Soto is not the first player to face boos from fans after switching teams.  Carlos Beltran knows this all too well.  He faced a similar situation when he returned to Houston after leaving the Astros for the Mets.  It was a tough experience for him.  He admitted that blocking out the boos was challenging.  He remembers the intense reaction from the crowd.  He was booed both at the plate and in the outfield.  It was a lot to handle.

Now, Beltran is a special assistant to the Mets' president of baseball operations.  He understands what Soto is going through.  Beltran thinks Soto was prepared for the boos.  He knows that fans can be tough, especially when a player leaves for another team.  Soto played well for the Yankees last year.  He was a valuable player for them.  So, it's no surprise that fans are booing him now that he's with the Mets.

Beltran compared Soto's situation to his own experience.  He spent less than a year with the Astros after being traded from Kansas City.  Then, he went to the Mets and had a great postseason with the Astros.  When he returned to Houston, the boos were intense.  He laughed about it, saying he had never heard a player booed like that before.  But he knew he had to focus on his game and not let the boos affect his performance.

Soto handled the boos with a bit of humor.  He tipped his helmet sarcastically when the crowd booed.  Beltran thought that was a great way to deal with it.  He said it's all part of the game.  Fans express their support for their team, and sometimes that means booing players from other teams.  Beltran noted that the fans were loud but not disrespectful.  He thinks that's just part of being a fan.

Beltran also mentioned that Reggie Jackson once told him, "They don't boo nobodies. "  He took that as a compliment.  Soto seems to have a similar attitude.  He walked three times in the Mets' loss on Friday.  Beltran thought Soto had good at-bats, considering the pressure.  On Saturday, Soto walked, singled, and scored a run.  The boos were still loud, but he handled them well.

Fans were loud and relentless, but they were not disrespectful.  They were just showing their support for their team.  Beltran thinks that's what being a fan is all about.  He said it's about expressing home-field advantage and giving your team an edge.  It's not personal; it's just part of the game.

BASEBALL PLAYER BOOED

Fans Booing Soto: A Familiar Story

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