NEW YORK — The Subway Collection at all times creates a buzz round right here, and the buildup to this yr’s crosstown rivalry had a better degree of spice to it. Not solely are the Yankees and Mets in first place of their divisions, however the Bronx’s greatest villain, Juan Soto, made his first journey again to Yankee Stadium since he jettisoned for Queens.
Yankees followers have waited for today since early December. When the second lastly arrived, they packed out the home with the most important crowd (47,700) of the yr, after which they let him hear it. The ear-splitting, guttural sounds have been the loudest Soto had ever heard being directed at him. Nonetheless, he didn’t thoughts.
“You gotta embrace it,” Soto mentioned after the Mets misplaced, 6-2, to the Yankees on Friday night time. “On the finish of the day, no matter they offer you, it’s what it’s. You gotta be skilled. You gotta take it like a person, and I used to be simply having fun with the second.”
It’s onerous to listen to the particular person sitting subsequent to you in Yankee Stadium; that’s how deafening the pregame music is within the Bronx. However the boos that rained down on Soto when he took the sphere for pregame stretches overpowered even the Yankees’ soundsystem. The group booed once more, and once more, and once more, and once more, when his face popped up on the jumbotron throughout lineup introductions, and when he walked as much as the plate within the prime of the primary inning.
Alas, Soto is nothing if not ready. The previous Yankees slugger responded to the vicious jeers by eradicating his helmet, tapping his chest, and saying “thanks” a number of occasions whereas sporting a wry smile. Soto knew what he was doing when he picked the Mets over the Yankees in free company, a choice that was knowledgeable by the reception he would obtain within the Bronx for the remainder of his profession.
“We have been simply joking within the dugout that I ought to do it, and I simply did it,” Soto mentioned of his hat-tip. “The blokes beloved it.”
Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza was pleased with the way in which Soto dealt with being public enemy No. 1.
“He’s simply very regular,” Mendoza mentioned. “He doesn’t get too excessive, doesn’t get too low. He knew that this was coming. Like I advised him a few days in the past, embrace it. Attempt to take pleasure in each second of it, and simply be your self. And that’s what he did. I believed in the present day he was the identical man. I believed he dealt with it very well. That’s what makes this man who he’s. Elite. His persona is off the charts.”
Whereas he could not have loved breaking Yankees followers’ hearts, Soto appeared to relish their hatred of him. He smiled each time he walked from the dugout to the plate, all of the whereas persevering with to be serenaded by acrimony. Yankees followers got here ready, too, with a fan holding an indication that mentioned “Boo this man!” beneath an image of a smug-looking Soto in a Mets uniform slapped onto white paper. One other signal learn: “22 appears higher on Ben Rice.”
When Soto jogged out to proper area to take his place within the backside of the primary inning, the part of followers behind him, dubbed the Bleacher Creatures, turned their backs on him, not even acknowledging his presence. Maybe the gesture was a metaphor for Soto turning his again on the Yankees when he selected to rep Queens. Moments later, “We have now Grisham!” chants broke out in proper area, alluding to the Yankees’ acquisition of outfielder Trent Grisham as a part of the Soto commerce.
“I did not notice that,” Soto mentioned when requested if he noticed followers turning their backs in direction of him. “I used to be simply listening to the boos. Did not have any eye contact. Simply listened to the boos.”
If the gang’s level was to convey that the first-place Yankees have been doing simply fantastic with out Soto, the Bronx Bombers backed up that conviction by forcing Mets starter Tylor Megill to exit his outing after 72 pitches within the third inning. The Yankees batted across the order and scored 4 runs as Megill misplaced his command and permitted a season-high 5 walks within the third.
Soto had an opportunity to restrict the injury from his former group when Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe hit a routine fly ball to shallow proper with two outs within the third. Soto caught the ball, however didn’t make his finest throw dwelling, and the two-hopper to the dish was too sluggish to beat Cody Bellinger, who scored the third run of the inning for the Yankees.
For his half on the plate, Soto wasn’t fazed by the noise. He drew a stroll in every of his three plate appearances in opposition to Yankees right-hander Carlos Rodon. The Mets entered Friday with the tenth highest-scoring offense within the main leagues, however they didn’t do sufficient behind Soto’s free passes to make a comeback in opposition to their crosstown rivals.
“It was loud,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned of the gang. “That’s what makes this place distinctive. I believed they have been very respectful, and that’s what you need. You possibly can boo all you need and all that, however so long as they’re not crossing the road.”
Simply over six months in the past, Soto was handled like a king within the Bronx.
He hit 41 dwelling runs, a profession excessive, earlier than taking the Yankees to the World Collection for the primary time in 15 years. He fashioned one of many deadliest duos in Major League Baseball historical past, hitting in entrance of Aaron Judge. He was beloved by the Yankees fan base, who purchased Soto’s No. 22 jersey and confirmed up in droves to look at him play in pinstripes for one yr. All he needed to do to get the keys to town was keep.
However Soto didn’t simply go away, he discovered a brand new dwelling lower than 10 miles away. The 26-year-old signed a 15-year, $765-million contract with the Mets, the most important deal in skilled sports activities historical past. For Yankees followers who’re used to getting what they need, Soto’s determination to play for a Mets franchise referred to as “the little brother” to the Bombers was a private offense. So that they booed and booed and booed.
Even so, the bat in Soto’s hand represented a chance to silence the noise. The Mets, trailing the Yankees by 4 runs, had runners on second and third with two outs within the ninth in opposition to Yankees nearer Luke Weaver when Soto got here as much as the plate. One swing might’ve reduce their deficit to at least one run. Yet another stroll would’ve loaded the bases for Pete Alonso, who then would have represented the tying run.
However, on the second pitch of the at-bat, Weaver bought Soto to fly out to shallow middle area to ship a Yankees win. Although the booing lastly stopped, Soto wasn’t smiling anymore.
“It is uncomfortable that we could not get the win,” Soto mentioned. “I do not focus, in any respect, on the followers. We gotta concentrate on the sport and be knowledgeable, attempting to win the sport. Yeah, it sucks that we misplaced the sport. However we now have two extra to win the sequence.”
And two extra video games for Yankees followers to let Soto know the way they really feel. Perhaps subsequent time the brand new Mets slugger will let his bat do the speaking.
Deesha Thosar covers Main League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. Observe her on X at @DeeshaThosar.
Juan Soto
New York Mets
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