The Bronx is burning! Not with fire, but with rage. But why? Only a name – Juan Soto. Wearing Mets blue, when he walked onto the Yankee Stadium field, the cacophony of boos from about 50k people was loud. Once celebrated as a hero in pinstripes, Soto suddenly found himself painted as the villain in a play only New York could write. Though the Subway Series had always been fierce, this time it was personal.

A year earlier, Soto used to fill the atmosphere with energy. And with the same energy, he guided the New York Yankees to their first World Series since 2009. Many Yankees supporters saw his leaving for the Mets, signing a record-breaking $765 million deal, as a betrayal. A firestorm of anger was sparked by the small variation between the Yankees’ offer and the Mets’. Now, as he came back to confront his former club, fans ignited.

Yet under the surface of this intense, primal response, another story is unfolding. And what’s that? A point of view that might be hard to digest for the bleachers’ creatures. Scott Braun, a sports analyst, gave a blunt answer when asked about whole this Soto and boo situations on The Baseball Insiders. Braun said, “Yankees fan boo, your faces off. There are fans across the country that will get one bad egg and one bad apple that will ruin it for everyone and throw something. Or do something really stupid, so obviously please don’t do that.” He has a valid point, though. Do you think this was it? No!

He just asked a simple question, cutting all the emotions that are floating in the air of the Yankee Stadium. He asked, “Should he be public enemy number one for the Yankees? No. If you’re really that upset that Soto didn’t sign back, then public enemy number one should be Hal Steinbrenner because he got outbid by Steve Cohen.” Tbh, it makes sense. 

He also advised them to change the direction, “If you are going to be enraged, then you are directing your anger in the wrong direction. If you are just out there to have a good time and be there for the booze, I am all about it.” Not only did he explain the financial aspect of Soto’s deal perfectly, but he also said the Yankees had a fair chance, and they didn’t.

As Braun noted, “If the Yankees wanted him that badly, they had to beat the Mets on the offer. Did he ultimately want to be a Met more than a Yankee? Maybe. Would he have taken the $800 million over the $765 million?” A question that every Yankee fan must ask before booing.

Juan Soto stayed calm despite the unfriendly welcome. Reaching base in half of his appearances in the first two games of the series, he drew four walks, had a single, and stole two bases. Although his batting average with runners in scoring position was troubling, .132, his general performance, which included an .840 OPS showed his tenacity under pressure.

The responses of the crowd were strong. Some even turned their backs on him as he walked onto the field. But Soto, displaying maturity and elegance in the face of hatred.

The warm welcome in the Bronx

Before the Subway Series, the whispers were cascading all over in the Big Apple. Was it about who would win? No, it was more about Juan Soto coming back. Every player, be it of the Queens or the Yankees, knows deep down that this year it will add another page to this rivalry.

The moment he stepped up on the field, he just started getting it all. The Bleacher Creatures’ reaction? When he assumed his right field position, they turned their backs.

The three words that rang out over the Bronx with such frequency were “F— Juan Soto.” New York, always inventive in voicing its unhappiness, added mixes to amuse their former idol. Remember when he talked about how he missed Judge? Fans considered it and chanted, “You miss Judge!” Do you think this was it? There was much more!

“We got Grisham!” they shouted, a tasty reversal of last year’s “We want Soto!” aimed at Trent Grisham when he covered for Soto. Grisham, the throw-in component of last December’s blockbuster trade with San Diego, now has 12 home runs to Soto’s eight, proving the baseball gods’ sense of comedy unrelenting.

The Yankees’ Plan B after Soto’s exit, the acquisitions of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, combined for five hits, three runs, and two RBIs. The harshest lesson of baseball is that no one is irreplaceable, not even a talent like Juan Soto.

Juan Soto’s reaction? He doffed his helmet to salute the symphony of disdain with a grin all over his face. It was the action of a guy who knew the task, who knew precisely what would follow his decision to select the Mets’ $765 million over the Yankees’ $760 million.

Apart from all the boos and chants, the Yankees played amazingly well. On the opening night, they won it 6-2. And in the next game, it was a perfect nail-biter, and the Mets beat the Yankees 3-2. An ideal baseball weekend in New York.