The signs of unrest did not appear overnight. What began as subtle murmurs related to effort and consistency has snowballed into full-blown frustration. Fans who once praised Juan Soto’s bat are now questioning his entire availability on the roster and sports radio has become a daily courtroom dissecting his every move. As Tommy Lugauer of WFAN said, “No New York athlete will ever be scrutinized more than Juan Soto has been and will be given his contract.” That deal—a staggering $765M commitment—was supposed to buy dominance, not debate.

Dig deeper and the cracks in Soto’s game began to show. Offensively, the star’s numbers are not disastrous—Soto is hitting .251/.385/.495 with 31 home runs and 90 runs scored, posted by Fangraph on 19th August—however, for that price tag, “good” is not enough. Defensively, though, the picture is far worse. The former Yankees star has logged 120 games and over 1,000 innings in right field, yet metrics paint Soto as a liability: -10 Outs Above Average, -10 Fielding Run Value, and ranking in the first percentile among right fielders. Soto’s declining speed only compounds the issue, dropping to the 15th percentile in sprint speed this season. For the city that expects two-way excellence, those numbers scream disappointment.

The breaking point could already be here. Whispers related to a potential demotion have begun to creep into serious discussions within the Mets—a shocking thought for a star once hailed as a generational talent. As one headline starkly said: “Juan Soto faces consequences of Yankees exit as major demotion on the cards.” It is not just related to Soto’s bat anymore; it is related to whether Soto can justify a deal of historic proportions in a market that does not forgive underperformance.

Of course, the interaction would not be complete without addressing the quick defensive criticisms. Some, like WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer, argue that the backlash is selective: “I didn’t hear a damn thing about Juan Soto’s defense last year. All of a sudden now… it’s he’s a DH. He can’t play defense. He has not been a defensive liability at all.” It is a fair point—the city’s media pressure has a way of magnifying flaws; however, the metrics do not lie, and Soto’s deteriorating acceleration and poor outfield jumps (ranking 79th of 88 in Statcast’s Jump metric) confirm the issue.

That is the crux of this saga: is this merely a tough stretch amplified by the city’s unforgiving spotlight and the unmasking of a long-period issue that money can not fix? For now, the Mets are stuck in the middle—too invested to walk away, however, under too much force to stand still. The coming weeks will decide whether this storm calms… or becomes a full-blown reckoning.

All of this scrutiny from media insiders would be intense enough on its own, however, when fans weigh in, the narrative only grows louder.

Fan reactions add fuel to the fire

“Yankee fans complained about his defense all the time last year. I thought it was common knowledge he would revert to DH/1B in the next 3-4 years,” said one Yankees fan, summing up what some perceive as an inevitable reality. The frustration stems from more than just some bad plays—it is the thinking that his defensive decline is not temporary, however part of a larger trajectory toward becoming a one-dimensional star.

Such a sentiment quickly snowballed into sharper criticism focused not just on Juan Soto but also on those defending the star. “Didn’t hear a damn thing??? @tommylugauer You must be deaf, or just stupid,” another fan fired back, dismissing the radio host’s claims of selective hindsight. It is a reflection of how split the discourse has become—on one side, those defending the Mets star’s talent; on the other, those accusing media figures of shielding Soto from legitimate critique.

The data backs up the latter’s stance. In 2024, Juan Soto received praise for his strength, notching multiple outfield assists. However, advanced metrics like OAA highlighted a bleaker picture, highlighting negative value in vital areas of range and reaction. This links with yet another fan’s rebuttal: “Everyone talked about his bad defense all the time last year. It was a major talking point, you should know this, you work for a sports talk radio station.” This fan’s point is clear—defensive shortcomings were not a secret; they were a known flaw.

This is not just anecdotal. Soto’s defensive collapse in 2024, after a career-best 2023, was glaring. Deterioration in the star’s reaction time and bursts made Soto the worst defensive outfielder in MLB. Flyballs became a struggle, and Soto’s backhand plays faltered. Despite trying to enhance his positioning, the data stayed ugly. Fans who remember this history have not forgotten. “Heard a lot of Yankee fans complaining about his defense last year,” another fan reiterated, almost as if reminding those trying to rewrite history.

And then there is the jab at the messenger instead of the message. “Typically, posts like this are accompanied by the audio. They’re so aware that nobody likes Tommy and he’s so bad at being on air that they just put this graphic up with a quote,” quipped one specifically, harsh commenter. It is a telling moment—not only is Juan Soto under the microscope, but those speaking on his behalf are, too.

The debate surrounding Soto has evolved from on-field analysis to a full-scale cultural clash in the city’s sports. Metrics, media, and fans are colliding in a way only this city can manufacture. The concern now is not whether Soto can hit; it is whether the star can survive the storm.

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