The moment the All-Star lineups dropped, frustration erupted across the Big Apple—specifically from fans who thought they would see their new $765 million star front and center in Atlanta. However, while the outrage simmered online, longtime Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay took to the mic and flipped the narrative on its head. Instead of defending the snubbed slugger, Kay threw the first pitch of blame—not at the league or media, however, directly at the Mets fans.

“If New York Mets fans wanted Juan Soto in the All-Star Game so badly, why didn’t they vote him in?” He challenged frankly on The Michael Kay Show. He did not stop there. “They go crazy if you say anything negative about their player… so why did not they all vote?” Kay asked. Showing fingers at the very fans flooding social media with outrage, he highlighted a clear contradiction—passion digitally did not translate into actual votes. “He should not have been allowed to finish fourth,” Michael Kay snapped. “He should have finished second or third”, he added.

That stung—however, it did not end there.

In a full-blown takedown, the Yankees broadcaster grilled the same diehard fans who tore into him weeks ago for highlighting Soto looked “down” at the period of the Subway Series. “Those same people who send angry screams at me… shouldn’t they have been voting over and over for Juan Soto?” Kay said. With a red-hot June also where Juan Soto delivered a 1.196 OPS and earned NL Star of the Month, Juan Soto could not climb out of the early-season perception gap. Kay argued the fans did not step up when it mattered, while Yankee fans got Judge voted in with ease last year. “They stepped up for Lindor. They did not step up for Soto”, Jay added.

From his standpoint, this was not just a voting issue—it was an “epic fail on every level.” Fans, stars and MLB officials also shared blame, however, it was clear who topped his list. “Met fans deserve blame. Players deserve blame. Major League Baseball deserves blame,” Kay said. “He’s one of the greatest hitters who ever lived. How was he not on that stage?” the broadcaster added.

It was a scorching callout and while some Mets fans were not thrilled to hear it, the data do not lie—Juan Soto’s second-half dominance could come, however, the All-Star spotlight has already passed the star by.

While Michael Kay’s fiery rant attracted attention and sparked outrage, there is another side to the story—one that is beyond votes and aims at the star at the heart of it all. Because if Soto is going to silence the noise and help the team to dethrone the Phillies, the attention now transforms from Soto’s All-Star snub to his second-half execution.

Soto’s numbers ask for respect—however, pressure moments still loom large

Despite being left off the All-Star roster, the Mets star’s data since June has screamed elite. The star has slashed .311/.455/.659 over a scorching six-week stretch, lifting Soto’s season OPS to .908—eighth-best in the NL. From a pure production standpoint, the star has been doing everything thought of as a $765 million superstar. As analyst Jeff Passan highlighted on ESPN’s Get Up, “He’s on pace for 6.5 WAR… right in line with his career norms.” Yet, with all this, there is still one area where the star has not fully delivered: clutch hitting.

Zoom in and the cracks started to show. ESPN’s David Schoenfield highlighted some troubling splits: Juan Soto is hitting just .183 with runners in scoring position and a paltry .176 with men on base. In high-leverage moments, Soto’s OPS decreased to .783—well below the MVP-tier mark some associate with his name. This is not just a Soto issue. The Mets as a whole ranked fourth-worst in MLB with a .230 average with RISP at the break and Francisco Lindor also was hitting just .224 in those situations. Still, with that $765M price tag, Juan Soto’s thoughts rise above the rest when the game hangs in the balance.

However, there is reason for hope. Statcast metrics highlight his expected weighted xwOBA sits at an absurd .455, which is second only to Aaron Judge. This suggests better days could be ahead and if Soto’s post-June form continues, the clutch data are bound to catch up. As Schoenfield said, the second half is now all about one thing: “He’s expected to carry the team when others aren’t coming through.” With the NL East race locked in a dead heat, the concern is not whether the former Yankees star has the tools—it is whether Soto will wield them when it matters most.

Juan Soto’s All-Star snub could have ignited the debate, however, it is the second half of the year that will define the star’s legacy in Queens. Whether Mets fans voted and not, all eyes are now on him to rise in the clutch and guide the charge in the NL East.

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