"The Core is Rotted: Why the 'Raccoon' Had to Go!"
"The Core is Rotted: Why the 'Raccoon' Had to Go!"  
Podcast: The Carton Show with Craig Carton & Chris McMonigle
Published On: Tue Dec 23 2025
Description: In this heated segment, Marc Malusis reacts to the New York Mets trading longtime infielder Jeff McNeil to the Oakland Athletics. While acknowledging the emotional toll on the fan base—especially following the departures of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz—Malusis refuses to "cry over McNeil." He delivers a blunt assessment of McNeil’s regression, citing his obsession with launch angle and a dip in contact hitting as reasons why the "Squirrel" became expendable. More importantly, Moose challenges the front office's narrative that the 2025 season failed due to "clubhouse chemistry." He fires back with a reality check: the Mets failed because their pitching was "disastrous," and David Stearns is now gambling the franchise's future on "grinders" rather than proven stars.