Star outfielder Juan Soto and manager Carlos Mendoza are two members of the New York Mets who know what it feels like to be on the other side of a Subway Series. Thus, it’s understandable that the two would be excited about the Mets’ three-game tilt versus the New York Yankees that will get underway at Citi Field on Friday evening.
Juan Soto loves the energy associated with Mets-Yankees games
“The vibe that you feel in the stadium outside is just great,” Soto said on Thursday about playing in Subway Series games, per Alex Smith of SNY. “The fans, the field and everything just feels different, and it feels great to be out there.”
Soto spent only the 2024 season slugging home runs for the Yankees as he helped the storied franchise complete a trip to the World Series. He then became an enemy among Bronx Bombers fans when he signed a massive 15-year contract to join the Mets.
As Gabe Shumway of the Sporting News noted, the Mets and Yankees faced off six times during Soto’s first campaign with the Amazins. Both teams notched three wins.
Carlos Mendoza: Mets-Yankees showdowns are “always fun”
The Mets and Yankees had been teams going in different directions throughout the spring. While the Yankees began Friday with a record of 27-17, the last-place Mets were 18-25 at that time.
However, the Mets are coming off a sweep of the Detroit Tigers and have won seven of their last 10 games. To compare, the Yankees dropped five of six before they were off on Thursday.
As for Mendoza, he previously served as Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the Yankees before making the move to Queens after the 2023 season.
“Subway Series are always special,” Mendoza said. “It brings an extra energy. It’s gonna be packed, it’s gonna be electric. They’re fun. But again, control what you can control, come back tomorrow and take care of business one day at a time. But it’s always fun, the Subway Series.”
Whether or not the Mets can give their fans more fun times and climb out of the hole they dug for themselves shall be seen.