(New York, NY) – It’s still surreal for Mets fans that Juan Soto “picked them” and changed the course of the franchise this past offseason. Sure, it cost team owner Steve Cohen $765 million over 15 years, but the point remains — Soto joined the blue and orange, spurning the Yankees. And for that reason, he’s not an All-Star this year.
Bitter Yankees fans — and bitter MLB players — worked together to deny Soto his fifth All-Star game appearance. For fans in the Bronx, it’s a bit more understandable — hurt feelings remain with Soto moving crosstown. But what’s the player’s excuse? Juan Soto is 2nd in the league in on-base percentage. He’s 6th in WAR or wins above replacement level. Top ten in homers (7th) and on-base plus slugging (OPS, 8th). Put even more plainly — as noted by Greg Harvey of Between the Numbers — Soto is one of only seven players in MLB history to notch at least 20 HR, 70 walks, 15 doubles, and 10 stolen bases prior to the All-Star break. He’s the ONLY player to put up that stat line and NOT play in the Mid-summer Classic. Shameful stuff.
For his part, Soto took the historic snub in stride, telling Jon Heyman of the New York Post: “I’ve just got to be better.” Soto also spoke to The Post’s Dean Martin, adding: “For me, I try to play as hard as I can and help the team and enjoy the moment. Everyone wants to be an All-Star and live the experience of being there, but this year it didn’t happen. I was glad I was able to be there four years in a row. If I didn’t make it this year, it’s no big deal. I’ll come back stronger next year.”
It’s the first time since 2021 that Soto was not named an All-Star — even though he’d played for three different teams over those seasons.
So what gives? Well, the bitter and sad Yankees fans certainly played a role. Even the most diehard Mets fan voted for Aaron Judge when filling out an All-Star ballot. It’s just a basic truth: Judge is one of the game’s greatest hitters, a future Hall of Famer, and the All-Star game is better with him involved. Mets fans, despite the braying and salty tear-filled spittle of Yankees supporters, are a great bunch of baseball fans. We recognize when there’s someone we “love to hate” in the other dugout.
Yankees supporters are unable to maintain that level of grace and appreciation. Like a spoiled child who dropped their ice cream cone, they’re gonna wail, and scream, and issue ear-piercing screams — because if THEY can’t have Juan Soto — no one else can enjoy themselves.
The players who didn’t vote for Soto? Their jealously is more garden variety. As in it’s green, like envy. And it’s because Soto has the kind of long cash they can only hope to touch — even as millionaires. There’s levels to this game. And Juan Soto is of the first-ballot bronze plaque in Cooperstown level.
Oh well. For Soto and the Mets, it’s all eyes toward the second half. Will his hot bat propel them further than last year’s NLCS?
