The Subway Series just made one thing clear: the Yankee Nation is not over the biggest deal ever to happen in MLB. How could they be? The one player they thought loved the Yankees as much as they did left their team for a $765 million offer. That move screamed betrayal. Now, imagine the angry fans getting that same player back on their home ground for revenge—that’s exactly what happened to Juan Soto. He sure was tested when Mets played Yankees. And the pressure to perform? It was over the roof. A slip couldn’t be avoided.

The boos rang through Yankee Stadium as a welcome song for Soto—nothing he wouldn’t have expected. He knew the cold treatment he was going to get from the Yankees faithful when he decided to sign with their very rival team, the Mets. During his first return to the Bronx since the trade for the Subway Series, which they ended up losing, he seemed calm. Even amid the “F*** Soto” chants, he smiled through it like the mature player that he is. But did he try hard enough to silence them? Well, according to one New York radio host, he did not.

“He looks like he’s not trying enough,” said Gregg Giannotti, while talking to Boomer on WFAN’s Boomer and Gio. “Every criticism that Juan Soto is going to get this morning will be fully warranted because of the performance that he had, the start he’s gotten off to, and the fact that he didn’t perform against the Yankees and how he looked.” Judging by Soto’s performance in the Subway Series, what Gio said doesn’t seem to be wrong.

The Yankees took 2 of 3 from the Mets in the first Subway Series of the season. And for Soto, this loss was especially personal, as he was supposed to bring his best against his ex-team. But not only was the ‘Soto Shuffle’ missing—he had a terrible game, and the finale was no different. His hesitation in running out a ground ball and his effort on the home run out prove that. He was clearly distracted by the boos.

Soto finished one for ten, with four walks. He stole only 2 bases and scored 2 runs. Could this be seen as an extension of the alleged slump he’s in? He had a quiet start, and he is now at an average of .246 with 8 home runs and 20 RBIs.

Even though Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has tried to ensure he adjusts to the new team well, the stats tell another story. Those numbers are not exactly what you expect from someone who is supposed to be a savior, and this series loss, that too in the Bronx, is enough to discourage him. But amid all the ruckus, Soto found his ex-teammate and dear friend’s words of relief.

Aaron Judge reveals the moment he shared with Soto

When Soto returned to the Bronx, beyond the fan reaction, there was one thing the MLB world looked forward to dearly: the face-off between the two teams’ best players. Aaron Judge and Soto were quite a pair during their time together on the Yankees. Both took the team to levels that no one expected. But when they met again in different uniforms, one was winning and the other was not. They met before the final game and shared a word.

When asked about the interaction with his ex-teammate, Judge said: “Just kind of wishing him the best, kind of said, ‘Hey man, you’re the best in the game. Things like this are gonna happen, just keep playing your game.” That is exactly what a friend would do. During the one season they spent together, both were iconic, even resembling the Babe Ruth–Lou Gehrig duo. But sadly, that didn’t last very long.

The Yankees faithful hoped this duo could get them the championship ring, but that didn’t happen. They sure put up a fight, though. When Steven Cohen outspent Hal Steinbrenner to secure Soto, Mets fans also believed he could be the answer they had been looking for.

But with the Mets, he doesn’t have someone like Judge to back him. If we were to pass a verdict on Soto’s poor game so far this season, that could be a reason. He still has time to prove his doubters wrong though. Everyone is hoping for that day to come—when the boos finally turn to cheers.