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It always starts with a whisper in the Bronx. A murmur in the bleachers, a caller on hold, a “Hey, remember when…?” Baseball moves forward, sure—but Yankee nostalgia clings like pine tar. And now, with Juan Soto returning to Yankee Stadium for the first time as a Met, that whisper is turning louder and more desperate. The Subway Series isn’t just a crosstown rivalry this year—it’s a window into a version of reality where Soto never left.

Enter WFAN’s Chris McMonigle, a longtime voice of Yankee passion, frustration, and the occasional prophetic jab. He doesn’t need to shout to stir the pot; he just tosses in a few words with perfect timing. And this week, he did just that, throwing gasoline on a fire Yankee fans have tried to smother since Soto crossed over to Queens.

Juan Soto is going to have a good series at Yankee Stadium, and the Yankee fan is going to say it’s because he’s back in the Bronx and he missed it.” McMonigle said it with the calm confidence of someone who knows exactly how the script will play out. And honestly? He might not be wrong.

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Juan Soto lit up the Bronx in 2024 with clutch hits, big moments, and swagger that matched the Pinstripes. Fans didn’t just cheer him, they claimed him. So now, seeing him in Mets blue? That’s going to hurt. A good series from Soto won’t be just box score fodder, it’ll be an emotional gut punch. And McMonigle knows exactly how Yankees fans work: Romantic, reactive, ready to spin a narrative from the thinnest thread of hope.

You can already hear the takes forming: He never should’ve left, he belongs here, and comments like Cashman fumbled it. The buzz will build with every swing. A solo homer? Nostalgia. A curtain call? Chaos. Yankee Stadium will become a theater of second chances, even if no one’s offering one.

And that’s what makes McMonigle’s comment different. He’s not really talking about Juan Soto’s swing, he’s talking about the city’s heart. About the fans who never moved on. About how, deep down, they’re all waiting to welcome the prodigal slugger back, even if he’s wearing the wrong, sorry, different uniform.

This series won’t just be baseball. It’ll be a three-game “What if?” marathon. And if Soto does what he’s known for, McMonigle’s prediction won’t just be remembered, it’ll feel like destiny.

What’s your perspective on:

Is Juan Soto's performance in the Subway Series a reminder of the Yankees' biggest missed opportunity?

Have an interesting take?

Juan Soto silences critics with power surge

It didn’t take long for Juan Soto to remind everyone why he’s baseball’s highest-paid player. After a modest start to his Mets career, whispers began to bubble—was he worth the record-setting paycheck? But Soto responded the way superstars do: With thunder.

In Wednesday’s clash against the Diamondbacks, Soto launched not one, but two home runs, turning Citi Field into his own personal soundstage. If there were doubts, he crushed them, literally.

This wasn’t just a breakout game—it was a statement. Soto’s timing couldn’t have been sharper.

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Coming into the series, Mets fans were watching Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor rack up numbers while Juan Soto’s bat stayed relatively quiet. But the three-time All-Star flipped the narrative with a signature performance that showed why the Mets went all-in. He’s such a complete hitter,” former All-Star Chris Young said on MLB Tonight. “He doesn’t chase, he barrels everything—and when the moment gets big, he gets bigger.”

Soto’s plate discipline and power combo is elite, and Wednesday’s fireworks were a masterclass in both. I feel like I’m getting close to being locked in,” Soto told reporters postgame. “I’m seeing the ball well, and I’m swinging at the right pitches.

And just like that, the conversation shifted from “What’s wrong with Soto?” to “How far can he carry this team?”

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With October aspirations in full view, the Mets needed Juan Soto to show up, and he just might be heating up at the perfect time. And now, it’s for the Yankees vs Mets – the one probably the entire baseball universe has been waiting for. How excited are you?

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Is Juan Soto's performance in the Subway Series a reminder of the Yankees' biggest missed opportunity?

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