The New York Mets are in the midst of a painful collapse, and fan criticism has centered squarely on their record-breaking $765 million superstar, Juan Soto.
What began as anticipation and hope has spiraled into scrutiny over performance and, more importantly, perceived attitude. As the Mets slide toward the postseason without gaining traction, fans and media alike are targeting Soto’s mindset as emblematic of a deeper issue.
Throughout the season’s second half, the Mets have fallen hard. Despite Soto’s midseason resurgence and power surge, the team has plummeted into a 16-loss stretch in their past 21 games, teetering on the edge of even keeping their shaky appearance in the wild-card race.
With one of baseball’s largest payrolls, accountability rests heavier than ever on Soto’s shoulders-and critics are not holding back.
Financially expensive and the Mets still suffer
Soto’s $765 million contract-unprecedented in North American sports-brings enormous expectations. Fans are thus unforgiving of his recent output. As one user exclaimed: “Oh come on….if this is the mentality of this team, no wonder they lose.”
And data underscores the frustration. Soto hit a bleak .167/.344/.417 in the past week, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in the latest loss. The Mets now sport a dwindling six-game buffer over elimination territory, with their starting rotation collapsing-a recipe for discontent.
Adding fuel to the fire, radio legend Boomer Esiason’s blistering remarks after Soto broke up a no-hitter drew national headlines.
He said: “He’s got a nice smile on his face and he’s laughing. I’m sick of it. I want to see attitude… If that’s the guy making $765 million and he’s supposed to be a leader, I’m not following that guy.”
Esiason’s critique pinpointed the frustration some feel toward Soto’s leadership-or perceived lack thereof-even when he’s delivering in brief moments.
Soto tried to allay those fears: “I mean, it ain’t late but it ain’t early, either. We have to win today. We don’t have to be focused on what is gonna happen in the future, or what happened in the past. We gotta focus on what we can do today.”
Soto’s words fail to calm fans
But that calm resolve hasn’t quelled doubts among fans, who see his confidence as tone-deaf, even as the Mets’ pitching and performance crumble.
Despite appearing the lone offensive spark at times, Soto’s presence hasn’t carried the weight fans expected.
The Mets’ disastrous bullpen showing, highlighted in a recent 11-9 loss after blowing early momentum, only intensifies concern. Stars like Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have tried to rally the offense, but it’s frequently Soto under the microscope.
At mid-August, the Mets’ starting rotation carries a staggering 6.22 ERA, and newly acquired reliever Ryan Helsley has faltered to a 7.11 ERA. Mets fans’ ire now takes aim at more than individual performance-it’s about leadership and accountability in the face of collapse.
Juan Soto remains one of MLB’s premier hitters on the stat sheet-a five-time All-Star, multiple Silver Slugger-winner, and a cornerstone of baseball’s most prized contract. But records and awards can’t shield a team in disarray.
As the Mets tread water, Soto’s on-field demeanor and off-field statements are reigniting the most crucial question: Can he truly lead this franchise-or has the weight of expectations become too heavy?
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