No, we aren’t talking about the Paw Patrol curse (or Rubble and Crew, for you, Judge fans)! We are trying to find the Soto Shuffle. Where is it? Once a signature of swagger and confidence, the Soto Shuffle has all but vanished from the batter’s box. Juan Soto, once known for his timely heroics and electric presence, is now navigating through an uncharacteristic slump. Remember the big moments he used to own? They’ve quite gone!

And while the pressure of stepping out from Aaron Judge’s shadow continues to mount, there’s a new question surfacing around the Mets clubhouse: Is Soto starting to mirror Judge’s struggles in the clutch?

Now, talking about the NYM’s current performance, MLB columnist Joel Sherman specifically mentioned Soto. Of course, when you’re the highest-paid star, you will be the hot topic. “It feels like I haven’t seen the best version of the Mets. Because the offense hasn’t played well. Now, some of that is that Soto has been okay, but he’s been bad in the clutch and not Juan Soto.”

And if we look at it closely, you will be able to see quite a bit of similarity between him and Judge.

There is no doubt that Aaron Judge is the undisputed hero of the regular season. But so far, he has never quite silenced the criticism surrounding his postseason performances. Time and again, when October comes and the stakes soar, his bat has gone quiet. Remember his struggles in last year’s World Series. Even in the recently concluded Subway Series, Judge failed to deliver a clutch moment in Game 2.

The Mets, clinging to a narrow 3-2 lead, stood at the brink of either a dramatic triumph or a letdown. So, while all eyes were on Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ towering slugger made the script take an unexpected turn. In a moment that sent shockwaves through Yankee Stadium and beyond, Judge came up short, unable to deliver the heroic hit fans had envisioned.

So, while that’s Aaron Judge for you, where does Juan Soto come here?

Well, during the highly anticipated Subway Series against the Yankees, Soto managed just one hit in 10 at-bats. His underwhelming performance was particularly noticeable given the playoff-like atmosphere and the expectations surrounding his matchup against his former team. That shows Soto’s struggles in high-leverage situations. Similar, ain’t it?

While Soto earlier acknowledged how it is difficult not to get Aaron Judge behind him at the plate, it seems like he has started following the Yankee captain in every way possible. Now, fans can just hope that he also follows the home run streak of Judge!

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are on opposite poles this season

In New York, two of baseball’s brightest stars share equal limelight but stand on opposite ends of the season’s spectrum. Aaron Judge is blasting home runs with his signature fury, already launching 19 and nipping at the heels of Shohei Ohtani in the race for the MLB lead. In contrast, Juan Soto has been far quieter with the bat, managing just 8 home runs to date.

Some similarity there would actually help!

But this contrast is striking, not just statistically but symbolically. Judge, the reigning captain, has returned to form after a slow start, carrying the Yankees on his broad shoulders as summer approaches. Moreover, his power surge is reminiscent of his historic 2022 campaign, and he’s become a nightly highlight reel, the face of the Yankees’ thunderous resurgence.

Soto, meanwhile, was the crown jewel acquisition in the offseason. A generational hitter brought in by the Mets to restore fear to the middle of the order. While he’s provided professional at-bats and his on-base skills remain elite, the long ball has been largely absent. Hence, the player expected to shadow Judge’s dominance has instead found himself in his towering wake.

Yes, the postseason remains the true stage where legacies are cemented. And Soto, with his October pedigree, could well be saving his best for when it matters the most. But for now, any notion that Juan Soto is out-and-out following in Aaron Judge’s footsteps feels premature or perhaps too bold.