The Bronx has a new favorite villain, and that was clear last Friday in the first game of the Subway Series between the two New York teams, the Mets and Yankees.
More than 47,000 fans booed the Mets outfielder Juan Soto in unison on his return to Yankee Stadium after signing with the Queens team in the offseason, so the displays of hatred were personal.
A year ago, Soto filled the atmosphere with energy in the Bronx as he led the Bronx Bombers to their first World Series since 2009.
Many Yankees fans interpreted his move to the Mets as a betrayal. The small difference between the Yankees’ offer and the Mets’ offer sparked a wave of anger. Now, returning to confront his former team, the fans were fired up.
Juan Soto was not the one who betrayed
However, amid this wave of hatred from the Bronx fans towards Soto, a voice of sanity gave a peculiar point of view on the reason for Soto’s “betrayal” of the Bombers.
Sports analyst Scott Braun sent a message to New York fans via The Baseball Insiders.
Yankees fans, open your eyes! Should Soto be the Yankees’ public enemy number one? No… if they’re really that upset that Soto didn’t re-sign, then public enemy number one should be Hal Steinbrenner, because Steve Cohen outbid him.
In addition, Braun added that: “If they’re going to get angry, they’re directing their anger at the wrong side. If they’re just there to have a good time and be there for the drink, I’d love it, but if the Yankees wanted him so much, they had to beat the Mets with the offer. Did he want to be a Met more than a Yankee? Maybe. Would he have taken the $800 million instead of the $765 million?”
Soto’s maturity reflected on the diamond
For now, the Dominican slugger kept his cool despite the hostile reception and managed to get on base in half of his appearances in the first two games of the series, drawing four walks, hitting a single and stealing two bases.
Although his batting average with runners in scoring position was concerning (.132), his overall performance, which included an .840 OPS, demonstrated his tenacity under pressure.
The current Subway Series was not about which team wins the series, but about the long-awaited return of Soto to Yankee Stadium.
On the other hand, the Yankees’ Plan B after Soto’s departure, the acquisitions of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, combined for five hits, three runs scored and two driven in. Baseball’s hardest lesson is that no one is irreplaceable, not even a talent like Juan Soto.
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