Spring training begins this month, which means Mets fans - and Yankee fans - will get their first glimpse of Juan Soto in action in orange and blue, as he begins his Mets tenure.
Based on calls Keith McPherson still gets during his show, Yankee fans are not over Soto bolting for Queens and nearly $800 million, and some have begun the “coping” process where they declare that the Soto signing won’t work out for Steve Cohen and company.
Keith says it’s merely a symptom of no longer having Soto, and suddenly, the shuffle becomes a little more annoying, but the talent and ability is undeniable.
“You Yankee fans, I love you, but I’m telling you. I can’t wait for 2-3 months from now to be like ‘I told you, Juan Soto doesn’t care. He’s still Juan Soto,’” Keith said. “There is no ‘Be careful what you wish for.’
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen and will ever see. ‘We’re better off without Juan Soto.’ Incorrect.”
Some Yankee fans have pivoted to pointing out Soto’s shortcomings as a fielder and baserunner, but that was hardly an issue when he was working one of the greatest at-bats in recent franchise history, shuffling and self-talking himself to the game-winning and series-clinching home run in the ALCS. That doesn’t get forgotten, even if fans feel spurned and want to feel better about what they lost.
“When he’s doing that in your uniform, how do you not like it?” Keith said. “You Mets fans are gonna be imitating it in the living room.
“This is gonna create such an interesting dynamic for the next 2-3 years. I think it’s gonna take a few years for Yankee fans to get over it...it’s gonna be fun.”