Juan Year Later

 

I'm still not entirely sure how people are going to talk about Juan Soto's sole year in Yankee pinstripes after more time has gone by. There's clearly comparisons, like Reggie Jackson's 1976 in Baltimore, or Nelson Cruz's 2014 in Baltimore, or even Corbin Burnes' 2024...in Baltimore. Somebody who comes in for one season, does what they can in memorable fashion and leaves. But this is different. This is something that could have worked long-term and for whatever mixture of personal reasons it didn't, and it hurt us. When Reggie left the O's, I don't think there was that level of betrayal, because Yanks-O's was contentious, but not as contentious as Yanks-Mets has been lately.

Or maybe people will emphasize the novelty. Like 'all involved parties really thought this would work, and then were shocked when it didn't.' It's like how occasionally I remember that there exists an album, in between two classics, where Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction played guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And I'm not even an RHCP guy, I just hear what they play on the radio, albeit every third song. But I definitely know what that band sounded like with Dave Navarro, because John Fruisciante has a very clear guitar sound, and Navarro is a very different kind of guitar player. It did work, that album, in its own kinda odd, mid-90s way, but like...it wasn't sustainable. And so you have to assume it all happened for the right reasons and that the stuff that comes after is more rewarding [and it is].

Juan Soto, meanwhile, has fit right in with the Mets, after a struggle in mid-May. He now leads the Mets in WAR with 2.9, and in walks with 60 unsurprisingly, but has 36 RBIs and 13 home runs. A lot like in the full season in San Diego, he is just doing his thing, and that still puts him ahead of the majority of his contemporaries. He's only hitting .247, but he gets on base more than most, he hits for contact and power, and he's still only 26. As alright as he's been, he's been way better in June, and is gearing up to get to full capacity by the time the Mets are approaching a run.

And the way things are going, that's looking very likely. With three of the best players in baseball, Soto, Alonso and Lindor, plugged squarely into the lineup, this team is out in front and in a very good place in the NL East. This team has also seen improvements in its bench depth, its late rotation and its bullpen, and even losing Kodai Senga isn't going to kill this team. If anything, they'll get Manaea and Montas back at some point, will do well enough with Paul Blackburn, and should stay on target. 

Juan Soto without the Yankees should, ultimately, be fine. The Yankees without Soto...I suppose we'll see how badly we need him this fall.

Coming Tomorrow- A onetime hard-throwing prospect now trying to keep the big league club from falling in on itself.