The Real Story Is On The Field

New York sports media and some so-called fans have officially lost it over Juan Soto.

The guy can’t opt out of an obviously biased in-game interview while being relentlessly booed by emotionally stunted adult men, or decide he wants to work toward being an elite two-way player in the first year of his decade-and-a-half-long contract without someone deciding he must be miserable in orange and blue.

Even the all-mighty Jeff Passan had to step in and clear the air, reminding everyone that Juan Soto, a New York Met, travels to away games with the literal New York Mets. It’s almost like people forgot how the real world works. 

To clear up what others have asserted: Juan Soto does not fly separately from his New York Mets teammates on a private jet. He flies on the team plane. There is no private-jet provision in his contract for him or his family.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 19, 2025

 

Soto’s Commitment Is Clear—It’s the Media That’s Unfocused

We can talk about things like regular people here. This isn’t about him being “unhappy” or his level of enthusiasm.

This is about people not being able to handle the fact that one of the most talented hitters of our generation didn’t choose their team. I get that, it must suck for them. He chose the Mets, and they’re off to a great start.

Holding down first place in the National League East for the first third of the 2025 season would make any all-time ballplayer miserable.

So Michael Kay, who loudly said for the past 6 months that the only that mattered to Juan Soto was the money, is now saying his family swayed his decision? I mean cmon man https://t.co/aVom4cvWop

— Fitz (@FitzGSN_) May 19, 2025

 

So now, instead of watching the man hit baseballs into the stratosphere, they’re clutching their pearls over whether he spent enough time chatting with ESPN while in the outfield. It’s truly riveting stuff.

The Game Matters More Than Sour Grapes

New York sports media (and social media interactivity amongst “fans”) has taken journalistic storylines and speculation to a level of parasocial obsession. Everyone has decided that because Soto isn’t braiding his teammates’ hair between innings, he must be harboring resentment and writing in his diary how much he misses being uptown.

It’s Unbelievable How Free Agency Works, Isn’t It?

There’s this wild idea that professional athletes can’t “handle New York media,” when really, the media can’t handle the fact that professional athletes truly focus on playing those professional sports, not performing a one-man musical about loyalty and happiness. He’s always appeased fans, saying he is happy to be in Queens.

There’s baseball being played—good baseball, by the way. Soto wants to evolve his game, focusing on defense and aiming for a Gold Glove. He’s working on being more than just a power hitter, trying to add longevity to his career, like someone who just signed a 15-year, $765 million contract would.

This is Getting Really, Really Weird

Let’s put this into perspective: this is America’s Pastime, not an on-ice relationship where your significant other has to reassure you they’re happy to be with you daily.

The fixation on every breath he takes is exhausting. It’s like showing up to your job and being accused of hating your coworkers because you didn’t eat lunch with them every single day. It’s really that stupid and lackluster. 

Now stretch that logic to the point where someone’s entire happiness is up for debate because they didn’t blow kisses to the dugout from right field.

What If This Kept Happening At Your Job?

No matter how hard some fans or “insiders” push these asinine narratives, no fabricated “closeness” or “insight” equates to validity or exclusivity. They are not wearing the uniform. They are not the players with their names enshrined in the clubhouse, even when they’re standing in it with a camera or voice recorder.

I get being passionate, I really do, but way too much of this has nothing to do with baseball.

I can’t help but think of what it’d be like if my clients at my (non-media) job continually publicized that I hate my coworkers because of a rumor going around that I don’t eat lunch with them every day https://t.co/ijudopTTx2

— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) May 19, 2025

 

Nothing Else To Pay Attention To? 

It must be the absolute worst year for Major League Baseball in history if all anyone can talk about is Juan Soto’s body language while playing in the most unhinged and uninviting atmosphere on a “Rivalry Weekend” in May.

This is getting really weird, and I’m concerned about how people spend their day and frankly—about feeling compelled to type this whole thing up.

Wanting to Focus on Baseball is Not Being Unable to “Handle New York Media”

Maybe it’s time to admit that the real problem isn’t with Soto but with a need to force narratives onto players who just want to play ball. 

The Juan Soto discourse today is some of the dumbest New York sports discourse I’ve ever seen

Soto’s OPS this month is .964

His career OPS is .947

He has hit 5 homers in May

Sure, he didn’t look great against the Yankees. He still reached base 5 times in 14 plate appearances

— Danny Abriano (@DannyAbriano) May 19, 2025

 

The reality is, he’s not here to perform for media approval. He’s hitting, walking, stealing bases, playing defense, and focusing on being the caliber player the Mets pay him to be, whether you like it or not. The only cause for concern would be if he stopped showing up altogether. 

Rather than creating a story that doesn’t exist, it’s worth appreciating his dedication to the game and the Mets for the next 15 years. There’s no crisis here—just a phenomenal baseball player focused on playing phenomenal baseball.