Round 1 to the Yankees, but where's the narrative?

 The Yankees won 2 of 3 from the Mets in the first half of the 2025 Subway Series, clinching the series with a 6 run 8th inning outburst against the Mets bullpen, capped by a grand slam from Cody Bellinger.

If you followed the media's narrative over the past week, they made it sound like it was a referendum on Mets outfielder Juan Soto ankling the Yanks in the offseason to come to Flushing. It really wasn't the be all and end all of this series. Not even close.

In reality, this was about the city's two teams, both in first place in their respective divisions as the series began, with the Yankees seeking a little revenge for getting swept by the Mets in 4 games last year. Sure, the Yankees had the last laugh, as they reached the World Series, only to be dominated, like the Mets, by the eventual World Champion Dodgers, but the scandal crazy media in NYC needed a villain for the series, and Soto filled the bill for them.

[Of course, if you want the real villain, it'd be Soto's agent, Scott Boras Badenov, but that's another story.]

On Friday, the perpetually spoiled Yankees fans turned their backs on Soto in right field, even though he tried to be cordial and professional. However, on Sunday, Soto took additional heat for not even running full tilt on a ground out, one so obvious that he decided he'd at least make some effort, but he was out by about two strides.

Check the highlight reel:

Now, the Mets could do the Yanks a solid by beating Boston before returning to Citi Field to welcome Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers on Friday. The Subway Series, part 2, comes later this summer.