The headlines came fast, however, the judgment came faster. A slow beginning from Juan Soto while carrying a record-breaking contract at the Mets resulted in relentless criticism, sometimes even unfair. The Red Sox legend David Ortiz had enough of it, as he decided to cut through the deafening noise. Ortiz did not just defend Soto; he also exposed the warped assumption and subtle bias sparking the narrative, bringing a much-needed reality check to the table. And it has now been echoed by a renowned broadcaster as well.
Speaking from the Dominican Republic, Ortiz took direct aim at the way the story has been spun around Juan Soto’s start with the Mets. “People think Juan Soto was paid to do what Barry Bonds did,” he said bluntly, calling the expectation unrealistic. It’s a vital, however, necessary truth bomb in the middle of what has become an almost manufactured storm.
So what exactly has sparked all this noise? Soto has not been terrible, he has been human. Through 55 games, he is slashing .224 with 8 home runs and a 745 OPS. That is far from disastrous, especially, when factoring in the adjustment to a new team and yes, a $765 million contract.
This brings us to The Mets Pod. Hosts Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo, on their show, asked the media to aim less at Soto’s swing mechanics and timing and more at how “happy” he looks. Well, that’s completely opposite to the current narrative.
“Why I am frustrated,” Rogers said. “is how little the convo has been about baseball.” Rather than analysis—it’s been more drama. Not everyone has gotten over the fact that Soto chose Queens over the Bronx. “There is a large contingent of baseball media that is observing this from the Yankee lens,” Rogers remarked, pointing to a lingering narrative that he needed to stay with the Yankees. That lens, however, isn’t just blurry—it’s distorted.
Framed through facial expressions and vague assumptions, the criticism has taken on a life. The kicker has been the narrative that Soto is privately regretting signing with the Mets. “The private point thing…that’s just ridiculous,” Rogers further remarked.
The outcome of all of this is a star with elite credentials is getting unfairly scrutinized early on, just like Carlos Beltran, Francisco Lindor and Mike Piazza were when they wore Mets uniforms.
David Ortiz and the Mets Pod crew are not defending poor play—they are defending context, something sorely lacking in the current media frenzy. As Rogers put it, “There is a human element to this… and sometimes, it just takes time.” In other words, support the man to play ball before writing the soap opera script.
But if the media lens zooms out just a bit, they will see this isn’t just about one frustrated star — it’s part of a much larger Mets meltdown that unfolded in full view during their latest stumble at Citi Field.
Mets offensive collapse proves it is not just Soto
While the spotlight could be burning hot on Juan Soto, Wednesday’s series finale made one thing painfully clear: the Mets’ offensive funk isn’t limited to one superstar. The bats went cold across the board in a 9-4 loss to the White Sox, ending a four-game win streak with a whimper. The Mets managed just five hits, committed two defensive errors and looked flat from the jump. Francisco Lindor went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. Pete Alonso did not notch a hit until the ninth inning with the game well out of reach. It was a total team letdown, not just another ‘Soto story.’
That performance came on the heels of a few strong comeback wins, which might’ve masked deeper issues brewing at the plate. While Soto’s recent 0-for-13 slump stands out, it mirrors a troubling pattern throughout the Mets’ lineup.
Since his three-hit game on May 24, Soto hasn’t been the only one stuck. With stars like Lindor also struggling, it’s no wonder the narrative feels unfairly tilted. And as Carlos Mendoza pointed out, Soto’s been making solid contact, just not getting results. The bigger picture? This is a team issue, not a solo crisis, which brings us back to why the framing has felt so off all along.
Juan Soto might be the face taking the heat, however, the Mets’ issue runs far deeper than one bat. As David Ortiz has made clear, this is not related to smiles or slumps—this is related to patience, perspective and a team still trying to identify its stride. Before rushing to judgment, it might be the time for the noise around Soto to quieten down and for the focus to return to baseball.
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