Imago
Image: IMAGO
Imago
Image: IMAGO
Saturday night felt like someone had pulled the fire alarm on New York sports. The Knicks went down in Game 6, their season ending with a thud in Indiana. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees got bulldozed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a nightmare unfolding for the city, and honestly, for the baseball fans, watching Yankees vs. Dodgers was like reliving the not-so-fairytale World Series yet again. But amidst all the chaos, one team has kept Big Apple’s hope alive—the New York Mets.
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They have been lights out!
However, when Carlos Mendoza was asked about the Knicks, he completely sympathized with them, saying he knows the sting of coming up short. Mets’ skipper didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “It’s always tough. We went through it last year.” Of course, he was recalling the Mets’ heartbreak last postseason.
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Remember last season? The Mets fell to the Dodgers when they were just on the verge last season. However, Mendoza reassured the fans of both the Mets and the Knicks, saying, “You’ve got to move on. You can’t sit and feel sorry for yourself. You ask, ‘What are we missing? How do we get better?’” And guess what? It appears that the Mets looked for answers and have improved.
Now heading into June, they have found their way to a 37-22 record, leading the NL East. They are even ahead of the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs as the best in the National League. Sure, they have had advantages like playing with the White Sox and the Rockies, but it’s also hard work that paid off, and the team has found its rhythm. Even though Juan Soto hasn’t been top of his game yet, it still didn’t thrown them off course.
Unlike other teams, they have more than just one arm or bat to rely on. Francisco Lindor is the one carrying the team forward now. Soto, or what many are calling ‘so-so Soto,’ is finally starting to wake up, and in another piece of great news, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas are set to return soon. This way, the squad is looking dangerous and very much October-ready.
From Bronx hero to Mets question mark
What has made the Mets’ surge even more impressive is that they have done it without much help from the man who was supposed to be their crown jewel—Soto. The same guy who lit the Yankees up last year and became the centerpiece of a tug-of-war between the Bronx and the Mets, with the latter winning by offering a $765 million deal. That move shifted the balance of baseball power in the city forever, at least on paper. But now, as June rolls in, the crown is starting to feel a little heavy.
Soto has not been the reflection of the player he was with the Yankees. His demeanor seems to have changed; fans even said he smiled a lot less. And Soto has been extremely forthcoming about his struggles. In a rather candid moment, he told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, “It’s not easy at all… It takes time to sit down, look around, and enjoy the moment.” This is something his agent, Scott Boras, had warned him about.
Well, Boras, having had such high-profile clients transition, saw it coming. The shift in culture and the pressure from the massive deal are all part of Soto’s growing pains. Add to it the rumors about Soto not adjusting to the clubhouse, rifts with Lindor, and the boos from the crowd—things have gotten tricky for Soto. However, the team, thankfully, is managing without much of his contribution. But if they need to be October-ready, they will need Soto.
Do you think a comeback is coming, or will Soto make a statement soon? Let us know.
Written by
Edited by
Pratyusha Srivastava