Juan Soto -- looking like a bust for the Mets

[bk400]

I had my doubts about that signing, and the eye test is beginning to confirm those doubts. It's not just the fact that he's had a slow start to the season. Having watched him play now many times in a Mets uniform, I think he's a loafer on the field and on the base paths. I'm not sure if it is because he is just slow or if he is lazy. Or if he just doesn't care as much now that he will be billionaire if he manages his money properly.

Good take by the Yankees.

[bk400]

And my post above was BEFORE he hit the longest single in the history of baseball by not hustling out of the box.

[D. Bergin]

Not saying Soto hustled out of the box or anything, but didn't Alonso get thrown out at 2nd on a ball off the Green Monster earlier in the game?

Guys hit singles off the Green Monster, literally all the time.

[bk400]

He did indeed. He wasn't hustling either, although he also didn't go into an arrogant home run trot the way Soto did.

[jayshum]

I'm pretty sure the Mets would have plenty of teams willing to take Soto off their hands if they want to trade him.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm pretty sure the Mets would have plenty of teams willing to take Soto off their hands if they want to trade him.

Yankees included

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by bk400

He did indeed. He wasn't hustling either, although he also didn't go into an arrogant home run trot the way Soto did.

Maybe if he did, he wouldn’t have gotten thrown out at 2nd base.

[D. Bergin]

Yaz probably threw out 5-10 guys a year whose ego couldn’t handle smacking a ball off the Green Monster and settling for a single.

Jim Rice even got pretty good at it later in his career.

[Kevlo17]

Less then 2 months into a contract seems a bit early to be labeling it a bust, especially when the guy carries a 1.6 bWAR and a 133 ops+. Those numbers aren't up to Soto's career standards, but they are far from shabby.

There was a pretty vocal group of folks that labeled Lindor's contract a bust too early in the contract, but would be hard pressed to find someone who feels that way now. I think Soto has earned the benefit of the doubt to let this one simmer a bit as well.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Kevlo17

Less then 2 months into a contract seems a bit early to be labeling it a bust, especially when the guy carries a 1.6 bWAR and a 133 ops+. Those numbers aren't up to Soto's career standards, but they are far from shabby.

There was a pretty vocal group of folks that labeled Lindor's contract a bust too early in the contract, but would be hard pressed to find someone who feels that way now. I think Soto has earned the benefit of the doubt to let this one simmer a bit as well.

A fair, dispassionate challenge. But simmering dispassionately isn't really a thing for long suffering Mets fans like us!

So basically, Juan Soto is producing Teoscar Hernandez type numbers right now, which would be fine, but Teoscar is on a 3-year, $66mm contract, while Soto is playing on a contract that is bigger than that of Ohtani.

Speaking of Ohtani, I also watch a lot of Dodgers games. Mostly to torture myself with envy. Forget the home runs. That guy Ohtani beats out so many infield singles. He turns hard hit balls that don't quite make it to the wall into doubles and turns doubles into the corner into triples. And he goes to the f**king Dodgers on a $700mm contract -- mostly deferred -- and helps them win a ring in his first year. And the way karma for the Mets seem to work, he's probably going to come back just in time to bail out their rotation and pitch in September, make Dave Roberts look like a genius, and ensure the Mets don't make it to the World Series again this year.

Meanwhile, we've got Soto, who looks like (and has even come close to saying it out loud by throwing shade at Pete Alonso) he wishes he still were playing for the Yankees.

And, as if on cue, we've got Carlos Mendoza now trying to explain Soto:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...s-mets-manager

Ohtani was also on a new team and on a massive contract. How many times did Dave Roberts have to justify to the press why Ohtani wasn't hustling?

[wagnerj03]

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[Peter_Spaeth]

It's May. Come on.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's May. Come on.

Exactly. Imagine what he's going to be like when it's September and he's tired.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Kevlo17

Less then 2 months into a contract seems a bit early to be labeling it a bust....

The Mets are already over a third of the way into the season. That's starting to be significant.

Originally Posted by Kevlo17

...when the guy carries a 1.6 bWAR and a 133 ops+. Those numbers aren't up to Soto's career standards, but they are far from shabby.

This though is the same guy who just signed a record setting contract. His numbers aren't exactly record setting. In fact I'd label his current .224 batting average as very disappointing. Granted I do need to give him credit for being on pace to set a personal high for stolen bases.

Originally Posted by WhatsNext

Such a loser post. He and the Mets are fine.

You should post more often. We're not often treated to such rare insight.

Originally Posted by WhatsNext

He's just gotten (very) unlucky. Nothing to worry about.

Methinks he needs to start hitting the ball where it's pitched to improve his "luck".

[bk400]

The good news for Soto is he's got the venerable Rockies pitching staff coming up. When the White Sox are too good, you can count on the Rockies.