Super Soto Leads Mets To Explosive 12-6 Win! Can He Guide New York To Playoffs?

New York is in a heated battle for the last Wild Card spot with the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets’ inept veteran starting pitching and erratic bullpen put a heavy onus on the rookie arms and the lineup. New York is 4-1 in its last five, having won a critical series against the San Diego Padres; they must keep the streak going. Soto’s enormous contract means he will garner scrutiny in all he does; he can gain appreciation by maintaining his Most Valuable Player-level performance all the way to the end of next week.    

Soto’s Supreme September

Soto has been on fire all September; he is hitting .343 with a 1.154 on-base plus slugging percentage. He scored 15 runs, clubbed seven home runs, and knocked in 19 during the 17-game stretch. Even during the Mets’ eight-game losing streak, he still produced, going 10 for 34 with three homers and five runs driven in. He was the only hitter contributing during that horrific team slump, but he received much of the blame due to the contract expectations.

The veteran starting core of Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes has been an outright disaster, becoming more so as the summer progressed. Instead of leading the way for the likes of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat, they have been guided by the rookie trio.

It is fair to wonder where the Mets would be if General Manager David Stearns had called up his promising young arms earlier, especially McLean. The youngsters have helped steady the ship somewhat, but have often seen quality performances blown by the inconsistent bullpen.

The lineup goes into each game day knowing it likely must produce close to 10 runs to ensure victory; Soto has done all he can to get them there. He has a .423 on-base percentage during September, being in the middle of nearly every run-scoring rally. Over the last week, when New York played with its back against the wall, he has only been more so.

Soto’s Clutch Week

The Mets lost yet another heartbreaker last Saturday, going down 3-2 to the Texas Rangers, New York’s eighth straight defeat. Its record dipped to 76-73 and a horrific 31-49 over the last 80 games. That dreadful dip put them on par with the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox for the worst in the game.

Soto, because of his gigantic contract, received much of the blame for the summer swoon. It should have gone instead to Stearns, who has become the opposite of the Midas touch. Nearly everything he has been involved in during the offseason and at the trade deadline has blown up in his face, especially with pitching.

It is inexcusable that the Mets have a rotation that, for three months, couldn’t get into the fifth inning daily. That falls on Stearns, who built the starting corps and compounded the problem by delaying calling up young arms who could help.

Soto, with every game this week being a must-win, responded by hitting. 320 with a 1.113 OPS, three HRs, seven RBI, scoring five runs, and stealing two bases. Many think he can’t hit in the big moments, but he has performed exceptionally during high-pressure games recently.

Soto Dominates Washington

New York fell behind early to the woeful Nationals; Sproat experienced his first difficult start in the majors. He gave up four runs in the third, putting the Mets down 4-1. The bats immediately responded, chipping away for a run in the bottom of the third and then exploding for six runs in the fourth.

Soto, as he has throughout September, was heavily involved in both run-scoring rallies. He singled in the third, helping to advance base runners. Pete Alonso followed with a single to drive in Francisco Lindor.

Soto saved his best for the fourth, blasting a 419-foot cannon shot over center field, driving in three. His power jack was the last of five New York hits in the frame and helped flip a 4-2 deficit into an 8-4 lead, one the Mets didn’t give up.

Soto finished the evening, going 2 for 3, with two runs scored, a home run, and three runs knocked in. He also walked twice, continuing his stellar on-base achievements. Once again, New York endured spotty starting pitching. Soto led the drive to overcome it, something that will likely need to happen several more times over the next nine days.    

End Of My Juan Soto Rant

Soto is now hitting. 265 with a .931 OPS. He has set a career high in homers with 42 and has driven in 103 runs. He has scored 117 runs, walked 121 times, and stolen 34 bases, giving him an outside shot at a 40 HR-40 SB season. Soto, Barry Bonds, and Jeff Bagwell are the only players ever to achieve a season with at least 40 home runs, 30 stolen bases, 100 runs batted in, and 100 walks. In other words, Soto has provided strong production in all key hitting categories.

Despite the numbers, many see him as having an “off” year and will blame him if the Mets miss the playoffs. This is a viable possibility with New York holding a two-game Wild Card lead over the Reds, and Cincinnati having the head-to-head tiebreaker.

New York finishes the home series with Washington tomorrow, then goes on the road against the Chicago Cubs (who are locked into their playoff position) and the Miami Marlins. The Cubs will not have much to play for; the Marlins, like the Nationals, are a losing team.  

The Reds finish their home series against Chicago, stay in Cincinnati against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and go on the road to face the Milwaukee Brewers. This is also a favorable schedule. Both the Cubs and Brewers are unlikely to have much to play for with playoff positioning secure. The Pirates are dreadful and likely to roll over.  

This means that the Mets must treat each game as a must-win. Intensity and focus have been ongoing issues, along with iffy in-game tactics by manager Carlos Mendoza. An explosive lineup can help overcome much of this, and like it did Friday night against Washington, it must be ready to do so early.

Soto can define the legacy of his first year in Queens by an excellent last eight games. He must continue what he has been doing since mid-August, get on base and drive in runs. His clutch numbers have continued to rise over the summer.

Soto is as talented a player as any; there’s a reason there was such an intense bidding war for his services over the offseason. The cream eventually rises to the top, and Soto can enter the MVP conversation with an excellent close. The ability, combined with the quality of opposition he is likely to face, gives him a good chance to do so. He will help push the Mets to the finish with many magnificent moments. It will likely go down to the last day, the last inning, probably the last pitch, but he will help get New York back into the playoffs.