The Mets are giving us that storyline again, huh? Players-only meetings, soul-searching quotes, the “are we contenders or pretenders?” vibe—it’s like clockwork with this team. And now, enter Juan Soto, the $765 million man, suddenly in the middle of a clubhouse, trying to remember what winning feels like.
Juan Soto Speaks Up, but Shies From the Leadership Label
Saturday night, after getting flattened 9-2 by the Pirates, the Mets close the doors and get honest with each other. No coaches, no press—just players. Juan Soto, not even a full year into his New York tenure, speaks up. That’s significant. This isn’t some scrub off the bench offering clichés. This is one of the most talented hitters in baseball history stepping into a role he’s admittedly unsure about.
And that’s where it gets fascinating. Soto tells Newsday’s Laura Albanese, “I don’t know what type of leader you want me to call myself… I’ve never called myself a leader.” That’s not false modesty. That’s someone adjusting to the enormous weight of expectations in New York, after signing one of the most eye-watering contracts in MLB history. He doesn’t want to grandstand. He doesn’t want to play alpha. He wants to contribute in the way he knows how—by raking at the plate and being approachable in the clubhouse.
Soto’s June Was Fire—But the Offense Around Him? Ice Cold
And rake he has. In June, Soto torched opposing pitchers: .322 average, .474 OBP, 11 homers, 25 walks—just silly numbers. You’d think that would translate into wins, but here’s the gut punch: The Mets scored three or less runs in nine of their last 16 games. They lost 13 of those. It’s like having a Ferrari in a garage with no gas. Soto’s doing his part, but the offense around him is just not clicking.
And to make things worse, the day after that players-only meeting, the Mets got destroyed again—12-1, same Pirates, same slump. It’s the kind of brutal back-to-back that doesn’t just shake a fanbase—it tests a locker room’s belief in itself. Is this a bump in the road or the start of another Mets collapse?
Lindor Tries to Keep Perspective While the Pressure Builds
Francisco Lindor, who’s been around long enough to see the highs and the heartbreaks, tried to inject a little perspective. He told reporters that players-only meetings aren’t some magic fix. It worked last year, sure—his May 29 meeting was credited with helping spark a run to the NLCS. But as Lindor said, every team is different, and this year’s Mets haven’t exactly followed last year’s script.
So now, the Mets open a three-game set against a solid Brewers squad that’s sitting with the same record, but not nearly the same tension. The clubhouse needs more than chatter. It needs wins, and fast.
Will Soto continue to let his bat lead while finding his voice? Can Lindor and the veterans rally a squad that seems stuck in neutral? One thing’s clear: talking the talk won’t cut it this time. It’s time for the Mets to show up—because New York doesn’t wait around for baseball miracles.
