11 hours Ago By Dan Martin
Juan Soto was the center of attention again on Sunday, getting booed loudly when he was introduced before the game and during his at-bat in the first inning. As Aaron Boone noted before the game, it’s something Soto may have to deal with throughout his Mets career when he comes to The Bronx. “It probably could be,” Boone said before Sunday’s game.
“It’s New York.” But the Soto Subway Series did not include the star getting mic’d up for “Sunday Night Baseball,” which was the original plan. According to sources, the Mets star changed his mind prior to the game and was replaced by Brandon Nimmo.
Such changes aren’t unusual, sources said, but it was noteworthy because it involved Soto, who had been solid, if not spectacular, in the first two games of the series. Among his contributions was a stolen base of third on Saturday, which led to Soto scoring on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning of a one-run win. “He’s taking advantage of opportunities,” Carlos Mendoza said.
“He’s using information and trusting information.” Mendoza said Soto has become a better “base runner, overall, not just base stealer.” And the manager credited Soto’s swipe of third as “being the difference” in the victory.
It was also Soto’s fifth stolen base of the season after he had just seven all of last year with the Yankees. Tyrone Taylor wasn’t in Sunday’s lineup after he suffered cramps near the end of Saturday’s win, according to Mendoza. The manager said Taylor felt good enough to play Sunday, but Mendoza played it safe.
That decision led to Jeff McNeil getting the start in center, which he’s done five times this season. “He’s been fine,’’ Mendoza said of McNeil’s performance in center. “I don’t think he’s been tested, but he makes the routine plays and a couple times on balls in the gap, the way he went after it, he kept it to a single as opposed to a double.
I’m comfortable enough where he’ll continue to get reps there.” Huascar Brazobán began the season as one of the Mets’ primary multi-inning relievers, but because of injuries in the bullpen, as well as the right-hander’s performance, he has pitched his way into more important spots. “Yes, definitely,” Mendoza said.
“With where we are right now compared to the beginning of the year ...
he might be in the seventh or eighth [inning].” The manager also said he could close games when Edwin Díaz isn’t available. Brazobán has been solid wherever the Mets have used him this season and especially lately.
In his last seven appearances heading into Sunday, he had allowed just one hit, one walk and an unearned run in 9 1/3 innings, striking out nine..
