Yankees fans were surprised and upset when superstar Juan Soto chose to sign a 15-year, $765 million deal with the crosstown rival Mets this offseason. Soto had helped the Yankees reach the World Series in his lone season with the team last year, but ultimately decided to join the Mets. While some fans were okay with Soto’s departure because it allowed the team to bring on more players with the money saved, many others were still upset about the situation. During a recent game between the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks, fans began chanting, “F— Juan Soto,” much to the disappointment of Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay.
Kay expressed his disappointment with the chants, calling them “little brother nonsense.” He reminded fans that the Mets have not won a championship since 1986 and have not achieved the same level of success as the Yankees. Kay believed that the chants against Soto were unfounded and that fans should instead focus on supporting their team, which was winning the game at the time. He called the behavior a “bad look” for Yankees fans and urged them to show more class in their support for the team.
Juan Soto made his home debut with the Mets and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. While he has had a slower start with his new team, fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the Bronx for a game between the Mets and the Yankees on May 16. Yankees fans have a history of chanting against players they dislike, such as Jose Altuve, who became public enemy No. 1 after the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017. Despite this, Kay believed that the chants against Soto were unnecessary and reflected poorly on the fans and the team.
The rivalry between the Yankees and the Mets is a long-standing one, with each team vying for dominance in the New York baseball scene. While the Mets may have won the bidding war for Juan Soto, they have not achieved the same level of success on the field as the Yankees. Kay reminded fans that the Yankees are still considered the “big brother” in the relationship between the two teams and that the behavior exhibited by fans towards Soto was disappointing and uncalled for. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how fans will continue to react to Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets.
It is not uncommon for sports fans to show their distaste for opposing players through chants and other behavior, but Kay believed that the “F— Juan Soto” chants crossed a line. He urged fans to focus on supporting their team and showing more class in their behavior towards players on other teams. As the season continues, the rivalry between the Yankees and the Mets is likely to intensify, especially with Soto’s upcoming return to the Bronx. It remains to be seen how fans on both sides will react to Soto’s decision and how the rivalry between the two teams will play out on the field.
