Let’s be honest, the Queens winning their 30-20 record is saying things out loud. But if you observe closely, a problem in the batting lineup persists. What the Mets thought was a feasible solution has turned into a worrying scenario. Juan Soto, the player whose bat once soared through the air in the arena, is stumbling over pitches. While many wonder why, this Yankee legend has shared his keen observation…

If you remember, during the Subway Series, fans in the Bronx greatly booed Soto. And he, too, did as severely as the audience felt: 1-for-10 with four walks. The problems didn’t stop there. In Boston, a fly ball that was misread off the Green Monster turned into a single instead of a double, which drew criticism for not hustling. Manager Carlos Mendoza said they needed to talk to Soto about his effort on the basepaths. He stressed the importance of giving it your all, especially in tough ballparks like Fenway.

Soto’s numbers have gone down in the stats. He has only batted .156 in his last nine games, with no extra-base hits, and his season average has dropped to .243. Even though he’s having a hard time, his on-base percentage is still a good .374, and his OPS is .804, which puts him 48th in the league.

But even with the criticism, there are still voices of support. CC Sabathia, a former Yankees ace, had something to say about Soto’s slump. In his recent conversation with the New York Post, Sabathia shared, “I feel like the stars that go to the Mets, it takes them like a year to kinda settle in. So, I think Soto could be the same thing.”  

If that’s true, we have plenty of games to watch him rise. But as of now, his performance against the Red Sox pitcher has indeed raised eyebrows.

Juan Soto didn’t swing at many of Garrett Crochet’s pitches when he faced him recently. Soto didn’t swing at any of the seven pitches he faced in his first two plate appearances, so he struck out looking twice.

Fans were surprised by this strategy, especially when there were runners on base, and it made them pay more attention to how he was doing. Soto had a rough start but eventually helped the Mets beat Boston 5-1 with a sacrifice fly and a walk. Yes, Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor are leading the charge, with Alonso hitting .292 and driving in 37 runs, and Lindor hitting .283 and hitting 10 home runs.

Juan Soto’s struggles show how hard it may be to deal with high expectations and adjust to a new place. The season is still young, and there is still a chance for things to improve, even though the route has been rocky. As Sabathia said, patience might be the key to helping Soto reach his full potential.

And to your surprise, CC Sabathia is not the only one who understands the situation. This Hall of Famer and former Mets player has also offered some great advice.

Piazza’s words: From one Mets Star to another

When Juan Soto was under the limelight of New York’s harsh media and fans, few people could understand what he was going through better than Mets great Mike Piazza. Piazza knew how hard it was for Soto since he had been through the rough seas of a high-profile move to the Mets in 1998.

Piazza saw Soto’s early problems and advised, “Do the little things right, and your confidence will return. What Juan Soto is going through is practically a rite of passage in New York.” He knows how things go in the Big Apple.

When Piazza first joined the Mets, people had high hopes for him, but there were criticisms, too. Even though he had a great track record, spectators and the media booed and doubted him. He didn’t start to win over New Yorkers until he came through in important situations. Piazza stressed the significance of not giving up and taking advantage of chances to shine when they count most, drawing comparisons to Soto’s current circumstances.

Now, the upcoming games will serve as a testament to Juan Soto. Can he rise again and show why he is one of the best? We cannot wait to experience that…