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New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
People's Juan Soto expectations are all out of whack: David Ortiz
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Juan Soto's $765 million contract has given people the wrong impression of the type of player he is, one Hall of Famer says. David Ortiz, speaking on the radio in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, said the expectations around Soto have been too high and don't line up with the type of player he is. Advertisement The former Red Sox designated hitter believes some people think Soto should have stats that line up with MLB's all-time home run leader. But Ortiz sees things differently. 'People think Juan Soto was paid to do what Barry Bonds did. No, people. Soto was paid to do what he always does: hit 30 homers, push 90-100 runs across, hit .280-.290, and have a great on-base percentage,' Ortiz said, as translated from Spanish. 3 Juan Soto reacts after he strikes out swinging during the fifth inning at Citi Field on May 28, 2025. JASON SZENES/NY POST Advertisement 'The problem is that Juan Soto entered free agency at the perfect time with the perfect agent, you know what I mean? So since everyone wants to be involved in the negotiations for a player of his caliber, and because of the Mets' owner, who said, 'The only way he doesn't play for me is if he goes somewhere else for less money.' He won with that argument alone. We're not talking about the best player in the big leagues nor the most complete. He's a great player who at the end of the season will have the numbers he consistently has.' 3 Former MLB player David Ortiz 'Big Papi' attends a mass in honour of the people who died after a roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub, in Haina, Dominican Republic April 13, 2025. REUTERS Soto's Baseball Savant page looks like one would expect with gaudy peripherals, but his in-game numbers have been far from Soto-like. Advertisement CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS After an 0-for-4 Wednesday afternoon during a Mets 9-4 loss at Citi Field to the White Sox, Soto saw his slash line drop to .202/.333/.404 in May with his season OPS at .745. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after the 0-fer that he's seeing positive indicators that Soto could be turning things in the right direction. 3 Juan Soto went 0-for-4 on Wednesday afternoon. JASON SZENES/NY POST Advertisement 'Honestly, today was one of those days where he didn't hit the ball hard, but I thought that his foundation, his lower half, was in a better position,' he said. 'For me, that's a good sign.' The Mets next play the MLB-worst Rockies in a weekend set, which could be the boon Soto needs.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Griffin Canning's struggles doom Mets' win streak in loss to lowly White Sox
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free The Mets moved up Wednesday's start time to avoid the oncoming weather, but even so Griffin Canning rained on the parade. The right-hander has been a success story in this early part of this season but lately walks have sabotaged him. And on this day two errors behind him only exacerbated matters. So much for the sweep against an American League patsy: the Mets lost 9-4 to the White Sox at Citi Field to snap a four-game winning streak. The nine runs allowed were a season-high by the Mets. It was a lost opportunity for the Mets (34-22), who will be visited for three games beginning Friday by a Rockies team on pace to eclipse the modern record for losses in a season that was established last year by the White Sox. 6 Mets pitcher Griffin Canning reacts as he walks off the mound after ending the third inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST This version of the White Sox isn't much better, with 38 losses in 56 games. About the only positive development for the Mets was lefty reliever Brandon Waddell absorbed five innings, allowing manager Carlos Mendoza to rest a bullpen that has received plenty of high-leverage work. Thursday's off day will provide a further break for that group. In his shortest non-weather affected start of the season, Canning lasted only three innings and allowed five runs, two of which were unearned, on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts. In his previous start, last Friday, the right-hander pitched only 2 2/3 innings but was removed following a lengthy rain delay. 6 Mets third baseman Mark Vientos watches his three run home run during the third inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST But Canning also struggled that night, walking four batters and allowing three earned runs against the Dodgers. Andrew Benintendi stroked a two-run single in the first inning to begin Canning's rough afternoon. Mike Tauchman's walk started the rally and Miguel Vargas doubled Tauchman to third before Benintendi delivered. Consecutive errors to begin the third helped sink the Mets further. Brett Baty committed a throwing error before Jeff McNeil booted a grounder, giving the White Sox runners on first and second. 6 White Sox Mike Tauchman hits a two-run RBI double in the second inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST 6 White Sox Korey Lee is safe at second base on a fielders choice beating the tag by New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in the second inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST Tauchman unleashed a two-out double that scored both runners to widen the Mets' deficit to 4-0. Canning's troubles worsened in the third, when he surrendered a leadoff double to Lenyn Sosa. After Edgar Quero walked and an ensuing sacrifice bunt, Josh Rojas gave the White Sox a 5-0 lead with an RBI ground out. 6 Mets outfielder Juan Soto grounds out to third base in the first inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST Canning issued another walk in the inning, to No. 9 hitter Michael A. Taylor, before escaping. Mark Vientos' three-run homer against Shane Smith in the third got the Mets back into the game. Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto drew consecutive walks to begin the inning before Vientos, with two outs, cleared the right-field fence for his sixth homer of the season. 6 White Sox Josh Rojas beats the ball to the plate scoring on Mike Tauchman's two-run RBI double in the second inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST The White Sox scored twice in the sixth against Waddell in extending their lead to 7-3. Benintendi stroked an RBI triple to right field and scored on Sosa's single. Tauchman doubled to start the rally. Rojas' double in the seventh gave the White Sox runners on second and third before Taylor's sacrifice fly pushed the Mets into an 8-3 hole. Benintendi homered in the eighth, leaving him a double short of the cycle.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets fans irate over $765 million star Juan Soto not hustling at crucial Subway Series moment
It's one thing for Juan Soto's numbers to be substandard in mid-May. It's another for him to not bust it out of the box after signing the biggest contract in sports history. The Mets' $765 million man got under fans' skin during Sunday night's nationally televised Subway Series loss to the Yankees in The Bronx when he did not hustle out of the box in the eighth inning on a ground ball to second base. Advertisement With the game tied 2-2, Soto led off the inning against Yankees reliever Devin Williams and sent a 1-1 pitch up the middle, forcing second baseman DJ LeMahieu into a tough sliding grab to his right. By the time LeMahieu secured the ball on the grass just beyond the infield dirt, Soto was not yet halfway down the first base line, only putting his head down and kicking it up another gear once LeMahieu had the ball. The Mets went down in order in the eighth before the Yankees' six-run barrage in the bottom half, capped by Cody Bellinger's grand slam, to take the rubber game. Soto drew ire on social media for not busting out of the box. Juan Soto (circled) did not hustle out of the box when he hit a ground ball in the eighth inning against the Yankees on Sunday. X/ESPN 'Juan Soto obviously should have hustled here. Not sure what he was thinking,' Ben Yoel wrote on X. Advertisement 'How the f–k do you not hustle here? Thats terrible,' Jomboy's Jack Oliver wrote. 'Soto is playing so lackadaisically right now and I don't get it. No shuffle. No intensity. Jogging out of the box in the 8th inning of a tie game, laughing with the Yankees players etc.,' Mets Avenue wrote. Juan Soto reacts after grounding out in the eighth inning of the Mets' loss to the Yankees on May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS 'Why did juan soto not hustle there my god,' X user @krissyy_elyse wrote. 'Soto's hustle has been absolutely horrible this weekend,' wrote @MaddlxDJ64. Soto was loudly booed by Yankees fans throughout the weekend after he spent one season with them and led them to a World Series appearance. Juan Soto reacts after striking out in the fifth inning of the Mets' loss to the Yankees on May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST The 26-year-old went 1-for-10 with four walks, three strikeouts, two steals and two runs in the three-game Subway Series. Advertisement Through 46 games this season, Soto is hitting .246 with an .822 OPS, eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 37 walks, 33 strikeouts, nine doubles and 33 runs. Last year for the Yankees, Soto hit .288 with a .989 OPS and smashed a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBIs.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets fans irate over $765 million star Juan Soto not hustling at crucial Subway Series moment
It's one thing for Juan Soto's numbers to be substandard in mid-May. It's another for him to not bust it out of the box after signing the biggest contract in sports history. The Mets' $765 million man got under fans' skin during Sunday night's nationally televised Subway Series loss to the Yankees in The Bronx when he did not hustle out of the box in the eighth inning on a ground ball to second base. With the game tied 2-2, Soto led off the inning against Yankees reliever Devin Williams and sent a 1-1 pitch up the middle, forcing second baseman DJ LeMahieu into a tough sliding grab to his right. By the time LeMahieu secured the ball on the grass just beyond the infield dirt, Soto was not yet halfway down the first base line, only putting his head down and kicking it up another gear once LeMahieu had the ball. The Mets went down in order in the eighth before the Yankees' six-run barrage in the bottom half, capped by Cody Bellinger's grand slam, to take the rubber game. Soto drew ire on social media for not busting out of the box. 3 Juan Soto (circled) did not hustle out of the box when he hit a ground ball in the eighth inning against the Yankees on Sunday. X/ESPN 'Juan Soto obviously should have hustled here. Not sure what he was thinking,' Ben Yoel wrote on X. 'How the f–k do you not hustle here? Thats terrible,' Jomboy's Jack Oliver wrote. 'Soto is playing so lackadaisically right now and I don't get it. No shuffle. No intensity. Jogging out of the box in the 8th inning of a tie game, laughing with the Yankees players etc.,' Mets Avenue wrote. 3 Juan Soto reacts after grounding out in the eighth inning of the Mets' loss to the Yankees on May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS 'Why did juan soto not hustle there my god,' X user @krissyy_elyse wrote. 'Soto's hustle has been absolutely horrible this weekend.' wrote @MaddlxDJ64. Soto was loudly booed by Yankees fans throughout the weekend after he spent one season with them and led them to a World Series appearance. 3 Juan Soto reacts after striking out in the fifth inning of the Mets' loss to the Yankees on May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST The 26-year-old went 1-for-10 with four walks, three strikeouts, two steals and two runs in the three-game Subway Series. Through 46 games this season, Soto is hitting .246 with an .822 OPS, eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 37 walks, 33 strikeouts, nine doubles and 33 runs. Last year for the Yankees, Soto hit .288 with a .989 OPS and smashed a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBIs.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets not yet giving up on struggling Starling Marte
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Carlos Mendoza said he plans to keep giving Starling Marte playing time despite the lack of production from the outfielder, who entered Sunday night amid another slump. Marte started at DH, against Yankee left-hander Max Fried, and went 1-for-2 with a strikeout and double — his first extra-base hit since April 29, when hit just his second homer of the season — before being lifted for pinch hitter Brett Baty. 'I'll continue to give him chances,'' Mendoza said prior to Sunday's 8-2 loss. 'He's getting an opportunity today. He's been an elite player in this game.' And as the manager has noted previously, Marte is a victim of not playing regularly. 'I feel it's not an easy role to be in, when you're used to playing every day and it takes time,'' Mendoza said. 'We have to understand it's not an easy role to be in, when you're not getting at-bats every day and you're only facing lefties or when you get an opportunity as a pinch hitter and it's usually in a high-leverage [situation] and you're facing a pretty good arm.' Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets hits a double in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST But Mendoza said some of the underlying numbers are encouraging when it comes to the 36-year-old. 'The ball continues to jump off the bat, the bat speed, it's there,'' Mendoza said. 'I'm pretty sure he'll get it going here pretty soon.' Despite Mendoza's confidence, Marte's average exit velocity is down, and he's hit slightly worse versus lefties (.602 OPS heading into Sunday) than righties (.604). CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS He's in the final year of a four-year, $78 million contract, and the Mets shopped him during the offseason. Not surprisingly, there hasn't been much of a market for Marte, a player in decline who has battled injuries throughout his time with the Mets. With Jeff McNeil back and showing an ability to play the outfield again, he can take up a spot — especially against right-handers — and he was in center on Sunday. Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after he hits a double in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST And Mendoza insisted it wouldn't be an issue finding a spot in the lineup going forward, even with Baty showing of late that he's capable of playing every day and the defensively challenged Mark Vientos perhaps better suited to DH than third base. 'Not at all,' Mendoza said of potentially having a hard time getting Marte in the lineup. 'He's a good player. For us to get to where we want to get, we're gonna need him. I've got to continue to give him at-bats. He's a good player.' The results haven't been there. Marte is putting up worse numbers against virtually all types of pitches than he did at other points of his career. He's played part of just one game in the outfield this season after he missed extensive action last year with a bone bruise in his right knee. Without Marte in the outfield mix, Brandon Nimmo has been solid in left and Juan Soto an everyday presence in right and Tyrone Taylor a regular in center, where he's typically flourished defensively. If Marte can't play defense, it would seem he doesn't serve much purpose on the team, especially since he's struggled against both lefties and righties after hitting both of them well in the past.
