadium series against the Islanders that they can come back and win a hockey game. Gone. There was no time yesterday that I thought they could win that hockey game and I don't know why but I was one of the people and Don knows because we did it on game of conduct and I even did it on the case show. I think that I thought after Gerard Gallant was fired that was the indication that this corps didn't have it anymore. It was over. They weren't going to get over the hump. That was it. Now there's a lot of no move clauses, no trade clauses on this team even back then. But you had to figure out a way to change it because it wasn't working. Peter Laviolette got a three year contract. Why? Because this is around the time that that core had left for their contracts. Panarin is going to be able to be moved. Kreider's able to be moved. A lot of no moves go away after those three years. Jacob Truba said it before the season. He's not here anymore. By the way, that this is probably the last shot this core's got and half of them are gone. Heidel's gone, Kako's gone, Truba's gone, Lindgren's gone. Vici's gone. Gone. And as Don pointed out, it's probably it for Kreider. I think Larry Brooks had an article about it today. You probably, if you're the Rangers need to trade everything that's not bolted to the floor. I think this team needs a massive overhaul. Complete overhaul, because it just didn't work.
Peter Rosenberg
And last year, what was the problem? Not a great five on five team, right, Anthony? And now they were a great power play team. Power play goes south, they go south. I think Adam fox is not 100%. I think that's hurt the power play, but otherwise it should have gotten better with J.T. miller, but that's gone. If I had to be critical. If I had to be critical of Laviolette, it does feel like he just seems to go with the same horses where, you know, it's still, you know, after they pull the goaltender, it's still. Crider's a banajad. The same guys out there, power play. Usually the same suspects out there, but he's tried to finagle the lines. It just. It is what it is.
Alan Hahn
I'd love to see the kids. I'd love to see Othman getting time now. I'd love to see pro getting some time.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, you're going to start. I mean, listen, you got to try to do what you can to make the playoffs, right? But at some point you have to look in the mirror and say, maybe these kids give us the best chance. You know, it's. You know, I keep getting asked, will this spark it? Remember last year when Truba threw his helmet against the Blackhawks? That sparked the team and they went on a big two?
Anthony
It's.
Peter Rosenberg
It's beyond that. It's beyond a trade or a speech. That's why Laviolette said what he said. I can't go in there and do a Newt Rockne speech and think it's gonna throw. No, it's not. It's not gonna happen.
Anthony
That's what he was saying. Not, I don't care or I gave up on the team.
Peter Rosenberg
You gotta give a message to a lot of veterans out there. They know you're six points out of a playoff spot with five to play. You're running out of road here.
Alan Hahn
Peter says something so brilliant years ago about quarterback.
Anthony
Thank you.
Alan Hahn
That is. That is so pertinent to this, to this conversation. We always talked about how, oh, the Giants are. I think it was either the jets or the Giant. They have like three quarterbacks, Peter. Well, if they have three quarterbacks, what do they have?
Don Hahn
No quarterback.
Alan Hahn
No quarterback. So this team decided to have for a long time, past Callahan, past McDonough, six or seven A's, right, Don? Six assisting captains. There's three on the defense. There's three on the offense and then you got the captain with Truba and they still alternated some A's and other teams.
Anthony
Everybody gets a letter.
Alan Hahn
You got four or five. Well, what does that mean? If you've got that many assistant captains, how many leaders do you have?
Anthony
You don't have enough.
Alan Hahn
And they lost Goodreau and they lost Truba. And you would think with all the other A's in that room that there would be enough leadership to get them through that. And it crippled them. And it shouldn't do that to a team.
Anthony
Really good.
Peter Rosenberg
That's good. And that's the thing. You lack leadership, but you lack all the other intangibles. Again, it's not waking up the beast. Is there a beast? Honestly, that's it. So yeah, you'll blame. And everybody thinks you're a trade away or a speech away or a big hit away, a big fight away. Listen, Rempe did everything you could ask him to do last night. He was in front of the goal, the fourth line was dominant. They didn't score. And then bang, in minute 45 seconds you're down three nothing. Game over. Devil game. Same thing. They come out, they survived. The Devils played very well in the first half of the game. All of a sudden Timo Meyer scores on the power play to give up a short end of goal. Boom, down, do nothing, done, over. Now is that because of psyche? Is that because of breaks or is that because you know what, you're not good enough to survive? I think not good enough.
Alan Hahn
Somebody asked about the magic last night. I forget who it was to Peter, Laviolette and even the players that we had the magic last year. I think it's just run out. This team had their runs. They had two Eastern Conference runs. They ran into a buzz saw in the lightning. They ran into a buzzsaw against Florida. Were they better than those teams?
Anthony
No, this is as good as it was going to get.
Alan Hahn
What happened to that Islander team, Alan, that made those Eastern Conference final runs? They ran into a wall. And what the Islanders should have done and didn't do, the Rangers should have done and didn't do. Now it's coming to roost and this team is going to has to look.
Anthony
The resource button is the hardest button to push when you have a team that had some success.
Peter Rosenberg
My theory in sports is the high scoring sports like football and basketball, the better team is usually going to win. There'll be upsets obviously, but when you get that many points scored, the cream is going to flow to the top. In baseball and hockey where there's not a lot of points, a lot of runs. It leaves for those magical moments where you catch a break and you win a game you're not supposed to. And there's been plenty of times even going back to Hank, where I'd call a game and I'd turn to Dave and go, they shouldn't have won that game. There was a. I was called two straight games in Western Canada. They gave it 50 plus shots, won both games. There's those X factors where you didn't deserve to win, but you know it's two one, your goaltender stands on your head, you get a power play, a puck goes off a skate, you win a game. Yeah, you know, that doesn't happen in football and basketball where so many points are scored, you can't get that many breaks. And if, and if you can catch a break, then you're probably good enough to hang to begin with. But in the low scoring games, everybody's in it for a little while at least. So if you catch a few breaks, maybe that magic, the break, the power plays. Now, I go back a couple of years ago when they went to the conference final in 22, they were down 31 to Pittsburgh, Truba hits Crosby, Crosby's out. They come back and win that series. They probably done in five. If Crosby doesn't get hurt, then they could lose in the first round the next year. Last year, remember they had Carolina's number, but at three, oh, they had to come back two goals down in the third period. Otherwise they're going to have to play game seven against Carolina. And they won two games against Florida, both in overtime. But when it really mattered, Florida, Florida was the better team.
Anthony
That was like Kreider's last big moment. Right?
Peter Rosenberg
That was it.
Anthony
That was like the last big moment. That probably was the last big moment of that, of this, this era. Look, they all come to an end at some point and a lot of them come to an end without the championship.
Alan Hahn
This is a sad end though. This is a really, really sad end to a team that's done a lot.
Peter Rosenberg
It really has only sad because you have to know as an organization, they always say, who is it? The branch? Ricky? It's better to get rid of a player a year early than a year late.
Anthony
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
You know, and if they assessed and if we lived in a world with no movement clauses and the no trade, that may be Drury or even, you know, JD or Gordon before him would say, ah, we're starting to see these guys are getting a little long in the tooth. But massive contracts, popular players, let's lock them up, you know, and start building the way. Everybody's happy, they love the team. And now, now what happens?
Alan Hahn
It looks like Buchanavich, McDonough and Zucarello were the guys that probably needed to stick around more. Some from a longevity perspective, they're still playing at.
Peter Rosenberg
Let's not forget too in defense of everybody in a cap sport, it's a lot harder to do these things. Yes, they didn't want to get rid of Bushnevich, but they had to move him because they couldn't afford to pay him with his contract. So get something for him because the guy's going to walk. You make these tough decisions. Oh, it's easy. We shouldn't have given Shusturkin that money. Okay, you don't give him Shusturkin that money, he goes sign someplace else. This will be a little easier rebuild having a world class goaltender than not. But still it doesn't look great. He's going to finish under 500. Allen, he's three games under.500.
Anthony
He's not the guy that you say don't pay, but it's some of these other guys.
Peter Rosenberg
He's not Hank.
Anthony
No, no, no.
Peter Rosenberg
But nobody. And nobody is, you know, there's no, you know, there's only so many Brodeurs and WA's and I do put the.
Anthony
Best in the league.
Peter Rosenberg
I know Hank didn't win, but. But God love him. The fact that the Rangers were relevant during that period of time was because of him. Yeah, but not every goaltender can just single handedly carry a franchise to the playoffs every year and to a final and to a President's trophy. And Shusturkin has done that. But can't carry you off the finish lines. You gotta get some help.
Anthony
Well, I mean right now, that's it. And so what an off season this is gonna be for the Rangers and what they can do. Going.
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Anthony
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Anthony
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We got a lot more calls to get to. The Mets right now have a 95 lead over the Marlins through six innings and Pete Alonso just continues to rake. He's just making money for himself. This is great. I, I I actually love this story. I'm rooting for it. Now officially Rooting for Pete Alonzo.
Don Hahn
Is there more money from the.
Anthony
And the biggest, the big hometown contract. Keep him.
Don Hahn
But he got his contract.
Anthony
He got a short term.
Peter Rosenberg
He got a very short term contract. Wait.
Don Hahn
Oh, it was only two years.
Peter Rosenberg
Two years?
Anthony
Yeah, 30. Like, like, like, you know, I'm talking about the real one. Well, now he's got the proverbial gun to their head. So where are you going now? The Guerrero's got a half a million, half a billion. He's not going.
Don Hahn
So real quick. Pete will be how old to the end of this deal? 30, 31?
Anthony
2.
Don Hahn
32, 32. So realistically, he would hope to get.
Anthony
A five year deal.
Don Hahn
A five year, right?
Anthony
Yeah.
Don Hahn
And he'd be hoping for 200. He'd be a five year 200 million dollar dealers loan.
Anthony
5, 200.
Don Hahn
At that age, that's a lot of money.
Anthony
5, 200 is a lot. I don't know if I'd go that high. Would you do five? Like 5, 150, 175. Like fair.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't know if anybody else is going to have an appetite to give him a big contract at 32 plays first base, which they don't pay a lot of money to. First baseman. That's what we saw with Alonzo.
Don Hahn
So let's just get this straight. There was no world in which Pete was ever getting a truly great deal from anyone.
Anthony
No.
Peter Rosenberg
He had the year that he had. Now he might have two monster seasons, but again, he's 32 years old.
Anthony
Listen, by the way, best home run hitters in the sport. And the Mets. There's a greater need for the Mets for him right now than anything. Because A, you start out with the need at first base. The Guerrero thing's off the table. Soto needs protection in the lineup. He is showing you he can do that already. And on top of it, your fan base loves him. What does Don always say? The Forever Met. You're investing in something that your franchise never invests in. So it is a lot of reasons why this makes sense. And it's only money. Steve Cohen. It's only money.
Peter Rosenberg
But you know what I like about what happened is that. All right, so they take the six two lead. Nimmo had a big two run double Marte two run single. Very next inning, Holmes gives up three runs.
Anthony
Shocking.
Peter Rosenberg
And now it's six, five.
Anthony
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
And the Mets come right back at the bottom of the sixth inning and score three runs and make a nine five again. I mean that's. I know. It's the Marlins. I get it. But they're showing you a resiliency that you did, that you saw a lot at the second half of last year. Carrying over here. If they could hold on to this at the top of the seventh inning, you know, you're eight and three to start the year. Keeping pace with Philly, you're really putting the Braves in your rearview mirror. Braves are 1 and 8. So you could say it's early all you want. These games still count, as Dave Maloney says, with points in the NHL, they don't go bad like those wins. They stay there.
Anthony
Right.
Don Hahn
Oh, Michael had a center stage with Dan Rather.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, the center stage is one of the great things ever. No.
Don Hahn
Strong. No, no, that's right. I like. He does nice interviews. One of the great things ever. I mean, have you heard of sex? I mean, movies, cheeseburgers. I mean, you just said great things.
Peter Rosenberg
Speaking of which, I pluralize.
Anthony
There was a cheese, but there was a. I think it was Sonic. There was a commercial.
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah.
Anthony
Oh, my God. I could dream about, but I forget tacos tonight.
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah.
Anthony
I might want to go get a smash.
Peter Rosenberg
I said things. I pluralized it for a reason. A lot of things can be great, but one of the center stage is one of them. But you said, by the way, why Dan Rather?
Anthony
Why did you react that way instead of as you're in the middle of making a very cogent point, look at Peter and go, am I talking here?
Don Hahn
Well, it was right above his head.
Anthony
Or are you just distracted by the television above me?
Don Hahn
Listen, Rather popped up right above his head and I went, wow.
Anthony
Rather on very random thing to say while a man is in the middle of making a point, he's wrapping up the point.
Don Hahn
Now real quick.
Anthony
Are you doing the wrap it up B. Is that what you were wrapping up?
Peter Rosenberg
What do you say, like you read about. There's a book I can read about Center Stage.
Don Hahn
Yeah, but it's really just the interviews from Center Stage. It's not a book about Center Stage.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm the only one on this floor. Yeah, the Reddit covered account.
Don Hahn
That is a fact.
Anthony
On this floor.
Peter Rosenberg
So I don't know, by the way.
Don Hahn
Maybe in the world.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't know this building. I know the fifth floor. I don't know. There's random people.
Don Hahn
You barely know the fifth floor.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't know what's going on.
Don Hahn
I don't know what's going on up here. But real quick. So I was. I was thinking about the.
Anthony
I don't know what's going on anywhere right now.
Don Hahn
I Was thinking about the contract possibilities for Pete. And so I just, like, out of curiosity, I was thinking because Pete, yeah, last year stunk, but what he did in the playoffs was so mage that that has to be factored in to how you consider him in spite of the bad year. If he turns around Allen, you kind of like, if he hits that home run last year, gets Milwaukee, then rakes this year, it all gets added up together. It's like, showed that he's clutch, then ranks. So I just popped my Soto. So then I thought I. Just for fun. I know this is maybe silly, but I go, what was the. What was the Daniel Murphy contract when he went to Washington after he raked, by the way. Boy, does time change, though. I thought I'd look at it, like making some sort of great point. Like, well, look what Daniel Murphy got. Daniel Murphy got three years. And I remember going, wow, the Nationals gave him that three years. Any guesses on what it was per year? That was like, oh, my God, 90 per year. No, total.
Anthony
Total 15.
Peter Rosenberg
Sorry, 15.
Anthony
Total 45.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, so three. Yeah, three years 45.
Don Hahn
Three years 37. Five. That was the big Daniel Murphy deal. And by the way, of course, he ended up. It was done in 2018. They went to World Series after. Yeah, it still didn't age well. He was horrible when he got there, but wow.
Anthony
Let's get some more calls. 800-919-3776. Everybody get ready for Knicks and Celtics tonight at the Garden. And of course, coverage begins at 7 on 10:50am in the ESPNY York app. Joe is in Levittown, wants to talk to some Knicks. What's up, Joe?
Joe
What's up, fellas? So these Knicks calls are driving me crazy. Real quick, Don. A sprawl is a defensive maneuver in the sport of wrestling to defend against a shot, drop your hips to the ground as fast as you can.
Anthony
So that's what it is. Straight, flat on the ground, like you said. Okay, Hips to the ground.
Don Hahn
Oh, that's it.
Anthony
Nicely done, Joe.
Joe
But I'll tell you, man, he's got everybody calling about the knicks. Look, I'm 33. This is the best Knicks team I've ever watched in my whole life.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm enjoying it.
Joe
People are. Got no patience. You know, this is the first year with this roster. You know, you don't do it until you do it. You know what I'm saying? So give this year, you know, give Tibbs another year at least, and see what happens. But I'm rooting for him.
Anthony
Yeah. Let me see what happens, Joe, thanks for the call like that. Like, the problem is everybody wants to predict doom and gloom, not because they think it's going to happen, it's. They want it to happen. That's what doesn't make sense to me. Joe and Yonkers. What's up, Joe?
Joe
What's going on, guys? What's going on? Yo, yo, yo. Yeah, so look, he. The last caller was right. I mean, the Knicks, they got a jail. They just gave him one year. So we got to play it cool and let them see how they work and play together at the end of the day. But we know that they're not going to beat. At least, you know, these teams for right now, so at least they know what they got to do and maybe get, like, you know, one player or build the bench up or something like that. But this is crazy. I was listening to the show yesterday, and then right away they said, today when I saw about Mike Malone, and right away I was like, holy cannoli. I thought about you guys and what you guys was talking about, and then it could happen, but we gotta leave Tibbs and leave him alone. Like, he's. He's doing great. And then I just wanted to say something about how. What do you think that we should get a bench and stay where we are, or should we get, like, a player like Giannis or, you know, Durant or Booker, and that's it. Thanks for taking my call, guys. Love you guys. Thanks.
Peter Rosenberg
Nice.
Anthony
Thank you, Joe.
Peter Rosenberg
But that's what it is, right? It's. You're not getting both a Giannis or Durant and a bench.
Anthony
No, it's a problem again. KD said it himself. I cost a lot. And so what's it going to cost? I just feel like it's. It's a price that might be just too difficult to pay when you really should be focusing on your starting five is one of the best in the league when it comes to scoring an offense. What you'd want to do is build up your bench if you need to. The playoffs are going to expose your greatest need. That's. That's what I'm curious to see. Griffin in Connecticut. What's up, Griffin?
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, there he is, the family grifter.
Don Hahn
He's still drunk from Monday.
Peter Rosenberg
Really, Peter.
Don Hahn
Sorry. I'm sorry, Griff.
Anthony
I love the disdain. God, he's disgusted with it.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm with you. I'm with you, Griff. You deserve better. Imagine if kids were listening to this show. They hear Peter all the time talking about this.
Don Hahn
Well, well, hold on if the kids were listening. They all also watch all their favorite athletes go the second they win a championship, douse themselves in beer. Now let me ask you a question.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, we know.
Don Hahn
Now let me ask you a question here, Griftster. What would you do if after the championship you went to the celebration, Paige Beckers calls you out of the crowd.
Anthony
Wow.
Don Hahn
And throws up a beer like stone cold Steve Austin calls for another one, hands it to you and gets her and clangs and wants to pound a shotgun.
Anthony
Let's go.
Don Hahn
Are you drinking a beer with Paige or. Nah.
Anthony
No, because I don't like drinking beer.
Don Hahn
Let me ask you a follow up. Follow up question.
Anthony
Follow up question.
Don Hahn
Follow up question. Paige says, all right, you don't want to drink, that's fine. The way I want to celebrate, Griffin, is by the two of us going out on a date.
Anthony
Jesus.
Don Hahn
What do you. What do you. What do you say to that?
Peter Rosenberg
I don't.
Anthony
I. First off, I think she has a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Alan Hahn
I don't know.
Don Hahn
Okay.
Peter Rosenberg
She's asking.
Anthony
You can confirm?
Don Hahn
Yeah. Oh, you. That is true, Alan.
Anthony
Girlfriend.
Don Hahn
Oh, she has a girlfriend.
Anthony
Yeah.
Don Hahn
All right, well, pretend. Just work with me for a minute. It doesn't matter.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't.
Don Hahn
Things are very fluid, Griffin. We don't need to judge what she's doing. I'm just saying in a world they just broke up, she's interested in seeing what the Griff is like. Are you. Are you saying yes? Are you saying no? I'm good. Paige, I just see you as a basketball player. Are you saying, let me get a reservation at a restaurant here in Connecticut and I'm going to take you on the town.
Peter Rosenberg
God.
Anthony
The thing that I'm interested in is Dom McGregor and Alan Hahn, Don's hockey championship pick and Alan Hans NBA final pick. That's what I'm more interested in than talking about Paige Beckers, who's going to.
Unknown
Be the number one overall pick, by.
Anthony
The way, and is one of the greatest to play at UConn.
Peter Rosenberg
You know, I picked the stars at the beginning of the season. Both not feeling it right now, even though they're still terrific.
Anthony
Yeah, I just.
Peter Rosenberg
I look at that Tampa Bay team and I go, you feel like it could be a six straight year where there's a Florida team in the final.
Anthony
Are they that team? Tampa's just. They just won't go away.
Peter Rosenberg
How about right now? Tampa. Winnipeg. I love Winnipeg. Campo.
Alan Hahn
Winnipeg.
Anthony
Winnipeg. I could just. I could hear.
Peter Rosenberg
You know what?
Anthony
You know what? You know what that is? That screams ESPN3.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, you know what? Maybe a whole Stanley cup final just for me.
Anthony
We're just going to.
Peter Rosenberg
Me and.
Anthony
Me and Anthony, like, I think. Right.
Peter Rosenberg
What's Anthony's pick, by the way, Peter?
Anthony
Does that even make it to ABC or do they just like real quick? You know what?
Don Hahn
You know what?
Peter Rosenberg
Vehicle.
Anthony
ESPN plus.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, we don't need perfect.
Anthony
A true tv. Then it'll be on true tv.
Peter Rosenberg
And then Kenny will be like, coming up after the post game, we'll have Under Siege two.
Don Hahn
And by the way, Under Siege two would do better.
Anthony
People.
Don Hahn
People be waiting for Under Siege 2.
Anthony
And they're like, what is this hockey?
Don Hahn
Why is this on?
Alan Hahn
And.
Peter Rosenberg
And Thunder Cavs is going to just explode the ratings.
Don Hahn
It's a disaster.
Peter Rosenberg
Is that. Is that. Is that NHL adjace right there?
Anthony
Well, that's why. That's why I'm not predicting it.
Don Hahn
Yeah, but no, that's what I said on first take a few weeks ago. I said Celtics, pure Lakers.
Anthony
What do you think? How do you think Celtics. Lakers will play?
Don Hahn
I think you'll do okay. I think it'd be all right.
Anthony
Better than Winnipeg and it'll be a lot better than Winnipeg.
Don Hahn
There's a few things that could work that could work really well with the Celtics.
Anthony
What's that?
Don Hahn
Celtics, Lakers Would be very sexy.
Anthony
Very sexy.
Don Hahn
Celtics, warriors rematch would be incredibly sexy, though. It's not going to happen.
Anthony
It'd be interesting. But yeah, I'd be really surprised.
Don Hahn
Step in a finalist.
Anthony
It's good. Yeah, it's good.
Don Hahn
What about.
Anthony
Feel it.
Don Hahn
What about Cavs?
Anthony
Cavs, Thunder? They should probably put that on the Ocho. Like that's going to.
Don Hahn
And not because of the basketball, but just because of the interest level.
Anthony
Yeah.
Don Hahn
What about. What about Celtics, Thunder?
Peter Rosenberg
Not anything. Thunder.
Anthony
Meh.
Don Hahn
But even with sga, you don't think SGA getting that spot against a big.
Anthony
Team like Boston basketball, people like him, anybody outside the school has no clue. And it's not. Not a knock on the guy. It's just a real thing.
Don Hahn
Celtics.
Peter Rosenberg
He's got the best goaltender in the league. I mean, Scheifele's awesome, right, Connors? But unfortunately it's Winnipeg.
Anthony
Yeah. Nothing but like, what did you say.
Peter Rosenberg
That was back on Tampa?
Anthony
Like, no movement, right?
Don Hahn
Yeah, no movement.
Anthony
Winnipeg. Here you go.
Don Hahn
Here you go. It was like this. I'm looking down Shador Sanders. No movement.
Anthony
Yeah. Looking down Winnipeg.
Don Hahn
No movement.
Peter Rosenberg
But Tampa, Tampa's got stars.
Anthony
Oh, no. Tampa, Tampa. Because they've been there a lot. Like they've had. It's built in, but, you know, they're good.
Peter Rosenberg
Lightning are good. They're in tears. All right, Rangers done, Bruins done. Right. They're not going to get the only original six teams. They're going to get to get Toronto, Montreal.
Anthony
Right. No, no, McDavid, no chance. Right. That's not getting McDavid again.
Peter Rosenberg
But it's going to be like, what are you getting?
Anthony
Seriously, what are you getting?
Peter Rosenberg
You know, I love the Dallas market. They would love. And Colorado would be sexy, too. McKinnon, McCarr. There's some LA.
Anthony
Any chance. Kings. Yeah, Great, homes. Yeah, right?
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, the Kings have a shot.
Anthony
That'll get some movement for Peter, but Panthers again.
Peter Rosenberg
It's gonna be like.
Anthony
Yeah, in the east.
Peter Rosenberg
It needs to be Washington, because the Ovechkin stories can be Ovechkin on Good Morning America tomorrow.
Anthony
You hear he turned down Jimmy Fallon? He did, yeah. Fowley wanted him to go that night. Or was it the next day? I guess. I'm sorry. It was a Sunday, so he wouldn't have done Fallon there the next day. They wanted him to stay. Did you, Fallon? He said, no, I'm focused on.
Peter Rosenberg
I can't find the tweet. Did you see the Olive Kozik tweet? He text. He text Ovechkin, congratulations, Right? And Ovechkin texts back, says, listen, you were a major part of it. He's like, what are you talking about? He's like, you assisted on five of my goals. He looked it up. He did. He's like, how did he know that? That's tremendous. But he just showed like he cares about his teammates.
Anthony
That's impressive. Who was the goalie that, I guess there was Budweiser, put out a beer can to commemorate. It's the zero calorie or whatever it was. And it was a Bud Lights there, whatever it is. And they all. I think it's 29 goalies who. Who he never scored on that he played against. And they're all listed on the can. And somebody just said, if I knew there'd be beer involved, I would have tried harder. Yeah. Apparently. I guess Budweiser did some kind of commemorative cans that had the names of all the goalies. So who that didn't give up a goal to? Ovechka.
Don Hahn
Wow.
Anthony
And, you know, our guy Rick could have been on that camp. Could have.
Peter Rosenberg
But he gave up five, sadly.
Don Hahn
And it really is true, Don, the more you think about it, he is the best athlete in the history of D.C. yeah. That's one, I think the closest I Think the closest you get is Darryl Green.
Peter Rosenberg
Yes, I really do. I mean that's. Is that the greatest Redskin? Unless you want to go back to, you know, slinging Sammy ball.
Don Hahn
Well, because Green is better than Monk. Right. Monk was really good. But you can argue Green is the only redskin slash commander that I think you can truly argue is in the conversation for best ever at his position. Right. I think like you can make. I'm not saying you're right if you say Darrell Green, but you could argue he's the greatest to ever do it.
Anthony
Yep.
Don Hahn
I don't think they have anyone else like that. So I think ovi's probably number one. Then Kevin Hatcher, of course.
Anthony
Like.
Don Hahn
Like Don's reading something. That's how you know he knows my joke.
Anthony
Cal Ripken doesn't count in this whole.
Don Hahn
Thing if you count Cal.
Anthony
I know it's both because at the.
Don Hahn
Time there was no national.
Peter Rosenberg
So.
Don Hahn
So he was a D.C. area kind of athlete at that time.
Peter Rosenberg
There's a lot. There's a lot of. No names on this list. But the names that people would recognize the picture by the way is Curtis Joseph Cujo.
Anthony
Ah.
Peter Rosenberg
Only faced two shots. Did not allow a goal.
Don Hahn
Well, the goal.
Peter Rosenberg
The goalies that you would know. Manny Legacy.
Anthony
Yep.
Peter Rosenberg
Manny Fernandez.
Anthony
Wow.
Peter Rosenberg
Jocelyn Tebow.
Anthony
Sure.
Peter Rosenberg
Curtis Joseph Cujo. David Isbister. Braden Holpy Braden. Well, because Brady was a.
Don Hahn
He was a capital for most.
Peter Rosenberg
But he also went to van. But no, he did face two shots against ovi, I guess when he was with the canucks.
Anthony
Right.
Peter Rosenberg
And VTech Vanessek says of a lot of other guys that I.
Don Hahn
Some of the biggest names in the history of the sport.
Anthony
Listen, some of them I'm claim to fame now.
Don Hahn
It is a fun one.
Peter Rosenberg
Aaron Ayersburg.
Anthony
I don't guy has a record for most balls. How about Zeb Never scored on me. How about Zeb? Zeb. Zeb's dead, baby.
Peter Rosenberg
Zed's dead.
Don Hahn
What an annoying thing for people named Zed. Your whole life. You gotta hear that your whole life.
Unknown
TaxAct knows filing your taxes can be complicated. And that's why we have live experts to help you with any questions they can hold your hand through the process beginning to end, metaphorically, of course. I mean, they can't actually hold your hand in person. I suppose you could hold your computer mouse while you chat with the expert.
Anthony
About capital gains or whatever, which is.
Unknown
Sort of like holding hands.
Peter Rosenberg
Sorry.
Unknown
Point is, our tax experts can make filing easier.
Peter Rosenberg
Tax Act. Let's get them over with.
Don Hahn
I was never Really a runner. The way I see running is a gift.
Peter Rosenberg
Especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Don Hahn
To give people like me a chance.
Peter Rosenberg
To thrive in life even with cancer.
Don Hahn
Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.com supportann what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not an endorsement by bank of America Corporation. Copyright 2025.
Anthony
Lowe's is the destination for EGO outdoor power equipment this spring. See what's new and exclusive like the 17 inch string trimmer with line IQ technology that auto feeds to save you time. And the 22 inch select cut self propelled mowers with a multi blade system for precise cutting. Shop EGO days happening now during Spring fest at Lowe's we help you save. Selection varies by location while supplies last. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Anthony
Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Don Hahn
All right, I gotta know when you listen to the words this song, this.
Anthony
Makes you feel good. This song, though.
Don Hahn
Well, that's the thing though. The song's about feeling good. And it's a. It's too. It's too much.
Anthony
Let's talk about Tulum.
Peter Rosenberg
Feel good to feel good, man.
Don Hahn
That's what I'm saying. It's time of feeling.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, you don't want to feel that good.
Don Hahn
Well, it's. It's just. And the thing is, Allen's almost singing the song right now. I'm not sure, but there's a chance that Alan is old enough that he's singing the song because he knows it from being in the atmosphere. But he was checked out enough already by that time that he didn't ever really listen to the words.
Anthony
Definitely didn't listen to the words.
Don Hahn
That song is word for word the entire thing about dancing with a girl at the club and her realizing that you are fully enjoying the dance to the point of she's well aware that you like the dance. And she's talk. It's a conversation about, man, I love dancing with you so much, in fact, that you're aware of it.
Anthony
And she's going, oh, yeah, and I can't have you walk away right now. Kind of need you to wait a minute.
Don Hahn
Yeah. And by the way, you know, my wife has told me like that that's like very common. Can you like, like that. That's like, at the club, you're gonna go out dancing with strangers and you are going to feel that, like, on a. That's what happens.
Anthony
Shout out to women who put up with it. Just. Just to have it makes us seem.
Don Hahn
So animalistic, but at the same time. Right. Situation. I can't knock everybody. These things are challenging.
Anthony
Sorry about that.
Peter Rosenberg
Control yourself.
Don Hahn
I mean, say that, but I don't.
Peter Rosenberg
Remember that ever happened.
Anthony
With all due respect, in certain situations.
Don Hahn
It'S also how many times I want to know. And by the way, I'm not saying this with the judgment of. You think. I'm saying I do it because it was not my style. I want to know how many times, Don, in your career, in your life of socializing, you were at a dance club, grinding grind chicks. I can't see it. Ever.
Anthony
Glad you used that word. I was going to say the same.
Don Hahn
Thing as I could see him, like, pumping his fist, having a good time. But I'm talking about you're in the middle of the club, sweaty and grinding on something.
Anthony
Hand on hand, on the waist.
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
It's all happening right there.
Don Hahn
They're pushing it back on you.
Anthony
Yep.
Don Hahn
How many times, Don, ever in your life.
Peter Rosenberg
Never.
Anthony
You want to take a minute to think about it, or. No, no, he knew. He didn't even have to go.
Don Hahn
He knew. And that's why I would like to think. No, you'd like to, but you don't know. What if.
Peter Rosenberg
You know, sometimes I've been in other situations that are similar to that, that I wouldn't call dancing.
Anthony
Mosh pit.
Don Hahn
Well, I think they are called dancing. What you're talking about a private dance is what you're saying.
Peter Rosenberg
Tina Turner, private dance. Or just even in certain arrangements.
Don Hahn
But what do you think that we're saying?
Anthony
I don't know exactly what you're saying. You're talking about in the Peeler, in the ballet, where you get.
Don Hahn
No, I don't think he's saying.
Anthony
You're not even referencing that.
Peter Rosenberg
No.
Don Hahn
What is he referencing? But you know that we're not saying the song's not about it going all the way. Okay, got it.
Peter Rosenberg
No, I know.
Don Hahn
So, I mean, I just can't judge.
Peter Rosenberg
But there's still some control you have to have.
Don Hahn
I know, but you're really.
Peter Rosenberg
When I got called to the blackboard, I jumped up and ran.
Anthony
Oh, that situation. Yeah.
Don Hahn
That's different, though. I'm talking about you're at the club, you're a couple drinks in, you randomly meet a beautiful stranger. Right and now the song is sexy and the grindings happen. That's a tough spot. Listen, I feel bad for women, but it is a tough spot. I get it. I was always DJing, so what do I know? I'm just looking out at the dance floor going, all right, everyone's having a good time.
Anthony
You know, she smells of Parliament cigarettes and Aquanet. You know you're feeling it.
Peter Rosenberg
Tacos are wonderful. No.
Anthony
100% game time brought to you by Tully Mardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's Tully time. The Yankees lost to the Tigers today, five nothing. That is correct. Not a lot of offense there against Scubal. So they get the L in Detroit. The mets right now 105 lead top of the 8th against the Marlins. That's on 880. Knicks host the Celtics. You got coverage immediately following us right here on 1050 and the ESPNY app at 7. There'll be a simulcast on 880 following the Mets coverage. Devils. They've got the Bruins tonight one point away from a playoff spot. That's at seven. Nets Pelicans like you dream about Peter in Brooklyn at 7:30. And the Islanders visit the Predators at 8. So this has been a day. This has been fun.
Don Hahn
I'm having a day. I'm enjoying ourselves, you know what I mean?
Anthony
And we've got a list tomorrow. We're already trying to curate that.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm upset Peter shot down my idea.
Don Hahn
No, I just sounded overly familiar to me.
Anthony
Tweet at the show if you have a good list idea or email it.
Don Hahn
Or you can email it.
Anthony
Email it. What's the email?
Don Hahn
Dhrespnmail.com There you go.
Anthony
Email us there if you come up with some list ideas and maybe if we like it, will turn it into a list for you tomorrow. So all that coming up at the Knicks and the Celtics. We'll have plenty to talk about off this game tomorrow for sure. Enjoy the games everybody, tonight. We'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. 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.
Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Episode "Hour 4: Rangers & Alonso"
Introduction
In the April 8, 2025 release of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the current state of the New York Rangers and the meteoric rise of Pete Alonso with the New York Mets. The episode, titled "Hour 4: Rangers & Alonso," offers an engaging and analytical discussion aimed at New York sports enthusiasts looking to understand the intricacies of their favorite teams' performances and future prospects.
New York Rangers: Season in Jeopardy
The primary focus of this episode centers on the New York Rangers' declining performance. The discussion begins with an analysis of the Rangers' recent game at Madison Square Garden against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where the Rangers were outplayed and ultimately faced a disappointing defeat.
Peter Rosenberg provides a detailed breakdown:
"Peter Rosenberg: This group, the last two games, actually, you go up against the Devils, they're a good team. Not a great team, but a good team. And Tampa's a really, really good team. But you need these games desperately. And you got outscored nine to one, and your season is pretty much effectively over." [04:12]
Key Points Discussed:
Performance Metrics: The Rangers struggled on both power plays and five-on-five situations, leading to significant goal deficits.
Goaltending Issues: Despite strong performances from goaltender Igor Vasilevsky, the team couldn't maintain leads, especially during critical moments like power plays [04:56].
Coaching Concerns: Head Coach Peter Laviolette's recent actions and lack of communication post-game signal deeper issues within the team's leadership and morale.
Player Morale and Expectations: The dwindling performance has led to questions about the future of key players like Artemi Panarin and Alex Tuch [06:17].
Alan Hahn adds his perspective on the lack of leadership:
"Alan Hahn: The New York Rangers are 9, 23 and 5 against playoff teams this year. They are 3 and 7 in overtime. They've not had a three game win streak since November." [11:03]
Conclusions: The Rangers are at a pivotal point, facing potential significant roster overhauls. The consensus among the hosts is that without substantial changes, including possible coaching shifts and player trades, the Rangers may be forced into a rebuild phase.
Pete Alonso and the Mets: A Bright Spot
Shifting focus to Major League Baseball, the hosts celebrate Pete Alonso's outstanding performance with the New York Mets. Alonso's ability to consistently hit home runs has made him a key asset for the team.
Anthony highlights Alonso's continued excellence:
"Anthony: The Mets right now have a 95 lead over the Marlins through six innings and Pete Alonso just continues to rake. He's just making money for himself. This is great. I, I I actually love this story. I'm rooting for it. Now officially Rooting for Pete Alonso." [23:16]
Key Points Discussed:
Current Performance: Alonso's remarkable batting average and home run tally are keeping the Mets at the top of their division.
Contract Considerations: With Alonso on a two-year, $30 million contract, there's a discussion about potential extensions. The hosts debate the feasibility of the Mets securing a long-term deal for Alonso given his age and performance trajectory.
Don Hahn muses about future contracts:
"Don Hahn: So realistically, he would hope to get a five-year, right?" [23:46]
Conclusions: Alonso remains a fan favorite and a cornerstone for the Mets' offensive strategy. The likelihood of a lucrative extension remains a topic of speculation, with the team balancing financial considerations against Alonso's proven impact.
Additional Sports Insights
Beyond the Rangers and Alonso, the episode touches on other New York sports teams and broader league dynamics.
Alan Hahn underscores the Knicks' improvement:
"Alan Hahn: These are the best Knicks team I've ever watched in my whole life." [29:10]
Peter Rosenberg provides historical context:
"Peter Rosenberg: Last year, what was the problem? Not a great five on five team, right, Anthony? And now they were a great power play team. Power play goes south, they go south." [12:39]
Listener Interactions and Final Thoughts
The episode incorporates listener calls, adding diverse perspectives and personal anecdotes that enrich the conversation. Topics range from team strategies to personal sports experiences, creating a dynamic and interactive environment.
Notable Listener Call:
"Joe: People are. Got no patience. You know, this is the first year with this roster. You know, you don't do it until you do it. You know what I'm saying? So give this year, you know, give Tibbs another year at least, and see what happens. But I'm rooting for him." [29:25]
Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg respond with humor and camaraderie, maintaining an engaging and relatable dialogue.
Closing Remarks: The hosts emphasize the importance of tuning in for upcoming games and the continuous analysis of team performances. They encourage listeners to stay connected through various platforms and to contribute ideas for future discussions.
"Anthony: Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts." [42:02]
Conclusion
In "Hour 4: Rangers & Alonso," Don, Hahn & Rosenberg deliver a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the New York Rangers' struggling season and Pete Alonso's stellar performance with the Mets. Through expert commentary, listener engagement, and a touch of humor, the episode provides valuable perspectives for fans navigating the highs and lows of New York sports. Whether you're a die-hard Rangers supporter or a Mets enthusiast, this episode offers thoughtful discussions that resonate with the pulse of New York's vibrant sports scene.