Everyone but NY Mets fans sound like the ones upset about Juan Soto's lack of hustle

Some athletes make a living by hustling out every play and stealing a would-be-failure from the jaws of defeat. Not Juan Soto. During Friday’s 5-0 win over the San Diego Padres, the $765 million New York Mets investment was caught taking it easy on a seemingly routine ground out to second base. What could have turned into an error became an out. Needless to say, seekers of every LOLMets moment were ready to share the moment.

Yes, Soto broke the one rule every little leaguer must abide by. For $765 million, he should run out every ball, right?

Hustling down the line isn’t apples to apples with every play. Coming off of a calf injury and the constant reminder Mets fans have received of how valuable he is to the team’s success, the last thing we need is to see Soto get hurt trying to beat out an infield single on a ball hit to the right side with the team ahead early.

Juan Soto shouldn’t be lambasted for his lack of hustle on this play

Soto isn’t trying to impress anyone, earn more playing time, or keep a roster spot. It’s those players, secure financially and with playing time, who can get criticized for phoning it in at times. How often has a free agent in any sport signed a lucrative deal then turned into a pumpkin? Soto certainly hasn’t.

Time and place. Late and close, maybe it does matter that Soto runs this ball out. The final out of the third inning, which would have given the Mets a 3-0 lead instead of the 2-0 they settled with, wasn’t a moment that screamed desperation. Of all the things to be annoyed about with the Mets this year, Soto assuming a routine ground ball would lead to an out is a fair enough one even if it goes against the idea of never giving up on any play.

The loss of Lindor to a calf injury as well this season is another sign for Mets players to have a little leeway in certain moments to put on the brakes and not bolt for first base. With the game on the line, it’s different.

The Mets won the game anyway. A look around social media, it’s non-Mets fans who appear to have the biggest problem with it. It's San Diego Padres and New York Yankees fans speaking out.

“Getting paid $765 million over 15 years” is the worst kind of argument to make here. The suggestion implies he should always run full-force after a fly ball over his head and dive for anything close. Soto doesn't matter if he isn't playing. He should play the game wisley and not go crashing into the wall or sprint for an extra base just because the opportunity is there.

Bigger picture. The Mets need Soto for more than knocking in a run for the 1 out of every 100 times he grounds a ball to second base and it gets booted. If he hustles down the line and hurts his calf again or anything else, what’s the story then?

“Can you believe Juan Soto is getting paid $765 million and putting himself at risk on a routine ground ball?”

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